The term 'homeopathy' is derived
from two Greek words: homeo
(similar) and
pathos (suffering). Hahnemann meant to contrast
his method with the convention of his day of trying
to balance "humors" by treating a disorder with its
opposite (allos). He referred to conventional practice
as allopathy. Even though modern scientific medicine
bears no resemblance to the theory of balancing humors
or treating disease with its opposite, modern homeopaths
and other advocates of "alternative" medicine misleadingly
refer to today's conventional physicians as allopaths.
HOMEO-PATHIC medicine was first developed in Germany by Samuel Hahnemann in the late 18th
century. By the late 1800s, it was practiced widely in the United States, and today it is
used extensively throughout the world, especially in Europe, where surveys have reported
that in some countries 30% to 40% of the population has used homeo-pathic medicine.1-3
Homeo-pathy declined in the United States in the early 20th century, but there has been
increasing interest in the field in the past 10 years.
In 1990, 4.8 million visits to homeo-pathic providers were reported in the United States
and retail sales of homeo-pathic medicines increased from $100 million in 1988 to $250
million in 1996.4-6 In 1997, worldwide sales of homeo-pathic products were estimated to be
$1.15 billion.7 Homeo-pathy is based on the principle of similars, whereby highly diluted
preparations of substances that can cause symptoms in healthy volunteers are used to
stimulate healing in patients who have similar symptoms when ill.8 The mechanism of
action of homeo-pathy is not understood, and many doubt the scientific rationale of using
such diluted medicines.9 Nevertheless, a growing body of double-blind, placebo-controlled
trials suggest that homeo-pathy may be clinically effective,10-15 and it has been
estimated that 2500 medical professionals in the United States use homeo-pathy to some
extent in their practices.5 A growing number of insurers and managed care plans are
offering coverage of alternative therapies ,16-18 and it has been suggested that health
care costs could be reduced by use of these therapies.19 A survey done in France, where
one third of physicians use homeo-pathy, found that the annual cost per person to the
social security system for a homeo-pathic physician was 15% less than that of a
conventional physician.20 This savings was attributed to the reduction in the use of
diagnostic tests and to the lower cost of homeo-pathic medications, which cost about one
third less than conventional medicines in France.
To further our understanding of the use of alternative modalities, information is needed
about patients who seek care, the problems for which care is sought, tests and treatments
that are provided, and their costs. In this survey, we looked at these factors for a group
of physicians using homeo-pathy and compared the results with similar findings from a
group of physicians using conventional medicine.
|
Facts About Homeopathy
Terms
of Use/License : Policy
Statement : Refund
Policy : Feedback
: Disclaimer
: About Homeopathy
Store