Beyond the Little White Pills: Why Generations of Indians Still Choose Homeopathy

For many generations of Indians, boomers, Gen X and even many millennials, homeopathy has been a quiet constant, something that families turned to for everything from seasonal allergies to chronic conditions. Many continue to rely on it even today, yet as conversations around alternative medicine grow louder and increasingly polarised, World Homeopathy Day gives us a timely moment to examine where homeopathy stands now. It cannot be ignored that despite being frequently criticised by practitioners of conventional medicine and often labelled as pseudoscience, homeopathy continues to command a loyal patient base, not just in India but also among NRI communities. To understand this, we spoke to Dr Kushal Banerjee, senior homeopath at Dr Kalyan

Banerjee's Clinic, their CR Park clinic that has served patients across generations with his dad Dr Kalyan Banerjee at its helm. When asked about the losing popularity of homeopathy, Dr Banerjee is quick to add, “I disagree with the premise that trust has eroded. In fact, more people across age groups are turning to homeopathy.” He goes on to explain that homeopathy emerged out of dissatisfaction with conventional treatments, with the aim of gently healing the patient. “The controversy isn’t new, only the way it is communicated has changed,” he adds, while also suggesting that some modern research approaches do carry certain biases.According to him, homeopathy appears to resonate most strongly today in the management of chronic and recurring conditions, particularly those where long-term medication raises concerns about side effects. “Conditions like skin allergies or respiratory issues, where patients are trying to break a recurring cycle, are particularly suited,” he explains. "It is also used in addressing complex, multi-system and immune-related disorders, however, no single system of medicine can claim exclusive authority over what is curable."ALSO READ: Can Homeopathy Help You Finally Quit Smoking? Expert Says YesPart of what continues to set homeopathy apart is the nature of its consultations, which many patients find unique in its approach and sometimes too personal. Dr Banerjee describes this as a holistic approach, one that takes into account the patient’s physical symptoms alongside emotional and psychological factors, reducing the need to move between multiple specialists. What often surprises patients, according to him, is not just the depth of the questions but their range, the ability to discuss both a physical symptom and a deeply personal life event with the same doctor, something that remains relatively uncommon in most healthcare settings.This emphasis on the mind-body connection is not new to homeopathy, he shares. Long before it became a mainstream idea, homeopathy recognised the interplay between mental and physical health. "Its materia medica includes remedies that correspond not only to physical ailments but also to mental states, trauma, and psychosomatic conditions, reflecting an early understanding of how different forms of suffering may be interconnected."At the same time, Dr Banerjee is careful to acknowledge the importance of medical judgement and the limits of any single system. While homeopathy is often seen as having a low risk of adverse reactions, he points out that the greater concern is in misdiagnosis. “The bigger risk is misjudging the condition itself,” he says, stressing that all treatments including homeopathy should begin with proper medical consultation. In acute situations like a heart attack or major trauma, immediate hospital care is essential.” However, he maintains that homeopathy can still play a complementary role before, during, and after such interventions."Ultimately, every system has its strengths and limitations. It’s not a zero-sum game,” he says.On a day dedicated to homeopathy, that perspective perhaps captures a broader shift in how people are approaching their health, less as a rigid choice between medicine systems and more as an evolving search for what works best for them.