Return to top Q: My doctor says that homeopathic tablets contain no active chemicals in them and do not work. Is he right, and do I have to tell him I am having homeopathic treatment? A: He is right in that they have no chemicals in them. However, he is also wrong: homeopathic tablets are most definetly active and do, of course, work. During the 1918 'flu pandemic, the average death rate was more than 30% for those treated with conventional medicine, but less than 1% for those treated with homeopathic medicine. So often we find that homeopathy can help when conventional (allopathic) medicine cannot.
The problem that exists is that we cannot detect the active element in the tablets.It is a bit like an electric battery. We cannot tell by looking at it or weighing it or by any other measurement whether it is charged or discharged - only when we put it in a torch or apply a voltmeter to it do we see whether it is active on not. We only see its actions by its effects. So it is with homeopathic remedies: we can only tell their action by the results they produce. For some, those results can be quite spectacular.
You can find some interesting research papers on the effects of homeopathy on the British Homeopathic Association's website.
Q: What does the world health organisation say about homeopathy and homeopathic medicine?
A: Deviating from the trend of rejecting homeopathic treatment and medicine as mere placebos, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared that homeopathy is the second-most used medical system internationally.
Q: What should I do about the medicines my GP prescribes?