Science Behind Homeopathic Treatment

Since its inception 200 years ago, homeopathy has been treated as an alternative to the usual conventional medicine and science has kept a respectable distance from it since it does not seem to pose any harm. Its apparent resurgence in these times has rekindled the discussion as to whether homeopathic medications are an effective treatment against disease or whether they are no more than an elaborate placebo. The discussion as to whether or not it is an effective therapy is ongoing in human and veterinary medicine; it appears to have devolved into one between proponents of homeopathy and those who rely on firm evidence of effectiveness before adopting any therapy.

Since Food and Drug Administration has decided to conduct a two-day review of regulations on homeopathy, science has stepped forward to take the place of a jury. Experts are convinced that to be able to definitely know the effectiveness of homeopathy, it should undergo clinical trials.

Homeopathy is a $6.4 billion business in the United States alone where only 10% of its citizens are into this practice. How much more would it be in Europe where the British royal family have publicly announced its support of homeopathy and Germany have mandated all school curricula to include homeopathy in its teaching? Same question goes to Asia where homeopathy is a mainstream in India and experts are more on call in Jakarta, Indonesia and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia than physicians are.

After decades of ignoring these products, drug regulators are finally asking hard questions about what has long been derided by mainstream doctors and scientists as quack medicine. Yet, a lot of homeopathic experts still believe that the practice needs not to undergo medical testing as it already has science behind it. Complaints of fraudulence are also non-valid if people really want to find science explanation on its function.

According to the Peterson Group, one of the leading sources of information on alternative, complementary and integrative medicines, there is science in homeopathy. There is actually considerably more laboratory and clinical research on homeopathic medicine than most people realize. It is important to first note that its founder, Samuel Hahnemann was a physicist himself.

One of the most famous studies is called Arndt-Schulz law which explains that weak stimuli accelerate physiological activity, medium stimuli inhibit physiological activity, and strong stimuli halt physiological activity.  To explain for instance, it is widely recognized that normal medical doses of atropine block the parasympathetic nerves, causing mucous membranes to dry up, while exceedingly small doses of atropine cause increased secretions to mucous membranes.