Do Homeopathy patients know the "theory"

burrahobbit

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I have been talking to a few friends who are consulting homeopaths and are taking homeopathic "medicine"

I found that none of them had any idea of the so called theory- no like cures like, no succussion, NOTHING

As far as they could see, it was just like any doctor's clinic. They got asked about symptoms and prescribed pills. Since in India, most doctors also do not explain anything to patients they did not find anything surprising.

When I outlined the basis of Homeopathy to them, they were frankly incredulous. One of them flatly refused to believe that the basis could be so ridiculous. He was sure I was misrepresenting the facts. "NO medicine" he said "can be so crazy".

I told him that Homeopathy WAS no medicine but I dont think he got it


I just wondered if the situation is the same in the west.

Burrahobbit
 
But you haven't mentioned about their results/coments of getting treatments.

I think(:D), it is homeopathic theory, not to make patient panic by telling everything...somewhat like it.
 
I just wondered if the situation is the same in the west.

Burrahobbit

Yes and no. For the casual user I suspect it is the same. For the more serious user I suspect they know it's jsut water.
 
Homeopahty is almost invariably presented something like this:

"Homeopathy uses the principle of like cures like, as researched by the German physician Samuel Hahnemann. This is the principle of curing by giving extremely smal ldoses of a drug that will cause the same symptoms as the disease. Homeopathic drugs are highly diluted, and thus without the side effects known from conventional drugs."

So I expect most users get the impression that it is based on valid research and that there is some kind of active substance in the remedies.

Hans
 
But you haven't mentioned about their results/coments of getting treatments.

I think(:D), it is homeopathic theory, not to make patient panic by telling everything...somewhat like it.
Yes, you think right (for once), Kumar. It is a principle of homeopaths not to tell their patients their truth, because that would cause panic. Panic among homeopaths when patients run screaming from their clinics.

Hans
 
My experience has been that very few in the West know about the serial dilution aspect of homeopathy. This, when described to them, has alone been enough in converting a couple of my friends back to common sense.
 
Well, most people don't realize the consequences of serial dilution. They just think, "So they dilute it a number of times, so it's a really low and safe concentration"

The actual numbers are an eye-opener for most.

Hans
 
Kumar

I did not give any info on the "results/comments" after the treatment as anecdotal evidence is of no relevance in a serious discussion.

I also feel that there is no excuse for keeping patients in the dark

MRC Hans and BillC

Thanks for the response. Glad to know we are all in the same boat
 
Kumar

I did not give any info on the "results/comments" after the treatment as anecdotal evidence is of no relevance in a serious discussion.

I also feel that there is no excuse for keeping patients in the dark

MRC Hans and BillC

Thanks for the response. Glad to know we are all in the same boat

Graceful post. Although it is open fact & much/every information is available on internet & other referances about both type of systems--with or without adversities. To be justified, healer from both type of systems, should explain every good,nil or negative possibilty to all patients before any prescription. Next time, any patient shouldn't say, I was not aware about adverse effects. Actually, under modern atmosphere, it is becoming a duty/must of every person, to "to keep him/her well informed in advance". OK?

Edited to enhance meaning.
 
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When I was looking into why people actually use alternative medicines, I realised that they use them for exactly the same reason that most of us use conventional medicines – in both cases, we use them because we believe they work.

Of course, if we look into why medicines work we can spot the difference, but most people just accept claims at face value.

So no, people who use homeopathy etc. do not normally have an idea of the theory behind it; and where they do, it’s a distorted version of the theory.

What I do find, with homeopathy at least, is that to convince people that it’s a load of nonsense is not to argue with them, but to simply show them the actual theory behind it.
 
In India, it seems to be common to find that many patients do not actually have the educational background to appreciate even the simplest reasons WHY homeopathy is a crock, chemically speaking. You often have to go back beyond "basics" and into the schoolroom to teach them science at junior school level first!
 
I think a lot of 'em don't. I had no idea, myself, until I mentioned some homeopathic cat treatment in passing, and a friend went absolutely ballistic (thank goodness.) Once I sorted through the maze of water memory and dilutions, (which took a bit, because I kept thinking "No, this has to be a crackpot internet thing, nobody could believe THIS--where's the real stuff?") I was shocked and appalled.

The whole "treatment" aspect is largely uncoupled with "theory," at least in my limited experience.
 
My homeopath has always been very open with me and always gave me more time than my allopaths. And she has been very effective in her choice of remedies.

Meanwhile, there is no good excuse in the western countries not to do your own research for ANY medical or health treatment you are receiving.

I admit I don't fully explain to my pets what I am giving them - they don't object because they think it is just water.
 
My homeopath has always been very open with me and always gave me more time than my allopaths. And she has been very effective in her choice of remedies.
Has she actually explained the implications of the dilutions used?
 
My homeopath has always been very open with me and always gave me more time than my allopaths. And she has been very effective in her choice of remedies.

You have never seen a allopath. Real doctors are in somewhat short suppy and as a result there is a limit on how much time they can spend per person. Of course I do have to woulder why anyone would want to spend large amounts of time talking to a doctor. Isn't there anyone else you would rather talk to?

Meanwhile, there is no good excuse in the western countries not to do your own research for ANY medical or health treatment you are receiving.

Oh I can think of loads. We would soon here people complaining if there was anly serious risk of paracetamol taken at normal doses so I'm not going to spend hour researching it.

I admit I don't fully explain to my pets what I am giving them - they don't object because they think it is just water.

So your pets know more than you do.
 
Meanwhile, there is no good excuse in the western countries not to do your own research for ANY medical or health treatment you are receiving.

And after doing your own research, there is no good excuse for concluding that homeopathy is anything other than a foolish delusion.
 

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