[sadhuji]

The conventionally accepted norms is that homeopathy is a branch of medicine that is practised by retired persons who want to keep themselves busy and at the same time augment their meager financial resources. Practising this requires the minimum of investments and, the cost of medicines is also a fraction of what one would have to pay for allopathic medicines. The medicines do not have any adverse side effects and comprise doses of white globules or powder in which a drop or two of the actual medicine of correct concentration is added. Hence, most of the poor people throng to the chambers of the homeopaths. Experience is what counts most in this branch and, the self proclaimed Doctors keep reference books handy to help them out. The diagnosis takes a few minutes – if the initial questions elicit proper information, then the medicine is sort of snatched from thin air and administered. If the case is complicated, the questions become more probing and, a tiny dose of the most likely medicine brings smiles on the face of the patient. The positive results of patients recovering from chronic diseases spreads like wild fire and the line at his doorstep appears to be a never ending one. Today, this profession has been taken over by young men and women – there are recognized institutions that impart the basic knowledge. Then it is up to the individual – how he handles his patients, how he rolls out the red carpet, how he interacts with them. These small things endear him to his patients and there is no let up in their arrivals. I know of several homeopaths who rake in more than MBBS doctors.