Homeopathy is a “therapy” based mostly on the usage of extremely diluted substances, which practitioners claim could cause the body to heal itself. Historically, folks have used homeopathy to maintain well being and deal with a wide range of lengthy-time period illnesses, comparable to allergic reactions , atopic dermatitis , rheumatoid arthritis , and irritable bowel syndrome They’ve additionally used it to deal with minor injuries, akin to cuts and scrapes and muscle strains or sprains.
Supporters of homeopathy level to 2 unconventional theories: like cures like”—the notion that a illness may be cured by a substance that produces similar signs in wholesome folks; and regulation of minimum dose”—the notion that the decrease the dose of the medicine, the higher its effectiveness.
The strategy of preparing homeopathic medicines is called potentization; on this technique, one a part of the unique drug substance (say, 0.1 mg of a plant extract) is combined with ninety nine parts (9.9 mg) of a suitable carrier (say alcohol) and shaken vigorously by a special gadget that converts the preparation into the 1c potency.
Britain’s well being minister (in 1994), Dr. Brian Mawhinney, acknowledged, “Complementary drugs has typically proved standard with patients, and a latest survey discovered that 81 p.c of sufferers are happy with the treatment they obtained” (16).