Is Homeopathy Effective?

[Trailblazer]

You seem to be trying very hard to have a conversation about homeopathy for someone who has repeatedly stated she doesn't want to have a conversation about homeopathy.

No, I am doing the exact opposite of what you think. In case you missed that post last night I said:

I don't want to argue with anyone because I have no need to prove anything. I am out of here now. I should have left a long time ago when I said I was leaving, but I never seem to learn my lesson. #212

I just came back here to reply to you. I am not reading or responding to anything else on this thread for the reason I stated above.

 

[Tiberius]

I posted here because @John53 was genuinely curious about homeopathy and I had a story to tell.

John53 said:
No argument from me but the theory of the treatment that interests me. I doubt very much if it works but I'd still like to hear from people who have tried it.
#15 John53, Oct 31, 2021

Sorry, I missed the post where you explained the theory of how, in your opinion, homeopathy works.

 

[Trailblazer]

Sorry, I missed the post where you explained the theory of how, in your opinion, homeopathy works.

@John53 said: "I doubt very much if it works but I'd still like to hear from people who have tried it."

So he heard from me since I tried it.

You did not miss anything because I never explained the theory of how it works. I know the theory of how but I am not going to waste any more time on this thread.

 

[Subduction Zone]

@John53 said: "I doubt very much if it works but I'd still like to hear from people who have tried it."

So he heard from me since I tried it.

You did not miss anything because I never explained the theory of how it works. I know the theory of how but I am not going to waste any more time on this thread.

Because it is not a theory at all?

Even you could prove that it is not a theory. Just answer this reasonable question:

What test, based upon the claims of homeopathy could show that it does not work?

 

[Trailblazer]

Just answer this reasonable question:

What test, based upon the claims of homeopathy could show that it does not work?

No test could show that it does not work if it does work.

 

[Tiberius]

@John53 said: "I doubt very much if it works but I'd still like to hear from people who have tried it."

So he heard from me since I tried it.

You did not miss anything because I never explained the theory of how it works. I know the theory of how but I am not going to waste any more time on this thread.

If he asked about the theory of how homeopathy works and you know the theory of how homeopathy works, why did you not include it in your response to him?

In any case, I am genuinely curious as to your explanation, and I would like you to post it. I will respond based on the merit of the theory, not on whether I personally believe it or not.

 

[John53]

If he asked about the theory of how homeopathy works and you know the theory of how homeopathy works, why did you not include it in your response to him?

In any case, I am genuinely curious as to your explanation, and I would like you to post it. I will respond based on the merit of the theory, not on whether I personally believe it or not.

All I said was I'd like to hear from people who had tried it, @Trailblazer was kind enough to respond. It's that simple. I'm sceptical but when you have meniers you're willing to try almost anything.

 

[Subduction Zone]

No test could show that it does not work if it does work.

There you go! I knew that you could do it.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Well that's a convenient way to dismiss actually anything.
As if we have all the details of everyone who is supposedly healed by some other means.

I cannot dismiss the possibility that JFK was killed in a bid by the dying Martian race in collusion with Bigfoot to take over the Earth.

 

[Trailblazer]

If he asked about the theory of how homeopathy works and you know the theory of how homeopathy works, why did you not include it in your response to him?

Because I did not have time and also because anyone can look it up on the internet.

In any case, I am genuinely curious as to your explanation, and I would like you to post it. I will respond based on the merit of the theory, not on whether I personally believe it or not.

My explanation would not be any different than you can find by doing a Google search. The basics are below.

How does homeopathy work in the body?

Homeopathic medicine views symptoms of illness as normal responses of the body as it attempts to regain health. Homeopathy is based on the idea that "like cures like." That is, if a substance causes a symptom in a healthy person, giving the person a very small amount of the same substance may cure the illness.

Homeopathy | Michigan Medicine
https://www.uofmhealth.org › health-library

How does homeopathic medicine treat a patient?

Homeopathy is a medical system based on the belief that the body can cure itself. Those who practice it use tiny amounts of natural substances, like plants and minerals. They believe these stimulate the healing process. It was developed in the late 1700s in Germany.Mar 22, 2021

Homeopathy: What You Need to Know - WebMD

What is the Vital Force in homeopathy?

The theory of Vital force in homeopathy is a unique philosophy which accepts the existence of a spirit like energy that drives the living organism both in health and disease.Mar 29, 2016

Supporting Principles | National Health Portal of India

For treatment, then, the homeopathic doctor tries to enhance the vital force, allowing the vital force to displace the disease with its own inner vitality. Homeopaths accomplish this by prescribing a remedy which is similar enough to the symptoms to displace them, thus allowing the vital force its potential.Mar 31, 2008

Basics of homeopathy (Proceedings) - DVM360

 

[Subduction Zone]

Because I did not have time and also because anyone can look it up on the internet.

My explanation would not be any different than you can find by doing a Google search. The basics are below.

How does homeopathy work in the body?

Homeopathic medicine views symptoms of illness as normal responses of the body as it attempts to regain health. Homeopathy is based on the idea that "like cures like." That is, if a substance causes a symptom in a healthy person, giving the person a very small amount of the same substance may cure the illness.

Homeopathy | Michigan Medicine
https://www.uofmhealth.org › health-library

How does homeopathic medicine treat a patient?

Homeopathy is a medical system based on the belief that the body can cure itself. Those who practice it use tiny amounts of natural substances, like plants and minerals. They believe these stimulate the healing process. It was developed in the late 1700s in Germany.Mar 22, 2021

Homeopathy: What You Need to Know - WebMD

What is the Vital Force in homeopathy?

The theory of Vital force in homeopathy is a unique philosophy which accepts the existence of a spirit like energy that drives the living organism both in health and disease.Mar 29, 2016

Supporting Principles | National Health Portal of India

For treatment, then, the homeopathic doctor tries to enhance the vital force, allowing the vital force to displace the disease with its own inner vitality. Homeopaths accomplish this by prescribing a remedy which is similar enough to the symptoms to displace them, thus allowing the vital force its potential.Mar 31, 2008

Basics of homeopathy (Proceedings) - DVM360

Here is a suggestion. It is not that hard to learn why homeopathy does not work. You are using pseudoscience sources. And you yourself admitted that it was pseudoscience in your last response to me. I tried to go over the basics but you ran away from that conversation. I am not going to preach. That does no good. But I will educate.

 

[Trailblazer]

And you yourself admitted that it was pseudoscience in your last response to me.

No I never admitted to that.

 

[Subduction Zone]

No I never admitted to that.

You did too. You are just unaware that you did. You were given a reasonable challenge and your response showed that you knw that it is pseudoscience. I don't want o be unfair. Would you like another chance to answer the question that you were given?

 

[Trailblazer]

I don't want o be unfair. Would you like another chance to answer the question that you were given?

Fire away.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Fire away.

I will ask the same question. You need to try to answer it honestly. Your last answer implied that homeopathy is pseudoscience:

What test, based upon the claims of homeopathy could show that it does not work?

 

[Trailblazer]

I will ask the same question. You need to try to answer it honestly. Your last answer implied that homeopathy is pseudoscience:

What test, based upon the claims of homeopathy could show that it does not work?

I don't know, why don't you tell me, if you think there is such a test?

 

[Subduction Zone]

I don't know, why don't you tell me, if you think there is such a test?

Because you keep claiming that it is a reasonable belief. Without such a test you cannot even begin to claim to have reliable evidence for homeopathy. Without such a test it is by definition pseudoscience.

Scientists have to put their money is where their mouth is, figuratively. When they come up with an idea they also have to come up with a valid way to test it. I was not asking you to do anything extraordinary. It something scientists have to do all of the time.

 

[Trailblazer]

Because you keep claiming that it is a reasonable belief. Without such a test you cannot even begin to claim to have reliable evidence for homeopathy. Without such a test it is by definition pseudoscience.

Scientists have to put their money is where their mouth is, figuratively. When they come up with an idea they also have to come up with a valid way to test it. I was not asking you to do anything extraordinary. It something scientists have to do all of the time.

The kind of test you need is not a test that could show that it does not work, it would be a test that would determine if it does work. Homeopathy cannot be tested the same way conventional medicine is tested since it has a completely different mechanism of action and administration. As the following articles says, researchers need to design studies that are congruent with the way homeopathy is practiced clinically.

Is There Good Scientific Evidence for Homeopathy? | Taking Charge of Your Health & Wellbeing

 

[Tiberius]

My explanation would not be any different than you can find by doing a Google search. The basics are below.

How does homeopathy work in the body?

Homeopathic medicine views symptoms of illness as normal responses of the body as it attempts to regain health. Homeopathy is based on the idea that "like cures like." That is, if a substance causes a symptom in a healthy person, giving the person a very small amount of the same substance may cure the illness.

Homeopathy | Michigan Medicine
https://www.uofmhealth.org › health-library

Is there any evidence to show that this works?

Also, if a very small amount is required, how can it be effective if the dilution process dilutes the active ingredient so much that there often isn't a single molecule of it left in the homeopathic medicine?

How does homeopathic medicine treat a patient?

Homeopathy is a medical system based on the belief that the body can cure itself. Those who practice it use tiny amounts of natural substances, like plants and minerals. They believe these stimulate the healing process. It was developed in the late 1700s in Germany.Mar 22, 2021

Homeopathy: What You Need to Know - WebMD

If a person has some infection that causes, say, a fever, then homeopathy would suggest that a very small dose of something that causes a fever will work to cure the infection. My question is this: Since the body ALREADY has a substance available to it that can cause a fever (namely, the initial infection), why can't it just take a very small dose of that and use that as a homeopathic treatment without the person needing to do a single thing? Why is it that whatever is causing the illness is not enough to stimulate the healing process, but a very tiny extra amount is?

What is the Vital Force in homeopathy?

The theory of Vital force in homeopathy is a unique philosophy which accepts the existence of a spirit like energy that drives the living organism both in health and disease.Mar 29, 2016

Supporting Principles | National Health Portal of India

Has this energy been measured in any objective way?

For treatment, then

, the homeopathic doctor tries to enhance the vital force, allowing the vital force to displace the disease with its own inner vitality. Homeopaths accomplish this by prescribing a remedy which is similar enough to the symptoms to displace them, thus allowing the vital force its potential.Mar 31, 2008

Basics of homeopathy (Proceedings) - DVM360

Again, I wonder why the initial cause of the illness was not sufficient to do this.

 

[Subduction Zone]

The kind of test you need is not a test that could show that it does not work, it would be a test that would determine if it does work. Homeopathy cannot be tested the same way conventional medicine is tested since it has a completely different mechanism of action and administration. As the following articles says, researchers need to design studies that are congruent with the way homeopathy is practiced clinically.

Is There Good Scientific Evidence for Homeopathy? | Taking Charge of Your Health & Wellbeing

Sorry, but now you have twice admitted that it is pseudoscience. That an idea has to be falsifiable is one of the rock solid rules of science. You are using pseudoscience sites again.

You have now pretty much admitted that homeopathy is quackery.

By definition you cannot even have scientific evidence if you do not have a testable theory or hypothesis:

Scientific evidence is evidence that serves to either support or counter a scientific theory or hypothesis,[1] although scientists also use evidence in other ways, such as when applying theories to practical problems.[2] Such evidence is expected to be empirical evidence and interpretable in accordance with scientific methods. Standards for scientific evidence vary according to the field of inquiry, but the strength of scientific evidence is generally based on the results of statistical analysis and the strength of scientific controls.