Homeopathy-where is the science? A current inventory on a pre-scientific artifact.

Abstract

EMBO Reports (2019) 20: e47761[OpenUrl][1][FREE Full Text][2] Homeopathy is a medical system devised by the German physician Samuel Hahnemann (1755–1843; Fig 1), who first postulated it at the end of the 18th century and codified it in 1810 in the first edition of his Organon . It arose during the transition period from the ancient teachings—theories about the deficiency or excess of four bodily fluids or theories about “corrupted juices”—and the beginning of the scientific age, unlike most pre‐scientific medical theories, has survived until this day. One of the reasons for its persistence is the fact that homeopathy was much less intrusive and harsh and did not harm patients as other drastic cures of that time did. > The almost unanimous view of the scientific community is that the basic assumptions on which homeopathy rests are either refuted or implausible. Figure 1. Samuel Hahnemann first postulated homeopathy at the end of the 18th century—unlike most pre‐scientific medical theories, it has survived to this day. (Figure Credit: Wikipedia/L.B Wellcome.) As a result of its survival, homeopathy has repeatedly come into conflict with science and modern medicine: By the criteria of modern, evidence‐based medicine, it is not efficient at all and should not be practiced. However, its adherents and practitioners persist that homeopathy is effective, using different, often contradictory arguments to try to demonstrate its validity. On the one hand, they bend and interpret studies to the effect that homeopathy does have an impact beyond the placebo effect and clamor for its recognition by the scientific and medical community. On the other hand, adherents of Hahnemann's method are quick to dismiss science and evidence‐based medicine altogether as being insufficient to explain its effect. This is not just an example of several cognitive biases, but it has real and serious consequences. If patients or their parents refuse … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DEMBO%2BReports%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.15252%252Fembr.201947761%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F30765373%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/ijlink?linkType=FULL&journalCode=embor&resid=20/3/e47761&atom=%2Fembor%2F20%2F3%2Fe47761.atom