Approximately 4 million American adults and children use homeopathic medicine each year, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. However, homeopathy is viewed with skepticism by many because some of its basic precepts are at odds with proven laws of chemistry and physics. And there's little evidence that supports homeopathic medicine as a treatment for any specific condition; many of the existing studies are flawed by comparison to standard principles of scientific research.
Origins of Homeopathty
Homeopathic medicine originated in the late 1700s with the work of German physician Samuel Hahnemann, against a background of high mortality and limited success with conventional, allopathic medicine. Homeopathy offered a gentler, if scientifically controversial, method of treating illness.
One of two main precepts of homeopathy is the "principle of similars," or using a substance in small amounts that would produce in healthy people the same symptoms of a disease. Hahnemann ingested quantities of cinchona bark, a popular treatment at the time for malaria, and developed symptoms of the disease.
The second precept is the principle of diluition, or "law of minimum dose." Homeopathy maintains that the lower the dose of a medication, the greater its effectiveness. This is the exact opposite of traditional medicine, which views higher dosages with increased effectiveness of treatment if toxic levels are not produced.
Precepts of Homeopathy
The basis for the dilution of medications in homeopathy is the notion that water has a molecular memory that transfers the essence of the drug, or "remedy," directly into the body. Serial dilutions of the remedy are shaken vigorously by "succusion," with the belief that this increases the potency of the treatment.
One of the reasons homeopathy is difficult to evaluate using scientific methods is the fact that these dilutions contain too little of the original substance to be measured. In addition, homeopathic treatments are highly individual and there is often no prescribing standard for a given condition or disease.
The homeopathic practitioner typically prepares an extensive psychological and physical inventory of the patient, then consults reference books called "repertories" to choose the appropriate remedy. Thousands of homeopathic remedies are derived from plant, animal and synthetic substances. These may include arsenic oxide, snake venom and substances derived from pathological materials such as excretory products, blood and diseased tissue.
The Mainstream Medical View
Mainstream medical research has been unable to detect any healing effects of homeopathy other than placebo--the beneficial effect observed in people who take a medicine or treatment with the belief it will help them. A study that compared 110 homeopathic trials with 110 conventional medical trials found "weak evidence for a specific effect of homeopathic remedies but strong evidence for specific effects of conventional interventions," a finding that the clinical effects of homeopathy are merely "placebo effects."
Regulation of Homeopathy
In the United States, there are no uniform federal licensing or professional standards for homeopathy, although individual states license practitioners who are already licensed in another medical profession--such as conventional or osteopathic medicine.
In addition, homeopathic remedies are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the same fashion as over-the-counter, nonprescription drugs. However, because homeopathic remedies include little or no active ingredients, they're not subject to the same safety and efficacy tests as other drugs.
Federal law requires that homeopathic remedies meet standards for strength, purity and packaging; labels must include at least one indication of medical applicability. If any homeopathic remedy claims to treat a lethal disease such as cancer, it can only be dispensed by prescription.
Cautions for Consumers
Disclose to your physician or health care providers any alternative medical practices you use so they can effectively manage your care.
Do not use homeopathy to replace conventional medical care, or to put off seeing a doctor about your medical problems.
If you decide to try homeopathy, check on the training and professional experience of the practitioner.
Research any published research studies on the use of homeopathy for your specific health condition.
Pregnant or nursing mothers, or those with custodial care of a child, should consult their health care provider before using homeopathy.
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