In Australia, a group of doctors and so-called scientists is demanding that government funded universities stop offering homeopathy, chiropractic, Chinese herbal medicine, naturopathy and other healing modes. They miss the paradox of calling themselves scientific while censoring ideas. These skeptics are promoting the big lie that drugs are the answer and pharmaceutical research is scientific. If allopathy were ever held to a standard of healing and safety, it would cease to exist.
The group’s refrain is the familiar one about placebo effects vs evidence based medicine (EBM). Such critics could start by reading this issue of our journal, with Irving Kirsch’s study of antidepressants. Those “evidence based” drugs, for which millions of prescriptions have been written, and whose side effects have caused untold suffering, were found to be no more effective than placebo.
The critics should also read our article by Steve Hickey and Hilary Roberts, who crunched the numbers to show that Evidence Based Medicine results in neither good evidence, nor good medicine.
The skeptics should also examine the recent 300 page report on homeopathy by the Swiss Government. This exhaustive seven year study is the most in-depth review of homeopathy ever conducted by a government. The Swiss team evaluated all the research from double-blind and placebo controlled trials, actual clinical effectiveness, safety and finally, cost-effectiveness. The study authors concluded that homeopathy is effective, sometimes more so than conventional treatment, free of side effects and economical. They recommended that homeopathy be covered by Switzerland’s national health insurance program. (for Dana Ullman’s review of the Swiss study : http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dana-ullman/homeopathic-medicine-_b_1258607.html )
Lastly, the critics should study Hpathy’s archive of hundreds of cured cases, to learn what real healing is about.
This month:
Our Hot seat interview is with Homeopath Dr. Samuel Flagler. He and his wife Lila, also a homeopath, have been practicing in Tuscon Az for three decades. They both possess numerous skills and use the cutting edge of homeopathy. Dr. Flagler shares his insights into some difficult issues in homeopathy.
Cases
In addition to Claudia De Rosa’s cases, we have cases solved classically and also using Sensation. The cases are from Urvi Chauhan, Edmund Carleton (who saves a leg with Coffea), Anita Salunkhe, Kieran Linnane and Tatiana Veselovskaya.
Claudia De Rosa presents two cancer cases (thyroid and pancreatic), a case of polycystic ovarian disease and one of obsessive compulsive disorder.
Articles
Among the many articles this month: A marvelous introduction to Boenninghausen’s Pocket Book by Keith Wilson, Psora and its relation to treating animals, by Richard Pitcairn, Evidence Based Medicine by Steve Hickey, Irving Kirsch’s study of antidepressants, Blinding the Remedy by Reza Sharifi, Imponderabilia by Ruhul Amin and Biplab Chakraborty, Examination of the Patient by H.N. Guernsey.
You’ll find veterinary cases from Edward de Beukelaer and Jacques Millemann, and an article on poultry from Boericke and Tafel.
There are more cases and articles, along with Elaine’s famous quiz, the Plant Doctor (send questions!), Tips & Secrets, and a new crossword and cartoon. So pull up a comfortable chair and enjoy the feast. As always, send your comments, questions, articles and cases to [email protected]
It’s a very informative column……..keep it up!
Hi Alan – nice job! 🙂 Also, we need to consider the 2010 Report that made it to Hpathy news that clearly demonstrates Homeopathy is more closely related to Nanotechnology than a so-called placebo effect, and should really have made that argument go away. Now they need to show that Nanotechnology is “not real” and I doubt they will attempt to do that!
Dear Aartiana,
Thanks for your comment. Yes, it seems these “anti” groups ignore lots of science in order to make their arguments. They seem to be made up of a core group with an agenda (probably Pharma inspired) along with followers who are just misguided and refusing to enter the next century. Those hanging on to the old ways are like the last couple at the ball, dancing in the dark after everyone else has left. The nano data is interesting, but needs more work before firm conclusions are drawn. Personally I’d like to see less defensive research (proving homeopathy works) and more studies that would actually help our practices.
In Britain Homeopathy is under constant attack. The modern medicine folks carry some studies and try to prove that Homeopathic medicines do not work. They should not get result of Arsenic Alb for example if the patient or person needs Sulfur. No results should ensue for even a homeopathic practitioner. A well balanced study should therefore first identify patients and persons by medicine type, then in double blind study half of these persons should be taken as control and receive placebos. In addition a double mass spectrometer with GC-MS type detectors should be used to detect nano gram level of changes in blood chemistry by use of homeopathic medicines. Dr. Alan Schmukler has done great service to Homeopathic system itself by his work and books.
– RK Khardekar
Dear Sir,
Homoeopathy is under constant attack from all corners most probably at the behest of Multinational drug companies.