Our vision is ‘homeopathy for all’ and we aim to achieve this both by supporting our membership and by raising the profile of homeopathy in general. The Society of Homeopaths is the largest organisation representing professional homeopaths in Europe with over 1450 members on its Register. Our members practise in accordance with The Society's Code of Ethics and Practice and carry full public liability and indemnity insurance. Our Professional Conduct Department offers impartial assistance should difficulties arise between a patient and one of our members. How long have we been around?Established in 1978, we are also the longest standing body representing homeopaths. This means we have years of experience and skills in understanding what our members need in order to help their patients. |
|
Where are we based?Our Central office is located in Northampton and our Education Department is based in Devon. A number of staff also work from home. |
 |
We have a total of 17 staff based throughout the UK, working on a full-time and part-time basis.
The staff are individually experts in their field, from homeopaths working as Education Advisers to marketeers working in Communications.
Together, we offer a wealth of skills and experience for you to draw upon: whatever your question, it’s highly likely we’ve answered it before.
2004 saw The Society awarded the coveted ‘Investors in People Standard’. The first homeopathic body to receive this, we are justifiably proud to be recognised as an organisation that appreciates its people and values the contribution they make. By investing in our staff, we provide you with the very best service.
This report was received following our review in August 2007. Download here.
Each department is responsible, through the Chief Executive, to one of 3 sub committees to the Board.
This department raises awareness about homeopathy at government level through face-to-face meetings, MP briefings, submissions to select committees and responses to consultation documents.
The department also promotes homeopathy and The Society through its regular contact with the public, the media, other complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) organisations and in particular, the annual Homeopathy Awareness Week, originally established by The Society in 1999 and now a nationwide event.
The Society’s Education Department has been working in partnership with course providers for the past 15 years to give recognition to courses that have a high standard of education in homeopathy.
These departments offer support and advice to all members from the moment they join as students through to becoming fully registered and beyond.
The Professional Conduct Department provides support and advice in relation to any issues which may arise with your patients as well as any concerns raised by members of the public.
The overall aim of this department is to increase knowledge and understanding in the field of homeopathy and to make a distinctive contribution to the availability, quality and effectiveness of homeopathic care.
The Society is governed by a member-elected Board of Directors, who are all practising homeopaths and led by the Chair of the Board (currently Jayne Thomas). The Board is responsible for the overall governance of The Society whilst it delegates the day-to-day operation of the organisation to its Chief Executive (currently Paula Ross) and staff team.
The Society of Homeopaths has two further companies in its group: HETRA Ltd and TradCo Ltd.
HETRA (The Homeopathic Education, Training & Research Agency) runs conferences, seminars, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) workshops and educational activities.
TradCo is The Society’s Trading Company, offering a wide range of affordable homeopathic and practice-support merchandise to homeopaths and the public alike.
The Society of Homeopaths Ltd is a Company Limited by Guarantee (Registered No. 01392004). It is also a not-for-profit organisation, which means that rather than having any shareholders expecting dividends, we reinvest any surplus straight back into the company to support our members.
For information about The Society download our Make your mark leaflet.
The Society Logo
The Society's logo of a single snake curled around a staff is a stylised version of the rod and staff of Asclepius, the Greek God of medicine and healing. His symbol was a wingless staff with a single snake coiled around it.
In the past The Society logo has been referred to as the Caduceus, also known as the Rod of Hermes. The Greek god Hermes was actually associated with trade and commerce and his symbol showed twin snakes curled around a winged staff. Despite this, the Caduceus gradually replaced the Rod of Asclepius as a medical symbol.
Asclepius was the son of Apollo and Coronis. The centaur Chiron taught Asclepius how to treat the sick, mainly using herbs. Asclepius had two sons who were doctors and accompanied Agamemnon to Troy. His daughter Hygeia was the goddess of health, and another daughter Panacea was the restorer of health and provider of medicines.
According to the Bible, Numbers Chapter 21, God sent a plague of snakes to punish the Israelites in the desert. So Moses created a serpent of brass, placed it on a pole and used it to cure those who had been bitten. An early snake remedy perhaps?
The most interesting of the many other symbolic interpretations is that a staff and snakes represent the energy channels of the body.
