PMID: 9553836Apr 29, 1998Paper

Can biological activity be maintained at ultra-high dilution? An overview of homeopathy, evidence, and Bayesian philosophy

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine : Research on Paradigm, Practice, and Policy
A K Vallance

Abstract

Forty percent of general practitioners in the Netherlands practice homeopathy. With over 100 homeopathic medical schools, homeopathy is practiced in India along with conventional Western medicine in government clinics. In Britain, 42% of general practitioners refer patients to homeopaths. Two recent meta-analyses of homeopathy both indicate that there is enough evidence to show that homeopathy has added effects over placebo. Against this evidence is a backdrop of considerable scientific scepticism. Homeopathic remedies are diluted substances--some are so diluted that statistically there are no molecules present to explain their proposed biological effects (ultra-high dilutions or UHDs). Without knowledge of the evidence, most scientists would reject UHD effects because of their intrinsic implausibility in the light of our current scientific understanding. The objective of this article is to critically review the major pieces of evidence on UHD effects and suggest how the scientific community should respond to its challenge. Such evidence has been conducted on a diverse range of assays--immunologic, physiological, behavioral, biochemical, and clinical in the form of trials of homeopathic remedies. Evidence of UHD effects has att...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jun 17, 1998·The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine : Research on Paradigm, Practice, and Policy·A Singer, B Reid
Mar 8, 2000·The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine : Research on Paradigm, Practice, and Policy·M E Dean
Nov 22, 2005·The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine : Research on Paradigm, Practice, and Policy·Kim A Jobst
May 2, 2006·The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine : Research on Paradigm, Practice, and Policy·Lionel R Milgrom
Dec 17, 2009·The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine : Research on Paradigm, Practice, and Policy·Lionel R Milgrom
Mar 22, 2006·Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : ECAM·Paolo BellaviteRiccardo Ortolani
Jun 21, 2006·Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : ECAM·Paolo BellaviteAnita Conforti
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Apr 5, 2003·The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine : Research on Paradigm, Practice, and Policy·Menachem OberbaumRobbert Van Haselen
Jun 17, 1998·The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine : Research on Paradigm, Practice, and Policy·J Malak

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