http://depletedcranium.com/how-homeopathy-supposedly-works-illustrated/ Bad Science And Scary Science Fri, 30 Jul 2010 02:47:38 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://depletedcranium.com/how-homeopathy-supposedly-works-illustrated/comment-page-2/#comment-25749 drbuzz0 Sat, 17 Jul 2010 19:14:55 +0000 http://depletedcranium.com/?p=3632#comment-25749 [quote comment="19479"] It isn't actually a claim of homoeopathy that the dilute remedies produce opposite effects to the undiluted substances. This is a popular misconception, and one which homoeopaths make no effort to dispel (see, for example homoeopaths <a href="http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=448#comment-17437" rel="nofollow">invoking hormesis</a>) because the reality is even sillier. Homoeopaths believe that symptoms are part of the body's healing process (something to do with the mythical "vital force"). Homoeopathy therefore involves administering remedies which will intensify the symptoms and thus stimulate healing. Hence "aggravations" (i.e. worsening of the symptoms) is seen by homoeopaths as a sign that they have chosen the correct remedy. Hahnemann at first used material doses of substances to treat patients, having also "proved" (i.e. determined what symptoms they caused) the remedies using material doses. However, he found that this had a regrettable tendency to poison the patients, or as a recent book about homoeopathic pharmacy puts it, cause "aggravations that, in some cases, amounted to dangerous toxic reactions" (see Kayne SB (2006) <i>Homeopathic pharmacy: theory and practice</i>, Elsevier Health Sciences, p.52). Hahnemann therefore decided to dilute the remedies in the belief that this would reduce the toxic effects while somehow preserving the healing properties by the magic shaking. By the 5th edition of the <i>Organon</i> Hahnemann was prescribing carrying out "provings" using 30C remedies in the belief that this dilution would exhibit the full power of the remedy (see aphorism 128), and pretty much all provings nowadays are carried out using remedies so dilute that they no longer contain any of the active ingredient (see Kayne, p. 52). The remedies are given to healthy volunteers, who then record all their feelings and symptoms over a period of days to weeks, and then a homoeopath (who is aware what remedy they have been given) decides which symptoms or feelings are characteristic of the remedy. The remedies are then used to treat patients reporting the same symptoms that they are alleged to cause. the idea that the remedies cause the opposite effect is a myth.[/quote] An old comment, but I feel the need to respond: I understand what you're saying, but I stand by the idea that if homeopathy is to work, then the substances must, in treating the condition they cause, do the opposite of high doses. This is a simple logical extension of the basic reasoning. That which is used to treat excessive tiredness is, by definition, an alertness aid. This would be something that, undiluted makes you tired. That which treated inability to sleep is, by definition, the opposite of what would keep someone awake. If it treats, it must remove the effects it would otherwise make. Food acids, which cause indigestion, would have to become antacids or acid blockers. To cure what it causes is the opposite. It has to be.