Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Medicine can be frightening. After being bombarded with new drugs, new combinations, new therapies, new doctors and even potentially a new health care system, it is all too easy to succumb to the superficial appeal of alternative methodologies of medicine.
But instead of hastily subscribing to a non-conventional medication, the true efficacy and characteristics should be explored to decide whether this therapy can actually be beneficial. Homeopathy is one such alternative to conventional medicine. It may be appealing on the surface, but it lacks any basis in science or evidence.
The practice of homeopathy is this: a patient comes in with a certain list of symptoms, such as headache, vomiting, etc. In order to correct this, the homeopath uses the so-called Law of Similars (which is not an established scientific law). This is the idea that the same chemicals that can cause the symptoms can also be used to treat them. The practitioner then takes the chemicals that can induce headaches or vomiting and dilutes them in huge proportions essentially removing all active ingredients. This final diluted homeopathic remedy is sold to the patient to cure the illness.
Homeopathy is certainly not natural (not that the term natural has any bearing on health), but, rather, is a bizarre, scientifically-unsupported process. The rationale for the therapy relies upon the homeopathic belief called the Law of Infinitesimals (again, not a true scientific law), the idea that the more diluted a substance is, the more powerful it becomes.
This principle violates centuries of chemistry and physics research and is positively absurd in the context of modern advances in chemistry. It even defies the dose-dependent method of treatment that pharmacists have established since the beginnings of medicine. To base an entire philosophy of medicine on something so scientifically implausible is both foolish and dangerous. On top of that, the best methodological reviews of the scientific research show that homeopathic remedies are statistically indistinguishable from placebos.
Although, theoretically, homeopathic remedies are essentially diluted to nothing, they still do pose many risks to the consumer. For
instance, there have been cases of arsenic toxicity in patients who took improperly prepared homeopathic remedies. Furthermore, some over-the-counter pharmacy supplements claim to be homeopathic, but in fact do contain dangerous levels of chemicals. The homeopathic cold remedy Zicam was recalled by the Food and Drug Administration after concerns that the high levels of zinc could permanently damage a person’s sense of smell.
Even the true and well-prepared homeopathic remedies pose a real danger to consumers. Although these may be biologically inert, they draw patients in with false hope and remove them from real treatments and help that conventional medicine can provide. Some homeopaths even advocate that their patients reject vaccines, antibiotics and cancer drugs. This abducts patients away from potentially lifesaving help from doctors and treatments.
On the surface, homeopathy has a meticulous methodology and alluring treatments. But after scrutiny of the scientific evidence behind it, it has little value to consumers. Although homeopathic treatments are diluted, its proponents are the ones truly deluded.
— Folmsbee is a senior from Topeka in neurobiology.
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Comments
Folmsbee: Homeopathy is nothing more than a delusion of dilution
Everyone knows homeopathy is a fraud. Different cures for different diseases? Please. It's caused by an imbalance of humors. First you have to get the patient to sweat, if that doesn't re-balance their humors, you need to induce vomiting. If that doesn't work, you need to bleed the patient. No need for these specific medicines. The pharmaceutical-industrial complex is conspiring with the American Medical Association to take money from us for unnecessary procedures and "medicines" when simple home remedies like leeches do much better. I'm proud of you, Folmsbee, for exposing this fraud.
Folmsbee: Homeopathy is nothing more than a delusion of dilution
I believe all of these so-called 'ailments' can be traced directly back to one's chakras not being in order. Homeopathy though...that is just nuts.
Folmsbee: Homeopathy is nothing more than a delusion of dilution
thanku: I am jacob samuel from INDIA, AND NOT FROM GERMANY AND NOT by means of DR. SAMUEL CHRISTIAN FREDERICK HANNEMANN, AND I am not of a son of DR.SAMUEL HANNEMANN, and keenly looked to hearing some positiveness from any side.Now I am taking for chance to head or peep into the real case which repeatedly done in HOMOEOPATHY medication.The real case is not by the gentleman above mentioned either he is of a catract person or short-sighted man or drug addicted person or drunkard. SIMILIAE SIMILIBUS CURANTE IS NOT BY HOMOEOPATHY BUT BEFORE 2000YEARS AGO FROM DR. SAMUEL HANNEMANN AND THIS FATHER ONLY AFTERMATH OF DECENSY.I am a true christian and true-spoken man and a dedicated true disciple of DR. SAMUEL HANNEMANN.
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