Disposal of Unused Medicine is Not a Problem for Users of Homeopathy

I recently received my copy of the quarterly communication from the Washington County Board of Commissioners. The front page story caught my eye, as I suppose it was designed to do.

The headline read, “Unused Medication Collection Process Is Growing.” It was full of information about the program that has been created in Washington County, how to use it, the dangers of flushing medications or disposing of them in the trash, drug abuse that can occur with unused medications and the most frequently abused drugs, and what Washington County intends to do with these drugs, if anything. 

I got to thinking that there are no guidelines or regulations in disposing of homeopathic remedies, because there is no reason to have any regulations.  For that matter, there is really no reason to dispose of homeopathic remedies. 

Unlike over the counter and prescription medications:

• Homeopathic remedies do not need to be disposed of.  They keep indefinitely.  The ones you buy at the store still work long after their supposed expiration date has passed.  I have had personal success using a remedy that had an expiration date of October '97 printed on the little blue tube. Also, they do not spoil.
• Homeopathic remedies are not addictive. There is no incentive to abuse remedies.  There is no potential high from taking a remedy. 
• Homeopathic remedies don’t have a “black” market.
• Homeopathic remedies don’t need to be burned in a specially licensed incinerator.  (Licensed or not, burning these drugs is of questionable safety, according to a source close to this topic.)
• Homeopathic remedies are not harmful to the environment, either in the manufacturing process or the disposal process.  There is no concern about wildlife or fish developing an extra gill or leg because someone unknowingly threw away a remedy bottle.  (Don’t even get me started on the damage to the environment from manufacturing pharmaceuticals.)
• Since many remedies can have hundreds of uses, you can possibly use the remedies for something different in the future.  Just because the retail bottle has a pathology printed on the label doesn’t mean that is the only thing it helps.  Indeed, it may not even help that printed pathology for you, but it may help your friend if he or she has that problem.
• It is okay to share your acute remedies with your friends.  If your friend injures him or herself, you can safely give him or her Arnica from your remedy collection with no fear of an allergic reaction or a side effect.
• According the article, the AARP reports that 75% of people age 45 or older take an average of four prescription medications daily.  (WOW!!!!  No wonder it costs businesses so much to offer health care insurance to their employees.  The drug companies must love that.)  In Classical homeopathy, we use one remedy at a time. 

So do yourself, the county and the environment a favor.  Next time you need health care, see a homeopath, get a remedy.  You will heal yourself, save money, save the county money and keep the environment safe.