Homeopathy proving increasingly popular/Italy moves to control alternative medicine
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2005 1:52 pm
>From: "Zeus"
Is holistic homeopathy the popular alternative?
Friday August 19 2005 16:18 IST
IANS
BERLIN: Homeopathy, a holistic medical system developed two centuries ago
by a German physician, is finding increasing global acceptance as an
effective healing method though conventional medicine still views it with
scepticism.
Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843) formulated the principles of homeopathy on the
idea of "like cures like".
The physician had observed that Peruvian or China bark was prescribed to
combat malaria but also caused malaria-like symptoms in healthy people.
Hahnemann then tried out several other plant, animal and mineral substances
on volunteers and himself and kept a diary of the symptoms and developed
numerous medicines in this way.
"Hahnemann knew 140 medicines. Today there are between 3,000 and 4,000,"
says Karl-Wilhelm Steuernagel, chairman of the German Association of
Homeopathic Doctors
In his main work "Organon", published in 1810, Hahnemann explained holistic
medicine and the cause of illness, which he saw as a dysfunction of the
life force in the body.
Classical homeopathy, as developed by him, implies gathering information on
all aspects of a patient's physical, emotional and mental state.
The remedy is available in the form of small pellets of liquid developed in
potencies and containing miniscule portions of the original substance mixed
with water and alcohol.
Preparing the medication includes "forceful shaking" to speed up its
effectiveness. The potency is denoted in figures. D1, for instance, means a
ratio of one to 10, D2 of one to 100.
From a potency of D24, the homeopathic medicine has been diluted to such an
extent that it no longer includes molecules of the original substance.
According to Hahnemann, the remedy however includes an "imprint" of the
original substance.
"What happens physically is completely unknown," according to Steuernagel.
Numerous tests have proven that homeopathy works. The medication should
only be prescribed by a trained homeopath who has examined the patient
carefully.
Conventional medicine still rejects homeopathy to a great extent.
"I don't believe in the pellets, especially not in the high potencies as
homeopaths have not backed up their claims with scientific evidence so
far," says Bruno Mueller-Oerlinghausen, chairman of the German Commission
on Medication in Berlin.
"There is no doubt, however, that homeopathic physicians often have
enormous success," according to Mueller-Oerlinghausen.
"It is, however, simply a placebo effect."
Biologist and homeopathic critic, Rainer Wolf, of the Biocentre at the
University of Wuerzburg, has a similar opinion. "The body to a large extent
heals itself. It is treated in some way and it believes in the cure."
But even critics like Mueller-Oerlinghausen concede that homeopaths are
often "the better doctors because they take time with their patients".
Sceptics argue that there is much in favour of the placebo argument because
homeopathy is very effective in so-called psychosomatic illnesses such as
migraine, skin ailments and unspecified stomach pains.
But homeopath Steuernagel rejects such statements, saying that homeopathy
can do much more than that. "It is useful for all types of illnesses, acute
and chronic," he says.
Trained homeopaths, meanwhile, cover a wide spectrum of diseases including
cancer, alcoholism and psychological disorders. Homeopathy is only excluded
where cell structures have been destroyed. Diabetes, for instance, cannot
be treated by homeopathy, according to Steuernagel.
Most health insurance policies do not cover homeopathic treatment. "Most of
my patients settle the bill out of their own pocket," he says.
Steuernagel sees no reason why homeopathy should be sidelined by
conventional medicine. "All doctors who offer homeopathy are trained
physicians who have completed an additional three-year training course.
Only then can they call themselves homeopathy doctors," he says.
The pros and cons of homeopathy are the subject of intense debate in many
countries and at the government level. German Health Minister Ulla Schmidt
even wrote of a recent German congress on homeopathy, saying it took a
"leading role because of its holistic approach".
___________________________________________
Italy moves to control alternative medicine
ANSA) - Rome, August 15 - Italian legislators are putting the finishing
touches to a bill to regulate the practice and teaching of alternative
medicine, a move which is strongly contested by top scientists and doctors .
The bill seeks to provide greater safeguards for the public while at the
same time incorporating tried and tested methods into mainstream,
state-backed healthcare .
Francesco Lucchese, of the centrist UDC party, said he was optimistic that
the bill - drawn up by opposition and majority MPs - would be approved by
parliament by the end of the year .
It has taken almost two years for the 19 legislators who worked on the bill
to hammer it, opposition Daisy party MP Gianni Vernetti said. "But we're
happy with the result because in the meantime we've gathered a large
consensus among MPs," said Vernetti .
The bill calls for alternative treatment to be divided into two different
categories: specialties that can only be practiced by doctors; and
therapies that can be administered by non-medical specialists, under the
umbrella heading 'non conventional therapies' .
In addition, the bill tasks the health ministry with setting up special
commissions to regulate the sector and monitor schools which train
specialists .
The bill has come under fire from a group of top Italian doctors and
scientists who warned recently that the spread of alternative medicine
risked depriving the sick of effective cures .
According to the Group 2003, promoting the teaching of homeopathy,
pranotherapy and popular cures based on herbs and flowers in universities
is potentially disastrous .
"Just when scientific medicine is having its biggest successes, daily
medical practice risks being ruined by approaches that have nothing
scientific about them and which involve considerable risks," a statement
said .
Nevertheless, recent surveys show that alternative medicine is steadily
gaining ground among Italians and the industry connected to the trend is
booming .
The National Bioethics Council said in a landmark statement recently that
it was sometimes ethical for doctors to direct their patients towards what
it called "other therapies." But the Group 2003, which has top
immunologists, pharmacologists and orthopaedic doctors among its members,
said that modern medicine was based on centuries of scientific knowledge .
"With initiatives like those being discussed in parliament we risk making
the public believe that alternative medicine can be put on the same level,"
they said .
However, MPs argue that their legislation is in line with European Union
guidelines and they also point to the need to regulate the sector in view
of growing public demand for alternative therapies .
The World Health Organization has also highlighted the need for greater
regulation of all strands of medicine and has expressed its support for
alternative options .
"WHO is in favor of both traditional and alternative methods when their
effectiveness has been shown and there is no risk of adverse reactions,"
said the report .
Although alternative therapies have been used for years - sometimes
centuries in the case of treatments such as acupuncture - they have enjoyed
a boom in the West over the past few decades .
forwarded by
Zeus Information Service
Alternative Views on Health
www.zeusinfoservice.com
All information, data and material contained, presented or provided herein
is for general information purposes only and is not to be construed as
reflecting the knowledge or opinion of Zeus Information Service.
Feel free to forward far and wide....
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--------------------------------------------------------------------
Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA, Classical Homeopath
Well Within & Earth Mysteries & Sacred Site Tours (worldwide)
Vaccination Information & Choice Network
http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccine.htm
http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/homeo.htm
homeopathycures@tesco.net
ONLINE Introduction to Homeopathy Classes
ONLINE Introduction to Vaccine Dangers Classes
Voicemail US 530-740-0561 UK phone from US 011-44-1874-624-936
Is holistic homeopathy the popular alternative?
Friday August 19 2005 16:18 IST
IANS
BERLIN: Homeopathy, a holistic medical system developed two centuries ago
by a German physician, is finding increasing global acceptance as an
effective healing method though conventional medicine still views it with
scepticism.
Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843) formulated the principles of homeopathy on the
idea of "like cures like".
The physician had observed that Peruvian or China bark was prescribed to
combat malaria but also caused malaria-like symptoms in healthy people.
Hahnemann then tried out several other plant, animal and mineral substances
on volunteers and himself and kept a diary of the symptoms and developed
numerous medicines in this way.
"Hahnemann knew 140 medicines. Today there are between 3,000 and 4,000,"
says Karl-Wilhelm Steuernagel, chairman of the German Association of
Homeopathic Doctors
In his main work "Organon", published in 1810, Hahnemann explained holistic
medicine and the cause of illness, which he saw as a dysfunction of the
life force in the body.
Classical homeopathy, as developed by him, implies gathering information on
all aspects of a patient's physical, emotional and mental state.
The remedy is available in the form of small pellets of liquid developed in
potencies and containing miniscule portions of the original substance mixed
with water and alcohol.
Preparing the medication includes "forceful shaking" to speed up its
effectiveness. The potency is denoted in figures. D1, for instance, means a
ratio of one to 10, D2 of one to 100.
From a potency of D24, the homeopathic medicine has been diluted to such an
extent that it no longer includes molecules of the original substance.
According to Hahnemann, the remedy however includes an "imprint" of the
original substance.
"What happens physically is completely unknown," according to Steuernagel.
Numerous tests have proven that homeopathy works. The medication should
only be prescribed by a trained homeopath who has examined the patient
carefully.
Conventional medicine still rejects homeopathy to a great extent.
"I don't believe in the pellets, especially not in the high potencies as
homeopaths have not backed up their claims with scientific evidence so
far," says Bruno Mueller-Oerlinghausen, chairman of the German Commission
on Medication in Berlin.
"There is no doubt, however, that homeopathic physicians often have
enormous success," according to Mueller-Oerlinghausen.
"It is, however, simply a placebo effect."
Biologist and homeopathic critic, Rainer Wolf, of the Biocentre at the
University of Wuerzburg, has a similar opinion. "The body to a large extent
heals itself. It is treated in some way and it believes in the cure."
But even critics like Mueller-Oerlinghausen concede that homeopaths are
often "the better doctors because they take time with their patients".
Sceptics argue that there is much in favour of the placebo argument because
homeopathy is very effective in so-called psychosomatic illnesses such as
migraine, skin ailments and unspecified stomach pains.
But homeopath Steuernagel rejects such statements, saying that homeopathy
can do much more than that. "It is useful for all types of illnesses, acute
and chronic," he says.
Trained homeopaths, meanwhile, cover a wide spectrum of diseases including
cancer, alcoholism and psychological disorders. Homeopathy is only excluded
where cell structures have been destroyed. Diabetes, for instance, cannot
be treated by homeopathy, according to Steuernagel.
Most health insurance policies do not cover homeopathic treatment. "Most of
my patients settle the bill out of their own pocket," he says.
Steuernagel sees no reason why homeopathy should be sidelined by
conventional medicine. "All doctors who offer homeopathy are trained
physicians who have completed an additional three-year training course.
Only then can they call themselves homeopathy doctors," he says.
The pros and cons of homeopathy are the subject of intense debate in many
countries and at the government level. German Health Minister Ulla Schmidt
even wrote of a recent German congress on homeopathy, saying it took a
"leading role because of its holistic approach".
___________________________________________
Italy moves to control alternative medicine
ANSA) - Rome, August 15 - Italian legislators are putting the finishing
touches to a bill to regulate the practice and teaching of alternative
medicine, a move which is strongly contested by top scientists and doctors .
The bill seeks to provide greater safeguards for the public while at the
same time incorporating tried and tested methods into mainstream,
state-backed healthcare .
Francesco Lucchese, of the centrist UDC party, said he was optimistic that
the bill - drawn up by opposition and majority MPs - would be approved by
parliament by the end of the year .
It has taken almost two years for the 19 legislators who worked on the bill
to hammer it, opposition Daisy party MP Gianni Vernetti said. "But we're
happy with the result because in the meantime we've gathered a large
consensus among MPs," said Vernetti .
The bill calls for alternative treatment to be divided into two different
categories: specialties that can only be practiced by doctors; and
therapies that can be administered by non-medical specialists, under the
umbrella heading 'non conventional therapies' .
In addition, the bill tasks the health ministry with setting up special
commissions to regulate the sector and monitor schools which train
specialists .
The bill has come under fire from a group of top Italian doctors and
scientists who warned recently that the spread of alternative medicine
risked depriving the sick of effective cures .
According to the Group 2003, promoting the teaching of homeopathy,
pranotherapy and popular cures based on herbs and flowers in universities
is potentially disastrous .
"Just when scientific medicine is having its biggest successes, daily
medical practice risks being ruined by approaches that have nothing
scientific about them and which involve considerable risks," a statement
said .
Nevertheless, recent surveys show that alternative medicine is steadily
gaining ground among Italians and the industry connected to the trend is
booming .
The National Bioethics Council said in a landmark statement recently that
it was sometimes ethical for doctors to direct their patients towards what
it called "other therapies." But the Group 2003, which has top
immunologists, pharmacologists and orthopaedic doctors among its members,
said that modern medicine was based on centuries of scientific knowledge .
"With initiatives like those being discussed in parliament we risk making
the public believe that alternative medicine can be put on the same level,"
they said .
However, MPs argue that their legislation is in line with European Union
guidelines and they also point to the need to regulate the sector in view
of growing public demand for alternative therapies .
The World Health Organization has also highlighted the need for greater
regulation of all strands of medicine and has expressed its support for
alternative options .
"WHO is in favor of both traditional and alternative methods when their
effectiveness has been shown and there is no risk of adverse reactions,"
said the report .
Although alternative therapies have been used for years - sometimes
centuries in the case of treatments such as acupuncture - they have enjoyed
a boom in the West over the past few decades .
forwarded by
Zeus Information Service
Alternative Views on Health
www.zeusinfoservice.com
All information, data and material contained, presented or provided herein
is for general information purposes only and is not to be construed as
reflecting the knowledge or opinion of Zeus Information Service.
Feel free to forward far and wide....
Subscribe Free/Unsubscribe: info@zeusinfoservice.com
All Donations gratefully received!
http://www.zeusinfoservice.com/Donations.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA, Classical Homeopath
Well Within & Earth Mysteries & Sacred Site Tours (worldwide)
Vaccination Information & Choice Network
http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccine.htm
http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/homeo.htm
homeopathycures@tesco.net
ONLINE Introduction to Homeopathy Classes
ONLINE Introduction to Vaccine Dangers Classes
Voicemail US 530-740-0561 UK phone from US 011-44-1874-624-936