Can someone please explain to me how homeopathy works?

[SpawnChorus]

We have been using Nelson's 'Teethas' (homeopathic remedy for teething), and it seems to be working miracles. I bought the stuff out of desperation, as my limited knowledge of homeopathy tells me that it's nonsense. I tried explaining the concept to DH last night, but couldn't get beyond the fact that it's minutely diluted herbs (I'm not even sure that's right).

Someone please enlighten me!

it is as you say, incredibly dilute quantities of a substance. the theory is something like minute quantities of things that can have mirroring symptoms can actually prevent them. i used to think it was a load of tosh but someone got me a pre-natal consultation with a homeopath and i used the stuff during labour and had the easiest delivery ever. dh still thinks load of rubbish though. some stuff like teething granules and arnica for bruising are pretty mainstream. its the dilution levels that are a bit though, one drop in the entire ocean, so minute that it is actually really water or powder. to do with molecular memory or something...

Arnica cream is herbal, not homeopathic (there is a homeopathic remedy of the same name, though).

And to answer the OP: it doesn't. It's called the placebo effect, and it's very very powerful.

Lots of people will say it don't. It's always worked well for us (including my severely autistic son) so I'm not fussed whether its supposed to or not.

The less diluted stuff (say 8's) can supposedly work because molecules clump together when diluted. Homeopath's dismiss that though.

The higher doses (so more diluted) supposedly work because the energy of the original substance remains in the water (although it has to be shaken).

Quantum physics supposedly has the answers although I don't know enough about quantum physics to begin to understand whether it does or not. I do have a book |"Homeopathy scince or myth" that details the experiments done on it.

I have a friend who works in Health Psychology. They don't work with homeopathy because they think there's a possibility that it does have a physical effect (they like to work on stuff that can't possibly have a physical effect).

NQC - but we've been using it on DS who is 13 months. We haven't told him why we're giving him this powder. I know it could just be coincidence, but when we give it to him he settles down well at night and sometimes sleeps all the way through (v v v unusual).

It's not as simple as placebo. I don't know the full results of this study but in the adult one mentioned they found that Bach Flower remedies worked at a higher than placebo rate for people who scored highly on a measure of spirituality. Spirituality was a better predictor that whether someone thought it would work or not.

They're not sure what's going on, but think the mechanism is complex. Fascinating area. As I said they don't work on homeopathy though in case it does have a physical effect.

SpawnChorus the first time I used homeopathy I was scathing (and desperate). Used it on my severely autistic son who aged 2 had no concept of medicines - and used it for something other than an illness. The results were astounding. Now I don't care & use it because it works. Having spent quite a bit of time talking to my health psychologist friend I think its a sensible approach. If it stops working I'll stop using it.

So interesting!! Thanks Gess. I'm glad it's had such good results for your DS too!

I'm very sceptical about homeopathy - but the nurse at my GPs recommended arnica tablets when I trapped my finger in the door, to bring the bruising down.

Mahoooosive bruise on Monday - virtually disappeared now! Amazing - however it works.

Of course placebo works on tiny ones - because it makes you feel calmer and happier (you feel you're doing something about the problem), it makes them calmer and happier, and hence better.

I don't think Bach's flower remedies are homeopathic are they? Hmmm, they're certainly homeopathic-esque, but they clearly aren't exactly homeopathic.

Re: the Plymouth study: there's no mention of a control group. Surely the slow sniffing required for using these remedies would calm down the child? And obviously the metrics are parent-reported, which isn't quite a double-blind methodology with concrete metrics, is it?

Yeah, that may be true, wulfricsmummy, of course, some people may outwardly scoff, but inwardly (or subconsciously) believe, or want to believe.

I ended up using some alternative medicine while pregnant (TCM, reflexology), and frustrated by actual medicine not being able to fix my problems. None of the alternative stuff did anything for me. I was entirely throughout, though.

The best placebo effects are with operations. Placebo injections are better than pills. And pills' effectiveness vary with the color of the pill, too.

NQC - I know what you are saying is sensible, and is really the only logical explanation (well it could also just be pure coincidence I suppose), but I honestly didn't feel any calmer when I administered it the first couple of times, (or at least no calmer than when I've given him Calpol, which seems less effective). I also give it to him immediately before putting him in his cot, so unless he's detecting my vibes from downstairs I don;t think I can be affecting him.

Logically, it does seem on a par with healing crystals and holy water though, I must admit.

The Plymouth study was not to prove whether flower remedies work or not- as I said early they are working in health psychology, and purposely chose to work on something that they didn't think could have a physical effect (because they were interested in the psychology). There was no slow sniffing either - they were adminstered daily in the form of little capsules. 3 times a day (I know because I took part in the stusy). They do a lot of work on things like CBT and self help as well, not just alternative remedies. In fact I can assure you that the health psychology group is mixed between believers and absolute sceptics. But as I said they're not setting out to prove that something has a physical effect.

There was no way that my first experience with homeopathy had anything to do with placebo. a) the remedy was adminsitered and then I left the room overnight b) the effect was hours later and took place over several days c) severe autism pretty much negates any expectation from the child, or some would say (erroniously) empathy.

Anyway I didn't expect it to work so if its all down to active placebo it should have been a total and utter failure.

I think it works as a placebo - anyone see Richard Dawkins show on alternative medicine? It was fascinating. He explained that the amounts used in homeopathic "remedies" are so small, that it would take an ocean to get the dilution right. So basically it is just water....

But if it works for some, then great!

That assumes it works via particles though which homeopaths do not claim. They claim it's an energy medicine like acupuncture. Doesn't meant they're right; but Dawkins is discrediting a non-argument if that's his reason foir discounting it.

It doesn't.

Message withdrawn

Every single double blind test on the effectiveness of homeopathic "treatments" has failed to show an effect better than placebo.

There is a 1 million USD reward outstanding to anyone who proves that homeopathy works.

Lancet published results of 110 homeopathy trials that found no benefit better than placebo.

There is no such thing as "molecular memory". It is pure fiction. Dilute sugar+water to a thousandth and it is just not sweet anymore. Water always acts like water, although it has been mixed up with millions of things through millenia. Why? Because water does not have memory.

And any relation to quantum physics is merely a metaphor (to its 'entanglement' effect) with no experimental verification.

Sorry if this offends anyone, but as far as the facts are concerned, homeopathy Just Does Not Work.