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You are here: Backpacker Resources > Healthy Living > Part 50 - Homeopathy

Part 50 - Homeopathy

Alternative Medicines

Firstly, the term ‘alternative’ encompasses all therapies which remain outside the realm of medicine or scientific basis. This includes everything from yoga to meditation and even dietary methods - three examples which are certainly known to offer certain health benefits and which I have indeed referred to in previous articles.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy on the other hand is a rather specific term referring to the vitalist philosophy in which illnesses are viewed as disturbances to the ‘vital force’ or rather the fundamental force of life. These disturbances manifest themselves in the form of symptoms, each illness having its own particular set. To this idea we apply the Law of Similars, which basically states that like cures like. Yes, that’s right, there’s no talk of antibodies here, in fact it’s quite the opposite!

Originating from the observation that a particular treatment for Malaria resulted in similar symptoms to the disease itself, homeopathy was founded by extrapolation. Reasoning is then imposed by claiming that in opposing external symptoms (as modern medicine does), we simply suppress the disturbance, allowing it to penetrate deeper into the body. So that’s the theory but do you believe it?

What About Motion Sickness?

But that doesn’t add up, I mean how could my mother’s air sickness and panic attacks be cured by inducing exactly what she is trying to avoid? Well in this case I admit the condition is purely symptomatic and not a traditional target for homeopathic remedies, but do bear in mind that the remedy of which I spoke was indeed marketed under this branch of alternative medicine!

The remedies themselves are produced via a process known as serial dilution of the initial preparation. This dilution, which ultimately results in barely a trace of the initial preparation, is said to make the effects of the remedy become stronger and stronger. Yes, fight symptoms with symptoms and dilute the treatment to make it stronger. Maybe the two cancel each other out...

According to the Scientists

There is no evidence whatsoever to support homeopathic remedies, other than the more psychology related phenomenon of the placebo effect. The latter is most certainly not considered as a legitimate medicine and is therefore never applied uniquely as a control case in experiments where illnesses may have lasting consequences. Hence the same applies to homeopathic methods.

Any Worth at All?

Why, you may wonder, have I spent an entire page explaining the lack of worth in homeopathic treatment? Well the answer is quite simply that I want to alert you to the fact that in any non-trivial case, the power of modern medicine is second to none. If you show symptoms of any illness then do your research and seek treatment of the most secure kind.

Furthermore, I’m sure that the true believers in alternative methods will not be put off by my words and I do not intend to offend any of my readers. After all, a placebo can go a long way, and the only danger of homeopathic philosophy is the rejection of scientific methods. Homeopathy can be seen as a complement but never as a replacement, as with many other alternative therapies.

- David Haw