I consider myself a broad minded physician, open to new and alternative approaches in Medicine. When I was in medical school, I was in charge of the task force for non-western medicine. Western medicine does not have all the answers, and some of their approaches/philosophies are not ideal. What we call ‘complimentary medicine’ is the primary medicine for nearly 2/3 of the world’s population.

 

In contrast, I am wary of treatments without due process. I worry about ‘quackery’ and con artists and ‘mumbo jumbo’.  The assumption some treatments are ‘time honored’ is not good enough for me – that is why ‘bleedings’ lingered into the 1800s.

 

There is one type of treatment over which I can not get enthused – homeopathy.

 

I am the first to admit I don’t know much about homeopathy. I would be keen to learn from somebody who knows what they are doing. With that said, I have doubts over its main premise; the less you take of something the more powerful it becomes.

 

Can you imagine conventional medicines working this way? For example, to treat a urinary tract infection, you would be better off taking a microgram of antibiotic instead of a full dose. A drop of cough medicine would work better than the standard 2 teaspoons.

Common sense tells me a miniscule amount of anything doesn’t translate into better efficacy.

Patients tell me the homeopathic medicines work ‘different’ from conventional medication molecules, but they can’t explain why this is so.

 

I don’t have issue with my patients doing homeopathic remedies. I am assured there is no drug/drug interactions because so they are taking practically nothing.

When they report it helped, I wonder if it is all due to placebo effect; so much of Medicine is placebo, homeopathy may be the same.

The people who use homeopathy are usually the ones who want it to work.

 

I have never seen double blind studies on homeopathy.

I ‘d be curious to see them compared to placebo, and efficacy at various strengths.

 

So while I am open to acupuncture and phytophamacology (meaning herbals), homeopathy leaves me bewildered and wary.