Changes

Homeopathy regards diseases as 'morbid derangements of the organism', that involve some disturbance in a 'vital force.' Today, most homeopaths still believe that the fundamental causes of disease are internal and constitutional and that it is contrary to good health to suppress symptoms. They also accept the concept of 'latent Psora', the early signs of an organism’s imbalance which indicate that treatment is needed.

Homeopathy regards diseases as 'morbid derangements of the organism', that involve some disturbance in a 'vital force.' Today, most homeopaths still believe that the fundamental causes of disease are internal and constitutional and that it is contrary to good health to suppress symptoms. They also accept the concept of 'latent Psora', the early signs of an organism’s imbalance which indicate that treatment is needed.

Modern scientific consensus states that homeopathy is [[pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]]; there is a lack of evidence to suggest that homeopathy's effects are any more than [[placebo]], <ref name=researchpaper>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1874503/</ref> and the basic premises of homeopathy seem impossible under our current understanding of the world.

Modern scientific consensus states that homeopathy is [[pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]]; there is a lack of evidence to suggest that homeopathy's effects are any more than [[placebo]],<ref name=researchpaper>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1874503/</ref> and the basic premises of homeopathy seem impossible under our current understanding of the world.

==History==

==History==

Homeopathy was created in the 18th century by physician Samuel Hahnemann, who noticed cinchona bark, used to cure [[malaria]], could cause malaria-like symptoms.<ref>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1676328/</ref> He believed that his new system was more humane and effective than the conventional medicine of his time<ref>Hahnemann S (1796) translated into English as "[http://www.minutus.org/library/article_read.asp?id=6 Essay on a New Principle]". Hahnemann's [http://www.homeopathyhome.com/reference/organon/organon.html Organon der Heilkunst] in English translation</ref>, but it was greeted by the establishment with derision and contempt.<ref>Dean ME (2001) [http://shpltd.co.uk/dean-homeopathy.pdf Homeopathy and the progress of science] Hist Scixxxix</ref> Since then, homeopathy became more popular. Homeopathic hospitals of the time were better for their patients than conventional hospitals, as they generally prescribed medicines that had no effects at all, while contemporary conventional hospitals had dangerous, potentially fatal treatments.<ref>"British Medical Journal", BMJ 1 (533): 283–4, 1871 [http://www.bmj.com/content/1/533/283 Registration required for access]</ref> As new medical discoveries were made and conditions in conventional hospitals improved, however, homeopathy fell into decline. <ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20070705095116/http://altmed.creighton.edu/Homeopathy/history.htm</ref>Today, homeopathy is not an accepted part of conventional medicine, and its theories are not generally regarded as scientifically credible, but nevertheless it has more than 100,000 practitioners worldwide, and 500 million users.

Homeopathy was created in the 18th century by physician Samuel Hahnemann, who noticed cinchona bark, used to cure [[malaria]], could cause malaria-like symptoms.<ref>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1676328/</ref> He believed that his new system was more humane and effective than the conventional medicine of his time,<ref>Hahnemann S (1796) translated into English as "[http://www.minutus.org/library/article_read.asp?id=6 Essay on a New Principle]". Hahnemann's [http://www.homeopathyhome.com/reference/organon/organon.html Organon der Heilkunst] in English translation</ref> but it was greeted by the establishment with derision and contempt.<ref>Dean ME (2001) [http://shpltd.co.uk/dean-homeopathy.pdf Homeopathy and the progress of science] Hist Scixxxix</ref> Since then, homeopathy became more popular. Homeopathic hospitals of the time were better for their patients than conventional hospitals, as they generally prescribed medicines that had no effects at all, while contemporary conventional hospitals had dangerous, potentially fatal treatments.<ref>"British Medical Journal", BMJ 1 (533): 283–4, 1871 [http://www.bmj.com/content/1/533/283 Registration required for access]</ref> As new medical discoveries were made and conditions in conventional hospitals improved, however, homeopathy fell into decline.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20070705095116/http://altmed.creighton.edu/Homeopathy/history.htm</ref> Today, homeopathy is not an accepted part of conventional medicine, and its theories are not generally regarded as scientifically credible, but nevertheless it has more than 100,000 practitioners worldwide, and 500 million users.

== Methods ==

== Methods ==

===Provings===

===Provings===

Homeopaths conduct "provings" to find new substances with which they would make new remedies. In a proving, participants are given a particular substance without being told of what it is, and are asked to report on what effects the substance had on their bodies. <ref>http://homeopathyeurope.org/research/provings/</ref>The data collected from the proving would then, theoretically, allow the homeopath to understand what illnesses a remedy made from the substance would cure; such a remedy would supposedly cure illnesses with symptoms similar to those caused by the substance itself.

Homeopaths conduct "provings" to find new substances with which they would make new remedies. In a proving, participants are given a particular substance without being told of what it is, and are asked to report on what effects the substance had on their bodies.<ref>http://homeopathyeurope.org/research/provings/</ref> The data collected from the proving would then, theoretically, allow the homeopath to understand what illnesses a remedy made from the substance would cure; such a remedy would supposedly cure illnesses with symptoms similar to those caused by the substance itself.

==Theoretical Plausibility==

==Theoretical Plausibility==

Homeopathy has many implausible aspects which do not make sense under our current understanding of [[physics]] and [[medicine]]. The high dilutions used in many remedies preclude them from having any effect on the body; a remedy with a dilution of 24X or above is highly unlikely to contain a single molecule of the original substance it's made out of, while common homeopathic remedies can have a dilution number of up to 30X. <ref name=quackwatch/> Homeopathy's core teaching that the potency of a drug increases with dilution goes against current medical understanding, which states that, in most cases, the potency of a drug increases as dosage goes ''up'', not ''down''.

Homeopathy has many implausible aspects which do not make sense under our current understanding of [[physics]] and [[medicine]]. The high dilutions used in many remedies preclude them from having any effect on the body; a remedy with a dilution of 24X or above is highly unlikely to contain a single molecule of the original substance it's made out of, while common homeopathic remedies can have a dilution number of up to 30X.<ref name=quackwatch/> Homeopathy's core teaching that the potency of a drug increases with dilution goes against current medical understanding, which states that, in most cases, the potency of a drug increases as dosage goes ''up'', not ''down''.

In order to explain away the fact that homeopathy is physically implausible, homeopaths hold that water has an ability to receive an imprint of the chemicals it had interacted with, and that it therefore would be able to retain the pharmacological effects of a substance, even if it had been diluted to the point that it's no longer existent in the final remedy. This concept is called ''water memory'', and water having memory was first claimed to have been observed in 1988 by a French scientist only to be debunked two months later.<ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,968080,00.html</ref>

In order to explain away the fact that homeopathy is physically implausible, homeopaths hold that water has an ability to receive an imprint of the chemicals it had interacted with, and that it therefore would be able to retain the pharmacological effects of a substance, even if it had been diluted to the point that it's no longer existent in the final remedy. This concept is called ''water memory'', and water having memory was first claimed to have been observed in 1988 by a French scientist only to be debunked two months later.<ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,968080,00.html</ref>

== Efficacy ==

== Efficacy ==

Many scientific studies have shown homeopathy to be ineffective; there is no sound evidence to suggest that its effects are any more than a placebo. <ref name=researchpaper/> Although some studies and meta-studies do show some results that are promising to homeopathy, they are usually contradicted by later studies. For instance, a 1997 study concluded that homeopathy's effects are not completely due to the placebo effect, but still said that there was no evidence to conclusively show that homeopathy has much efficacy in treating any ailment. <ref>http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(97)02293-9/abstract</ref> The 1997 study was later contradicted by a 2005 study, which concluded that homeopathy cannot treat any condition whatsoever, and that its purported ability to cure illness was a product of the placebo effect. <ref>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?cmd=Retrieve&list_uids=16125589</ref>

Many scientific studies have shown homeopathy to be ineffective; there is no sound evidence to suggest that its effects are any more than a placebo.<ref name=researchpaper/> Although some studies and meta-studies do show some results that are promising to homeopathy, they are usually contradicted by later studies. For instance, a 1997 study concluded that homeopathy's effects are not completely due to the placebo effect, but still said that there was no evidence to conclusively show that homeopathy has much efficacy in treating any ailment.<ref>http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(97)02293-9/abstract</ref> The 1997 study was later contradicted by a 2005 study, which concluded that homeopathy cannot treat any condition whatsoever, and that its purported ability to cure illness was a product of the placebo effect.<ref>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?cmd=Retrieve&list_uids=16125589</ref>

== Regulation ==

== Regulation ==

Homeopathic products are not as regulated as conventional medicine products; they do not come under as much scrutiny for their effectiveness. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration regulates homeopathic products, but does not check for their effectiveness in treating illnesses or for their safety. While some states do require practicing homeopaths to be licensed, others allow homeopaths to operate without licenses. <ref name=nccih>https://nccih.nih.gov/health/homeopathy</ref>

Homeopathic products are not as regulated as conventional medicine products; they do not come under as much scrutiny for their effectiveness. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration regulates homeopathic products, but does not check for their effectiveness in treating illnesses or for their safety. While some states do require practicing homeopaths to be licensed, others allow homeopaths to operate without licenses.<ref name=nccih>https://nccih.nih.gov/health/homeopathy</ref>

== Risks ==

== Risks ==

The connection between the usage of homeopathic remedies and [[liberalism]] is not proven nor discussed by any reliable source, but liberals have been shown to be more likely to believe in other pseudosciences than [[conservatives]]; for instance, more liberals believe in the pseudoscientific myth of [[astrology]] than conservatives.  

The connection between the usage of homeopathic remedies and [[liberalism]] is not proven nor discussed by any reliable source, but liberals have been shown to be more likely to believe in other pseudosciences than [[conservatives]]; for instance, more liberals believe in the pseudoscientific myth of [[astrology]] than conservatives.  

Health food stores frequented by liberals may have homeopathic remedies in stock. <ref>http://scienceissexy.com/2014/11/15/spreading-pseudoscience-5-ways-liberals-are-as-bad-as-conservatives/</ref>

Health food stores frequented by liberals may have homeopathic remedies in stock.<ref>http://scienceissexy.com/2014/11/15/spreading-pseudoscience-5-ways-liberals-are-as-bad-as-conservatives/</ref>

David Copeland, a practicing homeopath and politician who passed legislation that exempted homeopathic remedies from certain forms of governmental scrutiny over their safety and effectiveness, was a democrat. <ref>http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C000769</ref>

David Copeland, a practicing homeopath and politician who passed legislation that exempted homeopathic remedies from certain forms of governmental scrutiny over their safety and effectiveness, was a democrat.<ref>http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C000769</ref>

== See also ==

== See also ==

<references />

<references />

[[Category:Complementary Medicine]]

[[Category:Complementary Medicine]]

[[category:pseudoscience]]

[[Category:Pseudoscience]]