MYTHS & FACTS ABOUT HOMEOPATHY
What is homoeopathy?
Homoeopathy, a therapeutic system used for over 200 years, works on the principle that 'like cures like' - symptoms are treated with a substance which could produce similar symptoms in a healthy person. However, homeopathic medicines are given in highly diluted forms and are therefore extremely safe. Homoeopathy does not have side effects, is non addictive, treats holistically and is relatively inexpensive.
Is homoeopathy a "Slow acting system"?
The action of medicines depends on whether the disease is acute or chronic. Homoeopathy is NOT slow acting. This myth is popular, because most of the people approaching homoeopathy have a long history of chronic ailments, and hence the treatment takes time. Since homoeopathy offers a much better alternative than allopathy in such ailments, it is believed that homoeopathy is slow acting. The chronic diseases are those which have a long history, e.g. bronchitis, asthma, eczema etc. Homoeopathy is, in fact, FAST and RAPID in Action in acute conditions.
Can diabetic patients take the sweet sugar pill given in homoeopathy?
Homoeopathic medicines can be safely taken by Diabetics as they contain a negligible amount of sugar. If necessary, medicines can be given in distilled water also.
Is homoeopathy a quackery and self-read science?
Homoeopathy is a scientific system and is not something, which can be learned from books. Government of India through Central Council of Homeopathy controls and reviews education, research and practice of homeopathy in India. In India most of the Government run clinics and hospitals have a homeopathic unit. For becoming a homoeopath one has to complete Bachelor's degree course spanning 5½ years of training with one year internship. There are around 147 homeopathic medical colleges all over India which offer undergraduate medical education; many of these are government run while others are run by private educational societies. Out of these 23 offer postgraduate education. Minimum qualification for admission into these colleges is high school with Biology, Physics and Chemistry as majors. The students also have to undergo an entrance exam for admission into the undergraduate homoeopathy degree course. The above process ensures that only the talented students are chosen to become future homoeopaths. There is no difference between the homoeopathic medical curricula and that of MBBS. During the course, the students are taught, subjects like Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Forensic science, Surgery, PSM, Gynaecology & Obestetrics, and Medicine.At the end of 4½ years after passing their final exams, they are awarded the BHMS degree (Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine and Surgery). There is a 1-year internship after that where the prospective homoeopaths are posted in the hospital and other Government-run clinics to get some real-world experience.At the end of the internship, the homoeopaths register themselves with the State Homoeopathy Boards which in effect is a license to practice. Practicing Homoeopathy without a recognized degree is a punishable offence under the law. There are postgraduate courses also. Admission to these is through an entrance exam.
Do Homoeopaths use steroids?
The answer is a definite "NO". Homoeopaths of integrity and commitment to their profession do not use steroids, and in fact have no need to. Their material medica is very rich in remedies with a vast range of curative effects. Homoeopathic medicines are non- steroidal, this can be reasoned with the following arguments: 1. If one has been on long-term steroids, one would show some side effects like 'moon face', excessive body hairs, osteoporosis, diabetes etc. 2. Steroids are not a cure for all the ills of the world. 3. Homoeopathic remedies have a very wide range of curative properties. 4. Using steroids would in fact be counter-productive as they have a suppressive effect. 5. Almost all steroids show UV absorption between 235 and 240 NM in dehydrated alcohol or methanol in a clear solution. A complete spectrum of this solution is taken between 400 NM and 220 NM on a suitable spectrophotometer. If any steroid is present, it will show maxima at 240 NM. But when homoeopathic medicines were tested for steroids using the UV absorption method, the samples did not show maxima between 230 and 250 NM, indicating an absence of steroids.
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