In the late 1800s, homeopathic treatments were commonly used in the United States. Many doctors of that era were trained in homeopathy, earning their credentials from Homeopathic Medical Colleges, which were established across the country. These practitioners utilized a wide variety of homeopathic remedies, including pills and tonics, to support the body’s natural healing processes.
The American Medical Association (AMA), founded in 1852, initially struggled with limited resources, public respect, and influence. However, its fortunes began to change in 1899 with new leadership and two pivotal strategies:
- Drug companies were granted the AMA’s “seal of approval” without requiring product testing.
- The AMA significantly expanded advertising in its journal, JAMA, and related publications. Advertising revenue grew from $34,000 annually in 1899 to $150,000 by 1909, equivalent to approximately $5.63 million today.
By 1913, the AMA launched aggressive media campaigns to promote their preferred medical treatments, overshadowing alternative therapies such as homeopathy, nutrition, and herbal medicine. As a result, homeopathic colleges began to shut down, and by 1920, the last exclusively homeopathic medical school in the U.S. closed. This marked the end of an era, with no further graduates earning Homeopathic Doctor degrees.
What is the State of Arizona Board of Homeopathic Medicine Examiners?
The Board of Homeopathic and Integrated Medicine Examiners was established in 1980 to promote the health, safety, and welfare of Arizona residents by licensing and regulating homeopathic physicians. Its founding members, comprised of MDs and DOs, sought to practice holistic medicine safely without risking the loss of their medical licenses. A little-known fact among the public is that medical doctors (MDs) are restricted to practicing within their “scope of practice,” limited to what they learn during their formal education. This does not typically include training in nutrition or holistic modalities like homeopathy.
The creation of this board provided a pathway for MDs and DOs interested in natural therapies to practice these methods safely under a secondary license. To qualify, applicants needed a clean record, additional training in integrative medicine, and to pass a homeopathic exam. Physicians licensed through this process were identified by the abbreviation M.D.(H), signifying a Medical Doctor (Homeopath).
Over a decade ago, efforts were made to expand the board to include Homeopathic Practitioners and Doctors of Homeopathy. Unfortunately, the proposed legislation failed, leading to a gradual decline in membership due to poor marketing and limited funding. In 2019, Dr. Mario Fontes was appointed President of the Board of Homeopathic and Integrated Medicine Examiners. He revived efforts to enable trained homeopaths to gain licensure in Arizona.
In August 2024, these efforts culminated in a historic achievement: the successful passage of legislation allowing the board to license Homeopathic Practitioners and Doctors of Homeopathy. This marks a significant milestone for the practice of homeopathy in Arizona.
Why is this important?
Over the years, the AMA and various government agencies have significantly tightened regulations on holistic medicine in the United States, making it increasingly challenging for both practitioners and the public to access information and natural remedies. Homeopathic medicines existed long before the FDA was established in 1938. However, pharmaceutical companies, which controlled the publication of medical journals, used these platforms to promote orthodox medicine while discrediting homeopathy. The Journal of the American Medical Association in 1906 acknowledged “the medical press is profoundly under the influence of the proprietary interests (pharmaceutical drug companies.”1 In October 2019, the FDA withdrew the previous rules regarding homeopathic medicine and published “Revised Homeopathic Draft Guidance.”
Many holistic practices were threatened by new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance declaring homeopathic medicines to be “new drugs”2, thus making homeopathic medicine subject to withdrawal from the marketplace. This attempt to take homeopathic medicines away is just one example of efforts made to eliminate complementary medications. This new legislation in Arizona is set to inspire a movement and encourage other states to follow suit.
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Sources:
- Homeopathic Association of Arizona (HAAZ)
- Arizona Homeopathic and Integrated Medicine Examiners
- 1. J.H. Salisbury, “The Subordination of Medical Journals to Proprietary Interests,” Journal of the American Medical Association, XLVI, 1906, 1337-1338.
- 2. https://advocacy.sba.gov/2020/01/27/homeopathy-industry-threatened-by-new-fda-guidance/
- https://becker.wustl.edu/news/the-rise-and-fall-of-homeopathic-medicine-in-the-us-and-its-continued-popularity-today/
- https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-the-ama-got-rich-powe_b_6103720
