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More and more people are exercising their right to freedom in health care and are turning to alternative forms of therapy through which to treat acute and/or chronic illness. The rapid rise in interest in recent years has resulted in certain problems, arising chiefly from a lack of information on the alternative systems and their practitioners.

In the legitimate search for a non-allopathic approach to health, many have turned to do-it- yourself methods via self-help texts or have consulted with those whose training is limited and incomplete. These practices are very evident with respect to Homoeopathy.

Classical Homoeopathy is an extremely intricate and brilliant form of medicine which is very difficult to master. The thorough training of a Classical Homoeopath requires a minimum of 2000 hours of classroom work with a recognised Homoeopathic college subscribing to the ICCH curriculum and standards as well as supervised clinical training. Unfortunately, because Homoeopathy was deliberately stamped out in North America in the early part of this century, these schools are hard to come by.

Persons interested in learning Classical Homoeopathy have had to resort to training with those not affiliated with recognized training schools or with those who have limited training. Many have fallen in to the trap of studying with schools whose promotional skills far exceed the ability to educate.

In response to these problems, here are some general guidelines for those seeking training in Classical Homoeopathy, as well as some parameters for persons seeking to consult with a Classical Homoeopath.

Firstly, contrary to public belief, there are two associations in North America which assess the training and practice of Homoeopath and oversee their continuing practice. The North American Society of Homoeopath (NASH) with an American office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Canadian headquarters in Vancouver, B.C. was established several years ago by some of North America's leading Homoeopaths. Admission to NASH is difficult as the competency of each applicant is assessed according to the International Council for Classical Homoeopathy (ICCH) standards, and clinical work is analysed in order to insure that each member is performing according to strict professional standards. The second organizations, similarly created by prominent North American Homoeopaths, is the Council for Homoeopathic Certification (CCH) in Berkeley, California. The criteria for admission to the CCH is similar to that of NASH, although this organizations seems to put more emphasis on academic training than it does on the assessment of clinical practice. Together, these organizations provide the public with certain safeguards in a time when Government licensing is, for the most part, absent. Accordingly, anyone seeking a Classical Homoeopath is well-advised to consult a listing of members of either NASH or the CCH before deciding on a practitioner.

The public must also be aware that many organizations claiming similar goals to NASH and the CCH are being set up in various provinces. In certain provinces, Boards are comprised of the Directors of the Schools of Homoeopathy in that province. In this instance, graduates of these schools are automatically admitted to the association. No independent assessment is given. With other organizations, the problem lies with the founding members. While sporting impressive- looking initials after their names, these individuals in many cases are not adequately trained, and do not have the experience of those associated with organizations such as NASH or the CCH, and may not be capable of assessing their applicants. A further serious situation arising is where Allopaths and others not exclusively training in Homoeopathy are attempting to regulate Homoeopathy and its practitioners.

Those interested in becoming a Classical Homoeopath must also do their homework since many schools with questionable standards and without recognizable credentials are offering training courses. To make matters more difficult, the excellent training centres are often not accessible.

However, serious students should note that quality courses are offered in various schools in Canada and the United States that are associated with organizations such as NASH and CCH.

In Britain, several schools recognized by the Society of Homoeopaths, the British organizations that oversees professional Homoeopaths, provides three to five year programs which furnish an excellent credential. Of these schools Misha Norland's The School of Homoeopathy also provides North American Training Program which allows those not able to travel to Britain an opportunity to commence serious studies in Classical Homoeopathy. Another non-residential program, created by Trevor Cook of The British Institute of Homoeopathy, is being strongly advertised in North America. The two programs offer very different credentials and must be carefully assessed.

The School of Homoeopathy, with its long tradition of quality, excellence and student support, offers a comprehensive program which follows the Society of Homoeopaths standards. It offers a two-part Distance Education course comprised of over 1000 hours per part of tutored, intense study and clinical training in North America with Misha Norland, and other prominent Classical Homoeopaths. The North American Training Program contains a major part of the School's UK course. The practitioner's Diploma is awarded only after successful completion of both parts of the program and clinical workshops. The required medical sciences are also furnished.

The British Institute of Homoeopathy offers a resident program and 250-hour Distance Education Diploma. After completion of the first part of this program, students can join the School as licentiate members, but in order to become full members, they must have 100 hours of clinical experience and submit five cases for evaluation. A postgraduate degree of approximately 350 hours is also available. The School is not recognized by the Society of Homoeopaths. It is instead a member of the United Kingdom Homoeopathic Medical Association (UKHMA). Membership in this association requires the completion of only 300 hours of study plus modest clinical experience.

Classical Homoeopathy is a highly effective form of therapy, but in unskilled hands it may have little, adverse or no effect. Cases badly managed may become confused and vital symptoms may become suppressed. Despite the current propaganda, the practice of Homoeopathy is not meant for amateurs. It is advised to consult with the organizations set up to ensure the highest standards of eduction and practice. And if you wish to train, train with the best schools available.