Lessons on Alternative Medicine: Homeopathy
http://www.cwru.edu/med/epidbio/mphp...Healthcare.htm
by Anna Rosenfeld

Homeopathy was used by 3.4% of the population surveyed by Eisenberg,
et al., but only 16.5% of these individuals saw a homeopathic
practitioner[14]. It has been estimated that in total Americans made
1,777,000 visits to homeopaths in 1997[14] and spend over $200 million
annually on homeopathic medications, a figure which grows by
approximately 12% annually[6]. World-wide an estimated $1-5 billion
is spent annually on homeopathic services and medications[6].

The philosophy behind homeopathy is very unique, claiming that highly
diluted concentrations of natural substances can be used to cure each
individual’s illness in its own way[6]. Homeopaths believe that these
highly diluted solutions work via the “law of similars” such that a
substance, which in large amounts would produce the same symptom that
the patient is experiencing (and may even be toxic), in minuscule
quantities incites the body to mount its “life force” or “vital
energy” against the foreign substance, initially resulting in an
intensification of the undesired symptom but ultimately bringing about
its successful resolution[6]. The more dilute a solution, the more
potent, and it is not unusual to find only one drop of substance
diluted by one million drops of water[6].

This unique practice was founded approximately 200 years ago, in the
late 1700s, by Samuel Hahnemann and picked up a great deal of momentum
during the 19th century when the practices of blood-letting, purging,
and patent medicines routinely used by conventional physicians of the
day were considered by many to be undesirable if not outright
dangerous[6]. When the widespread popularity of homeopathy began to
seriously threaten the livelihood of allopathic physicians, allopaths
throughout the country joined together to the form the American
Medical Association (AMA) in an attempt to limit the ability of
homeopaths to practice their alternative medicine[6]. Their efforts
failed, however, and by 1900, with approximately 15% of all US
physicians having graduated from one of the homeopathic medical
schools then located in almost every major city, the AMA granted
recognition to the homeopathic movement[6]. But the victory for
homeopathy was short-lived[6]. With the discovery of antibiotics and
vaccines, more barbaric medical practices fell out of favor and
mainstream medicine became much more palatable to the public[6]. As a
result, homeopathy all but died out, with fewer than 100 homeopathic
physicians practicing in the US in 1970[6].

Although homeopathy has been used to treat such diverse conditions and
symptoms as allergic asthma, hay fever, migraines, childhood diarrhea,
rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia and to decrease the duration of
labor and the time required to recover from trauma, studies on the
perceived benefits are difficult to conduct[6]. Meta-analyses,
published in well-respected journals such as The Lancet and the
British Medical Journal, however, have shown some benefits over
placebo[6].

The FDA regulates the manufacturing and marketing of the over 2,000
different homeopathic medications available for sale in the US[6] .
Approval of these medications, however, tends to be a formality, since
manufacturers are rarely required to provide evidence of safety and
efficacy and most of these preparations can be purchased without a
prescription[6]. Furthermore, only four states provide licensure[15]
whereas the standards by which homeopathic providers are regulated in
the remaining 46 states are quite variable. The Council of
Homeopathic Education has, however, stated that five universities —
three on the West Coast, one in Canada, and one in Europe — meet their
standards for providing adequate training in homeopathic medicine[6].

An initial visit to a homeopath averages $137 with follow-up visits
costing around $55 each[6]. Medications, however, are significantly
less expensive at $3-7 a bottle, and refills are rarely required[6].
Although insurance reimbursement may be available when individuals
consult mainstream practitioners who also practice homeopathy[6],
Eisenberg’s study found that no insurance coverage whatsoever was
provided to those individuals who sought homeopathic services[14].

----------
Referenced Research:

Linde K, Clausius N, Ramirez G.
Are the clinical effects of homeopathy placebo effects? A
meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...&dopt=Abstract
Lancet. 1997 Sep 20;350(9081):834-43. Erratum in: Lancet 1998 Jan
17;351(9097):220. PMID: 9310601

Kleijnen J, Knipschild P, ter Riet G.
Clinical trials of homoeopathy.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...&dopt=Abstract
BMJ. 1991 Feb 9;302(6772):316-23. Erratum in: BMJ 1991 Apr
6;302(6780):818. PMID: 1825800

----------
Andrew Weil Comments:

"Homeopathic practitioners may be MD's, osteopaths, naturopaths,
chiropractors, or lay persons without formal training as health
professionals. My own preference would be to seek out classical
homeopathy from an MD, but I have met a few highly accomplished lay
homeopaths. Homeopathic remedies are now widely sold in both
drugstores and health food stores, another deviation from the
classical system, which requires the expertise of a doctor to pick the
proper remedy for each individual.

Although I cannot explain how homeopathy works in scientific terms, I
have known it to be effective for a diversity of health problems,
including allergies, skin and digestive ailments, rheumatoid
arthritis, ear and upper respiratory infections in children,
gynecological problems, and headaches. Homeopaths often object to
combining their treatment with other types of treatment, especially
allopathic drugs, herbal medicines, and vitamins and supplements.
They also believe that coffee, camphor, mint, and a few other
substances act as antidotes to the remedies and must be avoided once
you begin treatment with this system."
_Spontaneous Healing_
----------
COMMENT:

Homeopathic medicine consist of highly diluted concentrations of
natural substances that are so diluted that simple math indicates that
they are nothing but pure water. Homeopaths believe that these highly
diluted medicines work via the “law of similars” which strikes me as
being practically identical to how vaccinations are supposed to work.

I have found that critics zero in on whether the rationalizations for
why a treatment is supposed to work make any sense or not, whereas
believers *only* zero in on whether or not the treatment worked for
them. Dr. Weil claims to have been cured at least once by a single
dose of homeopathic medicine.
--
John Gohde,
Achieving good Health is an Art, NOT a Science!

Health-with-Attitude is a support group for people
trying to follow a Healthy Lifestyle.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Health-with-Attitude/

Once upon a time, our fellow John 'the Man'
rambled on about "Lessons on Alternative Medicine: Homeopathy."
Our champion De-Medicalizing in sci.med.nutrition retorts, thusly ...

By the way, science geeks, these BMJ and Lancet studies were
favorable about homoeopathy.

Just thought that you might want to know.

Oral EDTA Chelation...for clearing arteries.

Is it safe? Effective? What's the "411" on this stuff?

Once upon a time, our fellow Happy Oyster
rambled on about "Re: Lessons on Alternative Medicine: Homeopathy."
Our champion De-Medicalizing in sci.med.nutrition retorts, thusly ...

To repeat it in terms that even science geeks should be able to
understand: Evidenced-Based Medicine has supported Homeopathy in
those two studies.

Just thought that you might want to know.

On Fri, 17 Oct 2003 20:29:09 GMT, John 'the Man'
<DeMan@fSchulman.com> wrote:

Homeopathy is fraud.

http://www.ariplex.com/ama/ama_home.htm


Homeopaths even use dog-shit as "medicine" :

http://www.ariplex.com/ama/ama_hund.htm


Regards,

Aribert Deckers
--
POLICE - POLIZEI - POLITIE - POLICIA

http://www.ariplex.com/ama/amapolis.htm

On Sat, 18 Oct 2003 04:18:01 GMT, John 'the Man' <DeMan@fulman.com>
wrote:

Not all researchers are not idiots.

Regards,

Aribert Deckers
--
POLICE - POLIZEI - POLITIE - POLICIA

http://www.ariplex.com/ama/amapolis.htm

"Happy Oyster" <happy.oyster@ariplex.com> wrote in message
news:nrn2pvsnugqr3crtd3hv30giqs78c7sg85@4ax.com...

Once upon a time, our fellow Happy Oyster
rambled on about "Re: Lessons on Alternative Medicine: Homeopathy."
Our champion De-Medicalizing in sci.med.nutrition retorts, thusly ...

And, those guys were The Lancet and the British Medical Journal.

Ha, ... Hah, Ha!

On Sat, 18 Oct 2003 15:12:22 GMT, John 'the Man' <DeMan@fulman.com>
wrote:

That is wrong. It was NOT "Evidenced-Based Medicine", but some guys
who were not able to understand that homeopathy CAN NOT WORK.

Regards,

Aribert Deckers
--
POLICE - POLIZEI - POLITIE - POLICIA

http://www.ariplex.com/ama/amapolis.htm

Because Aributt says so.
"Happy Oyster" <happy.oyster@ariplex.com> wrote in message
news:ts56pvok9hr7871bka1h6ecpqpth16nr7g@4ax.com...

--

"toolz toolz" <medtools2@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:vzVkb.6247$W16.595@newsread2.news.atl.earthli nk.net...


No, because there is nothing IN homopathic medication.

--Rich

On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 21:57:44 GMT, John 'the Man' <DeMan@fulman.com>
wrote:

As I wrote :

It was NOT "Evidenced-Based Medicine", but some guys
who were not able to understand that homeopathy CAN NOT WORK.

Aribert Deckers
--
POLICE - POLIZEI - POLITIE - POLICIA

http://www.ariplex.com/ama/amapolis.htm

On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 18:11:39 GMT, "toolz toolz"
<medtools2@earthlink.net> wrote:

Isn't it amazing how much vacuum fits in such a small brain... ?

Regards,

Aribert Deckers
--
POLICE - POLIZEI - POLITIE - POLICIA

http://www.ariplex.com/ama/amapolis.htm

Once upon a time, our fellow Happy Oyster
rambled on about "Re: Lessons on Alternative Medicine: Homeopathy."
Our champion De-Medicalizing in sci.med.nutrition retorts, thusly ...

What does a bottom feeding Oyster know about anything?

Not much ... Ha, ... Hah, Ha!

Once upon a time, our fellow Rich Shewmaker
rambled on about "Re: Lessons on Alternative Medicine: Homeopathy."
Our champion De-Medicalizing in sci.med.nutrition retorts, thusly ...

Like I originally commented: Critics zero in on the mode of action
rationalizations, while believers zero in on rather or not the
treatment worked for them.
--
John Gohde,
Achieving good Nutrition is an Art, NOT a Science!

Get started on improving your personal health and fitness, today.
http://www.Tutorials.NaturalHealthPerspective.com/
Offering easy to understand lessons that will change your life.

Once upon a time, our fellow Happy Oyster
rambled on about "Re: Lessons on Alternative Medicine: Homeopathy."
Our champion De-Medicalizing in sci.med.nutrition retorts, thusly ...

Gee, ... Does Deckers rhyme with Peckers? And, is that why you are
such a Happy Oyster?

Ha, ... Hah, Ha!

--

"John 'the Man'" <DeMan@fulman.com> wrote in message
newss68pvoebq8tvc32v78937fn2ahntk2l8f@4ax.com...
A witch-doctor's chants and rattles work for those who get better after the
shaman does his thing. But that doesn't prove efficacy. Knowing is always
better than believing.

--Rich --> Achieving good nutrition may be an art, but defining and
describing a nutritious diet is a science.

Ah!!! I'm so sorry, I forgot about you. Because rich also says so.
"Rich Shewmaker" <rich@ilhawaii.net> wrote in message
news:5_SdnRvxiMActgmiU-KYgw@ilhawaii.net...

"Happy Oyster" <happy.oyster@ariplex.com> wrote in message
news:ddk8pvo2tqupd42adg3l4tiu8tjjrvbhcs@4ax.com...

"Happy Oyster" <happy.oyster@ariplex.com> wrote in message
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