The Effectiveness of Homeopathic Medicine Essay

Homeopathic medicine has been a popular source of treatment in the western world for ages. A lot of progressive people believe in its efficacy. However, scientific studies have shown that there is little evidence of the effectiveness of homeopathic medicine. Patients who regularly take this treatment often state that the lack of proof of its healing power is due to corporations doing their best to make sure alternative medicines do not take away their profits. The Effectiveness of Homeopathic Medicine Essay.In my opinion, though, it is difficult to accept that a wide-scale operation to discredit scientific studies on homeopathic medicine is underway. In the following paragraphs, I will go into detail about the studies and information about why this type of treatment is not effective in the eyes of science.

Homeopathy rallies against common treatments

One of the most alarming facts about homeopathy is that the industry and its specialists often spread information against normal drugs, treatments, care, and solutions. They also make false or strange claims about the origin of illnesses. This makes it detrimental to patients who truly need to heal and solve their medical issues. These contradictions have been a barb in the side of specialists who desire to treat people effectively (Spence, James). The Effectiveness of Homeopathic Medicine Essay.

Positive research results because of chance, bias, and flawed methods

Sometimes, studies on homeopathic medicine come out in favor of its effectiveness. However, systematic reviews of this research have found that they are riddled with results determined by chance, reporting bias, and flawed methods (Caulfield, Timothy, and Suzanne DeBow). To be more precise, in the article Serious mistakes in meta-analysis of homeopathic research, it is noted that “The main flaw was that trials reflect the point of view that the treatment with a specific remedy could be administered in a particular disease. However, homeopathy aims to treat the whole person, rather than the diseases and each case has to be treated individually with an individualized remedy. Furthermore, the commonly known events during the course of homeopathic treatment, such as “initial aggravation” and “symptom-shift” were not considered in almost all the studies” (Vithoulkas, G.).  The Effectiveness of Homeopathic Medicine Essay.This points to the fact that many studies that were done on this alternative treatment do not stay true to its principles and vie to bend results in their favor.

ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER NOW

Negative results of tests are the most methodical

With the most positive studies on homeopathic medicine lacking professionalism, usually the trails that show negative outcomes are the most rigorous. In effect, the Homeopathic Medicines Research Advisory Group concluded that “There is some evidence that homeopathic treatments are more effective than placebo; however, the strength of this evidence is low because of the low methodological quality of the trials. Studies of high methodological quality were more likely to be negative than the lower quality studies” (Cucherat, M, et al.). The Effectiveness of Homeopathic Medicine Essay. This is a clear indication that the effectiveness of homeopathic medicine should be questioned.

Though the use of alternative medicine is a trend now in the western world, it does not mean it is a good solution to medical ailments. In fact, homeopathy in particular not only sways people away from traditional treatment, but also no hard evidence has been able to prove its efficacy. The Effectiveness of Homeopathic Medicine Essay. The positive results of trials have been shown to have an element of chance, reporter bias, and flawed methodology. Finally, most rigorous tests have demonstrated that homeopathic medicine incurs negative results.

Caulfield, Timothy, and Suzanne DeBow. “A Systematic Review of How Homeopathy Is Represented in Conventional and CAM Peer Reviewed Journals.” BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, BioMed Central, 14 June 2005, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1177924/.
Cucherat, M, et al. “Evidence of Clinical Efficacy of Homeopathy. A Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials. HMRAG. Homeopathic Medicines Research Advisory Group.” European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (UK), Apr. 2000, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10853874.
Spence, James. “Allopathy And Homœopathy.” The Lancet, vol. 59, no. 1479, 1852, p. 25., doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(02)59148-0.
Vithoulkas, G. “Serious Mistakes in Meta-Analysis of Homeopathic Research.” Journal of Medicine and Life, Carol Davila University Press, 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5304371/.

Homeopathy is a safe, natural form of medicine, based on the practice of treating like with like. Homeopathy is derived from the Greek words homios, meaning like or similar, and italics, meaning suffering. The Effectiveness of Homeopathic Medicine Essay.

Homeopathy is concerned with treating the whole person rather than the illness alone. The homeopath will consider the patient as a whole, both physically and psychologically, taking into account the patient’s physical appearance, their likes, dislikes, and their temperament. It is, therefore, a highly personalized form of treatment, so patients who apparently suffer from the same illness may be given advice for different medicines.

A homeopathy is a well-established form of healing. Today many of the leading pharmaceutical companies are researching and mass-producing homeopathic medicines.

homeopathic medicines

Homeopathic medicines look very much like conventional medicines, are taken in the same way, but the way they work is entirely different.

The medicines are not synthetic and are derived from natural sources. Over 60% of homeopathic remedies are prepared from vegetable or plant materials. Other remedies are prepared from naturally occurring mineral substances, including metals, non-metallic substances, and mineral salts. Animal sources of homeopathic remedies include Cuttlefish (think or juice provides sepia) and Honeybee.

Homeopathic medicines are prepared by obtaining the remedy in its most concentrated form, and then, through a long process of dilution, by preparing a medicine whose potency is sufficient to effect treatment. The Effectiveness of Homeopathic Medicine Essay. The potency describes the measure of the dilution of the remedy and is denoted by the number which follows the name of the medicine itself. The higher the number, the greater the dilution (up to one part remedy to one trillion parts dilutant).

homeopathic medicines

Homeopathic medicines, commonly referred to remedies, may come from the plant, mineral, or animal kingdom. Some common remedies include Arnica Montana,from the Leopard’s bane plant; belladonna, from the deadly nightshade plant; Calcarea, calcium carbonate from oyster shells; sepia, from cuttlefish ink; and the element, sulfur.

Homeopathic remedies today are produced using the same dilution principles as in Hahnemann’s day. In a common dilution of1:100, one drop of the homeopathic substance is added to 99 drops of water and/or alcohol. The mixture is then potentized by a process called”succussion” – repeated tapping on a hard surface for a specific length of time. Remedies may be diluted up to 1000 times, leaving only an infinitesimal trace of the substance. Remedies are typically diluted 10, 100, or 1,000 times, which translate into potencies that are marked with the Roman numerals X, C, and M. Homeopathic remedies range from 6X as the lowest potency 1M or more as the highest potency.

Remedies can be taken orally in pill, powder, or drop form rubbed topically or injected. There are usually no side effects from homeopathic treatments, but a patient can experience what is called a “healing aggravation,” a temporary accentuation of symptoms. This is seen as a positive sign that the remedy is working. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, a homeopath may choose an antidote, which produces the opposite effect of the remedy.The Effectiveness of Homeopathic Medicine Essay.  The antidote may be another homeopathic remedy, or a strong substance, such as perfume, camphor, or coffee, which are known to block the effects of a remedy.

In the United States, the Food and DrugAdministration (FDA) has recognized homeopathic medicines as drugs since 1938, working with the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia Convention to produce and update their reference book of homeopathic medicines. Over the years, the FDA has classified homeopathic medicines as either prescription or more commonly as-prescription (over-the-counter), depending on their strength. In the United Kingdom, homeopathic medicine has been part of the National Health Service (NHS) since it began in 1948. There are currently 5 homeopathic hospitals in the NHS. Homeopathic medicines are available over-the-counter or by prescription.

Safety of Homeopathic Medicines

Because of the very, very small doses used in homeopathic treatment, the medicines are completely safe, non-addictive and have no unwanted side effects. The curative properties of the remedies are released even in extremely high dilution‹and render the medicine completely safe for the treatment of both children and babies.

ORDER  NOW

Always consult a practitioner before buying homeopathic remedies, and make sure that they are kept safe and out of the reach of all children. The Effectiveness of Homeopathic Medicine Essay.

Where dosing instructions have been followed, no case of toxic action has ever been reported in association with homeopathic medicines.

ReceivingHomeopathic Treatment

Homeopathic treatment is practiced by fully qualified Health Practitioners who understand the philosophy of homeopathic medicines well as patients’ emotional and daily situations.

While some homeopathic medicines are readily available in both regular pharmacies and health stores, you MUST consult your homeopathic practitioner before attempting treatment for any serious ailment or illness.

If you are currently on medication for a serious medical or psychological condition, you should NOT stop taking your medication in order to start homeopathic treatment. Your practitioner will advise you on the best course of treatment, often working with your internist or therapist. The Effectiveness of Homeopathic Medicine Essay.