Changes

==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>https://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 ==

== 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>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?cmd=Retrieve&list_uids=16125589</ref>

== Regulation ==

== Regulation ==