Homeopathy Delusions about Dilutions A Speech by Vicki

Homeopathy Delusions about Dilutions A Speech by Vicki Stephenson Big Apple Toastmasters November 13, 2008

What is Homeopathy? la form of alternate medicine founded by Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician in the 18 th century l the method of treating disease by drugs, given in minute doses, that would produce in a healthy person symptoms similar to those of the disease (“law of similars”)

Homeopathy Beliefs The more you dilute something, the MORE powerful it becomes. l During dilution and succession, the ESSENSE of the substance is transferred to the liquid (the memory of water). l An ill person can be treated using a substance that can produce, in a healthy person, symptoms similar to those of the illness. l

Dilution and Succussion X Scale C Scale Ratio Notes 1 x - 1: 10 described as low potency 2 x 1 C 1: 100 called higher potency than 1 X by homeopaths 6 x 3 C 10 -6 8 x 4 C 10 -8 12 x 6 C 10 -12 24 x 12 C 10 -24 Has a 60% probability of containing one molecule of original material. 60 x 30 C 10 -60 Dilution advocated by Hahnemann for most purposes: this would require two billion doses per second to six billion people for 4 billion years to deliver a single molecule of the original material. 400 x 200 C 10 -400 Dilution of popular homeopathic flu remedy Oscillococcinum allowable concentration of arsenic in US drinking water

Modern Science The validity of homeopathic treatment is generally not accepted by conventional practitioners of medicine or biomedical scientists. l The pharmacological concept of the dose-response relationship states that as the dose increases, so does effect. l Studies of homeopathic remedies diluted at 30 C (the dilution recommended by Hahnemann) show that ZERO molecules of the original substance remain. l

Placebo Effect Power of the brain l If you believe something can make you feel better, you can convince yourself you feel or see signs of that happening. l You may relax, which in turn does make you feel better. l Research on the Placebo Effect has shown that when patients are given fake medication (sugar pills), colored pills are more effective than white ones and larger pills are more effective than smaller ones. l

Negatives of Homeopathy l Waste of money to those who buy. l People may delay or forego scientifically proven medicines or medical procedures that could help them or a loved one. l Some homeopathic practitioners routinely advise their clients against immunization.

Laws and Concepts l l l l Law of Similars: “Like cures like”. An ill person can be treated using a substance that can produce, in a healthy person, symptoms similar to those of the illness. Law of Infinitesimals: the more dilute something is, the more powerful it is Memory of water: memory retains the memory of a substance it has come into contact with even after all traces of that substance have been removed. Vital Force: A spirit-like essence that animates a living organism. In homeopathy, disease is considered to originate as a disruption of the vital force. Succussion: The process of agitating a freshly diluted solution by rapping its container hard against a hard but elastic object such as a leather-bound book. Hahnemann believed that succussion released dynamic forces from the diluents which were preserved and intensified with subsequent dilutions. Dynamization: The process of increasing the vital energy, and thus the potency, of a substance through specific forms of serial dilutions, termed "succussion" or "trituration". Provings: In a proving, healthy people are given pharmacologically active doses of a substance and the symptoms they develop are observed.

Sources l l l http: //altmed. creighton. edu/Homeopathy/Default. htm http: //www. colorado. edu/philosophy/vstenger/Medicine/Homeop. html http: //www. acahf. org. au/articles/homeopathy 1. htm http: //www. quackwatch. org/01 Quackery. Related. Topics/homeo. html http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Homeopathy