Homeopathy-What If The Remedy Isn't Actually The Remedy?

No area of natural medicine is more controversial than homeopathy. From it's reliance on an unseen "life force" to the extreme dilutions used in homeopathic remedies, homeopathy offers a lot of fodder for critics. Now, a study from the U.K. adds more fuel to the fire by asking one simple question. "What are the active ingredients?"

Normally, homeopathic research has focused primarily on comparing homeopathic remedies to placebos, often with impressive results. But researchers Trevor Thompson and Marjorie Weiss theorize that the very act of receiving homeopathic treatments is far more effective than the actual remedy itself. How can that be?

When you go to a mainstream physician for the first time, you're given a multi-page form to fill out. You typically sit alone in the waiting room and try to condense your entire medical history into two or three pages. When you finally get in to see the doctor, you typically spend only a few minutes face-to-face with the person who will ultimately become your primary healthcare provider.

By contrast, when you see a homeopathic doctor, you may spend more than an hour in a verbal exchange being asked questions focusing on every aspect of your life. Typically, you don't even fill out the form yourself; the homeopath takes notes throughout your discussion while you relax and just talk. Anyone who has ever "talked out" a problem understands the therapeutic value of talking about your problems. Perhaps it's the supportive environment that makes homeopathy so effective--not the strange-sounding remedy you'll be given at the end of the interview.

Does this mean that homeopathy doesn't work? Researchers aren't saying that. But they are suggesting that the "non-specific" aspects of homeopathy and the complex intervention that it offers be studied more thoroughly.

REFERENCE:

Thompson, T., Weiss, M. (2006) Homeopathy ? what are the active ingredients? An exploratory study using the UK Medical Research Council's framework for the evaluation of complex interventions Retrieved February 13, 2007 from http://http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/6/37 .

Lisa Barger is a traditional naturopath specializing in natural health education. To learn more about Ms. Barger's belief in "Empowerment through Education" or to take a free online natural health class see her website, http://www.LisaBarger.com