Homeopathy has been successful for many people. But its effectiveness in the treatment of disease continues to be debated. Many who don't believe in homeopathy's effectiveness say any successful treatments are due to the placebo effect, or, in other words, positive thinking.
Against…
"Placebo effects can be powerful, of course, but the potential benefit of relieving symptoms with placebos should be weighed against the harm that can result from relying upon – and wasting money on – ineffective products," says Steven Barrett, MD, who hosts a web page called Quackwatch. "Spontaneous remission is also a factor in homeopathy's popularity. I believe that most people who credit a homeopathic product for their recovery would have fared equally well without it."
For…
But homeopathy's supporters counter that their medicine works in groups like infants and even animals that can't be influenced by a pep talk. Jennifer Jacobs, M.D., who has a family practice and is licensed to practice homeopathy in Washington state, says that sometimes she mistakenly gives a patient the wrong remedy and he or she doesn't get better. "Then I give the right remedy, and the person does get better," she says. "So it's not like everybody gets better because it's all in their head. I think it's only because we don't understand the mechanism of action of homeopathy that so many people have trouble accepting it."
Neutral…
The American Medical Association (AMA) does not accept homeopathy, but it doesn't reject it either. A published report on alternative medicines states, "While most homeopathic remedies are not known to have harmed anyone (probably because of the extreme dilutions involved), the efficacy of most homeopathic remedies has not been proven." In a moderate approach, the AMA encourages doctors to become aware of alternative therapies and use them when and where appropriate.
Similarly, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has no specific policy on homeopathy. But it does state that because there are no national standards for pediatric care by complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioners, "the absence of studies documenting that the quality of healthcare for children provided by these practitioners is comparable with that provided by conventional clinicians and the more extensive training and education of pediatricians," there are concerns about healthcare services to pediatric patients by CAM practitioners.
Even professionals who practice homeopathy warn that nothing in medicine – either conventional or alternative – is absolute. "I'm not saying we can cure everyone [with homeopathy]," says Jacobs.
Complements Conventional Medicine
Why does someone trained in conventional medicine turn to homeopathy? "With chronic illnesses such as arthritis and allergies, conventional medicine has solutions that help control the symptoms. But you don't really see the patients getting better," says Jacobs. "What I have seen in my homeopathic work is that it really does seem to help people get better. I'm not saying I can cure everyone, but I do see where people's overall health is improved over the course of treatment."
Jacobs hasn't abandoned conventional medicine completely. "My daughter is 17, and she's never taken antibiotics, but I would have no hesitation to use antibiotics if she had pneumonia, or meningitis, or a kidney infection," says Jacobs.
About a third of Jacobs' practice is children, and ear infections are one of the most common problems she treats. "Ear infections are something that seems to respond well to homeopathy," she says. "Of course, if a child is not better within two or three days, or if the child develops a high fever, or if I feel that there's a serious complication setting in, then of course I will use antibiotics. But I find that in the majority of cases, ear infections do resolve without antibiotics."
If you choose homeopathy, it seems serious diseases such as kidney diseases or heart problems call for a combination of treatments – antibiotics and other traditional medical treatments in addition to homeopathic treatments.
Experience is Best
Homeopathic self-help books and web pages can help you self-diagnose and treat many minor illnesses. Several over-the-counter preparations are available to treat everything from toothaches to hangovers to bruises. But for chronic illnesses, you're better off seeking treatment from an experienced practitioner.
There are more than 2,000 substances used in homeopathic treatments. Their specific use depends on a variety factors. If the remedy given doesn't match the totality of the symptoms, it won't be effective, according to the National Center of Homeopathy.
When looking for a homeopathic practitioner, it's important to find someone who is certified in homeopathy. Few states require licensing. Until they do, it might be safest to seek the services of a medical, naturopathic, or osteopathic doctor or a chiropractor or acupuncturist who has received additional training in homeopathic methods.
Also, look for a homeopath who takes a thorough medical history. Jacobs spends at least an hour and a half with each new patient. "What I do is review the lifetime history of the patient's health," she explains. "Also, I ask a lot of questions about certain general symptoms such as food preferences and sleep patterns that usually aren't seen as important in conventional medicine. In looking to make the match between the person and the remedy, I need to have all of this sort of information." |
