The Pharmacist and Homeopathy

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, Feb, 2001 by Allen M. Kratz

Herb Rothouse, RPh considers himself a conventional pharmacist with an interest in complementary approaches to health care. I had the opportunity to talk with him about homeopathy in his pharmacy practice.

Allen Kratz, PharmD (AK): I understand your background as a pharmacist is unusual.

Herb Rothouse, RPh (HR): This is true, because my varied education pulls me in different directions. First of all, I am a conventional, by-the-book pharmacist you are used to seeing fill your prescriptions. But I also have a Master's Degree in Nutrition and I am a Licensed Nutritionist as well. I have been told there are fewer than twenty persons in the country with this dual licensure. This has given me a unique opportunity to offer guidance on diet and nutritional supplements along with drug information. This is a combination that very few pharmacists have.

But what has really made my career different has been learning and practicing homeopathy Many years ago when my European customers were asking for products I had never heard of and spoke of them in such glowing terms, I knew I had to learn as much as I could about them. So I did.

For the past 15 years, I have used, recommended, sold, written and lectured about homeopathic medicines with considerable and unexpected success. I cannot speak too highly of their safety and efficacy.

AK: In your published articles, you are very critical of the very prescriptions you dispense every day.

HR: Yes, and with good cause. For example, if we just look at the class of drugs called NSAIDs (Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatory Drugs), we can see the problem. These drugs; Motrin [TM], Advil [TM], Aleve [TM], Indocin [TM], Clinoril [TM], Anaprox [TM], etc., kill between 15,000 and 17,000 persons each year. And if we combine the results of studies in JAMA, NEJM, The National Academy of Science Institute of Medicine, we find almost 250,000 Americans die each year from some physician-prescribed medication. Think about that. Almost 1 out of every 10 deaths in this country is physician-induced. This is more than serious... this is alarming.

AK: Since you see the dangers in these medications, how is it you still work as a pharmacist. Is this not hypocritical?

HR: No, because many medicines are essential to maintain good health. We must be more selective and choose the safer ones. The patient has to learn as much as possible about their condition and see what he/she can do on his/her own. Because of my education, Tam in a better position to advise and inform. Sometimes the answer is simply behavioral: no smoking, no alcohol, reduce caloric intake or exercise. Sometimes a nutritionist is needed for more intensive dietary alterations, and sometimes an acupuncturist or chiropractor or homeopath is necessary.

The first thing a patient has to consider is: how safe is this therapy? Then, what are the associated dangers and what are my alternatives?

AK: What are the safest healing modalities you have found?

HR: First of all, one modality will not solve all our health concerns. But clearly, there are advantages in each one. For example, acupuncture and acupressure are very safe. In fact, whenever I get a headache I put pressure on the Large intestine 4 spot. And for a sore throat, my first choice is Lung 11. For more serious conditions I turn to homeopathy. But homeopathy is not a one-size-fits-all therapy. You must be well trained to pick the correct medicine, and this can take considerable time to learn, even years. It is an art. This should not discourage anyone from starting to learn. There are many excellent books for a beginner where you can learn homeopathic first aid very quickly. I suggest you call Homeopathic Educational Services for a catalog, 510-649-0294.

AK: If homeopathic medicines are so effective, why don't more pharmacists suggest them?

HR: Two reasons. one...homeopathy is not a subject taught in pharmacy school, and two...most chain pharmacies do not promote or display them. To find homeopathic medicines, you have to go to a reputable health food store or locate a natural pharmacy, which is usually an independent pharmacy. If you need to locate a homeopathic practitioner, I suggest you contact the National Center for Homeopathy in Alexandria, Virginia, 703-548-7790.

AK: Aside from your pharmacy customers, how do you get your message out?

HR: As I have said, whenever opportunity and time allows and need warrants, I advise my customers not only on their prescription medication but the concerns and dangers attached to them and of the safer alternatives to investigate.

But to reach a larger audience, I write and lecture. I give a Continuing Education program called "Health, Healing and Homeopathy" to groups and organizations of health professionals, which has been very successful. It brings a great deal of new information to pharmacists and others about options they never knew existed. And that is the most important thing I can teach: there are safe alternatives to unsafe drugs.

AK: You said it can take years to learn homeopathy. What about all the OTC products that are available?