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Al

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Joined
May 25, 2004
Messages
8,083
Reason
PALS
Diagnosis
10/2003
Country
CA
State
On
City
NW of Toronto
PARIS (AFP) - Homeopathic treatment is no more effective than a placebo, the dummy substance used in medical trials, according to a new study.

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That is the conclusion of a team of doctors in Britain and Switzerland, who reviewed a mountain of published evidence and wrote the study for The Lancet, the British medical weekly.

They compared 110 trials of homeopathic remedies against a placebo with 110 trials of conventional medicines, which were also tested against placebo.

The ailments being treated in these trials included respiratory-tract infections, pollen allergies and asthma, gynaecological and obstetric problems, muscle and joint ache and intestinal upsets.

The researchers found that in small trials which they deemed to be of poor quality, both homeopathic and conventional medicines appeared to fare better against placebos.

But in larger trials that were of high quality, there was no credible evidence that the homeopathic treatment worked any better than the placebo.

But conventional drugs clearly outperformed the dummy lookalike.

"Our study powerfully illustrates the interplay and cumulative effect of different sources of bias," says the new study, lead-authored by Aijing Shang and Matthias Egger at the University of Berne.

Homeopathy originated in Germany in the early 19th century.

The idea behind it is "Like Cures Like" -- in other words, a disease can be cured by a medicine capable of producing symptoms similar to those experienced by the patient in a healthy person.

A homeopath typically conducts a long interview with the patient to determine the symptoms and then draws up a remedy.

This usually a single substance derived from a plant, mineral or animal. It is then subjected to a lengthy process of high dilution and shaking aimed at bringing out its desired ingredient.

Homeopathy was greatly in vogue in Europe in the 19th century, when as many as one in seven of medical practitioners were homeopaths.

It went into decline in the 20th century with the rise of antibiotics and other modern medicines, but in the past decade has staged a comeback, igniting a controversy at the same time.

Many doctors are dismissive of homeopathy, and some do not hesitate to call it quackery.

Even so, homeopathy has a fervent vocal lobby of supporters, and health insurance schemes in Europe are under increasing pressure to include it in their coverage.

In a typical drug trial, volunteers are split into two groups, with one taking the proposed drug and the other taking a placebo, a harmless pill, powder or fluid that looks just like the drug being tested.

The results from these two groups are then compared, to see whether the drug is effective.

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Hi Al,
Thanks, very interesting indeed. We need to hear both sides of every story and thanks to you sharp guys who keep us up to date. Appreciate that almost as much as your sense of humor!
Leah
 
Yes Al, great article. We must not put all of our trust in altermative medicines or those who proclaim to be healers or have herbs and concoctions that promise to cure or for that matter even help. Speaking from one who knows, you do search out for anything that will even remotely help when faced with als. However, as you said earlier, you have to have an open mind, and remember that a lot of things that you can do can be done by yourself, whether it be diet, exercise, vitamins and faith. Ultimately, you have to be in charge of your own treatment with als for the most part. This article was very honest and forthright. We need to hear these things to keep ourselves in check. Thanks.

Stay Strong, Carol
 
I agree...

You have to take charge of your own care and do whats best/feels right for you.

Unfortunately the scientific/medical world looks for concrete proof where common sense and a little faith in the human spirit only need apply.
 
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