Publication History

Home / Publication History

Go Back

Publication History of the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States

The Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States (HPUS) has been in continuous publication since 1897, when it was first published by the Committee on Pharmacy of the American Institute of Homeopathy.

However, the original HPUS built upon a prior history of publications that all focused on standards for homeopathic drug products. The very first proto-pharmacopeia for homeopathic products was written in Germany by Caspari in 1825. This was followed by a first formal pharmacopeia produced in Germany by Buchner & Gruner in 1841. This latter work, combined with information by Jahr from French sources and contributions by Dr. Charles Hempel, became the basis for the first text produced in America: New Homeopathic Pharmacopeia and Posology, or The Mode of Preparing Homeopathic Remedies and the Administration of Doses (1850).

The British Homeopathic Pharmacopeia followed in 1870. Then Wilmar Schwabe published (1872) the Pharmacopeia Homeopathica Polyglotta; this huge undertaking resulted in a five language (German, English, French, Italian, Spanish) side-by-side listing of substances and methods. The American edition of this work in 1880 gave specific production instructions in English for the first time.

The Boericke & Tafel Company published its first edition of their American Homeopathic Pharmacopeia in 1882. This in-house reference and catalogue was subsequently published through ten additional editions over the course of three decades.

Already in 1868, the American Institute of Homeopathy (AIH) formed its Committee to produce a Dispensatory, chaired by Carroll Dunham. Progress was slow, possibly because the medical doctors had other priorities before them. The impetus to complete and publish a pharmacopeia gathered steam in the mid 1890s and culminated in the first publication of the Pharmacopoeia Of The American Institute Of Homeopathy in 1897. A second edition in 1901, was the first entitled “Homœopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States”. It is historically interesting to note that both were produced prior to the passage to the Federal Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906. Three more editions followed with the Fifth published the year of the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1938. That federal law recognized the HPUS as the legal standard for the manufacture of homeopathic drug products. The AIH published two more editions during the next four decades followed by Supplement A in 1978.

In 1980, the Homœopathic Pharmacopoeia Convention of the United States (HPCUS) was incorporated with a focus to update and continue publication of the HPUS. The Convention published the Eighth Edition in 1982, which was the last hardbound volume. Over the next two decades, the HPUS was published in loose-leaf binder format making it possible to provide subscribers with annual updates, rather than awaiting hard cover editions which had averaged 10 years between printings.

Beginning in 2004, the HPUS shifted to an on-line resource only and is available by electronic subscription. This allows updates to occur throughout the year on an as-needed basis. The HPCUS provides a free email notification service to inform interested persons when information is updated. Subscribers can then refer to their subscription to determine how the updates might impact their products and labeling.

Copyright history

Copyright, 1897:

Original publication name of the pharmacopeia:

Pharmacopoeia of The American Institute Of Homeopathy

Published by the Pharmacopoeia Convention of the American Institute Of Homeopathy

Otis Clapp and Son, Agents, No. 10 Park Square, Boston.

Copyright, 1901: