The FDA advised people not to use a nasal gel made by Zicam that after more than 100 people claimed they lost their sense of smell after using the products.
Business was brisk on a recent morning at Homeopathy Works in Berkeley Springs.
One customer, Elaine Ryan, traveled about 60 miles from Front Royal, VA, to stock up on remedies.
“They’re safe, and you use small dosages, they’re quite safe and they’re effective,” Ryan said. “And I’m a chemist, so I would guarantee they work or I wouldn’t be using them.”
Ryan said she goes to a medical doctor for more serious health problems, but since 1971 has found homeopathic remedies effective for a variety of every day ailments.
“For instance, colds, flues, or just problems with the gut you know that you would normally have, the usual simple things,” Ryan said.
Ryan said homeopathic remedies have also worked well with her children and grandchildren.
Homeopathy Works is the storefront and homeopathic museum of a much larger company, Washington Homeopathic Products.
Joe and Linda Lillard of Morgan County bought the 136 year old company in 1991.
Homeopathy has been around since the late 1700’s when German Physician Samuel Hahnemann formulated remedies based on the theory that exposure to small doses of what ails you will help make you better.
For example, the remedy for poison ivy seems to help many people according to Joe Lillard.
“So you make a medicine from poison ivy and make it in a safe level and give it back to the person,” Lillard said. “Many, many people it’ll stop the itching.”
“And actually, over time you just don’t get poison ivy,” Lillard said.
Lillard calls homeopathy a safe, effective system of medicine.
Lillard said the Zicam scare has not affected his business.
He points out that Zicam products never sought approval by the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States, which regulates homeopathic products for the FDA.
One item that graces Homeopathy Works in Berkley Springs is a trophy shaped like a large gold eagle.
The U.S. Small Business Administration gave Lillard the trophy in May when it named him this year’s West Virginia Small Business Person for his work at growing Washington Homeopathy Products.
When the Lillards bought the company 18 years ago it made one type of remedy, had five employees, about 3,000 customers and grossed $150,000.
Today Washington Homeopathic Products offers a wider variety of remedies, has about 35 employees, more than 70,000 customers and grosses around $3 million a year.