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Homeopathy 2026; 115(01): 001-003
DOI: 10.1055/a-2753-1452
Guest Editorial

HRI Greece 2025—Innovation, Integration and the Future of Homeopathy Research

Authors

  • E. Rachel Roberts

    1   Homeopathy Research Institute, London, United Kingdom

  • Fleur Kortekaas

    1   Homeopathy Research Institute, London, United Kingdom

  • Alexander L. Tournier

    1   Homeopathy Research Institute, London, United Kingdom
    2   Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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In June 2025, the Homeopathy Research Institute (HRI) held its sixth international research conference, in Thessaloniki, Greece, with more than 200 delegates from 25 countries in attendance at this fully in-person event.

Much of HRI's work is focused on communicating and collaborating with those outside the homeopathy sector, including scientists in conventional biomedical fields, policy-makers, medical practitioners and the public. This context makes the HRI conferences a very special, contrasting element of the Institute's work.

Once every 2 years, for 3 days, the ‘noise’ surrounding the topic of homeopathy is deliberately shut out, creating a space in which scientists and clinicians who have dedicated their careers to exploring homeopathic medicine can focus fully on the task at hand—advancing the science to better understand how this modality works, and to clarify the potential benefits it holds for patients. Being the sixth event in the ‘Cutting Edge Research in Homeopathy’ series,[1] expectations for HRI Greece 2025 were high. It was therefore rewarding to see that the conference exceeded expectations,[2] both in terms of the high scientific quality of the academic program[3] and the exceptional networking opportunities that are crucial for fuelling future homeopathy research.

Perhaps the most striking impression from HRI Greece 2025 was the palpable sense of optimism and forward momentum. The substantial international participation reflected a sector that is not defensive about its legitimacy, but rather confidently exploring new frontiers. The tone was notably different from that of the early days of HRI conferences, when the main objective was simply to demonstrate that homeopathy research existed. By contrast, HRI Greece 2025 showcased a research community that has moved beyond justifying its existence and is instead focused on innovation, methodological rigour and real-world applications[3]—a shift that is exciting to witness and bodes well for the future.

This innovation-focused energy was exemplified by research exploring how homeopathic prescribing itself can be enhanced: how can we ensure that clinical practice is based on the most reliable data using traditional methods, while simultaneously harnessing modern tools to improve prescribing accuracy?[2] [3]

What emerged from multiple presentations is a vision of homeopathic practice that honours its foundations, while actively embracing progress. Rigorous, scientifically sound ‘provings’ provide the reliable, raw data of the materia medica that fundamentally underpins the accuracy of homeopathic prescribing; modern analytical tools help practitioners navigate these data more effectively, identifying patterns and informing decisions with unprecedented precision. Thus, technology has the potential to support, rather than replace, the essential human patient–practitioner dynamic at the core of prescribing, particularly in chronic cases.

A notable theme across the academic sessions was the exploration of homeopathy's role in tackling pressing public health challenges. Antimicrobial resistance was a key example, with data suggesting that homeopathy has the potential to reduce antibiotic dependence, highlighting its concrete clinical relevance.[4] [5] Mental health applications also featured prominently, with presentations on depression, tobacco addiction and alcohol-use disorder[3]—all conditions where conventional treatment options often fall short and where patients actively seek complementary treatments.

The rapid expansion of agrohomeopathy research and its integration within the ‘One Health’ framework[6] was also of note. Just 2 years earlier, at HRI London 2023, agrohomeopathy was barely on the radar for most conference attendees; in Greece, this topic warranted a dedicated plenary session and two keynote presentations from Brazil.

Two innovations at HRI Greece 2025 also merit particular attention: the second Forum for Young Researchers (FYR) workshop, being a sign of progress for youthful investigators having their own organisation so they can network and create a thriving community, and the launch of the first HRI Poster Competition. The winning poster, exploring the application of homeopathy in viniculture, and various presentations from the FYR members, demonstrated the high calibre of work already being contributed by the next generation of homeopathy researchers.[6] [7]

Taking a step back to consider in-sector debate around homeopathy research, HRI Greece 2025 clearly demonstrated that, due to the evolution of research approaches and tools, homeopathy can now be investigated effectively using the same methodologies used in other fields of biomedical research. No study design is perfect, but with the appropriate choice of method for the question being asked, plus the use of existing ‘add-on’ or adaptation guidelines for homeopathy studies, the tools exist to capture the effects of homeopathic treatment, despite its complexity.[8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]

HRI is committed to exploring homeopathy using such approaches: for example, multi-dimensional quality-of-life questionnaires that are inherently well-suited to capturing the wide-ranging effects seen after administration of homeopathic medicines.[15] [16] At the same time, HRI welcomes efforts to develop new approaches that go further in attempting to capture the full effects of holistic interventions such as homeopathy.

The conference program illustrated this balanced approach, a key example being Professor Ubiratan Adler's n-of-1 crossover study for depression.[17] This was of particular interest, as this design is considered to be at a high level of the evidence hierarchy, yet involves delivery of individualised ‘classical’ homeopathic treatment in a similar way to everyday practice.[8]

The HRI Greece 2025 program also demonstrates HRI's ongoing commitment to high-quality research. Not favoring any particular topic or design, the Institute's aim is to support rigorous investigation of all types, from fundamental/basic research, to agrohomeopathy, veterinary and clinical research. Furthermore, within the field of clinical research, the full spectrum of available methods is valued, as they offer different, yet complementary, insights into homeopathy.

Case reports, case series, observational studies, pragmatic trials, qualitative trials, randomised placebo-controlled trials, mixed-methods studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses—each serves a distinct purpose; each has inherent strengths and limitations; and each contributes a unique component to the evidence base as a whole. This concept of quality and diversity is deliberately reflected in the HRI conference programmes.

On a practical note, HRI is frequently asked why our conferences are not hybrid. While this approach would potentially increase dissemination, it also restricts the information that can be shared by presenters due to confidentiality issues, hindering scientific exchange.

We were delighted to see that HRI Greece 2025 proved, once again, that this approach pays dividends, with open sharing of scientific developments by teams from around the world and creation of multiple new collaborations during those three intensive days.[3] We are therefore committed to creating our next fully in-person homeopathy research conference, to be held in Europe, in June 2027.

Finally, as we reflect on HRI Greece 2025 within the broader context of global initiatives, it is important to note that the themes of integration and innovation identified within the HRI conference program are remarkably well aligned with the World Health Organization's global strategy 2025 to 2034 for traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM).[18] This strategy emphasises evidence-based TCIM integration and calls explicitly for ‘the development of research methodologies appropriate to complex, holistic and individualised approaches’.[19] [20]

Such close alignment of in-sector priorities with those of the World Health Organization reflects the homeopathy research sector's increased maturity—a development that was clearly evident in Greece. We witnessed a field that has evolved from defending its right to exist, to confidently exploring new territories with methodological sophistication and practical relevance. The road ahead undoubtedly holds challenges: persistent resistance from those who refuse to examine the evidence objectively will continue, as will the need for larger, well-funded studies to consolidate emerging findings.[21] However, if HRI Greece 2025 has demonstrated anything, it is that the homeopathy research sector possesses the talent, rigour and determination to meet these challenges head-on.

Notes

Full proceedings from HRI Greece 2025 can be found in this issue of Homeopathy, including all abstracts[3] and a conference report.[2] Filmed presentations can be viewed free of charge at www.HRIGreece2025.org. Presentations from all previous HRI conferences are also available at www.hri-research.org/resources/hri-conferences/




Publication History

Article published online:
03 February 2026

© 2026. Faculty of Homeopathy. This article is published by Thieme.

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