How does that have anything to do with treating disease? After all, bloodletting went on for thousands of years, and at one time the notion that the earth was the center of the universe was quite popular.
But science is not a popularity contest. While the tenets of homeopathy are marinated in pseudoscience, homeopaths can conceivably serve a useful function. They ask a plethora of caring questions and lend a sympathetic ear, both processes that can translate to a reduction in stress and anxiety.
But problems can arise if the homeopath does not recognize a medical condition that is amenable to treatment by conventional medicine. There are plenty of such cases, with a classic one being the case of Penelope Dingle of Australia whose tragic death has been attributed to foregoing proper care in favour of homeopathic treatment It is edifying to consider the use of a specific homeopathic remedy such as Natrum Muriaticum.
Among other medical conditions, it is used in homeopathy to treat migraines, pain, weakness and unusual weight loss. Not necessarily benign conditions. The best results are said to be obtained with high potency preparations such as 30C or higher.
One grain of salt dissolved in all the water on earth would not get you near a 30C dilution. In any case, using the homeopathic concept, salt is dissolved in pure water which is then sequentially diluted and succussed.
And what will it do with that memory? Imprint it on a sugar pill? And then somehow, as the water evaporates, for the final pill contains no water, that imprint is left behind, unaffected by whatever impurities the sugar may have contained, or by the sugar molecules themselves. A patient then swallows this pill with water that must harbour all kinds of molecular images with which it was stamped as it rampaged through rivers, flowed over waterfalls and was flushed down toilets, including that of salt.
When the pill enters the stomach, the sugar dissolves, and somehow the aura of the salt it had carried is liberated. This aura must be different from all the other auras of salt that cruise through our body generated by the salt we eat, otherwise there would be no need for the homeopathic version.
And then what happens? Does this aura multiply so that it can be carried around the bloodstream so that it can get to where the problem is? And once it gets there, how does it perform a therapeutic function? If there is to be some benefit, there must be some sort of biochemical change, since everything that happens in the body is the result of some sort of chemical activity. So we must therefore conclude that this baffling, mysterious aura of salt, devoid of any mass, devoid of any evidence for its existence, has engaged in a chemical reaction.
This is a plundering of science to support a nonsensical idea. Consider an analogy. Suppose you have a theory that the crowing of a rooster brings on the light of dawn. It flies in the face of everything known about science, but you are bent on proving you are correct. Then you come across a phenomenon known as sonoluminescene that can be readily reproduced in the laboratory.
The sound of a high intensity ultrasonic horn immersed in a bubbly liquid causes some of the bubbles to burst and emit flashes of light. Please update your billing details here. Please update your billing information. The subscription details associated with this account need to be updated. Please update your billing details here to continue enjoying your subscription. Your subscription will end shortly. Please update your billing details here to continue enjoying your access to the most informative and considered journalism in the UK.
Homeopathy uses a different diagnostic system for assigning treatments to individuals and recognizes clinical patterns of signs and symptoms that are different from those of conventional medicine. According to the National Health Interview Survey, which included a comprehensive survey on the use of complementary health approaches by Americans, an estimated 5 million adults and 1 million children used homeopathy in the previous year.
The survey also reported that although about 1. A analysis of data from this survey suggests that most adults who use homeopathic products self-prescribe them for colds and musculoskeletal pain. In , the U. Federal Trade Commission FTC announced it will hold efficacy and safety claims for over-the-counter homeopathic drugs to the same standard as those for other products making similar claims.
It further stated that companies must have the competent and reliable scientific evidence the FTC requires for health-related claims, including claims that a product can treat specific conditions. In December , the U. Food and Drug Administration FDA proposed a new risk-based enforcement approach to homeopathic products. The proposed approach would call for more careful scrutiny of products with the greatest potential for risk, including:.
However, it is important to note that studies included in the assessment of evidence were required to meet a number of rigorous criteria e. In total, 57 systematic reviews that contained individual studies were included in this assessment. A new review of evidence by the Australian government is currently underway.
Homeopathy is a controversial topic. A number of the key concepts underlying the theory of homeopathy are not consistent with fundamental scientific concepts as we understand them. However, recent research has begun to examine physical attributes of these preparations to determine if it will be possible to characterize them in the future. To learn more about vaccines visit www.
Homeopathic products are regulated as drugs under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and are subject to the same requirements related to approval, adulteration, and misbranding as other drug products. There are currently no homeopathic products approved by the FDA. The revised draft guidance proposes a comprehensive, risk-based enforcement approach to homeopathic products marketed without FDA approval. Laws regulating the practice of homeopathy in the United States vary from state to state.
Usually, individuals licensed to practice medicine or another health care profession can legally practice homeopathy. In some states, nonlicensed professionals may practice homeopathy. Arizona, Connecticut, and Nevada are the only states with homeopathic licensing boards for doctors of medicine holders of M.
In 15 states, a section of the naturopathic medical board examinations is on homeopathy. The Clearinghouse does not provide medical advice, treatment recommendations, or referrals to practitioners. Email: info nccih. The FDA oversees the safety of many products, such as foods, medicines, dietary supplements, medical devices, and cosmetics.
See its webpage on Dietary Supplements. The FTC is the Federal agency charged with protecting the public against unfair and deceptive business practices. A key area of its work is the regulation of advertising except for prescription drugs and medical devices.
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