Today, when prescription drugs fail, some people turn to an alternative approach that encourages prevention rather than just managing symptoms.

Homeopathy is an alternative treatment that works to strengthen the natural balance of the immune system and the body's ability to heal itself, explained Jenny Hwozdek, a certified homeopath at Nittany Mountain Homeopathy in Lemont.

Hwozdek said that homeopathic remedies are non-toxic, have no side effects and are very inexpensive. Contrary to popular belief, all homeopathic remedies are Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved and meet the same government standards as conventional prescription drugs.

Often one of the first homeopathic remedies that many try is Arnica, which can be used to treat the effects of certain types of trauma, like inflammation from a cut or bruise or the pain associated with some kinds of dental work, Hwozdek said.

One of the basic principles of homeopathy is the Law of Similars, Hwozdek said.

"A substance in a large quantity produces a particular set of symptoms; however, if that substance is taken in a minute dosage, the body can heal itself from a smaller, similar set of symptoms," she said.

In this way, the body can be stimulated to adapt to dealing with the symptoms of that minute dose and more effectively deal with the overall symptoms of the patient. Individually tailored, these remedies vary from person to person -- even if all the patients suffer from the same ailment, she said.

Hwozdek explained that her job as a homeopath involves advising her patients based on the individual and making recommendations based on the unique situations of each patient.

With homeopathic remedies, either they work or they do not work, Hwozdek said. Because they are matched to the particular state of the patient, there are no side effects. In fact, some people are able to use homeopathic remedies when the only conventional methods produce unwanted side effects.

Edward Rosick, a physician at University Health Services, explained in an e-mail message that most physicians do not have the proper understanding of homeopathy and will not begin using this style of treatment until sufficient testing is done.

"Until rigorous, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of homeopathy are done that show the effectiveness of this treatment, I don't believe many doctors will use it or take the time to learn about it," he said.

Because homeopathic remedies encourage the prevention of symptoms and strengthening of the immune system, certain conventional medicines still cannot be replaced, Hwozdek said.

Hwozdek explained that the patient's body plays the largest role in homeopathic remedies.

"The body is an amazing machine -- when it works there is no beating it," she said. "Homeopathy is about honoring and working with our body's own intelligence, and that is going to work better than supplying it with something from the outside."

Bonnie Sheaffer, a registered nurse at a veterinary clinic and member of the Homeopathic Medical Society of Pennsylvania, said trauma care in the United States is the best in the world, but when it comes to chronic illnesses and conditions, conventional medicine is lacking.

Sheaffer attributes this to the uneasy feeling some patients get from the idea of taking a large "cocktail" of prescriptions. But she said it is in these people that homeopathy is seeing its largest growth.

When they found that some clinical medicines did nothing to improve the overall quality of health, Sheaffer and her husband, Edgar, a veterinarian, began investigating homeopathic remedies not only for themselves and their families, but also for the animals Edgar Sheaffer treats at his clinic.

As more natural remedies become popular, Hwozdek explained, the amount of schools that train homeopaths has been on the rise, and some conventional medical schools are also offering training in homeopathic techniques for their students.

In addition, in health food stores where Hwozdek used to see one shelf of homeopathic remedies for sale, she now can find a display that is 50 to 75 percent bigger, she said. She attributes this to an increased public awareness of homeopathic treatments.

Sheaffer said that most people's skepticism of homeopathy results from not being able to see much clinical data.

"It is known that homeopathic treatments affect the immune system, but as of yet there is nothing that can be seen under a microscope and there is little empirical data to support the treatments," she said.

Historically, there has not been much debate over whether or not homeopathic remedies work, but instead questions focus on how they work, Hwozdek explained.

Rosick said he believes that once homeopathic remedies are shown to be effective scientifically -- and because they have been shown to have no negative side effects -- they could be used in a variety of clinical treatments.

Because the approaches of clinical science are constantly changing, a great deal of work has been done recently to study how these remedies work. However, since it is a person-specific treatment, it is difficult to test these remedies in conventional ways, Hwozdek said.

Sheaffer said that homeopathy is growing in Pennsylvania because people want to stay healthy longer, and because using homeopathic remedies is much easier than taking chemical medicines.

Today, people have easier access to clinical information via the Internet and can do more research themselves into which treatment options are the best for them, Sheaffer said.

Rosick said that anyone considering homeopathic remedies should do a great deal of research and then talk to a physician who is knowledgeable about homeopathic remedies before switching from conventional prescriptions that they may be using for treatment.

Hwozdek said she is often invited by professors to speak to their classes about homeopathy.

When visiting Penn State classes, Hwozdek attempts to broaden the students' horizons as to what remedies are out there.

"It is very important for my clients and students to understand that it's your body and your health," she said. "We all need to be informed consumers of health care, and whether it's conventional or alternative medicine, I need to know if it's right for me."