Transcript WHY IS HOMEOPATHY

COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
HOMEOPATHY
M. Kršiak
Department of Pharmacology, Third Faculty of
Medicine, Charles University in Prague
Lecture for students of medicine, Subject „General
pharmacology“ 2013/2014
http://vyuka.lf3.cuni.cz
CVSE3P0012
ID 9204
“ALTERNATIVE” MEDICINE
(or rather “COMPLEMENTARY” MEDICINE
because it does not substitute a standard medicine
[e.g. an astrologist is not an alternative astronomist]
[dr. O. Vinař]
some dare to say a „fringe medicine“
or „healer‘s medicine“
Complementary & Alternative Medicine - CAM
Some examples of CAM
(Complementary and Alternative Medicine):
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homeopathy
acupuncture,
TCHM traditional Chinese medicine
herbal medicine
chiropractice
Homeopathy
Founder: Dr. S. Hahnemann (1755-1843)
German physician
Principles of homeopathy I:
1/ The 'Principle of Similars', 'like cures like' ‚
„Similia similibus curantur”)
Hahnemann noticed, that quinine produces symptoms of malaria at
high doses, while it produces the opposite at low doses
let likes cure likes…
Homeopathy holds the premise of treating the sick with extremely
diluted agents that, in undiluted doses, produce similar symptoms in the
healthy.
DILUTION
decimal 1:10  1:10 …
D6 =10-6
centesimal 1:1001:100 … CH10 = 10-20
(CH centesimal according to Hahnemann) …
Hahnemann advocated CH30 dilutions for most
purposes
This „thirtieth potency“ (1 in 1060) provides solution
which practically contains no molecule of the initial
drug (a Mother Tincture)
Mainstream medicine in Hahneman‘s days:
bloodletting , purging …
Principles of homeopathy II:
2/ The principle of „dynamization“
Vigorous shaking of solutions during their
successive dilutions increases the potency of the
preparation
The higher the number of dilutions, the higher the
potency
What do homeopathic preparations contain?
Classical homeopathics: mostly contain no effective drug
Initial components:
- Mineral (e.g. mercury, sulphur, lava, coral)
- Herbal
- Animal (e.g. ants, whale ambergris, corpora lutea
[nosoda – not in Cz.R.])
Major problem of homeopathy:
It lacks the rigorous evidence of efficacy
required by modern standards (scientific,
objective evidence, e.g. EBM)
E Ernst. A systematic review of systematic reviews of homeopathy.
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2002 54: 577-582.
WB Jonas et al. A critical overview of homeopathy. Annals of
Internal Medicine 2003 138: 393-399
Bandolier 116
Current errors of present homeopaths:
- They believe effects of homeopathics can
be proven by current meta-analyses
- They strive after scientific explanation of
effects of homeopathics
Current errors of opponents of homeopathy:
- they require scientific/objective evidence
of efficacy of homeopathics (by current meta-analyses)
- they ascribe effects of homeopathics only
to the effect of placebo
WHY IS HOMEOPATHY (AND HEALER‘S
PRACTICES) STILL SO POPULAR ?
(even in well educated populations, developed
countries )
1. People are not only rational machines,
computers (as some economists
presume), but also emotional [and
moral] beeings. Their decissions are
influenced also by emotional (and
moral) aspects. If an emotional (or moral)
value of something (e.g. health or life of
their own or of their dearest) prevails, they
disregard the rational or material value
WHY IS HOMEOPATHY (AND HEALER‘S
PRACTICES) STILL SO POPULAR ?
(even in well educated populations, developed
countries )
2. People need hope.
Homeopaths (and healers) fill up a niche
of a huge demand for hope
hope-sellers
WHY IS HOMEOPATHY (AND HEALERS
PRACTICES) STILL SO POPULAR ?
3. Homeopaths and healers (in contrast to modern science)
do not stonewall [deny] mystery, spiritual influences.
In the contrary, they build on them (more or less
appropriately)
Humans seem to be able to feel a mystery.
They even seem to need a mystery.
DOSTOEVSKY:
"Man needs the mysterious and the infinite
just as much as he does the small planet
which he inhabits ".
If the need for mystery is not satisfied
properly, the need is satisfied e.g. by
astrology, horoscopes, occultism and
false healing practices.
WHY IS HOMEOPATHY (AND HEALER‘S
PRACTICES) STILL SO POPULAR ?
(even in well educated populations, developed
countries )
4. Homeopaths and healers create a good
personal therapeutic relationship with the
patient
Which is so much neglected in the present
technological medicine.
Development of individual (personal)
therapeutic relationship is essential for a
sucessful treatment in many disorders/
patients
WHY IS HOMEOPATHY (AND HEALER‘S
PRACTICES) STILL SO POPULAR ?
(even in well educated populations, developed
countries )
5. Homeopathy (and some healer‘s
practices) is a big bussiness, an
excellent source of money
Risks of homeopathy I:
Risks knowable by a reason (a common sense):
• hindering of early diagnosis
 hindering of effective treatment
 regression to a magic thinking
 waisting human talent and faculties (knowledge,
initiative)
Risks of homeopathy II:
Risks in addition (according to some spiritual views)
spiritual risks:
- Risks of entrusting oneself to doubtful powers Mt 7,22-23
22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons
and perform many miracles?'
23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
.'
- Putting the Lord to the test Mt 4,5-7
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.
6 "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning
you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"
7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
-Waisting own and other humans capabilities (hiding own
talent in the ground) Mt 25,14-29 and L 19: 15-26
Spiritually advanced people resort in a severe disease to a prayer rather than to homeopathy (or another „alternative“
medicine). The most advanced and strongest know they have no right for a preferential treatment (Mt 26,39) such as
changing the natural laws or removal of freedom in man. So, a negative result of their prayer they do not consider as
evidence of ineffectiveness of praying.
So, when to use homeopathy (or CAM)?
Only as a treatment of last choice if modern medicine
fails –
as „ultimum refugium“ (last resort)