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en:misc:talk-qa-schwarcz-saine [2013/01/31 19:56]
legatum [QUESTION 5]
en:misc:talk-qa-schwarcz-saine [2013/09/23 08:18] (current)
legatum
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 We could indeed speculate that beyond the twelfth centesimal dilution there isn't any molecule left from the original substance. However, no one can in fact prove the absence of any molecules of the original medicinal substances in ultra-molecular preparations (UMPs[(Ultra-molecular preparations or UMPs are solids or solutions that went through the process of serial trituration/​succussion and dilutions particular to homeopathy (or are solids, usually sugars, that have been impregnated with one of these solutions), and which usually exceed in theory Avogadro'​s limit.)]), unless they are able to investigate them with methods capable of detecting the presence of the smallest concentrations of molecules. It was not until the 1950's and 1960's that scientists conducted experiments with radioisotopes,​ which permitted the detection of molecules of the original substances in UMPs of up to the 10<​sup>​-2,​000</​sup>​ (Korsakoff)[(Plazy M. //Recherche expérimentale moderne en homéopathie//​. Angoulème: Éditions Coquemard, 1967, 13-15. )]. The presence of the original medicinal substances have since been detected by more refined spectrometric measurements and most recently by scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology, who have detected asymptotic amounts of nanoparticles and nanobubbles in UMPs of up to the 10<​sup>​-400</​sup>​ [(Chikramane PS, Kalita D, Suresh AK, Kane SG, Bellare JR. Why extreme dilutions reach non-zero asymptotes: a nanoparticulate hypothesis based on froth flotation. //​Langmuir//​ 2012; 28: 15864-15875. )]. We could indeed speculate that beyond the twelfth centesimal dilution there isn't any molecule left from the original substance. However, no one can in fact prove the absence of any molecules of the original medicinal substances in ultra-molecular preparations (UMPs[(Ultra-molecular preparations or UMPs are solids or solutions that went through the process of serial trituration/​succussion and dilutions particular to homeopathy (or are solids, usually sugars, that have been impregnated with one of these solutions), and which usually exceed in theory Avogadro'​s limit.)]), unless they are able to investigate them with methods capable of detecting the presence of the smallest concentrations of molecules. It was not until the 1950's and 1960's that scientists conducted experiments with radioisotopes,​ which permitted the detection of molecules of the original substances in UMPs of up to the 10<​sup>​-2,​000</​sup>​ (Korsakoff)[(Plazy M. //Recherche expérimentale moderne en homéopathie//​. Angoulème: Éditions Coquemard, 1967, 13-15. )]. The presence of the original medicinal substances have since been detected by more refined spectrometric measurements and most recently by scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology, who have detected asymptotic amounts of nanoparticles and nanobubbles in UMPs of up to the 10<​sup>​-400</​sup>​ [(Chikramane PS, Kalita D, Suresh AK, Kane SG, Bellare JR. Why extreme dilutions reach non-zero asymptotes: a nanoparticulate hypothesis based on froth flotation. //​Langmuir//​ 2012; 28: 15864-15875. )].
  
-Also, measurable changes in the physico-chemical properties of UMPs began to appear in the 1940's with wavelength changes of the light passing through them[(Wurmser L, Loch P. Travail de recherche expérimentale sur les dilutions homéopathiques. //Congrès National de la Société Homéopathique de France// 1948: 37-48. )]. Different teams of scientists corroborated other measurable physico-chemical changes of UMPs in the early 1950'​s[(tephenson ​J. A review of investigations into the action of substances in dilutions greater than 1 X 10<​sup>​-24</​sup>​. //Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy//​ 1955; 48: 327-335. )]. During the 1960'​s,​ it was found by high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy that differences existed in the alcohol phase spectrographs of UMPs[(Boericke GW, Smith RB. Modern aspects of homeopathic research. //Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy//​ 1965; 58: 158-167; 1966; 59: 263-272. )]. The advent of more refined spectroscopic equipment is now permitting scientists to push investigation further and discover many new, greatly unexpected physico-chemical properties of UMPs.[(Rey L. Thermoluminescence of ultra-high dilutions of lithium chloride and sodium chloride. //Physica A// 2003; 323: 67–74. )] [(Elia V, Niccoli M. New physico-chemical properties of extremely diluted aqueous solutions. //Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry//​ 2004; 75: 815–836. )] [(Elia V, Napoli E, Niccoli M, Tiezzi E. New physico-chemical properties of extremely dilute solutions. A conductivity study at 25°C in relation to ageing. //Journal of Solution Chemistry// 2008; 37: 85–96. )]+Also, measurable changes in the physico-chemical properties of UMPs began to appear in the 1940's with wavelength changes of the light passing through them[(Wurmser L, Loch P. Travail de recherche expérimentale sur les dilutions homéopathiques. //Congrès National de la Société Homéopathique de France// 1948: 37-48. )]. Different teams of scientists corroborated other measurable physico-chemical changes of UMPs in the early 1950'​s[(Stephenson ​J. A review of investigations into the action of substances in dilutions greater than 1 X 10<​sup>​-24</​sup>​. //Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy//​ 1955; 48: 327-335. )]. During the 1960'​s,​ it was found by high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy that differences existed in the alcohol phase spectrographs of UMPs[(Boericke GW, Smith RB. Modern aspects of homeopathic research. //Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy//​ 1965; 58: 158-167; 1966; 59: 263-272. )]. The advent of more refined spectroscopic equipment is now permitting scientists to push investigation further and discover many new, greatly unexpected physico-chemical properties of UMPs.[(Rey L. Thermoluminescence of ultra-high dilutions of lithium chloride and sodium chloride. //Physica A// 2003; 323: 67–74. )] [(Elia V, Niccoli M. New physico-chemical properties of extremely diluted aqueous solutions. //Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry//​ 2004; 75: 815–836. )] [(Elia V, Napoli E, Niccoli M, Tiezzi E. New physico-chemical properties of extremely dilute solutions. A conductivity study at 25°C in relation to ageing. //Journal of Solution Chemistry// 2008; 37: 85–96. )]
  
 In 1984, Scofield reviewed much of the pre-Benveniste research on the physico-chemical properties of UMPs[(Scofield AM. Experimental research in homeopathy—a critical review. //British Homoeopathic Journal// 1984; 73: 161-180, 211-226.)]. We find that already in the 1960'​s,​ Barnard had developed the idea of the "​memory of water,"​ or in other words, something of the original substances is ingrained in the vehicles, which had in fact been considered by homeopaths since Hahnemann[(Barnard GP. Microdose paradox—a new concept. //Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy//​ 1965; 58; 205-212.)]. In 1984, Scofield reviewed much of the pre-Benveniste research on the physico-chemical properties of UMPs[(Scofield AM. Experimental research in homeopathy—a critical review. //British Homoeopathic Journal// 1984; 73: 161-180, 211-226.)]. We find that already in the 1960'​s,​ Barnard had developed the idea of the "​memory of water,"​ or in other words, something of the original substances is ingrained in the vehicles, which had in fact been considered by homeopaths since Hahnemann[(Barnard GP. Microdose paradox—a new concept. //Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy//​ 1965; 58; 205-212.)].
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 Not out of the air, for this phenomenon takes place just as well in the vacuum of the air-pump! Therefore it must come from the substances that are rubbed together; which is the fact. But does the ordinary individual really believe that the cold steel which he draws thoughtlessly from his pocket to light his tinder, contains hidden within it (in a latent, confined, undeveloped state) an inexhaustible store of caloric, which the blow only develops, and as it were, wakes into activity? No, he does not believe it, he has never reflected, //and never will reflect//, upon the phenomena of nature. And yet it is so. And yet his steel, which when at rest is cold, contains—whether he believe it or no—an inexhaustible store of caloric, which can only be released by //​friction//​. An inexhaustible store of caloric, I repeat, which is not calculable by the ciphers of any of those arithmeticians who seek to limit nature and render her contemptible,​ by applying their multiplication table to the phenomena of her illimitable forces[(Hahnemann S. How Can Small Doses of Such Very Attenuated Medicine as Homoeopathy Employs Still Possess Great Power? In //The Lesser Writings of Samuel Hahnemann//​. Collected and translated by R. E. Dudgeon. New York: William Radde, 1852: 730.)]."​ Not out of the air, for this phenomenon takes place just as well in the vacuum of the air-pump! Therefore it must come from the substances that are rubbed together; which is the fact. But does the ordinary individual really believe that the cold steel which he draws thoughtlessly from his pocket to light his tinder, contains hidden within it (in a latent, confined, undeveloped state) an inexhaustible store of caloric, which the blow only develops, and as it were, wakes into activity? No, he does not believe it, he has never reflected, //and never will reflect//, upon the phenomena of nature. And yet it is so. And yet his steel, which when at rest is cold, contains—whether he believe it or no—an inexhaustible store of caloric, which can only be released by //​friction//​. An inexhaustible store of caloric, I repeat, which is not calculable by the ciphers of any of those arithmeticians who seek to limit nature and render her contemptible,​ by applying their multiplication table to the phenomena of her illimitable forces[(Hahnemann S. How Can Small Doses of Such Very Attenuated Medicine as Homoeopathy Employs Still Possess Great Power? In //The Lesser Writings of Samuel Hahnemann//​. Collected and translated by R. E. Dudgeon. New York: William Radde, 1852: 730.)]."​
 +
 +===== QUESTION 7 =====
 +
 +**If homeopathy has truly been proven to be effective as stated by homeopaths, why would it not be embraced by physicians? Are they not interested in healing their patients?**
 +
 +It is an extraordinary fact how skeptics are so poorly informed about the state of homeopathy in the world. Contrary to what they may think, homeopathy was originally developed by Hahnemann who was a physician and scientist of great learning and industry. Hufeland, who was known as the Nestor of Medicine, was one of the most eminent physicians in Germany during the time of Hahnemann, author of numerous works displaying extensive reading and a cultivated critical faculty, and editors for 42 years of the most reputable journal of the practical healing art. He said of Hahnemann in 1826, "​Hahnemann,​ who I have known for more than 30 years, is one of our most distinguished,​ intelligent and original physicians… and who I have esteemed for a long time for his earlier productions,​ and for his sterling contributions to the science of medicine[(Hufeland CW. Die Homöopathie. //Journal der practischen Heilkunde// 1826; 62: 7. )]."
 +
 +In 1829, in a second essay on homeopathy, he wrote, "I consider it wrong and unworthy of science to treat the new doctrine with ridicule and contempt. Persecution and tyranny in scientific matters are especially repugnant to me; here we should meet with only liberality of thought, thorough investigation,​ rational refutation, mutual respect, and rigid adherence to the subject, but no personalities. … ‘Prove all things; hold fast that which is good,' is and will ever be the first commandment in all science, and in medicine especially. … Liberty of thought, liberty of science—that is and must be ever be our chief palladium, if we desire to advance[(Hufeland CW. Homoeopathy. //British Journal of Homoeopathy//​ 1858; 16: 179-198. This essay was originally published in 1829 and was reprinted in 1831, see: Hufeland CW. //Die Homöopathie//​. Berlin: Reimer, 1831. )]."
 +
 +Many prominent physicians adopted homeopathy during the time of Hahnemann and a great number of the court physicians were homeopaths throughout Europe. Even today, a great part of the European royalty is treated with homeopathy, and many Popes of the Catholic Church have been treated with homeopathy[(For more information about the Vatican support of homeopathy see: Dana Ullman'​s //The Homeopathic Revolution//​. Berkeley: North Atlantic books, 2007, 304-308.)]. At least seven US Presidents, namely Tyler, Garfield, Arthur, McKinley, Harding, Coolidge and Hoover, have been treated with homeopathy and their physicians were attending their families at the White House.
 +
 +Homeopathy has continued to be embraced by physicians all over the world, especially where homeopathy is not repressed, unlike it is currently in many parts of Canada and the United States[(For instance, medical doctors in Quebec haven'​t been able for decades to practice homeopathy without risking being disciplined by the College of Physicians and Surgeons for practicing medicine outside of the standards of practice. In USA and Canada, physicians and scientitists greatly put at risk their academic reputation and career by showing any interest in homeopathy. Many choose medicine as a profession for its social prestige and financial advantages usually associated with it, which they will not risk loosing by exercising their scientific freedom. In fact, few choose medicine and even a smaller number will pursue it as a true vocation.)]. Homeopathy spread in the early 1820's from Germany to the rest of the world. Today in many countries, homeopathy is recognized as official medicine, is part of national health services and its institutions are supported by governments.
 +
 +For instance, in Germany, the population is so supportive of complimentary medicine that the German government mandated all medical school curricula to include information about complementary medicine. In Germany, the title "​Homeopathic Physician"​ is legally protected. The Medical Chamber bestows this title after a three-year training program. Official courses in homeopathy are offered in the medical faculties of Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hannover, Heidelberg and Freiburg. Approximately 10%, or about 32,000 physicians in Germany, specialize in homeopathy and 75% of Germans regularly use complementary medicine. 98% of the pharmacies dispense homeopathic medicines.
 +
 +In Switzerland,​ the Swiss National Medical Association (FMH) recognizes homeopathy as a specialty (Fähigkeitsausweis Homöopathie) for physician who have acquired the recognized postgraduate training. About half of the Swiss physicians consider complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to be effective. Perhaps most significantly,​ 85 percent of the Swiss population wants CAM to be a part of their country'​s health insurance program. It is therefore not surprising that more than 50 percent of the Swiss population surveyed prefer a hospital that provides CAM rather to one that is limited to conventional medical care. As a result of a 2009 national referendum in which more than two-thirds of voters supported the inclusion of homeopathy and selected alternative medicines in Switzerland'​s national health care insurance program, and complementary and alternative medicine has become a part of this government'​s constitution.
 +
 +In Austria, homeopathic training is available for medical students and physicians. Basic training takes 3 years, which leads to a certification that is officially recognized by the Ministry of Health (Oesterreichische Aerztekammer). The Medical University in Vienna, which offers training in homeopathy, has an institute for research in homeopathy and runs an outpatient clinic for cancer patients. The Austrian Association of Homeopathic Physicians (Österreichische Gesellschaft für Homöopathische Medizin) offers specialty training for pharmacists and veterinarians.
 +
 +In France, homeopathy is the most used CAM, and 70% of the physicians are receptive to it and consider it effective. At least 25,000 physicians prescribe homeopathic medicines to their patients every year. Its use rose from 16% of the population in 1982 to 29% in 1987 and 36% in 1992. In 1998, homeopathy was taught in at least seven medical schools in France: Besancon, Bordeaux, Lille, Limoges, Marseille, Paris-Nord, and Poitiers, and there are many postgraduate programs. Courses in homeopathy were offered in 21 of the 24 French schools of pharmacy, and in dental and veterinary schools. Homeopathic medicines are refunded by the public health system, and almost every French drugstore dispenses them.
 +
 +In Spain, homeopathy is recognized as a medical specialty, being taught in universities in Seville, Valladolid, Murcia, Barcelona, Bilbao and Malaga.
 +
 +In the UK, homeopathy is recognized as a medical practice and has always been available on the National Health Service. The General Practitioners'​ Committee of the British Medical Association issued the following guidance to general practitioners in 1999, "​General practitioners are obliged under their terms of service to refer patients for services available under the NHS... Referral to NHS doctors at one of the five homeopathic hospitals or NHS homeopathic clinics, in cases where GPs think such treatment is appropriate,​ will be part of the terms of service."​ Today, there are several NHS homeopathic hospitals regulated by the Care Quality Commission[(» http://​www.nhs.uk/​conditions/​Homeopathy/​Pages/​Introduction.aspx)].
 +
 +Homeopathy is the most popular postgraduate course among all in Great Britain. The respect towards homeopathy and its practice is even more evident after a research showed that close to 50% of physicians prescribe or refers patients to homeopathic physicians.
 +
 +In Italy, there were in 1999 about 5,000 homeopathic physicians, 7,000 pharmacies dispensing homeopathic medicines, and 20 different laboratories. 8.2 millions Italians used homeopathy in 2000 and close 90% of them said they were helped.
 +
 +In Holland, 40% of general practitioners use homeopathy.
 +
 +In Belgium, 81% of consultations in CAM involve homeopathy. Homeopathy has been officially recognized in 1999, and about 25% of the population makes use of homeopathic medicines.
 +
 +During the time of the iron curtain, homeopathy was banned in many Eastern block countries, but this medical repressive iron curtain fell down with communism. It is noteworthy to mention that in Canada, a supposedly democratic society, there is no homeopathic association for licensed MDs; it is not taught in any of the medical schools and, in many Canadian provinces; and its practitioners have to be very discrete or risk suspension of their license for practicing homeopathy.
 +
 +In Hungary, homeopathic literature was banned for 40 years until 1990. Homeopathy has now been accepted and integrated into regular medical education and is taught in two medical schools. The Hungarian Homeopathic Medical Association started with 11 members in 1990, grew to 75 after 18 months, and grew further to 302 members in 1994.
 +
 +After the fall of communism in Czechoslovakia,​ a homeopathic organization was established in November 1990, and it was immediately accepted and integrated within the larger conventional medical society. Within a year, the Ministry of Health officially recognized homeopathy as a medical specialty.
 +
 +In Romania, medical doctors and dentists can legally practice homeopathy, after having passed an examination following a three-year course. Until now, more than 2,300 physicians have completed this training.
 +
 +In Poland, only medical doctors may practice homeopathy. Homeopathic training is provided at seven universities (Warsaw, Poznan, Krakow, Katowice, Lublin, Gdansk, and Wroclaw).
 +
 +In Russia, only medical doctors and dentists can practice homeopathy. Homeopathy is considered a medical specialty, and a medical doctor must obtain a license from the Ministry of Health. Homeopathy holds a unique place, where it has been widely accepted. Demand for homeopathic care is so great that Russians prefer to pay for homeopathic care than to receive free conventional medical care. 58% of physicians use or refer for homeopathic treatment.
 +
 +In India, homeopathy is integrated into the national health care system and has the largest homeopathic infrastructure in the world, with 400,000 registered practicing homeopaths, 180 colleges teaching courses and graduating 13,000 homeopaths yearly, 7,500 government clinics, 307 hospitals and 24 state boards for the registration of qualified practitioners of homeopathy. According to the Indian government around 10% of its population—or more than 100 million people—depend solely on homeopathy for their health care[(Prasad R. Homeopathy booming in India. //Lancet// 2007; 370; 1679-1680.)].
 +
 +In Pakistan, homeopathy is integrated into the national health system. In 1998, there were about 40,000 homeopathic physicians registered with the National Council for Homeopathy, and seventy-six colleges of homeopathic medicine offered officially recognized programs for the four-year Diploma of Homeopathic Medical Science. Several hospitals, outpatient clinics, and dispensaries are attached to the homeopathic medical colleges.
 +
 +In Argentina, only qualified medical doctors, who have been trained and have graduated from a recognized medical school, are allowed to practice homeopathy. There are seven homeopathic schools offering regular three-year and more advanced postgraduate programs. Today, there are an estimated 3,000 medical doctors practicing homeopathy as their specialty, and 500 pharmacists who specialized in homeopathic pharmacy.
 +
 +In Brazil, homeopathy has been recognized a medical specialty by the National Medical Council in 1980, was integrated in the national health care system in 1988 and is not viewed anymore as alternative medicine. Since 1991, physicians, who want to practice homeopathy, must complete 2,300 hours of training in homeopathy prior to being licensed. In1995, the Federal Council of Pharmacy recognized and standardized the title of "​Specialist in Homeopathic Pharmacy."​ There are more than 15,000 physicians specialized in homeopathy, making it the 16th most popular of the 61 medical specialties. There are more than 200 homeopathic veterinarians,​ 100 homeopathic dentists, 1,300 homeopathic pharmacists,​ and six homeopathic laboratories. In 2005, a survey conducted among medical students found out that 85% of them were of the opinion that homeopathy should be part of the medical school curriculum (19% think it should be mandatory and 72% optional).
 +
 +In Chile, homeopathy and the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia are legally recognized.
 +
 +In Ecuador, the Government recognized homeopathy as a medical practice in 1983. The Ecuadorian Medical Federation began officially recognizing homeopathy as a medical specialty in 1988.
 +
 +In Colombia, the Congress of Deputies officially recognized homeopathy as a system of medicine in 1905. In 1914, the Government standardized training requirements for homeopathic doctors and established a system of title protection. Only physicians can practice homeopathy. The Institute of Medicaments and Food regulates the manufacturing of homeopathic remedies. Integration of homeopathy into the Public Health Services is planned.
 +
 +In Costa Rica, the College of Physicians and Surgeons recognized homeopathy as a medical specialty in 1994.
 +
 +In Cuba, the Ministry of Health officially recognized homeopathy in 1992. Courses on introductory and advanced homeopathy are given at the medical and pharmaceutical schools. Homeopathic dispensaries are spread all over the country.
 +
 +In Mexico, homeopathy has been recognized since 1896. In 1985, regulations specifying training requirements for homeopathic doctors were established by a presidential decree. It is currently integrated into the national health care system; there are two schools that grant the MD degree, and five others that offer postgraduate training, and there are two homeopathic hospitals. In 1998, there were about 3,000 homeopathic physicians[(World Health Organization. //Legal Status of Traditional Medicine and Complementary/​Alternative Medicine: A Worldwide Review//. 2001. 
 +» http://​apps.who.int/​medicinedocs/​pdf/​h2943e/​h2943e.pdf )] [(Das E. //History and Status of Homoeopathy Around the World//. New Delhi: Jain Publsihers, 2005. )] [(//​Regulation and Prevalence of Homeopathy//​.
 +» http://​en.wikipedia.org/​wiki/​Regulation_and_prevalence_of_homeopathy )] [(A European Council for Classical Homeopathy Report. //The Recognition and Regulation of Homeopathy in Europe//. June 2007. 
 +» www.homeopathy-ecch.eu)].
 +
 +===== QUESTION 8 =====
 +
 +**The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the US has spent 1.4 billion dollars in ten years investigating all sorts of alternative treatments, including homeopathy. How is it that it has been unable to find any evidence that homeopathy provides benefits that are superior to those of a placebo?**
 +
 +This is wrong, as the following EEG and fibromyalgia studies[(Bell IR, Lewis DA, Lewis SE, Schwartz G. EEG alpha sensitization in individualized homeopathic treatment of fibromyalgia. //​International Journal of Neuroscience//​ 2004; 114: 1195-1120. )] [(Bell IR, Lewis DA, Brooks AJ, Schwartz GE, Lewis SE, Walsh BT, Baldwin CM. Improved clinical status in fibromyalgia patients treated with individualized homeopathic remedies versus placebo //​Rheumatology//​ 2004; 43: 577–582.)],​ were funded by a number of grants from the NIH/NCCAM and researchers found differences from placebo in all of these studies. The fibromyalgia study was the second study on that condition to show that homeopathy is beneficial. Fisher et al. first published their study in British Medical Journal, and Bell et al. published theirs in Rheumatology,​ as mentioned in the answer to question 3.
 +
 +Others studies on homeopathy funded by the NIH/NCCAM grants have been published in peer-review journals in recent years include the one in Sleep Medicine on young adults with coffee-related insomnia. Researchers found that polysomnography (PSG) offers a modern methodology for evaluating the objective effects of taking homeopathic remedies that clinicians claim exert effects on sleep quality in susceptible individuals. Animal studies have previously shown changes in non-rapid eye movement sleep with certain homeopathic remedies. Verum remedies significantly increased PSG total sleep time and non-rapid eye movement sleep, as well as awakenings and stage changes. Changes in actigraphic and self-rated scale effects were not significant[(Bell IR, Howerter A, Jackson N, Aickin M, Baldwin CM, Bootzin RR. Effects of homeopathic medicines on polysomnographic sleep of young adults with histories of coffee-related insomnia. //Sleep Medicine// 2011; 12: 505–511.)]. In another study, researchers found out that EEG alpha offers an objective biomarker of remedy effects for future studies and potential method for distinguishing time-dependent effects of specific remedies and remedy potencies from one another[(Brooks AJ, Bell IR, Howerter A, Jackson N, Aickin M. Short-term effects of repeated olfactory administration of homeopathic Sulphur or Pulsatilla on electroencephalographic alpha power in healthy young adults. //​Homeopathy//​ 2011; 100: 203-211.)]. In a third study, it was found that EEG cordance provided a minimally invasive technique for assessing objective nonlinear physiologic effects of two different homeopathic remedies salient to the individuals who received them. These findings open the door for additional neuroimaging research on nonlinear psychophysiologic effects of specific homeopathic remedies[(Bell IR, Howerter A, Jackson N, Brooks AJ, Schwartz GE. Multiweek resting EEG cordance change patterns from repeated olfactory activation with two constitutionally salient homeopathic remedies in healthy young adults. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 2012; 18: 445-453.)].
 +
 +Research on homeopathy funded by the NCCAM in its 20 years of existence has been quite limited to most likely less than 1% of its total budget. Today, junior researchers most likely risk their career and of being kicked out of tenure track if they focus on homeopathy. Also as there are very few researchers applying for grants to research homeopathy, there is little funding. Since there is little funding and few homeopathy researchers in the US, there has not been larger scale funding to replicate findings. There are structural problems with "peer review"​ for larger applications to do larger clinical trials, which means no CAM researchers,​ let alone homeopaths, are on review committees. The bias against homeopathy creates a self-fulfilling prophecy—no academic advancement for researchers pursuing homeopathic studies and no true CAM peers on the grant reviews if someone does send in studies.
 +
 +===== QUESTION 9 =====
 +
 +**Can you make a comparison between the number of years of education a homeopath receives versus that of a medical doctor as well as the residency requirements?​**
 +
 +The training requirements for becoming a homeopath vary from one country to another, as can be seen in the answer to question 7. However, the preparation I have always recommended for a person interested in pursuing a career in homeopathy has been the following: first, to obtain a wide-spread education in liberal arts and science with particular emphases on philosophy, psychology, biology, arts and science. Second, this should be followed by medical training, preferably one that offers homeopathy as parts of its curriculum, as it is given in all the accredited naturopathic medical schools in North America[(See the Association of Acredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges: ​
 +» http://​www.aanmc.org/​ )].
 +
 +A specialty can be pursued, such as pediatrics, gynecology, psychiatry, cardiology, etc., but always keeping homeopathy as the main focus. Following this training, a specialty in homeopathy should be pursued in a postgraduate training, like I pursued after graduation from naturopathic medical college in order to obtain my board certification in the Homeopathic Academy of Naturopathic Physicians.
 +
 +The question seems to insinuate that homeopathic training is subpar with the one received by an allopathic family medicine practitioner. It is likely to be the opposite. Once, while I was the acting secretary of the Council on Homeopathic Education, a US-based organization,​ we had a meeting on which I was the only non-MD on that board (as I hold a doctorate of naturopathic medicine (ND)). If my memory serves me well, there were a cardiologist,​ a psychiatrist,​ a radiologist and a few family practitioners sitting on the council at that time. They unanimously agreed that homeopathy had so far been the most difficult discipline they had had to learn in all their training, and a greater amount of work and experience was required in order to master it than any other discipline they had to learn.
 +
 +In essence, aside from therapeutics,​ a first class homeopathic physician must know human beings in health and disease and from genes to psyche, and understand the factors, conditions and influences needed for optimal health and be able to recognize all the possible causes of diseases. In 1862, Carroll Dunham explained in details in a long essay the requirement needed for becoming a homeopathic physician and the importance of being an excellent diagnostician. He wrote, "When first brought into the presence of a concrete case of disease, the business of the physician is to ascertain what branch of medical science he is called upon to exercise. Is the case one which requires hygienic management, or therapeutic,​ or both, or is the patient beyond the reach of art?
 +
 +To answer these questions a diagnosis and prognosis must be made, and to make these, a knowledge of the remote and proximate causes and of the course and determination of diseases is required. In a word, a knowledge of physiology and pathology is indispensable on the very threshold of medical practice and before any question of therapeutics has arisen[([[en:​ahr:​dunham-c-homoeopathy-the-science-of-therapeutics-158-10408|Dunham C. Homoeopathy,​ the science of therapeutics]]. American Homoeopathic Review 1862-1863; 3: 9-15, 61-71, 103-111, 156-162, 203-210, 263-273, 305-313.)]."​
 +
 +===== QUESTION 10 =====
 +**Given that there are substances that can increase the chance of pregnancy in women, why are there no homeopathic birth control pills?**
 +
 +Homeopathic remedies are prescribed in order to obtain a healing or remedial response in the sick or for homeoprophylaxis,​ and not to submit the autocratic living organism to the effects of a drug. With homeopathy, the organism is active in the healing or protective processes, as it is with immunization. However, when it is under the effect of crude drugs, especially if not prescribed homeopathically,​ the living organism is passive.
 +
 +//Whole system of allostatic responses of the living organism// to homeopathic remedies should never be confused with the //​physiological effects// of drugs. Responses to homeopathic remedies are prolonged, durable and cumulative, and affect the whole person, and are therefore curative. While physiological effects of drugs are short in duration and partial in their effects, therefore palliative. BCP have a physiological effect on the organism, and are completely outside the domain of homeopathy.
 +
 +===== QUESTION 11 =====
 +**Given that there are numerous chemicals that can cause cancer, why are there no homeopathic remedies to treat the disease?**
 +
 +Homeopaths don't treat disease but sick persons. Homeopathic physicians consider the whole person in the context of a dynamic environment in every prescription they make, //i.e.//, every chief complaint, the past medical history, the family history, the personality,​ the habits, the sensitivities,​ sleep, appetite, energy, etc., are taken into account. Experienced homeopathic physicians will obtain very favorable results in the treatment of patients with cancer. Many in vitro studies have showed that UMPs can significantly increase apoptosis in cancer cells. For instance, researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center recently found that UMPs exerted preferential cytotoxic effects against two breast cancer cell lines, causing cell cycle delay/​arrest and apoptosis[(Frenkel M, Mishra BM, Sen S, Yang P, Pawlus A, Vence L, Leblanc A, Cohen L, Banerji P, Banerji P. Cytotoxic effects of ultra-diluted remedies on breast cancer cells. //​International Journal of Oncology// 2012; 36: 395-403.)]. It is a shame that every cancer patient is not treated concurrently with homeopathy.
 +
 +===== QUESTION 12 =====
 +**Given that homeopathic medications are claimed to have a physiological effect, why should they not be required to meet the same standard of proof of efficacy as other medications?​**
 +
 +During provings, we could say that homeopathic remedies produce effects on healthy subjects. But as homeopathic remedies are mainly prescribed for therapeutic purpose, we should talk of therapeutic or physiological responses rather than effects. This being understood, I will suggest two good reasons to answer your question. First, homeopathic remedies are devoid of chemical toxicity. Second, because homeopathic remedies are prescribed with the objective of obtaining a whole system allostatic response and not to provoke particular physiological effects, any remedy can be effective in an infinite number of cases. It would then be impossible to demonstrate the efficacy of every single remedy for the infinite number of cases it could potentially be indicated. Demonstration of the efficacy of the principle of similia in the hands of well-trained physicians should be sufficient for authorities to institutionalize homeopathy as an extremely safe system of medicine, without having to focus on each individual remedy, as it is in the allopathic system that uses toxic doses of medicines.
 +
 +Allopathy'​s strength is its specialization of addressing symptoms and therefore to palliate. It has thus developed much success for relieving pain and for silencing symptoms. There can be great advantage in such an approach, as in the use of anesthetic during surgery. However, as a whole such an approach is reductionist,​ doesn'​t affect the fundamental causes of disease and is never without danger. On the other hand, homeopathy is a science that considers the totality of symptoms in order to deal with the whole person. It will use the signs and symptoms as a guide to curative means without obscuring them. Allopathy seeks to silence the warning signals of the organism that something is wrong, while homeopathy is able to reach the vis medicatrix naturae by mean of its distress signals and annihilate the danger at its source.
 +
 +===== QUESTION 13 =====
 +**Is there any homeopathic medication that can in any way cause harm to the patient?**
 +
 +Sensitive patients can react strongly to homeopathic remedies. This is why it is preferable that homeopathy is practiced by well-trained physicians. Extremely low attenuations,​ which are almost never prescribed by qualified homeopaths, keep a certain level of chemical toxicity and could potentially cause harm if taken in very large quantities and for a long period of time by an uninstructed public.
 +
 +===== QUESTION 14 =====
 +What would be the effect of using D<​sub>​2</​sub>​O instead of H<​sub>​2</​sub>​O in preparing a homeopathic solution?
 +
 +In his 2003 paper, Rey studied thermoluminescence of ultra-molecular D2O preparations of lithium chloride 10-30 and sodium chloride 10-30. He found that D2O samples gave a much higher signal than the H2O ones. He wrote, "Much to our surprise, the experimental results do show—without any ambiguity— that for an X-ray dose of 0:4 kGy the thermoluminescence glows of the three systems [LiCl 15 C, NaCl 15 C and D2O 15 C] were substantially different. These findings did prove to be reproducible in the course of many different identical experiments. As a working hypothesis, we believe that this phenomenon results from a marked structural change in the hydrogen bond network initiated at the onset by the presence of the dissolved ions and maintained in the course of the dilution process, probably thanks to the successive vigorous mechanical stirrings[(Rey L. Thermoluminescence of ultra-high dilutions of lithium chloride and sodium chloride. //Physica A// 2003; 323: 67-74.)]."​
 +===== QUESTION 15 =====
 +**You mentioned that you take your own blood and interpret the results because you are a qualified "​physician."​ But no physician I know of does this. Was William Osler wrong when he said that a physician who treats himself has a fool for a patient?**
 +
 +Perhaps, it is because you only know allopathic physicians who don't trust their own skills, judgment or recommendations. In homeopathy, we quickly learn to become objective and to understand the individuality of each person. I have known many physicians, especially homeopathic physicians, who interpreted their own lab work, treated themselves very satisfactorily,​ and practiced medicine successfully into their 90's. My father, for instance, practiced medicine for 61 years, was a very good role model for me, and was one of these physicians who interpreted his own lab work and treated himself with success. It can also happen that homeopathic physicians will consult more experienced colleagues, not only for their patients but also for their own case or members of their family.
 +
 +===== QUESTION 16 =====
 +**You referred several times to nanoparticles and made a connection to homeopathy. But homeopathy is based on dissolving a substance and sequentially diluting it. By definition nanoparticles are insoluble, so what do they have to do with homeopathy?​**
 +
 +Aside form the physico-chemical changes of the vehicles, research with refined spectroscopy has revealed that UMPs are actually composed of nanoparticles of the original medical substances in colloidal suspensions. Emil Roduner, professor of physical chemistry at the University of Stuggart and author of a textbook on size-dependent phenomena of nanoparticles,​ explained some of the extraordinary and unexpected changes in the physico-chemical properties of substances when they are reduced to nanoparticles. For instance, he reports that gold is known as a shiny, yellow noble metal that does not tarnish, has a face centered cubic structure, is non-magnetic and melts at 1336?K. However, a small sample of the same gold is quite different, providing it is tiny enough: 10 nm particles absorb green light and thus appear red. The melting temperature decreases dramatically as the size goes down. Moreover, gold ceases to be noble, and 2–3 nm nanoparticles are excellent catalysts, which also exhibit considerable magnetism. At this size they are still metallic, but smaller ones turn into insulators[(Roduner E. Size matters: why nanomaterials are different. //Chemical Society Reviews// 2006; 35: 583–592. )]."
 +
 +Chikramane et al. demonstrated the serial process of succussion and dilution producing numerous large air bubbles aided nanoparticle levitation to the liquid surface, forming a monolayer that was preserved in the serial dilutions. They wrote, "Our conclusions arise from our experiments indicating that in the successive dilution process of manufacturing,​ beyond a certain stage, the dilution is merely apparent and the concentration of the starting material in the diluted product reaches a non-zero asymptotic level no matter how much more the sample is diluted[(Chikramane PS, Kalita D, Suresh AK, Kane SG, Bellare JR. Why extreme dilutions reach non-zero asymptotes: a nanoparticulate hypothesis based on froth flotation. //​Langmuir//​ 2012; 28: 15864-15875.)]."​
 +
 +===== QUESTION 17 =====
 +**Would you ever recommend homeopathic prophylaxis for malaria?**
 +
 +Homeopathy has a very long history of using homeopathic remedies for prophylactic purposes. Hahnemann did his first experiment in homeoprophylaxis in 1799 during an epidemic of scarlet fever. In my review of the literature on the results obtained by homeopathy in epidemics, the results obtained with homeoprophylaxis are as consistent and predictable as the therapeutic results of homeopathy.
 +
 +Regarding malaria in particular, there are many wonderful stories of homeoprophylaxis. I will mention two from my own practice. In the late 1980'​s,​ a patient of mine who was an engineer, was mandated by his engineering firm to spend six months in southern Egypt at the construction site of a dam. He knew from colleagues who had preceded him that malaria was endemic and that most developed malaria despite conventional prophylaxis. Instead of the conventional approach, he wanted to only rely on homeoprophylaxis,​ which he did and was even asked to prolong his stay at the construction site by another three months. As far he could know he was the only who did not develop malaria during his nine-month stay.
 +
 +In 1998, while I was on an ethnobotany expedition deep in the jungle of Papua New Guinea, we came to a village along a lake that was surrounded by marshes. We noticed that there weren'​t any children younger than about 6 years old in that particular village. We found out through our interpreter that all the younger ones had died because of malaria that was endemic, and that there was no medicine man in this village, and were therefore more or less powerless during sickness[(One or two days later, we came to another village down river, which had a normal youth population and had as well an old medicine man, who, with great reluctance, showed me the bark of the tree he was using for the treatment of patients affected with malaria.)]. I provided the leader of the village with a remedy to be given monthly to everyone in the tribe of about 50 persons. About one year later, I received a letter written in Pidgin by a young man of this village who had learned from a missionary how to write. In essence, he said, "Thank you greatly for your miraculous medicine, as no one in our village has had fever in the last year."
 +
 +A recent research showed that mice infected with //​Plasmodium bergei// and also received on the same day homeoprophylaxis lived twice as long as the ones that only received a placebo[(Bagai U, Rajan A, Kaur S. Antimalarial potential of Nosode 30 and 200 against Plasmodium berghei infection in BALB/c mice. //Journal of Vertor Borne Diseases// 2012; 49: 72-77.)]. The in vivo research is here consistent with the clinical experience, which is usually the rule in homeopathy.
 +
 +===== QUESTION 18 =====
 +**What journals do you subscribe to?**
 +
 +Probably like most other physicians, I subscribe to a number of periodicals of my specialty, which is homeopathy. I also keep abreast discoveries in medicine in general by subscribing to the Harvard Medical School Health Newsletters,​ Scientific American Health and Medicine Briefings, Nutritionfacts.org,​ etc. I read on average 10-20 articles a week from peer-reviewed journals, aside from homeopathy, on subjects such as health promoting factors and influences, nutrition, exercise (mental and physical), psychology, genetics, epigenetics,​ pathology, disease etiology, infectious diseases, etc.
 +
 +As we can never know too much about health and how to remedy disease, we constantly have to keep abreast on medical science. About on a monthly basis, I see a patient who presents with a rare condition that requires investigation. A literature search is then launched to better understand the pathology, particularly the common symptoms and course of the disease, the prognosis, and any known remedial approach that could complement homeopathic treatment. For instance in late November, a young man with a rare type of familiar muscular dystrophy (MD) consulted me. As there are dozens of such type of MD, I had to enquire about his particular type to better understand the course of the disease and the prognosis.
 ===== References ===== ===== References =====
  
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 ^ Year: | 2013 | ^ Year: | 2013 |
 ^ Editing: | errors only; interlinks; formatting | ^ Editing: | errors only; interlinks; formatting |
-^ Attribution:​ | Legatum Homeopathicum ​|+^ Attribution:​ | http://​www.homeopathy.ca ​|
en/misc/talk-qa-schwarcz-saine.1359662212.txt.gz · Last modified: 2013/01/31 19:56 by legatum