Welcome to the 1023 Homeopathy Website
What is homeopathy?
Homeopathy is a safe and effective healing and therapeutic system of medicine that has been in use for the last 200 years. It is based on the premise that what can cause something can also cure it in a different dose. We call this "like cures like" and it comes from the law of similars. One example of this can be taken from the plant belladonna (deadly nightshade), a member of the solanaceae family. This plant when ingested causes symptoms of high fever, delirium and hallucinations amongst others. In homeopathy we give belladonna, in a diluted and potentised form, to treat these symptoms.
Why see a homeopath?
How does homeopathy work?
Homeopathy works on an energetic, vibrational level and the remedies help to stimulate the body's own self-healing capacities. It stimulates what we call the Vital Force, and it this Vital Force which then directs the action of the remedy upon the person. In Chinese Medicine there is a similar principle which they call Chi, this is the basis of acupuncture and many of their martial arts. As of yet this cannot be explained scientifically but great strides are being made in his area.
Critics of homeopathy claim that it cannot work as there is nothing in the remedies which we prescribe, as the majority of our remedies have been diluted past the point of Avogadro's number which determines the maximum number of molecules of a solute which can be found in 1 mole of a pure solution. However, homeopathy works on a more subtle and more potentially more powerful level than that of pharmaceutical drugs, it does not interact with the biochemical body directly but indirectly through the Vital Force.
There have been several studies showing the presence of the substance in the remedy, even though it has been diluted passed the point of Avogadro's number. This work has been carried out by top researchers at universities around the world.An example of such work is the study by Louis Rey (2003) where he looked at the thermoluminescence of ultra-high dilutions (UHD) of sodium chloride and lithium chloride. An UHD is a solute that has been diluted passed Avogadro's number (6.02 x1023 molecules) which means that there is no molecule left of the original solute. Rey (2003) irradiated the NaCl and LiCl with x and gamma rays. He then progressively warmed them to room temperature and found that both samples emitted light specific to each of the salts. This shows that just because a substance has been diluted past Avogadro's number doesn't mean it can't still be active. Indeed Roy et al (2005) call it a "primitive" argument to suggest that homeopathic remedies don't work because there is nothing in them. He shows us that it is the structure of a substance that largely determines its properties rather than it's composition. Please see the references at the bottom of this page for further information.
Is there any scientific evidence to Support the use of homeopathic medicines?
Yes. Absolutely.
There are Double-Blind Randomised Controlled Trials (DBRCT), in vitro and animal studies. "A total of 138 RCTs in homeopathy have been published in good quality scientific journals: positive effects have been reported in 60 (44% of the total) and negative findings have been reported in 10 (7%), while 68 (49%) have not been conclusively positive or negative." (BHA 2009)
"The most solid evidence for a treatment comes from reviewing more than one RCT. This is known as a systematic review. Four out of five major systematic reviews of RCTs in homeopathy have concluded that homeopathy has an effect greater than placebo. Systematic reviews of RCTs in specific medical areas have been positive for homeopathy in six conditions: childhood diarrhoea, hay fever, influenza, post-operative ileus, respiratory tract infection and vertigo." (BHA 2009)
"The RCT model of measuring effectiveness does pose problems for homeopathic research. In homeopathy, treatment is usually tailored to the individual. A homeopathic prescription is based not only on the symptoms of disease in the patient but on a host of other factors that are particular to that patient, including lifestyle, emotional health, personality, eating habits and medical history. These factors can often make a “one drug to fit all patients” type of RCT less meaningful in homeopathic research." (BHA 2009)
There are also in vitro trials which show the effectiveness of homeopathy beyond placebo. One good example of this is work of Belon et al (2004), which was a repeat of the work of Benveniste et al (1988). They were able to show that ultra-high dilutions (10-30 - 10-38 M) of histamine had an effect on basophil activity. This was shown in a multi-centre trial and everyone involved in the trial was given the same training and they all used the same sources for their apparatus to ensure consistency of the results, and minimise any variables. The work of Benveniste was ground-breaking for homeopathy and gave it strong experimental evidence that ultra-high dilutions of a substance can exert an effect beyond that of placebo. This work was criticised by those who could not believe that such a thing was possible. The work of Belon et al (2004) is hugely important as it shows that Benveniste’s work was not an anomaly but is repeatable by different researchers in different laboratories.
References
Rey L (2003) Thermoluminescence of ultra-high dilutions of lithium chloride and sodium chloride, Physica a, 323: 67-74
Roy R, Tiller W, Bell I, Hoover M (2005) The structure of liquid water; Novel insights from materials research; Potential relevance to homeopathy, Materials Research Innovations
BHA (2009) http://www.britishhomeopathic.org/research/the_evidence_for_homeopathy.html
Belon P, Cumps J, Ennis M, Mannaioni P, Roberfriod M, Sainte-Laudy, Wiegant FAC (2004) Histamine dilutions modulate basophil activation, Inflammation Research 181-188
Davenas E, Beauvais F, Amara J, Oberbaum M, Robinzon B, Miadonna A, Tedeschi A, Pomeranz B, Fortner P, Belon P, Sainte-Laudy J, Poitevin B, Beneveniste J (1988) Human Basophil degranulation triggered by very dilute anitserum against IgE, Nature 333, 816-818
Homeopathy is a safe and effective healing and therapeutic system of medicine that has been in use for the last 200 years. It is based on the premise that what can cause something can also cure it in a different dose. We call this "like cures like" and it comes from the law of similars. One example of this can be taken from the plant belladonna (deadly nightshade), a member of the solanaceae family. This plant when ingested causes symptoms of high fever, delirium and hallucinations amongst others. In homeopathy we give belladonna, in a diluted and potentised form, to treat these symptoms.
Why see a homeopath?
- You want to be treated as an individual.
- You want to use a medicine that works.
- You are unhappy with the treatment from your doctor.
- You want to use a sustainable and environmentally friendly medicine.
- You are fed up with toxic side-effects and wish to us a natural medicine.
- You have an illness that conventional medicine offers no treatment for.
- You wish to be treated as a human being and not as a statistic.
- You want to improve your emotional wellbeing.
- You believe that life's experiences has an impact on your physical health.
How does homeopathy work?
Homeopathy works on an energetic, vibrational level and the remedies help to stimulate the body's own self-healing capacities. It stimulates what we call the Vital Force, and it this Vital Force which then directs the action of the remedy upon the person. In Chinese Medicine there is a similar principle which they call Chi, this is the basis of acupuncture and many of their martial arts. As of yet this cannot be explained scientifically but great strides are being made in his area.
Critics of homeopathy claim that it cannot work as there is nothing in the remedies which we prescribe, as the majority of our remedies have been diluted past the point of Avogadro's number which determines the maximum number of molecules of a solute which can be found in 1 mole of a pure solution. However, homeopathy works on a more subtle and more potentially more powerful level than that of pharmaceutical drugs, it does not interact with the biochemical body directly but indirectly through the Vital Force.
There have been several studies showing the presence of the substance in the remedy, even though it has been diluted passed the point of Avogadro's number. This work has been carried out by top researchers at universities around the world.An example of such work is the study by Louis Rey (2003) where he looked at the thermoluminescence of ultra-high dilutions (UHD) of sodium chloride and lithium chloride. An UHD is a solute that has been diluted passed Avogadro's number (6.02 x1023 molecules) which means that there is no molecule left of the original solute. Rey (2003) irradiated the NaCl and LiCl with x and gamma rays. He then progressively warmed them to room temperature and found that both samples emitted light specific to each of the salts. This shows that just because a substance has been diluted past Avogadro's number doesn't mean it can't still be active. Indeed Roy et al (2005) call it a "primitive" argument to suggest that homeopathic remedies don't work because there is nothing in them. He shows us that it is the structure of a substance that largely determines its properties rather than it's composition. Please see the references at the bottom of this page for further information.
Is there any scientific evidence to Support the use of homeopathic medicines?
Yes. Absolutely.
There are Double-Blind Randomised Controlled Trials (DBRCT), in vitro and animal studies. "A total of 138 RCTs in homeopathy have been published in good quality scientific journals: positive effects have been reported in 60 (44% of the total) and negative findings have been reported in 10 (7%), while 68 (49%) have not been conclusively positive or negative." (BHA 2009)
"The most solid evidence for a treatment comes from reviewing more than one RCT. This is known as a systematic review. Four out of five major systematic reviews of RCTs in homeopathy have concluded that homeopathy has an effect greater than placebo. Systematic reviews of RCTs in specific medical areas have been positive for homeopathy in six conditions: childhood diarrhoea, hay fever, influenza, post-operative ileus, respiratory tract infection and vertigo." (BHA 2009)
"The RCT model of measuring effectiveness does pose problems for homeopathic research. In homeopathy, treatment is usually tailored to the individual. A homeopathic prescription is based not only on the symptoms of disease in the patient but on a host of other factors that are particular to that patient, including lifestyle, emotional health, personality, eating habits and medical history. These factors can often make a “one drug to fit all patients” type of RCT less meaningful in homeopathic research." (BHA 2009)
There are also in vitro trials which show the effectiveness of homeopathy beyond placebo. One good example of this is work of Belon et al (2004), which was a repeat of the work of Benveniste et al (1988). They were able to show that ultra-high dilutions (10-30 - 10-38 M) of histamine had an effect on basophil activity. This was shown in a multi-centre trial and everyone involved in the trial was given the same training and they all used the same sources for their apparatus to ensure consistency of the results, and minimise any variables. The work of Benveniste was ground-breaking for homeopathy and gave it strong experimental evidence that ultra-high dilutions of a substance can exert an effect beyond that of placebo. This work was criticised by those who could not believe that such a thing was possible. The work of Belon et al (2004) is hugely important as it shows that Benveniste’s work was not an anomaly but is repeatable by different researchers in different laboratories.
References
Rey L (2003) Thermoluminescence of ultra-high dilutions of lithium chloride and sodium chloride, Physica a, 323: 67-74
Roy R, Tiller W, Bell I, Hoover M (2005) The structure of liquid water; Novel insights from materials research; Potential relevance to homeopathy, Materials Research Innovations
BHA (2009) http://www.britishhomeopathic.org/research/the_evidence_for_homeopathy.html
Belon P, Cumps J, Ennis M, Mannaioni P, Roberfriod M, Sainte-Laudy, Wiegant FAC (2004) Histamine dilutions modulate basophil activation, Inflammation Research 181-188
Davenas E, Beauvais F, Amara J, Oberbaum M, Robinzon B, Miadonna A, Tedeschi A, Pomeranz B, Fortner P, Belon P, Sainte-Laudy J, Poitevin B, Beneveniste J (1988) Human Basophil degranulation triggered by very dilute anitserum against IgE, Nature 333, 816-818
