As homeopathic remedies were rather cheap and not necessary everwhere available many of the lay association had their own homeopathic home care pharmacy kit. With self-care books and with the support of lay naturopath/lay homeopath or a homeopathic physician they were able to provide simple healing methods. Therefore, homeopathy was a good alternative to orthodox medicine. Many lay associations preferred a physician homeopath, but as not enough were available, lay homeopath were also asked. (Faltin p. 301)

Especially, if one considers that the orthodox medicine often used heavy drugs like Heroin or Opium for pacifying, depressions, cough and headaches. Both were prescribed by physicians and distributed by Bayer from 1897 to 1930s.

By 1914, 2% of the Wuerttemberg’s Population (small kingdom inside the German empire which is now part of the state Baden-Wuerttemberg) were members in one of the homeopathic associations. They offered social gatherings, leisure activities and homeopathic knowledge and treatment in form of self-care. About 444 associations were part of the umbrella lay organisation Hahnemannia, founded in Stuttgart in 1868, in the kingdoms of Wuerttemberg and Sachsen.

That means the lay associations were very strong and hence were able to prevent a law against the Kurierfreiheit in 1910 (Faltin p. 226)! In addition they were strong enough to push forward the acceptance, scientification and integration of naturopathy and homeopathy in mainstream medicine.

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