Homeopathy doesn't work:

Over the last few years, there have been articles and commentaries in mainstream media about homeopathy, often negative. The opinion expressed is usually along the lines that "homeopathy can´t work, it is only a placebo". The reporting here is decidedly one sided as the media persistently ignores the response by the homeopathic profession. Our right of reply is generally restricted to ‘Letters’, thus attracting very little attention. Funding for homeopathic research is absolutely minimal compared with the billions enjoyed by pharmaceutical companies and yet there has been research and trials that have concluded a positive outcome for homeopathy. I´ll discuss some of these below and also refer you to a comprehensive link.

Firstly, I´ll refer to a survey that was concluded in 2005 at The Bristol Homeopathic Hospital. The survey was organized by three GPs at the hospital and looked at the results of homeopathic treatment of 6,544 consecutive patients referred with chronic (long standing) diseases over a 6-year period. Most of these patients had already been treated by at least one consultant through the NHS. The results of the survey were: 70% of patients reported some improvement in their condition and 51% were better or much better. 3% reported deterioration in their condition. These are wonderful results for such a large trial of chronic conditions. The survey has been audited and satisfied the rigor of scientific controls. However, in an attempt to publish their survey, the authors have been stonewalled by the media and ignored by the majority of their colleagues in the medical profession. [The reference for this research is: Homeopathic Treatment for Chronic Disease: A 6-Year, University-Hospital Outpatient Observational Study. Dr D S Spence, Dr E A Thompson and S J Barron. J. Altern. Complement. Med. 2005; 11(5): 793-398].

There is also emerging scientific evidence for the activity of ‘ultramolecular dilutions.’ This refers to the ‘potency’ of homeopathic medicines prepared to 12c and higher as the medicines are then so dilute that there is not a single molecule of the original substance remaining. A series of scientific trials using homeopathic dilutions was conducted in laboratories across Britain and Europe over a five-year period. The result of these trials showed that there is biological activity at the level of homeopathic dilution. The trials were a watershed for scientific research into homeopathy. These results were published in an internationally respected scientific journal and in ‘The Independent’ on the 19th August 2004. ‘The Independent’s’ science editor concludes the article by saying "…the homeopathic gauntlet has been thrown down. The question now is whether anyone will be brave enough to pick it up”. Over fours later, there has been a conspicuous lack of courage to even consider these trials, let alone to pick up the gauntlet."

It has often been said of homeopathy that there is no scientific evidence that homeopathy works - those days are over. We now have scientific evidence. The real problem is that so few people know about it.

For those of you are interested in research into homeopathy, I refer you to the following link at the Faculty of Homeopaths, which has a comprehensive Research section on their web site:

http://www.facultyofhomeopathy.org/research/

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