GULFWEEKLY: Homeopathy is gaining appeal with users in Bahrain, highlighting the potential of alternative medicine as a complimentary path.
Many residents have come forward claiming to have healed from skin conditions, gut-related issues and tonsillitis, as well as mental health issues like PTSD after following homeopathic remedies.
“My daughter developed small water filled blisters around her eyes and cheeks when she was only a year and a half,” Rupa Bhargava from Saar told GulfWeekly.
“We consulted local dermatologists, who prescribed topical applications but the moment we stopped using them, the problem returned. As a last resort, we tried homeopathy. Gradually they dried off and never came back,” she added.
The creative entrepreneur and mother-of-two highlighted her personal experience overcoming post-traumatic stress disorder through homeopathy.
Homeopathy is an alternative medical system that treats illnesses using tiny, highly diluted doses of natural substances that would cause similar symptoms in a healthy person. The remedies are based on the belief that a substance that causes symptoms of a disease in healthy people can cure similar symptoms in sick people – ‘like cures like’.
Originally conceived in 1796 by the German physician Samuel Hahnemann, it gained popularity in the 19th century. Despite the initial ‘success’, the practice began to wane, making a comeback in the 1970s.
While there is research and subsequent arguments indicating that the therapeutic claims of homeopathy lack scientific justification, the branch of medicine continues to enjoy widespread popularity in Bahrain and beyond.
English language instructor Arti Agarwal from Juffair believes that if the doctor is well-trained from a reputed university, then the treatment will be done properly.
“I used to have terrible headaches, which healed through homeopathy,” she revealed.
For her part, Mahooz-based Anju Kapur recounted her five-year struggle with acute tonsillitis as a child. Her parents began homeopathic treatment after conducting thorough research.
“Within a year, my tonsils reduced in size and so did the frequency of infection. I continued treatment for two years and have been in the clear since,” added the full-time artist.
In Bahrain, homeopathy is officially recognised and regulated as a legitimate form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) under the National Health Regulatory Authority. Practices listed as CAM in the kingdom include acupuncture, ayurveda, chiropractic, homeopathy, naturopathy, osteopathy, traditional Chinese medicine, unani practice and hijama therapy.
“Modern healthcare is moving away from a single-track treatment model as practitioners and patients globally explore the benefits of integrated care, combining conventional medicine with complementary therapies such as homeopathy,” Al Reaya Medical Centre homeopathic practitioner Dr Bijal Karia noted.
“We look at a person’s lifestyle, their stress levels, their emotional state and their history – not just the symptom in front of us. That is what makes the approach so individualised. This whole-person philosophy is what draws many patients to homeopathy, especially for chronic and recurring concerns that do not always have a quick fix.”
The expert noted that some of the common cases she receives are dermatological, including allergies, vitiligo and adult acne, as well as gut-related issues.
“Around 60 to 70 per cent of my patients come to me with gut issues be it IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), chronic constipation, piles, or fissures, and we can achieve very good results with homeopathy,” she assured.
She highlighted that a Bahraini patient who has been receiving treatment for the last two months for gut-health issues has seen drastic improvement.
However, she advised that conventional medicine remains important in case of emergencies, surgical care and acute illness.
“Homeopathy is meant to work alongside it not instead of it. Patients are encouraged to continue any prescribed treatments and keep their primary physicians informed as they explore complementary care,” she added.
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