Some homeopathy therapies are useful including lemon oil. But IMHO opinion it's usefulness is overblown by it's advocates who seemingly swear it is effecting them in many ways beyond the scope of what is even nearly possible. I call it the "half placebo effect".
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Homeopathy's lack of effectiveness is no surprise
The latest findings in Australia add to a series of other studies proving that its preparations have no proven benefits to patients
Drawers containing homeopathic remedies. Several studies have found no proof that they can offer treatment.
Drawers containing homeopathic remedies. Several studies have found no proof that they can offer treatment. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
Ian Sample, science editor
@iansample
Wednesday 11 March 2015 13.39 EDT Last modified on Thursday 12 March 2015 07.40 EDT
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Homeopathy began in the 18th century with a German doctor called Samuel Hahnemann. Peeved that medical treatments, such as blood letting, were not as kind to patients as they might be, he began the search for alternatives. He struck on cinchona bark. The Peruvian plant product was taken as a remedy for malaria, but how it worked was a mystery. Fit and healthy, Hahnemann took some and noticed he broke out in fever. He reasoned that what caused fever cured fever. From that sole experience he established one of the central tenets of homeopathy: that like cures like.
Nature has been humanity’s greatest source of medicines and cinchona was soon to join them. Scientists established that whatever eating the bark might do to the body, it was the quinine in the plant matter that was antimalarial. However, Hahnemann stuck to his guns, and he went on to reach a second conviction, that preparations are more potent the more they are diluted. The popularity of homeopathy rocketed in the early 19th century, with the first dedicated hospital opening in 1832.
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Scientific, and unscientific, studies abound on homeopathy. To date, there is no convincing evidence that like cures like; that water retains a memory of the molecules it once held, as practitioners maintain; or that extreme dilutions of substances have pharmaceutical effects. What studies do show is that homeopathic preparations, and a good chat with someone who emphathises with their patients, can induce a placebo response that makes some people feel better.
Individual studies rarely count for much in medicine. They need to be replicated before they are believed. With this in mind, the Cochrane collaboration assesses medical interventions after pooling results from the highest quality studies published. Since 2008, the organisation has carried out a series of studies which found no good evidence that homeopathy helps flu, chronic asthma, dementia, irritable bowel syndrome, or the induction of labour. They found hints that homeopathy might help some specific skin complaints caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy for cancer, but said that trials needed repeating to confirm any benefit.
In 2010, the Commons science and technology committee published a report on homeopathy and its provision on the National Health Service. It had little time for the central pillars of homeopathy, that like cured like, or that ultra-dilutions retained an imprint of substances previously dissolved in them, calling the latter claim “scientifically implausible”. The report went on to state that there was overwhelming evidence that homeopathic preparations performed no better than placebos.
The report was even more critical of homeopathy being funded by the taxpayer through the NHS, and called on government to cut its support. Providing homeopathy on the NHS damaged trust between patients and doctor, gave patients false assurance by endorsing homeopathy, and contradicted the NHS constitution, which says people have the right to expect that decisions made on drugs and treatments are based on “proper consideration of the evidence”.
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Sugar pills and other homeopathic preparations contain so little that side effects are surely minimal. But homeopathy is not without risks. In 2012, Edzard Ernst, the UK’s outspoken critic of alternative medicines, published a review of harmful effects arising from the use of homeopathic preparations. The study found 1,159 patients ran into problems. Four died. Often taking homeopathy had delayed their treatment with effective medicines, or meant they were never given.
In his book, Trick or Treatment, co-authored with the science writer Simon Singh, Ernst recounts the case of a homeopath who was collaborating with his research team while treating herself for cancer with homeopathy. She died, he believes, because she did not have proper treatment in time. Other patients in Ernst’s study came to harm after experiencing allergic reactions to the preparations they took.
The latest report to write off homeopathy is published by Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council. After an extensive review, it found that “there are no health conditions for which there is reliable evidence that homeopathy is effective”. It went further, adding that homeopathy should not be used to treat health conditions that are chronic, serious, or that could become serious, and warned that people who used the preparations could put their health at risk, by rejecting or delaying more effective medicines. In short, it echoes what the Cochrane collaboration, and the Commons science and technology committee, have already said.
Topics
Medical research Homeopathy Alternative medicine Health & wellbeing NHS Health
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more on this story
Homeopathy not effective for treating any condition, Australian report finds
Report by top medical research body says ‘people who choose homeopathy may put their health at risk if they reject or delay treatments’
10 Mar 2015 4,504 Homeopathy not effective for treating any condition, Australian report finds
comments (348)
This discussion is closed for comments.
Order by Oldest Threads Collapsed
1 2 3
clogexpat 11 Mar 2015 10:57
8
9
The treatments themselves may well have no effect beyond the placebo, but I'm sure that the personal interaction with someone who has time to listen and sympathise contributes to the body's own powers of self-healing. The NHS should perhaps offer bedside manner for free, even for time-wasters.
Report
Nada89 clogexpat 11 Mar 2015 11:27
17
18
'The NHS should perhaps offer bedside manner for free, even for time-wasters' - they already do if you look at data on who thinks they need an ambulance, urgent GP appointment or A&E visit.
http://www.co-operat...e-NHS-millions/
The NHS spends so much time telling people not too worry that those who really do need attention have to wait longer, or put up with brief consultations
Report
chrystophylax clogexpat 11 Mar 2015 11:44
7
8
The NHS should charge a £10 fee per visit to the GP.
You'll soon see how many people needing 'sympathy' can find it elsewhere and not at taxpayers' expense.
Report
Show 14 more replies
mypumas 11 Mar 2015 11:01
15
16
You don't say.
Report
HaveYouFedTheFish mypumas 12 Mar 2015 4:49
9
10
Using the tenet of like curing like, it therefore is rock solid logic that the best treatment for the victim of a car crash is another car crash.
Thats why when i run someone over, i always back up and run over them again. You're welcome.
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Medical research
Homeopathy's lack of effectiveness is no surprise
The latest findings in Australia add to a series of other studies proving that its preparations have no proven benefits to patients
Drawers containing homeopathic remedies. Several studies have found no proof that they can offer treatment.
Drawers containing homeopathic remedies. Several studies have found no proof that they can offer treatment. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
Ian Sample, science editor
@iansample
Wednesday 11 March 2015 13.39 EDT Last modified on Thursday 12 March 2015 07.40 EDT
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via Email Share on LinkedIn Share on Google+
Shares
1,619
Comments
348
Homeopathy began in the 18th century with a German doctor called Samuel Hahnemann. Peeved that medical treatments, such as blood letting, were not as kind to patients as they might be, he began the search for alternatives. He struck on cinchona bark. The Peruvian plant product was taken as a remedy for malaria, but how it worked was a mystery. Fit and healthy, Hahnemann took some and noticed he broke out in fever. He reasoned that what caused fever cured fever. From that sole experience he established one of the central tenets of homeopathy: that like cures like.
Nature has been humanity’s greatest source of medicines and cinchona was soon to join them. Scientists established that whatever eating the bark might do to the body, it was the quinine in the plant matter that was antimalarial. However, Hahnemann stuck to his guns, and he went on to reach a second conviction, that preparations are more potent the more they are diluted. The popularity of homeopathy rocketed in the early 19th century, with the first dedicated hospital opening in 1832.
Advertisement
Scientific, and unscientific, studies abound on homeopathy. To date, there is no convincing evidence that like cures like; that water retains a memory of the molecules it once held, as practitioners maintain; or that extreme dilutions of substances have pharmaceutical effects. What studies do show is that homeopathic preparations, and a good chat with someone who emphathises with their patients, can induce a placebo response that makes some people feel better.
Individual studies rarely count for much in medicine. They need to be replicated before they are believed. With this in mind, the Cochrane collaboration assesses medical interventions after pooling results from the highest quality studies published. Since 2008, the organisation has carried out a series of studies which found no good evidence that homeopathy helps flu, chronic asthma, dementia, irritable bowel syndrome, or the induction of labour. They found hints that homeopathy might help some specific skin complaints caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy for cancer, but said that trials needed repeating to confirm any benefit.
In 2010, the Commons science and technology committee published a report on homeopathy and its provision on the National Health Service. It had little time for the central pillars of homeopathy, that like cured like, or that ultra-dilutions retained an imprint of substances previously dissolved in them, calling the latter claim “scientifically implausible”. The report went on to state that there was overwhelming evidence that homeopathic preparations performed no better than placebos.
The report was even more critical of homeopathy being funded by the taxpayer through the NHS, and called on government to cut its support. Providing homeopathy on the NHS damaged trust between patients and doctor, gave patients false assurance by endorsing homeopathy, and contradicted the NHS constitution, which says people have the right to expect that decisions made on drugs and treatments are based on “proper consideration of the evidence”.
Advertisement
Sugar pills and other homeopathic preparations contain so little that side effects are surely minimal. But homeopathy is not without risks. In 2012, Edzard Ernst, the UK’s outspoken critic of alternative medicines, published a review of harmful effects arising from the use of homeopathic preparations. The study found 1,159 patients ran into problems. Four died. Often taking homeopathy had delayed their treatment with effective medicines, or meant they were never given.
In his book, Trick or Treatment, co-authored with the science writer Simon Singh, Ernst recounts the case of a homeopath who was collaborating with his research team while treating herself for cancer with homeopathy. She died, he believes, because she did not have proper treatment in time. Other patients in Ernst’s study came to harm after experiencing allergic reactions to the preparations they took.
The latest report to write off homeopathy is published by Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council. After an extensive review, it found that “there are no health conditions for which there is reliable evidence that homeopathy is effective”. It went further, adding that homeopathy should not be used to treat health conditions that are chronic, serious, or that could become serious, and warned that people who used the preparations could put their health at risk, by rejecting or delaying more effective medicines. In short, it echoes what the Cochrane collaboration, and the Commons science and technology committee, have already said.
Topics
Medical research Homeopathy Alternative medicine Health & wellbeing NHS Health
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via Email Share on LinkedIn Share on Google+
more on this story
Homeopathy not effective for treating any condition, Australian report finds
Report by top medical research body says ‘people who choose homeopathy may put their health at risk if they reject or delay treatments’
10 Mar 2015 4,504 Homeopathy not effective for treating any condition, Australian report finds
comments (348)
This discussion is closed for comments.
Order by Oldest Threads Collapsed
1 2 3
clogexpat 11 Mar 2015 10:57
8
9
The treatments themselves may well have no effect beyond the placebo, but I'm sure that the personal interaction with someone who has time to listen and sympathise contributes to the body's own powers of self-healing. The NHS should perhaps offer bedside manner for free, even for time-wasters.
Report
Nada89 clogexpat 11 Mar 2015 11:27
17
18
'The NHS should perhaps offer bedside manner for free, even for time-wasters' - they already do if you look at data on who thinks they need an ambulance, urgent GP appointment or A&E visit.
http://www.co-operat...e-NHS-millions/
The NHS spends so much time telling people not too worry that those who really do need attention have to wait longer, or put up with brief consultations
Report
chrystophylax clogexpat 11 Mar 2015 11:44
7
8
The NHS should charge a £10 fee per visit to the GP.
You'll soon see how many people needing 'sympathy' can find it elsewhere and not at taxpayers' expense.
Report
Show 14 more replies
mypumas 11 Mar 2015 11:01
15
16
You don't say.
Report
HaveYouFedTheFish mypumas 12 Mar 2015 4:49
9
10
Using the tenet of like curing like, it therefore is rock solid logic that the best treatment for the victim of a car crash is another car crash.
Thats why when i run someone over, i always back up and run over them again. You're welcome.
Report Close report comment form
Reason (optional)
Email (optional)
Report
View more comments
popular
More stories from around the web Promoted content by Outbrain
Solar Panels Are Cheaper Than Ever, So Why Aren’t You Getting Them?
Realtor.com
9 Frightening Airplane Facts Your Pilot Won’t Tell You
Travel Versed
Shell is chasing a white whale in the Arctic
The Seattle Times
8 Science Fiction Movies That Accurately Predicted the Future
Tech Cheat Sheet
What The Color of Your Urine Says About You (Infographic)
Cleveland Clinic
21 Women So Beautiful They Put Nature To Shame
Wandering Pioneer
Recommended by
The Guardian back to top
home
US
world
opinion
sports
soccer
tech
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all
science
› medical research
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