How is homeopathy different from other alternative medicines?
"Homeopathy" comes from from the Greek "homoios" and "pathy", the former maning "similar" and the latter meaning "disease". Certain substances can cause deletarious effects in humans. Homeopothy is the use of a highly diluted solution of that substance in a liquid, such as water or alcohol. A somewhat lighthearted analogy is one with a bad hangover taking "the hair of the dog" by drinking some of the same alcohol the following morning to help recuperate. After the substance is mixed with the liquid, it is forcefully shaken or rapped hard against an object ("succussion"). A part of the shaken solution is taken out and diluted again, the result being shaken or rapped again. The process is repeated until the desired concentration is reached. A homeopath will claim that the the effect is "potentized," or made more effective. A strong "solution," one obeying the "law of infinitesimals," is regarded as the original substance being diluted some 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 times. Yet, there is the practical question as to whether physically this can be done, as one would have to have an instrument like an electron microscope to determine whether any trace of the original solute remained. However, homeopaths will claim that the "spirit" of the substance remains or that the substance left its "memory" in the solvent.
Homeopathy was developed originally by German physician Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843). He discovered that a Peruvian treebark, cinchona, caused marlia-like symptoms, but this astringent also could treat that disease, or at least mitigate its effects. However, cinchona is toxic, and a dilution of the substance to reduce toxicity still might work. By extension, the more the substance was diluted, the more effective it would be. Using this "hair of the dog" principle, he inferred that his homeopathic method would work with other substances. Numerous very risky medical proceedures existed at the turn of the 19th century, and Hahnemann correctly thought that homeopathy was the least risky of all. However, undergoing a worthless treatment in deference to one that works may even be worse in some cirumstances.
It must be asked what is alternative about alternative medicines or treatments, such as homeopathy. Other names for non-standard treatments are referred to as "complementary medicine" or "integrative therapies". Homeopathy, iridology, and radium therapy are regarded as outside the mainstream, as these are not normally taught in standard medical schools. One must treat all of these with skepticism and apply scientific methodologies, such as testing, weighing of evidence for effectiveness, and peer review in making a decision about whether to engage in these procedures.
There is no scientific evidence that homeopathy works, although there may be a placebo effect. Further, millions of dollars are being made by homeopathic practicioners plying on the ignorance of an unsuspecting and sometimes desparate public. As with any treatment, it is best to seek the advice of medical profesionals, scientists, and/or peer-reviewed specialists in the field.
People get confused and think that all alternative medicines are alike. But they are not. Acupuncture is based on the philosophy of Chinese Medicine and uses needles on targeted areas of the body to stimulate energy healing. Herbalism uses only plant sources. Herbs contain material substances from the source plants, therefore can produce side effects. Homeopathy uses plant, mineral and animal sources and has a special method of preparing remedies that removes the material substance. So, homeopathic remedies made from source materials that are typically considered poisonous are now safe to take.
