The manufacture of homeopathic and anthroposophic medicinal products is governed by regulations that determine standards equivalent to those of the conventional pharmaceutical industry. Standard substances and production processes are described in specific and official Pharmacopoeias (pharmaceutical compendia), in particular the European Pharmacopoeia (PharmEur), the German Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia (HAB) or the homeopathic part of the Pharmacopée Française (PhF). Licensed homeopathic and anthroposophic medicines comply with the rules of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) as stipulated by the World Health Organisation and in European and national pharmaceutical legislation.

There are two parts to the process for manufacturing homeopathic medicinal products.

Typically, homeopathic medicinal products are based on source materials of vegetable, animal, human and mineral origin. From these source materials, a suitable pharmaceutical agent or a dilution is made, which for vegetable and animal materials, is known as a ‘mother tincture’. The mother tincture is serially diluted and ‘succussed’ (shaken vigorously and impacted), thus enhancing the medicine’s curative properties. From solid substances, a ‘trituration’ is made – the pharmaceutical agent is ground and diluted with lactose. The trituration is then serially diluted up to a certain level of dilution, after which it is also serially diluted and succussed. This process of serial dilution is known as potentisation. The more dilute the agent, the higher the potency.

The manufacturing process for anthroposophic medicinal products involves both typical homeopathic and specific anthroposophic pharmaceutical procedures, which involve heating and rhythmic processes. They are based on ingredients grown to the highest organic standards and harvested in synergy with the natural world.

Good Manufacturing Practice ensures that both homeopathic and anthroposophic traditions are supported by modern quality control procedures at each stage of the manufacturing process. As with any pharmaceutical product, each product released onto the market can be traced back to the manufacturing facility, the specific batch in which it was made and the date on which it was manufactured.  Likewise, the raw material can also be traced back to its origin.

Pharmacovigilance
Licensed homeopathic and anthroposophic medicines with authorised therapeutic indications are monitored through standard Pharmacovigilance (surveillance of product safety) procedures. This includes the assessment of reports on the safety of ingredients.