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'''Homeopathy is an Alternative Medicine system that tries to treat illnesses with tiny doses of the drugs that cause the same symptom as the illness. Homeopathy is based on the ideas of Samuel Hahnemann, a 19th century physician who observed that some contemporary medicines evoked symptoms similar to those of the illnesses for which they were prescribed. There is no clear evidence to support the efficacy of homeopathic remedies, and it is likely that the reported effects are placebo effects.'''
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<div class="usermessage plainlinks">The Editorial Council has made a unanimous decision on December 17, 2010, to blank this draft article and to place a minimum of a one-year moratorium on any further edits to this article. The discussion concerning this decision may be found at [http://locke.citizendium.org/cz_ec/DR-2010-006]. The Talk page remains, but its present contents will be moved to an archive.  The Approved Main Article also remains in place. This page is now protected by the Constabulary and no further edits can be made to it. After one year has passed, Citizens may ask the Editorial Council to reconsider their decision but there is no guarantee that they will do so.
<br>
The Secretary of the Editorial Council, [[User:Hayford Peirce|Hayford Peirce]] 04:09, 17 December 2010 (UTC)


'''Homeopathy''' (also spelled ''homœopathy'' or ''homoeopathy'', from the Greek ''όμοιος, hómoios'' (similar) and ''πάθος, páthos'' (suffering)) is a system of [[Complementary and Alternative Medicine]] that strives to treat "like with like" . In particular, homeopathic remedies involve treating an illness with an infinitesimally small dose of a substance that, at bigger doses, can cause symptoms like those of the illness itself. Homeopaths believe that the "potency" of a remedy is ''increased'' by serial dilution, combined with vigorous shaking. The word "homeopathy" was coined by the Saxon physician [[Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann]] and first appeared in print in 1807.<ref>Hahnemann S (1796) translated into English as ''Essay on a New Principle'' [http://www.minutus.org/library/article_read.asp?id=6];  On-line etext of Hahnemann's ''Organon der Heilkunst'' in English translation[http://www.homeopathyhome.com/reference/organon/organon.html]; Hahnemann biography [http://www.skylarkbooks.co.uk/Hahnemann_Biography.htm];
==== Moratorium extended ====
A historical overview [http://www.whonamedit.com/doctor.cfm/532.html]
The moratorium has been extended by another year. [http://ec.citizendium.org/wiki/EC:D-2012-002 EC:D-2012-002]. --[[User:Peter Schmitt|Peter Schmitt]] 01:20, 20 January 2012 (UTC)
</ref> [[Image:Samuel_Hahnemann.png|thumb|right|'''Samuel Hahnemann'''(1755-1843), the "father" of homeopathy]]
 
Homeopathy regards diseases as "morbid derangements of the organism" but views each case of sickness as a strictly individual phenomenon &mdash; "It is the man that is sick and to be restored to health, not his body, not the tissues".<ref>Kent JT ''Lectures on homoeopathic philosophy. Lecture 1. &#0167; "The Sick"''</ref> Homeopathy views sickness as a disturbance in a hypothetical "vital force," and so rejects the standard medical diagnoses of named diseases. <ref>Rudolf Verspoor ''Taking Homeopathy into the Shadows: A Sequential Causal Approach to Treating Chronic Disease'' [http://www.lyghtforce.com/HomeopathyOnline/Issue3/sequence.html]</ref> The theory of homeopathy is inconsistent with accepted laws of chemistry and physics.
 
==The Principle of Similars==
In Hahnemann's day, conventional medicine focused on restoring "balance" in the [[four humours]], either by attempting to remove an excess of a humour (by such methods as bloodletting and purging, laxatives, enemas and nauseous substances that made patients vomit) or by suppressing symptoms (such as by cooling patients who were feverish). By contrast, Hahnemann believed that diseases are not caused ''"by any substance, any acridity...any disease matter, but that they are solely spirit-like derangements of the spirit-like power that animates the human body."'' <ref>http://homeoint.org/books/hahorgan/orgapref.htm Organon, Preface, xxix</ref> In the 18th century, such [[vitalism]] was part of mainstream science, but in the twentieth century, was discarded in favour of the [[germ theory]] of disease, following the work of Pasteur, Fleming, Lister and others. Modern medicine sees bacteria and viruses as the causes of many diseases, but Kent, (and still some modern homeopaths) regard them as effects, not causes, of disease.
 
Homeopathy is based on the 'Principle of Similars', expressed by Hahnemann as ''similia similibus curentur'' or 'let likes cure likes'. The idea came to Hahnemann while he was translating into German the Materia Medica (1789) of [[William Cullen]], the so-called "Scottish Hippocrates". On reading that Cinchona bark (which contains quinine) was effective because it was bitter, he felt that this was implausible; other substances that were as bitter had no therapeutic value. To understand the effects of Cinchona bark, he took it himself, and observed that its effects on him were similar to the symptoms of the diseases that it was prescribed for. <ref>At least one writer has suggested that Hahnemann was hypersensitive to quinine, and may have had an allergic reaction [http://www.angelfire.com/mb2/quinine/allergy.html William.E.Thomas "The basis of homeopathy" Personal website]</ref> This notion was not wholly novel; others before, including Anton von Störck (1731-1803), had advocated "treatment by cautious use of poisons."<ref>Lichocka Z "Chemical Analysis as a Method of Discovery in Pharmacy in the Age of Enlightenment in Europe" [http://5ichc-portugal.ulusofona.pt/uploads/LongPaper-LICHOCKAHalina.doc Halina ]</ref> Hahnemann had studied briefly in Vienna (1777) where Störck eventually became head of the University. 
 
Accordingly, homepathic remedies are discovered by 'provings', in which volunteers are given substances, the effects of which are recorded as a 'Drug Picture'. Of his first proving, Hahnemann said: "with this first trial broke upon me the dawn that has since brightened into the most brilliant day of the medical art; that it is only in virtue of their power to make the healthy human being ill that medicines can cure morbid states, and indeed, only such morbid states are composed of symptoms which the drug to be selected for them can itself produce in similarity on the healthy."<ref>Hahnemann S, ''Materia Medica Pura, Cinchona''[http://www.hpathy.com/materiamedica/hahnemann-materia-pura/china.asp]</ref>
 
==The ''[[Materia Medica]]''==
For prescribing, homeopathic practitioners use the ''Materia Medicae'', which are indexes of Drug Pictures, and the ''[[Homeopathic repertory]]''  an index of symptoms listing the remedies associated with them. At first, Hahnemann tested substances that were then used as medicines, such as antimony and rhubarb, and poisons, like arsenic, mercury and [[Belladonna]]. He recorded his first provings of 27 drugs in the ''[[Fragmenta de viribus]]'' in 1805 and later in his ''Materia Medica Pura'', which contained 65 drugs.
 
Nearly as important as Hahnemann to the development of homeopathy was [[James Tyler Kent]] (1849-1921). Kent's influence in the USA was limited, but in the UK, his ideas became homeopathic orthodoxy by the end of the First World War.<ref>Campbell A, ''Kentian Homeopathy'' Chapter 8 of ''Homeopathy in Perspective''[http://www.accampbell.uklinux.net/homeopathy/homeopathy-html/chapter08.html]</ref> Kent sought to re-emphasize the metaphysical and clinical aspects of Hahnemann's teachings's; he insisted on the core doctrines of miasm and vital force, and emphasized the importance of spiritual factors as the root cause of disease.<ref>Morrell P ''Kent's influence on British homeopathy'' [http://www.homeoint.org/morrell/articles/pm_kent.htm]</ref>
 
''<blockquote>"...for it goes to the very primitive wrong of the human race, the very first sickness of the human race that is the spiritual sickness... which in turn laid the foundation for other diseases." </blockquote>''
 
Kent's ''Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica'' (1905) lists 217 remedies. Homeopathy uses many animal, plant, mineral, and synthetic substances, including ''Natrum muriaticum'' (sodium chloride or table salt), ''[[Lachesis muta]]'' (the venom of the bushmaster snake), ''Opium'', and ''Thyroidinum'' (thyroid hormone). Other 'isopathic' remedies' involve dilution of the agent or product of the disease. [[Rabies]] nosode, for example, is made by diluting the saliva of a rabid dog. Some modern homeopaths use more esoteric substances, known as "imponderables" because they do not originate from a material but from electromagnetic energy "captured" by alcohol or lactose (''X-ray'', ''Sol'' (sunlight), ''Positronium'' [http://www.hominf.org/posi/posiintr.htm], and ''Electricitas'' (electricity)[http://homeoint.org/clarke/e/elect.htm], or with a telescope (''Polaris''). Recent ventures by homeopaths into even more esoteric substances include ''Tempesta'' [http://uk.geocities.com/veryscarymary/stormremedy1.html] (thunderstorm), and ''Berlin wall'' [http://www.biolumanetics.net/tantalus/Cases/BerlinWall.htm]. Today, homeopathy uses about 3000 remedies; about 300 are based on Materia Medica information, 1500 on fragmentary knowledge, and the rest either without knowledge of their homeopathic properties or speculatively.
 
The law of similars is not a scientific law, and a failure to cure can always be attributed to incorrect selection of a remedy: ''"I have often heard physicians tell me that it was due to suggestion that my medicines acted so well; but my answer to this is, that I suggest just as strongly with my wrong remedy as with the right one, and my patients improve only when they have received the similar or correct remedy"''. <ref>Kent JT (1926) ''New Remedies, Lesser Writings and Aphorisms & Precepts'', quoted in  Treuherz F (1984) Origins of Kent's homeopathy ''J Amer Inst Homeo'' 77:130-49</ref> There are many ways to find the most-similar remedy (the ''simillimum''), and homeopaths sometimes disagree. This is partly due to the complexity of the 'totality of symptoms' concept; homeopaths decide, from their knowledge and experience, which symptoms are the most characteristic: the Drug Picture in the Materia Medica is always more comprehensive than the symptoms exhibited by any individual. Other ways of selecting remedies are through [[Dowsing|medical dowsing]]<ref>Diagnostic dowsing machines[http://www.homeoinfo.com/08_non-classical_topics/dowsing/diagnostic_dowsing_machines.php]</ref> or other psychic powers.<ref>"Medical dowsing"[http://www.homeoinfo.com/08_non-classical_topics/dowsing/medical_dowsing.php]</ref> However, these are not accepted by most homeopathic practitioners.
 
''See also''[[List of common homeopathic remedies]]
 
==Preparation of similars ==
===Succussion and dilution===
[[Image:Vijzel.jpg|thumb|Vijzel]]
The most characteristic&mdash;and controversial&mdash;principle of homeopathy is that the potency of a remedy can be enhanced (and the side-effects diminished) by dilution, in a procedure known as ''dynamization'' or ''potentization''. Liquids are progressively diluted (with water or alcohol) and shaken by ten hard strikes against an elastic body (''succussion''). For this, Hahnemann had a saddlemaker construct a special wooden striking board covered in leather on one side and stuffed with horsehair. <ref>Hahnemann's board can be viewed at the Hahnemann Museum in Stuttgart [http://www.igm-bosch.de/english/f10.htm]</ref> Insoluble solids, such as Quartz and Oyster shell, are diluted by grinding them with lactose (''[[trituration]]''). The original serial dilutions by Hahnemann used a 1 part in 100 or centesimal scale, or 1 part in 50,000 or Quintamillesimal (LM or Q potencies). The dilution factor at each stage is traditionally 1:10 ('D' or 'X' potencies) or 1:100 ('C' potencies). Hahnemann advocated 30C dilutions for most purposes, i.e. dilution by a factor of 100<sup>30</sup> = 10<sup>60</sup>. As [[Avogadro's number]] is only 6.02 × 10<sup>23</sup> particles/mole, the chance of any molecule of the original substance being present in a 15C solution is small, and it is extremely unlikely that one molecule of the original solution would be present in a 30C dilution. There are about 10<sup>32</sup> molecules of water in an Olympic size swimming pool, so to expect to get one molecule of a 15C solution, one would need roughly 25 metric tons of water. Thus, homeopathic remedies of a high "potency" contain, with overwhelming probability, only water. However, practitioners of homeopathy believe that this water retains some 'essential property' of one of the substances that it has contacted in the past.
 
===Alternative methods===
High potency remedies were first produced in the 1830s. Although Hahnemann wished to see 30c as standard potency in homeopathy, most of his contemporaries preferred tinctures and 3x, while others, like the powerfully-built horse-trainer, Caspar Julius Jenichen (1787-1849), General Korsakoff (1788-1853) and Dr N Schreter (1803-1864), were busy raising potency to extremes:
 
''Jenichen sat or stood stripped naked to the waist, holding the bottle in his fist in an oblique direction from left to right, and shook it in a vertical direction. The fluid, at every stroke, emitted a sound like the ringing of silver coins. He paused after every 25th potency, and the muscles of his naked arm vibrated...he was latterly able to give 8400 strokes in an hour.'' <ref>Biography of Mr Caspar Julius Jenichen (1787-1849)[http://homeoint.org/seror/biograph/jenichencj.htm]</ref>
 
Such high potencies could not be made by traditional methods, but required succussion without dilution, higher dilution factors (LM potencies are diluted by a factor of 50,000), or machines which integrate dilution and succussion continuously (Korsakoff machines). <ref>A Korsakoff potentising machine can be seen [http://www.helios.co.uk/Helios%20Potentising%20machine.html (here)] and [http://www.remedia.at/en/fluxionherstellung.html (here)]. Some old potentising devices can be seen [http://homeoint.org/photo/photodiv.htm (here)]</ref>. Such machines are still sold today; some manufacturers claim that undefined "vibrations" produce the healing effect and, that when the correct vibration is selected, only water need be added to produce a remedy. Today, ''[[radionics]]'' potentising devices are used by many homeopaths to prepare remedies, based on the work of the British engineer, Malcom Rae (1913-1979) and devices he developed in the 1960s.<ref>[http://www.copenlabs.com/ Sussex College of Technology - CopenLabs]</ref> Another technique involves ''"a paper remedy. Write the remedy and potency on a piece of paper and place the paper on the left hand side of the body with the writing towards the body."'' <ref>Editorial, the New Zealand Homoeopathic Society [http://www.homoeopathica.org.nz/editorial_00.htm] "finds out what they need, writes the remedy down on a piece of paper, they put it in their pocket and it works." The Toronto Chapter of the Canadian Society of Dowsers[http://www.dowsers.info/toronto/feb2001.htm ]</ref>
 
==Miasms==
By 1816, Hahnemann was concerned at the failure of homeopathic remedies to produce lasting cures for chronic diseases: "...the non-venereal chronic diseases, after being time and again removed homoeopathically … always returned in a more or less varied form and with new symptoms." He introduced the theory that three fundamental "miasms" underlie of all the chronic diseases of mankind: ''Syphilis'', ''Sycosis'' (suppressed gonorrhoea), and ''Psora''. <ref>''The Chronic Diseases, their Nature and Homoeopathic Treatment'', Dresden and Leipsic, Arnold. Vols 1-3, 1828; vol. 4, 1830</ref> Miasma, from the Greek for 'stain', was an old medical concept, used for "pestiferous exhalations". The sense of this is indicated by Hahnemann's Note 2 to §11 of the Organon: "...a child with small-pox or measles communicates to a near, untouched healthy child in an invisible manner (dynamically) the small-pox or measles, … in the same way as the magnet communicated to the near needle the magnetic property..."
 
According to Hahnemann, miasmatic infection causes local symptoms, usually in the skin. If these are suppressed by medication, the sickness goes deeper, and emerges later as organ pathologies. In the ''Organon'' he asserted that Psora was the cause of such diseases as epilepsy, cyphosis, cancer, jaundice, deafness, and cataract. However, even in his own time, many of his followers, including Hering, made almost no reference to Hahnemann’s concept of chronic diseases. Today, some homeopathic practitioners  find Hahnemann’s theory difficult to reconcile with current scientific knowledge, as it seems to ignore the importance of genetic, metabolic, nutritional, and degenerative factors in sickness, and fails to differentiate between the many different infectious diseases.<ref>The Canadian Academy of Homeopathy[http://www.homeopathy.ca/articles/interview-2001-2.html]</ref> Nevertheless, most homeopaths believe that the core of his theory is valid: that the fundamental causes of disease are internal and constitutional and that it is contrary to good health to suppress symptoms, and they accept the concept of "latent Psora", the early signs of an organism’s imbalance which indicate that treatment is needed.
 
The miasm theory is not the 'be all and end all' of homeopathy. Hahnemann advocated good hygiene, fresh air, regular exercise, good nutrition as precursors of good health (see his 1792 essay: ''The Friend of Health''); he was also a pioneer in 1792-3 of humane treatment of the insane (1796, ''Description of Klockenbring During his Insanity'') a year before [[William Tuke]] and [[Philippe Pinel]], and he published tracts in which he described the cause of cholera as "excessively minute, invisible, living creatures" <ref>Hahnemann S (1831)''Asiatic Cholera'' [http://www.minutus.org/library/article_read.asp?id=13]</ref>, indicating his acceptance of ideas of infectious disease.
 
=== Homeopathy around the world ===
Homeopathy is popular in Europe and India, but less so in the USA, where non-orthodox therapies have been more tightly regulated. Stricter regulations have also been implemented recently in the EC.<ref>Homeopathy was regulated by the European Union in 2001, by Directive 2001/83/EC. European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines[http://www.pheur.org]</ref>
There are estimated to be more than 100,000 practitioners of homeopathy worldwide, and an estimated 500 million people receiving treatment <ref>''Homeopathy Seeks More Acknowledgement''[http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1575855,00.html], from Deutsche Welle</ref>. More than 12,000 medical doctors and licensed health care practitioners administer homeopathic treatments in the UK, France, and Germany. The numbers using homeopathy are increasing, in the UK by about 20% per year, and faster still in Germany and Portugal.<ref>Fisher P, Ward A (1994) Medicine in Europe: Complementary medicine in Europe ''BMJ'' 309:107-111[http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/309/6947/107]</ref> In Germany, homeopathy, anthroposophically extended medicine and herbalism were recognized as "special forms of therapy" in 1978, meaning that their remedies are freed from the usual requirement to prove efficacy. Since January 1, 2004, homeopathic remedies, with some exceptions, are no longer covered by the country's public health insurance.
 
In Switzerland, homeopathic remedies were formerly covered by the basic health insurance system, if prescribed by a physician. This ended in June 2005, when the Government, after a 5-year trial, withdrew insurance coverage for homoeopathy and four other complementary treatments, as that they did not meet efficacy and cost-effectiveness criteria. This change applied only to compulsory insurance; homeopathy and other complementary medicine is covered by additional insurance, if the treatment is provided by a medical doctor.
 
In the UK, homeopathy was established by Dr Frederick Quin (1799-1878) at around 1827. Two Italian homeopathic doctors (Drs Romani and Roberta) had been employed two years previously by the Earl of Shrewsbury, but had quickly returned to Naples as they could not tolerate the damp English climate. Homeopathy became the preferred treatment of the upper classes: the Dukes of Edinburgh and Beaufort were among Dr Quin's patients, and he became physician to the Duchess of Cambridge.<ref>Leary B ''et al'' (1998) It Wont Do Any Harm: Practice & People At The London Homeopathic Hospital, 1889-1923, in Juette R ''et al'' (1998) Eds. ''Culture, Knowledge And Healing: Historical Perspectives On Homeopathy In Europe And North America'' Sheffield Univ. Press, UK</ref> At its peak in the 1870s, Britain had many homeopathic dispensaries and small hospitals and large hospitals in Liverpool, Birmingham Glasgow, London and Bristol; the Bristol hospital was funded by the [[W.D. & H.O. Wills]] tobacco family, while the Hahnemann Hospital in Liverpool was built by members of the Tate family of sugar importers, who also funded the Tate Gallery in London. <ref>Homéopathe International [http://www.homeoint.org/photo/bat/hopangla.htm#2]; [http://www.ubht.nhs.uk/homeopathy/General/hom1.jpg Image]; [http://www.homeoint.org/photo/bat1/hop110-2.jpg Image] </ref> Today, homeopathic remedies are sold over the counter, and there are five homeopathic hospitals funded by the [[National Health Service]] and many regional clinics. Homeopathy is not practised by most of the medical profession, but is supported by the Prince of Wales and other members of the royal family. The Society of Homeopaths, founded in 1978, has 1300 members.<ref>The Society of Homeopaths[http://www.homeopathy-soh.org/]</ref> Medically qualified homeopaths in Britain are represented by the Faculty of Homeopathy: the Faculty, incorporated by an Act of Parliament in 1950, has over 1,400 members throughout the world.
 
Homeopathy came to India with Dr Martin Honigberger (1795-1869) in Lahore, in 1829-30 <ref>Kishore J (1973) About entry of homeopathy into India, ''Bull Ind Hist Med'' 3:76-78</ref> India has the largest homeopathic infrastructure in the world, with 300,000 qualified homeopaths, 180 colleges, 7500 government clinics, and 307 hospitals. The Association of Qualified Homoeopaths in India is the largest of its kind, and 10% of the population are estimated to use homeopathy ''exclusively'' for their medical needs <ref>[http://www.ihma.in Indian Hopeopathic Medical Association]. Manchanda RK, Kulashreshtha M, Cost Effectiveness and Efficacy of Homeopathy in Primary Health Care Units of Government of Delhi- A study [http://www.delhihomeo.com/paperberlin.html]; Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare homeopathy page[http://indianmedicine.nic.in/html/homoeopathy/homoe.htm]</ref>
 
Homeopathy was established in the USA by Dr Hans Burch Gram (1787-1840)in 1825 <ref>''Questions and Answers About Homeopathy'' NCCAM, National Institutes of Health [http://nccam.nih.gov/health/homeopathy/ [http://www.homeopathyusa.org/ American Institute of Homeopathy]; North American Society of Homeopaths[http://www.homeopathy.org/]]</ref> and gained popularity, partly because the excesses of conventional medicine were extreme there, and partly due to Dr Constantine Hering (1800-1880), who immigrated to America in 1833 and became known as the "father of American homeopathy".<ref>''"Homeopathy spread first in Germany, then France, and England. Its greatest popularity, however, was in America."'' Flinn LB (1976) Homeopathic influences in the Delaware community A retrospective reassessment ''Del Med J'' 48:418-428; "...by the early 1840s American homeopathic practitioners were gaining considerable influence and prestige" in Warner JH (1977) The nature-trusting heresy ''Perspectives on American History'' 11:291-324</ref> By 1900, hardly any city with a population of more than 50,000 was without a homeopathic hospital and many smaller communities could claim them.<ref>Cameron CS (1959) Homeopathy in retrospect ''Trans Stud Coll Phys Philadelp'' 27:28-33</ref> In the 1930s, the popularity of homeopathy waned, partly due to advances in conventional medicine and partly due to the [[Flexner Report]] of 1910, which led to the closure of virtually all medical schools teaching alternative medicine. By the 1950s, homeopathy had been almost extinguished in the USA. Nevertheless, in 1995 sales of homeopathic remedies in 1995 were estimated at US$201 million; and the number of homeopathic practitioners increased from less than 200 in the 1970s to about 3,000 in 1996<ref>Homoeopathic Medical Publishers[http://www.thespiritofhomoeopathy.com/evolution.html]</ref>; however, a recent study indicates that the percentage of people seeking homeopathic treatment in the USA declined from 3.4% in 1997 to 1.7% in 2002<ref>Tindle HA ''et al''(2005) Trends in use of complementary and alternative medicine by US adults: 1997-2002'' Altern Ther Health Med'' 2005 11:42-9</ref> Today, homeopathic remedies are, like all health-care products, regulated by the [[Food and Drug Administration]], but unlike conventional medicines, homeopathic remedies do not have to be approved by the FDA before sale, or proved to be either safe or effective, or be labeled with an expiration date, or undergo finished product testing. Unlike conventional medicines, homeopathic remedies do not have to identify their active ingredients on the grounds that they have few or no active ingredients. Only remedies that claim to treat self-limiting conditions may be sold over the counter; remedies that claim to treat a serious disease can be sold only by prescription.
 
==Scientific testing of homeopathic treatment==
According to Sir John Forbes (1787-1861), physician to Queen Victoria, the extremely small doses were regularly derided as useless, ridiculous and "an outrage to human reason."<ref>Forbes J (1846) ''Homeopathy, Allopathy and Young Physic'' London</ref> Although homeopathic remedies were used by regular physicians, their effects were ascribed to the body's innate healing powers. Professor Sir [[James Young Simpson]] said, of the highly diluted drugs, "no poison, however strong or powerful, the billionth or decillionth of which would in the least degree affect a man or harm a fly." <ref>Simpson JY (1853) ''Homoeopathy, Its Tenets and Tendencies, Theoretical, Theological and Therapeutical'' Edinburgh: Sutherland & Knox 11</ref>
 
As homeopathic remedies at potencies higher than about D23 (10<sup>-23</sup>) contain no detectable ingredients apart from the diluent (water, alcohol or sugar), there is no known basis for these preparations having medicinal action. <ref> At various times, there have been occasional reports of effects of highly diluted solutions on organic processes, including on histamine release by leukocytes, reported by Davenas E ''et al'' Human basophil degranulation triggered by very dilute antiserum against IgE ''Nature'' 333:816-8</ref>. However, attempts to replicate these studies on leukocytes failed.</ref> A recent review summarized the situation as follows: "...there are some hints from experimental research that homeopathic substances diluted and succussed beyond Avogadro’s number are biologically active but there are no consistent effects from independently reproducible models." <ref> Walach ''et al'' (2005) Research on Homeopathy: State of the Art ''J Alt Comp Medicine'' 11:813–29</ref>
Although some patients report benefits from homeopathic preparations,<ref>[http://www.homeopathy-soh.org/whats-new/documents/Positivehomeopathy.PDF Website of The Society of Homeopaths]</ref> scientists usually attribute these to the [[placebo effect|Placebo Effect]], the [[regression fallacy]] and/or the [[Forer effect]]<ref>The Scientific Evidence on Homeopathy"; American Council on Science and Health[http://www.acsh.org/search/txtQuickSearch.homeopathy/health_result.asp]</ref>.
 
===Evidence-based medicine===
There is wide consensus that [[evidence based medicine]] is the best way to assess the efficacy and safety of health-care practices.
<ref>[http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/321/7258/442 "Declaration of Helsinki should be strengthened" ''BMJ'' 2000;321:442-445]</ref> Ideally, drugs are tested in large, multi-centre, randomised, placebo-controlled [[double-blind]] trials, to test whether the drug has an effect that is better than either a placebo or a different treatment. Some trials that partially meet these criteria have investigated homeopathy, and some have indicated efficacy above placebo. However, many are technically flawed or involve samples too small to allow firm conclusions to be drawn.<ref>[http://www.annals.org/cgi/reprint/138/5/393.pdf Jonas WB ''et al''(2003) A critical overview of homeopathy" ''Ann Intern Med'' 138:393-399] {{cite journal | author=Jonas WB ''et al''| title=A systematic review of the quality of homeopathic clinical trials | journal=BMC Complement Altern Med | year=2001 | pages=12 | volume=1 | id=PMID 11801202}}</ref> Systematic reviews by the [[Cochrane Collaboration]] found insufficient evidence that homeopathy is beneficial for asthma, dementia, or induction of labor <ref> ''The Cochrane Collaboration'' [http://www.cochrane.org]</ref>. They also found no evidence that homeopathic treatment prevents influenza, but reported that it appears to shorten the duration of the disease. Overall, systematic reviews have not found clear evidence to support the efficacy of homeopathic remedies, but often the evidence has been too flawed to exclude a possible beneficial effects either.
 
In 2005, The [[Lancet]] published a meta-analysis of 110 placebo-controlled homoeopathy trials and 110 matched conventional-medicine trials <ref>{{cite journal | author=Shang A,''et al''| title=Are the clinical effects of homoeopathy placebo effects? Comparative study of placebo-controlled trials of homoeopathy and allopathy | journal=Lancet | year=2005 | pages=726-32 | volume=366 | issue=9487 | id=PMID 16125589}}</ref> based upon the Swiss government's "Program for Evaluating Complementary Medicine" (PEK). The outcome suggested that the clinical effects of homeopathic remedies are likely to be placebo effects. The Lancet paper is notable for its design, as a "global" meta analysis of homeopathy, not an analysis of particular remedies, i.e. it tested the global hypothesis that the reported effects of homeopathic remedies are placebo effects. If so, then reported positive effects are due to placebo effects, publication bias, observer effects etc., and hence the ''magnitude'' of such effects should diminish with sample size and study quality. For comparison, they subjected an equal set of conventional medicine trials to identical analysis. The prediction was supported by the study; conventional tests showed a real effect independent of sample size, the homeopathy studies did not. The study does not prove that homeopathy is never effective, or that all its findings are placebo effects, but is consistent with the interpretation that all reported effects are placebo effects. The Lancet accompanied the meta-analysis with invited editorials, and published several critical responses.<ref>Fisher P (2006) Homeopathy and The Lancet ''eCAM'' 3:145-47 [http://ecam.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/3/1/145]; Jobst KA (2005) Homeopathy, Hahnemann, and The Lancet 250 Years On: A Case of the Emperor's New Clothes? ''J Alt Comp Med'' 11:751-54.[http://www.liebertonline.com/toc/acm/11/5]</ref>
 
====Medical organizations' attitudes towards homeopathy====
The [[National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine]], part of the U.S. [[National Institutes of Health]], funds research into homeopathy. Avvording to its statement om homeopathy,<ref>[http://nccam.nih.gov/health/homeopathy/#q8 NIH statement on homeopathy]</ref>
''The results of individual, controlled clinical trials of homeopathy have been contradictory. In some trials, homeopathy appeared to be no more helpful than a placebo; in other studies, some benefits were seen that the researchers believed were greater than one would expect from a placebo.''
Nevertheless,
''Some people feel that if homeopathy appears to be helpful and safe, then scientifically valid explanations or proofs of this alternative system of medicine are not necessary.''
 
According to a statement from The UK [[National Health Service]] there have been about 200 randomised controlled trials evaluating homeopathy, but they have not produced clear clinical evidence that homeopathy works. "Many studies suggest that any effectiveness that homeopathy may have is due to the placebo effect, where the act of receiving treatment is more effective than the treatment itself."
 
In 1997, the [[American Medical Association]](AMA) adopted the following policy statement after a report on several alternative therapies including homeopathy<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/13638.html|title=alternative theories including homeopathy|publisher=American Medical Association}}</ref> "There is little evidence to confirm the safety or efficacy of most alternative therapies. Much of the information currently known about these therapies makes it clear that many have not been shown to be efficacious. Well-designed, stringently controlled research should be done to evaluate the efficacy of alternative therapies"
 
The Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare states that:<ref>Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare [http://indianmedicine.nic.in/html/homoeopathy/homoe.htm]</ref> "Homeopathy has been recognised as one of the National Systems of Medicine and plays an important role in providing health care to a large number of people. Its strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick individual through promotion of inner balance at mental, emotional, spiritual and physical levels."
 
===Homeopathy and vaccination (See also [[Isopathy]])===
Homeopathy has a superficial resemblance to vaccination, in that vaccines contain a small dose of the "disease" against which they are to protect (a vaccine is usually made from a bacterium or virus that cannot produce symptoms, while still providing enough information to the immune system to afford protection). However, to most homeopaths, vaccination is not consistent with the principles of homeopathy, even if it is a crude application of the law of similars, they believe that vaccination has serious short and long-term (health) consequences, and might arouse latent inherited and constitutional weaknesses. In Hahnemann's words  "But to use a human morbific matter (a Psorin taken from the itch in man) as a remedy for the same itch or for evils arisen therefrom, stay away from it! Nothing can result from this but trouble and aggravation of the disease."
== Safety of homeopathic treatment ==
The United States Food & Drug Administration<ref>[http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/096_home.html FDA's view of homeopathy]</ref> considers that there is no real concern over the safety of most homeopathic products "because they have little or no pharmacologically active ingredients". There have been few reports of illness associated with the use of homeopathic products, but in cases that they reviewed, the FDA concluded the homeopathic product was not the cause of the adverse reactions. The main concern about the safety of homeopathy arises not from the products themselves, but from the possible withholding of more efficacious treatment, or from misdiagnosis of dangerous conditions by a non-medically qualified homeopath.<ref>Science and Technology - Sixth Report ''Science and Technology Committee Publications''[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199900/ldselect/ldsctech/123/12301.htm]</ref> For example, a 2006 survey by the UK charitable trust "Sense About Science," revealed homeopathic practices which were advising travelers against taking conventional anti-malarial drugs, instead providing them with a homeopathic dilution of quinine. Even the director of the The Royal London Homeopathic Hospital condemned this:
 
:"I'm very angry about it because people are going to get malaria - 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." <ref>''Homeopathic practices "risk lives"'' Pallab Ghosh BBC News [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5178488.stm]</ref>.
 
Several scientists said the homeopaths' advice was reprehensible and likely to endanger lives. Professor Pasvol, a tropical medicine expert at Imperial College, London was reported as saying "Medical practitioners would be sued, taken to court and found guilty for far less. What this investigation has unearthed is appalling." <ref>''Homeopaths 'endangering lives' by offering malaria remedies'' Alok Jha, science correspondent Friday July 14 2006 The Guardian[http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,1820103,00.html]</ref>.
 
== Notes==
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== External links ==
<hr><br>
=== Neutral ===
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/horizon/2002/homeopathy.shtml BBC's ''Horizon'' on homeopathy] (transcripts, discussion, etc.)
* Complementary Medicine - Therapies: Homeopathy[http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/complementary_medicine/therapies_homeopathy.shtml ] BBC's "Complementary Medicine" article on Homeopathy
* [http://www.acampbell.org.uk/homeopathy/index.html Homeopathy In Perspective] &mdash; critical online book, covering the history and present state of homeopathy
* Water Structure and Behaviourm''; references to current scientific understanding of water, with entries on "memory effects" and homeopathy[http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/water/]
*Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital's presentation of homeopathic medicine [http://wo-pub2.med.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/PublicA.woa/5/wa/viewHContent?website=nyp&contentID=182&wosid=FCacmtM3Z6J8C7BHET1G1g ]
* A condensed history of homeopathy [http://www.homeopathic.com/articles/intro/history.php]
* Homéopathe International The English language version [http://www.homeoint.org/english/index.htm ]
* Homeopathy Timeline[http://www.wholehealthnow.com/homeopathy_pro/homeopathy_1825_1849.html]
* [http://www.theness.com/articles.asp?id=6 An Overview] By Steven Novella
* Magical Thinking in Complementary and Alternative Medicine[http://www.csicop.org/si/2001-11/alternative.html ]
* ''A Skeptical Guide to Homeopathic History, Theories, and Current Practices''
[http://www.homeowatch.org/] 
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A954740 H2G2 entry on homeopathy].
 
 
[[Category:Alternative medicine]]
[[Category:Homeopathy|*]]
[[Category:CZ Live]]

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