Homeopathic Medicine
What is Homeopathy?
Homeopathic medicine, or homeopathy, is a form of complementary and alternative medicine that uses minimal amounts of natural substances, which may cause a disease or symptom in higher doses. This branch of medicine came into being in the 19th century and was used frequently. Interestingly, the first studies using homeopathic remedies were done on healthy volunteers— similar to many clinical trials today. While the use of homeopathy has fallen off with the advent of newer conventional treatments, there are over 2,000 substances that have been utilized as homeopathic treatments.
What exactly is homeopathic medicine, and how is it thought to work? Below, we look at what the studies say about its effectiveness, how this compares with traditional medical options, and the possible side effects and risks of these therapies.
The Theory Behind Homeopathic Medicine
The theory behind homeopathic medicine is that "like cures like" and that a substance that causes an illness in a healthy person might cure those symptoms in someone ill. Homeopathy practitioners believe that a small amount of the substance which causes a disease will stimulate the body to heal itself. Though this may sound far-fetched, the theory is somewhat analogous to the basis of vaccination in modern-day medicine. With immunizations, exposure to a small amount of a killed or inactivated microbe can result in protection against developing the disease.
Homeopathic medicine is based on the theory that "like cures like." An example of homeopathy would be using a very dilute solution of coffee to treat insomnia.
The other theory underlying homeopathy is that of potentization. It's thought by homeopathy practitioners that the more dilute an ingredient, the more potent it becomes. The thought is that diluting and agitating an ingredient activates the curative powers of the component, thus enhancing its effect. Potency in homeopathic solutions is indicated by an X or C.
X: For every dilution, one part of an ingredient is mixed with two parts water. For example, a 1X potency would be a solution with one ingredient and nine parts water.
C: Potency may also be described with a C. A 1C solution refers to a solution with one part ingredient and 99 parts water.
Looking at potentization from a scientific standpoint, many homeopathic remedies may contain very few or no ingredient molecules (for example, in a 30C solution). Skeptics have described this as the equivalent of dissolving a tablet of Advil in the ocean and then drinking a few drops. In response, some proponents of homeopathy claim that the amount of the ingredient itself is not what is essential, but rather the energetics of the ingredient, which the dilution process activates to initiate a therapeutic effect on the body. The more dilute the homeopathic, the more potent it is believed to be.
Principles of Homeopathy
There are three main principles behind the practice of homeopathic medicine.
The law of similars: The law of similars refers to the "like cures like" theory noted above.
The principle of the single remedy: This principle holds that a single remedy should cover the physical, emotional, and mental symptoms of an illness combined.
The principle of the minimum dose: Only a small amount of substance is first used in a few doses, followed by an infinitesimal amount over time.
History
Homeopathy was developed by a German physician, Samuel Hahnemann, in 1807. He treated himself with a small amount of tree bark (cinchona bark) containing quinine, which is used to treat malaria. When he developed the symptoms of malaria, he came up with his law of "like cures like," believing that drugs that cause specific symptoms can be used to cure the illnesses that cause those symptoms.
Who Prescribes Homeopathic Remedies, and Where Are They Available?
Some homeopathic medications are available at health food stores, whereas others are available only through qualified homeopathic practitioners or specialists in integrative medicine, such as naturopathic doctors.
Scientific Research Looking at Homeopathic Remedies
The effectiveness of homeopathic remedies has been inconsistent, primarily due to the lack of widespread regulation of the practice. This makes the “dosage,” or amount of a homeopathic medicine present in any particular formulation, variable.
A 2016 review of the research literature evaluated the study design and results of studies involving homeopathic remedies. The conclusion was that individualized homeopathy might have small, specific treatment effects.1 It's likely that further "evidence-based" studies will fill in more details on the safety and efficacy of homeopathic remedies. In contrast, a 2017 meta-analysis found there was no single clinical medical condition for which there is reliable evidence that homeopathy is effective.2
An extensive 2018 review of articles published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews looked at one of the more common claims about homeopathic medicines: that they may play a role in preventing or treating acute respiratory tract infections in children. According to this review, there was no evidence these treatments are effective. Due to the quality of reporting of possible adverse effects of homeopathic medicines in the studies reviewed, the researchers could not draw any conclusions about the safety of these treatments.3
Homeopathic Medicine and Cancer
As with other medical conditions, the role of homeopathic remedies for people with cancer is largely unknown. Animal studies have found that homeopathic remedies—when used along with conventional therapies—may inhibit cancer, reduce symptoms, and improve quality of life. Currently, however, we don't know if these studies on animals can be applied to humans, and further research is needed to address this question.
Frequency of Homeopathic Remedy Use Among Cancer Patients
Whether or not it is practical, homeopathy is common among people with cancer. A 2019 study examined complementary and alternative medicine among cancer patients at a single institution. Of the different forms used (including osteopathy, homeopathy, acupuncture, healing touch, magnetism, Chinese medicine, and more), homeopathy was the second most common modality used by 39% of those questioned.
For most people, these treatments were used primarily to prevent or treat the side effects of conventional cancer treatments. However, a small number of people used homeopathic remedies to improve their immune system or to treat cancer directly.5
Potential Benefits of Homeopathy
A 2018 study looked at the feasibility of homeopathy to help control symptoms in an integrative cancer treatment program. Of 124 patients, 75 percent found homeopathic remedies to have a beneficial effect. The benefit was more commonly reported among women, those with breast cancer, and people coping with chemotherapy-related peripheral neuropathy or hot flashes.
Side Effects and Safety of Homeopathic Medicine
Homeopathic remedies generally have a good safety profile since only a tiny amount of an active substance is used in high dilution. Pregnants or receiving treatment for a severe medical condition should talk with their physicians before using these remedies and any other form of alternative medical care.
The Danger of Homeopathic Medicine
It is extremely important to point out that homeopathic remedies do not replace the need for conventional medicine for most medical conditions. For example, concerning cancer treatment, there is no evidence that these substances have any effect whatsoever.
Suppose homeopathic remedies are used instead of traditional treatments that have been effective in well-designed clinical studies. In that case, these remedies have the potential to increase rather than improve pain and suffering.
While many of these treatments are unlikely to be detrimental when combined with conventional treatments, you must talk to your doctor about all homeopathic or nutritional supplements you wish to use. We know some vitamin and mineral supplements may interfere with cancer treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Contrast With Conventional Medicine
Homeopathic medicine differs from allopathic medicine (also known as mainstream, traditional, or conventional medicine), which uses agents (medicines, chemotherapy, surgery, etc.) that produce a different effect than the disease.
A relatively new approach in medicine has been combining conventional therapies to treat a disease and alternative practices to help control symptoms. This is now referred to as integrative medicine.
What Conventional Medicine Can Learn From Homeopathy
While homeopathic remedies have not conclusively been found helpful for any disease, practitioners offer a service currently lacking in conventional medical care: time and listening.
A visit with a homeopathic provider may last for an hour or more, compared with the brief visits many allopathic physicians offer. The opportunity to have someone listen to concerns in an empathic manner can't be understated.
While any improvement in symptoms is often dismissed as simply a placebo effect, we are learning that the placebo effect may have a physiological basis at times, with chemical changes such as a release of endorphins (the body's natural painkillers) and even brain scans demonstrating objective changes. Homeopathic providers may also take more time to discuss healthy lifestyle practices.