Homeopathy involves specially prepared remedies to treat the whole person rather than a diagnosed condition. Homeopathic remedies are chosen by matching the remedy to the unique physical, emotional and mental characteristics of the individual being treated. About 2,500 individual homeopathic remedies are available, and all are prepared from dilute extracts of animal, plant and mineral substances.

Homeopathy literally means "like illness," referring to one of the most important principles of homeopathy, which is "like cures like." Homeopathy involves treating people with tiny doses of natural substances that in larger quantities would cause symptoms similar to those the person has. This method is called the Law of Similars.

The second major principle of homeopathy is called the Law of Infinitesimals, which states that the more dilute a homeopathic remedy, the stronger it is. Homeopathic remedies are systematically diluted to tiny doses. Between each dilution, the remedy is succussed (shaken vigorously).

Homeopathy is popular in Europe, where a number of clinical trials have looked at the effect of homeopathy on various conditions. A recent paper in the British medical journal, The Lancet, concluded that the effects of homeopathy could not be attributed to the placebo effect and urged further clinical study. Although some people living with HIV use homeopathy to treat particular HIV-related infections or symptoms, very little has been published about the experiences of HIV-positive people with homeopathy, and few studies have examined the usefulness of homeopathy in HIV.

Homeopathic combination remedies are sold in some drug and health food stores. These over-the-counter remedies are not carefully matched to specific symptoms. Instead, they contain combinations of different remedies that are most commonly prescribed for particular illnesses. Despite this broad-spectrum approach, these remedies carry little risk of side effects because they are so dilute. For treatments specifically targeted to symptoms, visit a qualified homeopath.

Homeopathic practitioners are not regulated by any province in Canada, but several Canadian colleges offer three-year training courses in homeopathy. The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, which offers a four-year program, trains naturopaths to use homeopathy. The cost of an initial consultation with a qualified homeopath varies widely, from $80 to $250, and may reflect a practitioner's years of experience. Initial sessions are quite intensive and often take more than two hours. Follow-up sessions are generally much less expensive.