Jump to content

Talk:Homeopathy/Dutchversion

Page contents not supported in other languages.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Homeopathy

Please refer to the instructions for medical content in the Wikipedia rules. Consult a doctor if you have medical complaints.

The term homeopathy is derived from the Greek homoios (similar) and pathos (suffering or disease). The basic principles of homeopathy were formulated in the period from 1782 to 1798 by Samuel Hahnemann [1] [2]. Homeopathy sometimes uses the same raw materials as natural and herbal medicine. The difference is the direct effect of the raw material is stronger when the dose is higher in natural and herbal medicine, but this is not thought to be true in homeopathy. In homeopathic remedies the initial active substance itself is no longer present as a result of repeated dilution and potentization (shaking).

Homeopathic remedies are prepared from extracts of mineral, plant or animal origin, which when administered in pure form would give symptoms similar to those of a particular disease. On the basis of this "method of similars", such a remedy is thought to be an effective therapy. The raw material is then diluted and shaken (potentization). The final product is supposed to treat the disease without side effects.

The 'Materia Medica Pura, the document first published by Hahnemann in 1811 [4] and that [5] has since been extended, is the basis of homeopathy. Both diluted and undiluted medicines are described in it.

Homeopathy has no basis in science: the use of homeopathy was called quackery in 1994 by the National Council Against Health Fraud. [6] In a 2006 publication of the UK-skeptics society, homeopathy is described as pseudoscience. [7] The conclusion of various publications is that if there is any effect of homeopathy, it can be explained by the placebo effect. The theory that medicine has a greater effect when it is more diluted is contrary to the principles of modern medicine: the dilutions are so great that there is not a single molecule of the original active ingredient found in the final solution. [8] [9] There are many examples of scientific articles on homeopathy in scientific journals that were later withdrawn because of errors in the methodology used. [10]