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 three more editions during the next four decades (1941, 1964, and the last hardbound edition, the 8th, in 1978). In 1974, the AIH published a companion volume, the Compendium of Homeotheapeutics with an extensive list of additional substances utilized in homeopathic practice. 

In 1980, the Homœopathic Pharmacopoeia Convention of the United States (HPCUS) was incorporated as a separate tax exempt organization with the focus of updating and continuing publication of the HPUS. The Convention published the Eighth Edition, Supplement A in 1982, which contained updated manufacturing procedures and general good manufacturing practices along with other information about the Convention. 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 official Homœopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States shifted to an on-line resource only and has since been available only by electronic subscription.  This allows updates to occur throughout the years on an as-needed basis. It is estimated 40-50% of the content of the official HPUS has been updated and revised since the it has become an on-line official reference. The HPCUS provides a free email notification service to notify interested parties when information is updated. Subscribers can then refer to their subscription to determine how the updates might impact products and labeling. 

The HPUS is published with all rights reserved and with clear terms of use. Copyright under the Universal Copyright Convention and the International Copyright Convention.  Copyright reserved under the Pan-American Copyright Convention. Library of Congress Catalog Number 88-83899.