“Does Homeopathy work? I don’t know. Someone went to a homeopath for help with weight loss. They promised lasting weight loss solutions. 4 weeks of drinking some urine and lots of herbs for stomach irrigation. Yes, she lost some weight but now she’s back to square one”.

Homeopathy practice originated in Germany but has since spread to other countries over the last 300 years.

Recently, the practice received a challenge when leaders of the UK National Health Service, (NHS), queried whether the national accreditation for homeopaths to practice safely should be renewed.

Concerns from the NHS chiefs included a key issue – that the basis of Homeopathy practice remains fundamentally flawed.

They also highlight worries that homeopaths give “a false impression to the public that their treatments are clinically and scientifically established and that the treatments practitioners offer should be as trusted as other health and care practitioners”

What is Homeopathy?

It is a practice that uses small amounts of natural substances to produce a cure.

It is a form of complementary or alternative medicine where practitioners use highly diluted substances to “treat” medical conditions.

You can read more about homeopathy here, but essentially there are two premises it is based on:

• The idea of curing disease by using small amounts of what actually causes the disease and
• That by diluting and mixing/shaking substances, you can increase their power to cure a disease.

These ideas can produce some healthy scepticism in many people – and has done amongst those who doubt the effectiveness of Homeopathy.

What facts should you know about Homeopathy Practice?

These are some of the conditions treated by homeopaths:

Asthma, ear infections, hay fever, mental health conditions (like depression, stress and anxiety); allergies (food allergies, dermatitis – an allergic skin condition), arthritis, high blood pressure.

However, leading health regulators like the National Institute of Clinical Excellence in the UK do not recommend Homeopathy treatments.

Scientific research indicates there is no conclusive evidence that homeopathy treatments work.

Some studies show that some homeopathic practices are ‘helpful’.

What You Should Consider Before Using Homeopathy

You should proceed with care when considering homeopathy practice as an option for your health care.

Taking the medicines may be harmless because they are diluted in water or alcohol, but some may be mixed with heavy metals and could be dangerous.

There are also plant-based treatments.

Following homeopathy while seeking cure could delay more appropriate and effective treatments.

This leads to complications of the original condition that are harder to treat.

Finally

The intention of the UK health leaders is to ensure safe and effective health care for the population and it is right to ask these questions.

Choosing a natural treatment with minimal side effects is attractive but not at the expense of effectiveness.

What do you think? Please tell us in the comments below.

More Reading:

• Natural Therapy Practitioners
• Infection Control – Keep these Tips in Mind When Caring For a Sick Person
• Practices That Can Increase Your Risk of STIs
• Bad Breath – Why & What To Do.
• Understanding Natural Therapies

Editing by AskAwayHealth Team

Disclaimer

All AskAwayHealth articles are written by practising Medical Practitioners on a wide range of health care conditions to provide evidence-based guidance and to help promote quality health care. The advice in our material is not meant to replace the management of your specific condition by a qualified health care practitioner.
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