Homeopathy – we know more rumors and myths about this branch of medicine than real facts. Let’s try to figure out what it really is.
Homeopathic treatment – not alternative medicine. In the minds of many Russians, the opposition between homeopathy and allopathy – pharmacotherapy and other methods of classical medicine remains. However, homeopathy was officially recognized back in pre-revolutionary Russia, and in 1995 the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of the Russian Federation issued an order “On the use of the method of homeopathy in practical public health”, which regulates the use of homeopathy in medicine.
Modern clinical homeopathy in most countries has long been recognized by the state and society as an integral part of medical science and practice. So, in France, 80% of physicians prescribe homeopathic medicines to their patients, with a third of the cost of these drugs reimbursed to patients from health insurance funds – just as in the case of allopathic drugs. In Bulgaria, it is impossible to get a diploma of a pharmacist without taking a course in homeopathy along with, say, chemistry or anatomy.
Homeopaths are recognized only by specialists with higher medical education.
In general, in the world, only specialists with a higher medical education and who then studied homeopathy as part of their postgraduate education are recognized as homeopaths. It only makes sense to turn to such specialists, otherwise there is a high risk of encountering non-professionals.
Clinical Homeopathy is compatible with conventional medicine. A homeopath, like any doctor, studies the symptoms and, if necessary, sends the patient for tests and only then selects the most effective drugs for treatment. The combination of homeopathic and allopathic remedies, including antibiotics, is permissible and is determined only by medical necessity.
Homeopaths accept vaccination against dangerous diseasessuch as tetanus. But caution against overdoing it: it’s no secret that many pharmaceutical companies are lobbying for vaccination against everything, which often does more harm than good.
Who helps
“According to an epidemiological study involving 11 French doctors, homeopathy showed no worse, and often better results than allopathy, in the treatment of three groups of diseases – respiratory tract infections, muscle pain and neurotic, anxiety-depressive conditions,” says Irina Nikulina, General Director of Boiron in Russia.
And “Oscillococcinum” became the fifth anti-cold drug from the entire set of existing drugs, the evidence base of which has reached a level sufficient for a meta-analysis. At the same time, homeopathy objectively evaluates its capabilities: its resources are insufficient, for example, for the treatment of oncological diseases.
At the same time, many oncologists use homeopathic remedies to eliminate the side effects of chemotherapy, improving the quality of life of patients and the chances of treatment success.