Does homeopathy work?

[flowergarden2]

Hi, I live in the USA where homeopathy is not that popular. I have heard it is more commonly used in the UK. I just started working with a classical homeopathic doctor ( via Skype) who put me on my first ever constitutional remedy. My main health concern is a chronic lyme disease co infection ( babesia) which affects my breathing.
( I am also treating with herbs, have had this for years and it comes and goes in severity- currently flared up ). this is my first time trying homeopathy. I am about 25 days in. the homeopath told me to expect 10-20% improvement in 6 weeks, 50% improvement 3 months later, and full recovery in one to two years.
One weird thing is he didn't seem to believe my illness was tick-borne. But he said with homeopathy it doesn't matter what the cause of it is, it treats the whole body anyway.

So I am wondering if any of you have used classical homeopathy- where they give you one constitutional remedy, which is supposed to heal your whole body.
I am not sure yet if I notice improvement. I feel slightly better than before I started but nothing remarkable. I would love it if it works and so I am looking to hear experiences other people have had using it.
Thank you

and how much skin off your nose is it?

The most incredible was chronic cystitis where I had taken numerous antibiotics which gave me constant colds

Colds are caused by viruses. You can't get them from antibiotics. Neither can antibiotics lower your immune response to viruses. The "weak bladder" bit is a similar non-sequitur.

and how much skin off your nose is it?

I get upset when I see kids suffering for extended periods of time with conditions for which we have simple, effective treatments whose loving parents have been sold a load of bullshit, thus delaying the child's access to something that works.

Maybe I'm oversensitive.

Colds are caused by viruses. You can't get them from antibiotics. Neither can antibiotics lower your immune response to viruses. The "weak bladder" bit is a similar non-sequitur.

Thanks for your advice on my body, random person on the Internet.

so in the cases where someone has suffered and tried medical treatment with no success, and then tried a homeopathic remedy which appears to work very well for them, whats your problem with that?

Of course if someone has a serious issue and only tries homeopathy and continues to use it when it doesnt work, and doesnt get medical help, then thats an issue, but thats less of an issue with homeopathy itself, and more a particular mindset - anti-vax, anti medicine

My DF is a retired GP. Back in the 50s when antibiotics were still relatively new, he prescribed a course to an old boy suffering from pneumonia. He visited every day and was pleased to see a steady improvement.

On his last visit my DF mentioned how valuable the antibiotics had been. The bloke's wife said "What those pills? He didn't take them."

The point of my story is that people quite often spontaneously recover from even quite serious illnesses.

When it comes to less serious ones it's very common indeed. Most minor conditions clear up by themselves with a little patience.

Where homeopaths and other alternative therapists score is that they offer far longer consultations than is possible in the NHS. This is an important component to the placebo effect. The more attention the patient gets the more likely they are to believe the treatment will work.

If you see a homeopath and your health problem subsequently resolves you're likely to give credit to the treatment. However, whereas you can prove that antibiotics work, no one has ever been able to do the same with homeopathy. It doesn't work. It can't do. It has no active agent.

Think about it. If water can contain the memory of a single endlessly diluted substance then it must also contain the memories of all the digestive systems it's been through, all the mud it's been part of, every time it's been part of a living being - every single thing since the creation of the water molecules. Mind boggling, and ludicrous with it.

Think about it. If water can contain the memory of a single endlessly diluted substance then it must also contain the memories of all the digestive systems it's been through, all the mud it's been part of, every time it's been part of a living being - every single thing since the creation of the water molecules. Mind boggling, and ludicrous with it.
Ah, yes but it's special memory water, don't you know, it's been hit with a special stick, or something.
And as for the poster who thought antibiotics were giving her colds & a weak bladder, I'm speechless.

@furrycushion I just choked on my tea reading that - “special stick” lol!

Homeopathy doesn’t work. If it really did, I’m sure the NHS would be leaping at the chance to save money and use it instead of expensive medicines.

OP I can understand why you're willing to spend a lot of money clutching at straws to get help with your Lyme disease and co-infection. I know how debilitating it is. But honestly apart from the comfort of having a person listening to you talk about it during the Skype consultation, it really is just snake oil.

yeah I think you guys are probably right, thank you

Just to clarify, those who said homeopathy isn't available on the NHS anymore and a GP can't/won't refer is not correct in my area. Both of my children have been referred to the local NHS homeopathic clinic by a GP, one being last month.

Both of my children have been referred to the local NHS homeopathic clinic by a GP, one being last month.

What a waste of funds when the NHS is on its knees already.

It looks like the NHS is trying to stop funding it but has had to defend that decision in court:

www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2018/06/05/high-court-backs-nhs-decision-stop-funding-homeopathy/

Oysterbabe

in my experience, if you do want to use homeopathy, or find it works for you, then its best not to even mention it on the internet.

I do occasionally pipe up about it, but its mostly not worth the hassle.

Maybe it is placebo, maybe the talking therapy part of it is beneficial. Maybe its a bit woo.

I certainly wouldnt invest too much money in it, but if youre talkig about spending £3 on a tube of hmeopathic treatment from the chemist, and you find it helpful, then yknow, you dont need permission from anyone