Dangerous Homeopathy
21. Aug, 2009 
7 Comments
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned against the use of homeopathy for the treatment of HIV, TB, malaria, influenza and infant diarrhoea. Scientists and medics around the world have welcome WHO’s clear position.
Early career scientists in the UK have previously appealed to the WHO to formally condemn the use of homeopathic treatment for these five serious diseases. This appeal aims at discouraging the use of inappropriate medication when people’s lives are at risk. The WHO currently works in partnership with many organisations promoting homeopathy or alternative treatment in developing countries.
Homeopathy is presented as a safe, natural and long term treatment for various illnesses. The basis of homeopathy lies in the beliefs that: 1) substances causing the same symptoms as the disease to be treated can effectively cure people and 2) an over-diluted dose of the substance reduces its potential to harm and becomes very effective for healing. However, scientific investigations have not proven these claims, but rather show that homeopathy merely acts as a placebo.
Placebos (from the latin I will please) are inert prescriptions which can induce physiological changes. The belief that the patient is receiving treatment is what brings relief to him. However, the placebo effect simply alleviates the symptoms of the disease and is by no way a cure. Homeopathy cannot thus cure serious diseases, such as HIV, TB, malaria, flu and diarrhoea.
Promoting irrational and ineffective treatments for these serious illnesses can lead to catastrophic consequences. This has been demonstrated in South Africa, where Thabo Mbeki’s reckless policy has led to an estimated 365,000 premature deaths. Advocating homeopathy for AIDS and flu in place of proper treatment is unethical, since homeopathy is no replacement for effective medication developed through rigorous clinical trials.
I remember that crap – some African Minister (she was a chick) told a crowd that certain herbs could cure AIDS.
She did apologise later though.
To be fair, homeopathic treatments do help the hypochondriacs.
can't help posting this one – That Mitchell and Webb Look: Homeopathic A&E http://bit.ly/5YLEn
I do not agree that all homeopathic treatment = placebo.
It should be used as a complement to modern medicine but it is not fair to say that it is only for a placebo effect.
I back Josh for his opinion too. Example: I can confidently say that Tulsi (mostly the black one) leaves is really good against irritant cough(irritants or even first level bacterial infection of the throat).
Honey is good to enforce your immune system. Now of course to treat AIDS I will not ask someone to use herbs until it is proven that the plant can be safely used and it is efficient.
Kurt, herbal medicine and homeopathy aren't the same.
I agree in the antibacterial (anti viral?) effect of chewing tulsi leaves (girofle works too) but keep it for dental hygiene, please.
homeopathy is, as in the video, something i've always disagreed with, and i know i'll always be booed for that.
@fadil.fr
Yes I remember it as well. Hypochondriacs cannot be helped by anything I'm afraid
@adrcc2
Lol Homeopathy is ridiculous as characterized by the clip you posted. Can diluting a poison in water and shaking it, dilute, shake, dilute, shake … really cure a poisoned person: this is sheer ludicrousness.
@Josh
Zozua, scientific evidence points that all homeopathic treatments ARE placebos. Clinical trials are not to be believed, they are HARD FACTS, like it or not.
@Kurt Avish
Homeopathy has nothing to do with herbal remedies. If you carefully read my post, I mentioned that homeopathy consists in over-diluting a substance causing the same symptoms as the disease, and shaking the diluted potion. This is not to be confused with herbal remedies, which do work sometimes.
@adrcc2
Thanks for the reaction to Kurt's comment.
Herbal remedies FTW!!