Question for Homeopathy Aficionados?!

Hello Nate,

When treating ACUTELY with homoeopathy (as distinct from miasmatically or constitutionally), there are a range of remedies categorised as 'polychrests' which have wide applicability.

An example - arnica is usually 'the homoeopathic remedy of choice' for bruising - and it's one of the most commonly available OTC homoeopathic remedies. Since the symptoms of bruising don't vary from person to person, there is no 'individuality component', so arnica can be applied as the remedy for the acute condition.

Many OTC homoeopathics fall under the 'polychrest' umbrella.

Personally, however, I am not a fan of OTC homoeopathic MIXES - as it is something of a 'shotgun' approach, and flies in the face of true homoeopathic prescribing principles. I have examined the ingredients of many such mixes and, while there are a few which I consider would be effective in particular situations, for a large number of them I consider the ingredient mix to be in some way(s) 'conflicting'.

I don't look upon the manufacturers with contempt - but I do think they are often doing a disservice to homoeopathy - your question is completely logical, and this is, to me, the obvious question arising out of the marketing and OTC sale of 'shotgun approach homoeopathy'.

I'm a Naturopath & Homoeopath

I do like something "shaken not stirred" on occasion. But that doesnt make me a homeopathy aficionado because I require a lot less C's.

It has been established, that it is the talking that does the trick, so if the homeopaths get to do the talking, they wouldn't mind. And the existence of over the counter (OTC) remedies help keeping the notion of homeopathy alive. So from a buisness point of view they have an interest in not banning OTC homeopathic remedies.

Hm... I think I will have me something shaken not stirred next week, when I am on vacation - Thanks for the inspiration :-)

Oh c'mon now, let's not be silly. Can you imagine some of the homeopaths on here EVER taking alka-seltzer, let alone Nyquil?

I'm sure they would experience nocebo up the wazoo (and that MUST be uncomfortable) so it is sort of a moot point...

Now as far as "picking treatments" - there is this handy guide (oh, 900+ pages of handy) to help with that. Here is an example of a common remedy
http://www.homeoint.org/books/boericmm/a…

So obviously you can soothe-say, ahem, I mean justify using any treatment what-so-ever for practically anything - and if you really 'study' the book, they make EVERYTHING an ailment (which of course, requires a consultation.)

Edit: Ah, gotcha - you know, I've sold plenty of them - and homeopaths buy Oscillio, and pre-fab combo's too - - then the rationale being 'combo's are nice, because picking the right remedy can be very difficult sometimes, this way the chances of getting the right one are better'

Hi Nate!

This always puzzles me. The homoeopaths' claim their "treatments" are based on the person and not the symptoms. So if Homoeopathy is meant to be an individualized treatment, how does this fit in with these bottles of..well nothing... specifically sold for individual symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety, etc. Perhaps someone with a nose could clarify?

Talking of clarification... "No one" is displeased with your comment and requires further clarification. Do you think that is Lisa? There are similarities.....poor reading comprehension, general paranoia, scientific illiteracy, etc. lol

Edit: @ Awful: No. That is a special pleading fallacy. A classic example of pseudoscientific reasoning.

Individualised treatments can be tested in RCTs. Yes it adds to the complexity to the trial design, but this is no excuse for not doing the trial. It's been done, and homoeopathy always fails miserably.

Night Nate!

How can treatments be "individualized" when it's all the same placebo water?

I'm rather critical of that OTC shotgun stuff, but at least it contains actual medicine.

It requires a great deal of knowledge to select a Homoeopathic remedy. There are no specifics in Homoeopathy. It is on the principle of individualization and not generalization. There are no names of the disease required to select an indicated remedy. Different people with same name of the disease say diarrhea from the same cause say food poisoning at the same dinner, may require different remedies depending on their individual symptoms which normally differ.

Keep in view that over the counter remedy will NEVER CURE and only badly malign the great art and science Homoeopathy. Always contact an able Homoeopath for certain rapid, gentle and permanent cure.

Oscillococcinum is not a homoeopathic remedy and it does not appear in any Materia Medica of Homoeopathy. Don't take it. It won't prove the magic of Homoeopathy.

Profound and extensive knowledge with experience in Homoeopathy.

Vast Homoeopathic literature and the famous book "Everyday Miracles of Homoeopathy" by Dr. Vijayalakshmi.

Hi Nate !

Over the counter medicine proves that mainsteam medicine is a kind of applied statistics.

Today a friend of mine had terrible headache and a peer reviewed scientific GP prescribed him some not so OTC medicines after a scientific checkup, but it didn't seem to work. I am not so scientific and I am so confused, was this checkup individualized or not?? Plz help me, I am sooo confused... my friend will lose his faith in mainstream medicine, plz help !!!!!

Hi Rhianna !
Where is Gary?

I've always been a supporter of herbal medicine, I haven't had much experience with homoeopathy.

But Rhianna it's been explained to you time and time again that homoeopathy cannot work in random controlled trials because it is as you put it "individulized treatment". So this explains why there are not many trails showing it works.