The ABCs of Homeopathy

This guide is the part of a series exploring "alternative" therapies.

According to the National Center for Homeopathy (NCH) homeopathy is a system of medicine based on the Law of Similars, or the Latin phrase, "similia similibus curentur," or "let likes cure likes," or perhaps the more familiar, "a hair of the dog that bit you" to cure a hangover (though I doubt that's what founder Samuel Hahnemann had in mind when he developed the system in the early 19th century).

At a very simple level, it differs from "allopathy" or conventional medicine in that it attempts to stimulate the body to recover itself and aims for a cure instead of controlling symptoms. For example, while an allopath would recommend a cough suppressant as you're hacking away, a homeopath would give you a remedy that in fact causes a cough in a healthy person to stimulate the body's natural healing process. Homeopathic medicines are derived from plants, minerals, animals and chemicals and widely available.

Some MDs are making the switch to the "homeopathic way." New Homeopath, "an MD making a transformation from traditionally trained internist to MD-homeopath," is on one such journey.

Know More About Homeopathy has a detailed post titled, "How to Select and Use Homeopathic Medicines." Steps include keeping a record of your symptoms, treating simple ailments and frequency of dosage.

Pippet's Place tried a homeopathic detox with dramatic effects.

Ask Me How it Works, the blog of a Ph.D. and biochemistry professor, who is "in love with molecules and how they work," posts about why homeopathic remedies can't hurt you.

Klancy's Potluck, the blog of a pastry chef "who alternates [her time] between Paris, Philadelphia, and New York City" and recently appeared on Food Network's "Recipe for Success," posts her favorite homeopathic remedy and a fantastic ingredient list for chicken soup.

A homeopathic doctor can be found here.

Related guides:

Comments

Malaria

The Society of Homeopaths (SoH) are a shambles and a bad joke. It is now over a year since Sense about Science, Simon Singh and the BBC Newsnight programme exposed how it is common practice for high street homeopaths to tell customers that their magic pills can prevent malaria. The Society of Homeopaths have done diddly-squat to stamp out this dangerous practice apart from issue a few ambiguously weasel-worded press statements.

The SoH has a code of practice, but my feeling is that this is just a smokescreen and is widely flouted and that the Society do not care about this. If this is true, then the code of practice is nothing more than a thin veneer used to give authority and credibility to its deluded members. It does nothing more than fool the public into thinking they are dealing with a regulated professional.

As a quick test, I picked a random homeopath with a web site from the SoH register to see if they flouted a couple of important rules:

48 • Advertising shall not contain claims of superiority.
• No advertising may be used which expressly or implicitly claims to cure named diseases.

72 To avoid making claims (whether explicit or implied; orally or in writing) implying cure of any named disease.

The homeopath I picked on is called Julia Wilson and runs a practice from the Leicestershire town of Market Harborough. What I found rather shocked and angered me.

Straight away, we find that Julia M Wilson LCHE, RSHom specialises in asthma and works at a clinic that says,

Many illnesses and disease can be successfully treated using homeopathy, including arthritis, asthma, digestive disorders, emotional and behavioural difficulties, headaches, infertility, skin and sleep problems.

Well, there are a number of named diseases there to start off. She also gives a leaflet that advertises her asthma clinic. The advertising leaflet says,

Conventional medicine is at a loss when it comes to understanding the origin of allergies. … The best that medical research can do is try to keep the symptoms under control. Homeopathy is different, it seeks to address the triggers for asthma and eczema. It is a safe, drug free approach that helps alleviate the flaring of skin and tightening of lungs…

Now, despite the usual homeopathic contradiction of claiming to treat causes not symptoms and then in the next breath saying it can alleviate symptoms, the advert is clearly in breach of the above rule 47 on advertising as it implicitly claims superiority over real medicine and names a disease.

Asthma is estimated to be responsible for 1,500 deaths and 74,000 emergency hospital admissions in the UK each year. It is not a trivial illness that sugar pills ought to be anywhere near. The Cochrane Review says the following about the evidence for asthma and homeopathy,

The review of trials found that the type of homeopathy varied between the studies, that the study designs used in the trials were varied and that no strong evidence existed that usual forms of homeopathy for asthma are effective.

This is not a surprise given that homeopathy is just a ritualised placebo. Hopefully, most parents attending this clinic will have the good sense to go to a real accident and emergency unit in the event of a severe attack and consult their GP about real management of the illness. I would hope that Julia does little harm here.

However, a little more research on her site reveals much more serious concerns. She says on her site that ’she worked in Kenya teaching homeopathy at a college in Nairobi and supporting graduates to set up their own clinics’. Now, we have seen what homeopaths do in Kenya before. It is not treating a little stress and the odd headache. Free from strong UK legislation, these missionary homeopaths make the boldest claims about the deadliest diseases.

A bit of web research shows where Julia was working (picture above). The Abha Light Foundation is a registered NGO in Kenya. It takes mobile homeopathy clinics through the slums of Nairobi and surrounding villages. Its stated aim is to,

introduce Homeopathy and natural medicines as a method of managing HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria in Kenya.

I must admit, I had to pause for breath after reading that. The clinic sells its own homeopathic remedies for ‘treating’ various lethal diseases. Its MalariaX potion,

is a homeopathic preparation for prevention of malaria and treatment of malaria. Suitable for children. For prevention. Only 1 pill each week before entering, during and after leaving malaria risk areas. For treatment. Take 1 pill every 1-3 hours during a malaria attack.

This is nothing short of being totally outrageous. It is a murderous delusion. David Colquhoun has been writing about this wicked scam recently and it is well worth following his blog on the issue.

Let’s remind ourselves what one of the most senior and respected homeopaths in the UK, Dr Peter Fisher of the London Homeopathic Hospital, has to say on this matter.

there is absolutely no reason to think that homeopathy works to prevent malaria and you won’t find that in any textbook or journal of homeopathy so people will get malaria, people may even die of malaria if they follow this advice.

Malaria is a huge killer in Kenya. It is the biggest killer of children under five. The problem is so huge that the reintroduction of DDT is considered as a proven way of reducing deaths. Magic sugar pills and water drops will do nothing. Many of the poorest in Kenya cannot afford real anti-malaria medicine, but offering them insane nonsense as a substitute will not help anyone.

Ironically, the WHO has issued a press release today on cheap ways of reducing child and adult mortality due to malaria. Their trials, conducted in Kenya, of using cheap mosquito nets soaked in insecticide have reduced child deaths by 44% over two years. It says that issuing these nets be the ‘immediate priority’ to governments with a malaria problem. No mention of homeopathy. These results were arrived at by careful trials and observation. Science. We now know that nets work. A lifesaving net costs $5. A bottle of useless homeopathic crap costs $4.50. Both are large amounts for a poor Kenyan, but is their life really worth the 50c saving?

I am sure we are going to hear the usual homeopath bleat that this is just a campaign by Big Pharma to discredit unpatentable homeopathic remedies. Are we to add to the conspiracy Big Net manufacturers too?

It amazes me that to add to all the list of ills and injustices that our rich nations impose on the poor of the world, we have to add the widespread export of our bourgeois and lethal healing fantasies. To make a strong point: if we can introduce laws that allow the arrest of sex tourists on their return to the UK, can we not charge people who travel to Africa to indulge their dangerous healing delusions?

At the very least, we could expect the Society of Homeopaths to try to stamp out this wicked practice? Could we?

Submitted by SoH on Thu, 10/11/2007 - 07:23

10 Days to World Homeopathy Awareness Week

10 DAYS TO WHAW!

March 31, 2007

Dear Friends,

Only 10 days until World Homeopathy Awareness week and the launch of the first ever global campaign to raise international awareness about the benefits of homeopathy.

36 countries and leaders of major homeopathic organizations world wide are joining efforts to support this effort.

It's time to tell the world about holistic healing and make homeopathy a household word.

What YOU can do:

1. Join in the discussion! Participate in the "Homeopathy Heals" blog at www.homeopathyheals.us. List your organization (or yourself) as a sponsor or supporter on our blogsite--it's free! Fill out your contact information at www.innerhealth.us/forms/homeopathy-sponsors.html and we will be in touch with more details.

2. Tune into www.homeopathyradio.com on Wednesdays from 1-2 pm EDT to hear Homeopathy Radio LIVE--and call in with your questions and comments at 1-866-472-5792, beginning April 11.

3. Share today's top ten list to your family, friends, patients, and neighbors. They can visit a blog specifically for the homeopathy newcomer at www.homeopathyhealsyou.us.

TOP TEN REASONS TO USE HOMEOPATHY
By Gabrielle Traub

1. NO HARMFUL SIDE EFFECTS
A special preparation process called potentization refines the medicines to remove any toxic side-effects. It is safe for babies and during pregnancy and menopause. However it is advised to be under the care of a qualified homeopathic practitioner if you are pregnant.

2. GENTLE
Homeopathy works by stimulating the body's own natural defense mechanism to heal itself. Although gentle the results may be powerful and long lasting.

3. HOLISTIC
Homeopathy takes into account the whole person. Often only one remedy may address all your complaints.

4. INEXPENSIVE
Homeopathic medicines cost surprisingly less than allopathic prescription medication. The homeopathic medicines are intended to boost the immune system, making you stronger and less likely to get sick.

5. PREVENTATIVE TREATMENT
By boosting the body's immune system, homeopathy can help improve a person's resistance to illness and infections.

6. NO ANIMAL TESTING
Humans respond differently to medication than animals do. All homeopathic medication is tested on healthy humans. The symptoms that a substance taken over time elicits in a healthy person, are shown to be exactly those that can be cured in a sick person suffering from those symptoms.

7. EASY TO TAKE
Homeopathic medicines are given either as small pleasant tasting tablets which dissolve in the mouth, or in liquid form. Granules, powders or drops are available for babies and children.

8. PATIENT INVOLVEMENT
The homeopath will ask many questions, not only about the symptoms which are bothering an individual, but how they react to the condition, as well as wanting to know about general health and lifestyle.

9. INVALUABLE FOR FIRST AID
Homeopathic medicines can be safely used in the home or workplace to treat simple problems-such as bruises, minor burns, sprains, insect bites and gastric upsets. However more serious or chronic complaints should be treated by a qualified practitioner.

10. THE MEDICINE OF THE FUTURE
With over 6000 homeopathic medicines in existence and new homeopathic medicines being discovered all the time, Homeopathy is a growing art. However unlike allopathic medicine that takes drugs off the market every year as new side-effects are discovered, homeopaths still use the same medicines they were using 200 years ago with new medicines to broaden their scope. Scientists are only now discovering breakthroughs in quantum physics that helps us to develop a deeper understanding of homeopathy, as it was used 200 years ago.

For more information on World Homeopathy Awareness Week, visit www.worldhomeopathy.org.

"Spirit is the life.
Mind is the builder.
Physical is the result."
--Edgar Cayce

Celebrating homeopathy,

Melissa Burch, CCH, RsHom(NA)
Classical Homeopath
www.infohomeopathy.com
www.homeopathyradio.com
Melissa Burch, CCH, RsHOM(NA)

Inner Health, Inc.
175 Harvey St., Unit 13
Cambridge, MA 02140
USA
617-491-3374
melissa@innerhealth.us
www.innerhealth.us

Inner Health through
HOMEOPATHY
International Radio Program
1 pm Eastern US Time (17 G Time)
Voice America
Hosted by Melissa Burch with
Tim Stryker, MD
Weekly beginning April 11th
www.homeopathyradio.com

Submitted by mcburch on Sun, 04/01/2007 - 16:05