Background

The Japanese Physicians Society for Homeopathy (JPSH), established in January, 2000, has been growing steadily. The JPSH is distinctive and significant for the only society that consists exclusively of professional medical practitioners who hold a state qualification. Homeopathy has only a short history since its introduction to Japan, and all the homeopathic organizations, established almost at the same time, have since followed their own path. The current status of Homeopathy in Japan is far from the situation in which patients can enjoy the benefit of Homeopathy with a feeling of security. There are two major reasons for this situation. Firstly, there is no solid legal framework established for the sake of Homeopathy in Japan; in other words, there exist almost no regulations relevant to Homeopathy. Even in case a person with no medical knowledge or experience provides homeopathic "treatment", he or she can easily evade the existing medical laws. In Japan, the Medical Practitioners Law allows only the physicians who hold a state qualification to provide medical treatment to human patients. Provision of medical treatment by a person who does not hold a state qualification is defined as illegal. Similarly, the Veterinary License Law allows only the qualified veterinarians to provide medical treatment to animal patients. Remedies are not uniformly approved as pharmaceutical products throughout the nation. The current status of Homeopathy in Japan is far from the situation in which patients can enjoy the benefit of Homeopathy with a feeling of security.