By Martha A. Simpson, D.O., M.B.A.
Associate Professor of Family Medicine
Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine

HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT NO SUBSTITUTE FOR MODERN MEDICAL CARE

Question: Recently, I’ve heard several non-prescription medications advertised as being homeopathic. To me this implies that they are somehow more natural or have fewer side effects. Is this true? Is it OK to take a homeopathic cold remedy, for instance?

Answer: First, let me give you a little background on the health-care practice known as homeopathy. This approach to treating illness dates back to the late 1700s, when it was proposed by Samuel Hahnemann, a physician, chemist and linguist in Germany. Dr. Hahnemann was looking for an alternative to the common medical treatments of the time that were very harsh and of questionable benefit. These included bloodletting, purging, blistering, and the use of sulfur and mercury.

A core belief of Dr. Hahnemann and people who practice homeopathy today is “like cures like.” That is, they think a substance that can evoke certain symptoms in a healthy person can be effective in treating illnesses having symptoms closely resembling those produced by the substance. In homeopathy, such substances are diluted down to very small concentrations in solutions called "tinctures." These can then be refined into various powders and potions.

In recent years, homeopathy has come back into fashion and you can find large selections of homeopathic preparations on store shelves and on the internet. These remedies are available for all kinds of medical symptoms, ranging from minor aches and pains to major illnesses. This brings us to your question of whether or not homeopathic remedies are somehow safer and more natural.

On the first point, because these preparations are so dilute -- sometimes a few molecules in a whole solution -- they can do little harm. The question of their ability to treat human ailments effectively is much more complex. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), exhaustive reviews of the research on homeopathy have not found it “to be a definitively proven treatment for any medical condition.” However, the NCCAM cautions that various weaknesses in these studies make it difficult or impossible to draw firm conclusions about whether homeopathy is effective for specific ailments. Much more research needs to be done.

And, keep in mind, that even in the studies to date that have shown some benefit from homeopathic remedies, the effect was small. The homeopathic preparations were found to be only slightly better than placebos -- dummy drugs that contained no active ingredient.

It won’t hurt to try a homeopathic remedy for a bout with the common cold or some other minor ailment. However, I’d be very skeptical about trying to treat any condition that lasts more than a week or two with a homeopathic preparation. The time you waste on self-medication can have serious consequences if you’ve misdiagnosed a serious, but treatable, condition. If you have symptoms that you think need treatment, talk to your family physician. Not only will the proven medical treatments that he or she can provide be more likely to bring you relief, they can also help you avoid wasting your money. As a general rule, conventional and scientifically proven therapies and treatments are much more effective.

Family Medicine® is a weekly column. To submit questions, write to Martha A. Simpson, D.O., M.B.A., Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, P.O. Box 110, Athens, Ohio 45701, or via e-mail to readerquestions@familymedicinenews.org. Medical information in this column is provided as an educational service only. It does not replace the judgment of your personal physician, who should be relied on to diagnose and recommend treatment for any medical conditions. Past columns are available online at www.familymedicinenews.org.