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Homoeopathy is a [[Pseudoscience|pseudo-scientific]] method which is being used for the treatment of almost any disease. It was invented by [[Samuel Hahnemann]], a doctor and occultist from Saxony, around 1800 and, largely unaltered, presists to this day. Homoeopathy relies on two general basic principles. One of them, known as the "law of similars", reads "let like be cured by like." Hahnemann determined that, according to the law of similars, every disease was curable by substances which cause similar symptoms when taken by a healthy patient. The other principle is called potentialization (actually meaning dilution). Homoeopathic remedies are supposed to be more effecitve the more they are diluted into solutions according to particular procedures. None of these two principles was confirmed experimentally until now.

Homoeopathy is a [[Pseudoscience|pseudo-scientific]] method used for the treatment of almost any disease. It was invented by [[Samuel Hahnemann]], a doctor and occultist from Saxony, around 1800 and, largely unaltered, presists to this day. Homoeopathy relies on two general basic principles. One of them, known as the "law of similars", reads "let like be cured by like." Hahnemann determined that, according to the law of similars, every disease was curable by substances which cause similar symptoms when taken by a healthy patient. The other principle is called potentialization (actually meaning dilution). Homoeopathic remedies are supposed to be more effecitve the more they are diluted into solutions according to particular procedures. None of these two principles was confirmed experimentally until now.

Believers in homoeopathy are frequently, consciously or unconsciously, overall sceptical towards scientific medicine: the (mostly irrational) fear of "harmful chemistry" is inseparably connected to a "nocebo effect" which impairs the effect of well approved conventional methods.

Believers in homoeopathy are frequently, consciously or unconsciously, overall sceptical towards scientific medicine: the (mostly irrational) fear of "harmful chemistry" is inseparably connected to a "nocebo effect" which impairs the effect of well approved conventional methods.

==Variants of Homoeopathy==

==Variants of Homoeopathy==

Different variants of the original classic homoeopathy developed in the course of the time. Today, there are low-potentizers and high-potentizers, monotherapists and polypragmatists, homoeopathic phytotherapists and anthroposophic homoeopaths, etc.

Different variants of the original classic homoeopathy developed in the course of time. Today, there are low-potentizers and high-potentizers, monotherapists and polypragmatists, homoeopathic phytotherapists and anthroposophic homoeopaths, etc.

*Classic homoeopathy is the form of homoeopathy strictly complying to Samuel Hahnemann's teachings. According to Hahnemann no more than one remedy is to be administered for all physical or mental diseases at any given time. A classical homoeopath thus will look for the one remedy he believes to be the suitable similar. The most well-known current representative is Georgos Vithoulkas.

*Classic homoeopathy is the form of homoeopathy strictly complying to Samuel Hahnemann's teachings. According to Hahnemann, no more than one remedy is to be administered for all physical or mental diseases at any given time. A classical homoeopath thus will look for the one remedy he believes to be the appropriate similar. The most well-known current representative is Georgos Vithoulkas.

*Constitutional homoeopathy applies mixtures of homoeopathic remedies based on due respective diagnoses. Also see: Constitutional homoeopathy

*Constitutional homoeopathy applies mixtures of homoeopathic remedies based on respective diagnoses. Also see: Constitutional homoeopathy

*Clinical homoeopathy describes the application of homoeopathic remedies in so-called low potencies (D1-D12) for certain diagnoses.

*Clinical homoeopathy describes the application of homoeopathic remedies in so-called low potencies (D1-D12) for certain diagnoses.

*Miasmatic homoeopathy describes different variants of constitutional homoeopathy with an emphasis on the therapy of chronic diseases in due consideration of Hahneman's miasmatic theory.

*Miasmatic homoeopathy describes different variants of constitutional homoeopathy with an emphasis on the therapy of chronic diseases in due consideration of Hahneman's miasmatic theory.

*Micro-immune therapy is a method which potentises cytokines applied sublingually. Providers of this therapy assume that this will place a high concentration of immune system components under the patient's tongue. The therapy aims at modulating the immune system with the potentized effect of cytokines. Maurice Jenaer is regarded the founder of micro-immune therapy. One supplier of micro-immunal therapeutic agents is Labo'Life company which also holds a patent on "specific nucleid acids". Details on effect and composition of the remedies are not available.

*Micro-immune therapy is a method which potentises cytokines applied sublingually. Providers of this therapy assume that this will place a high concentration of immune system components under the patient's tongue. The therapy aims at modulating the immune system with the potentized effect of cytokines. Maurice Jenaer is regarded the founder of micro-immune therapy. One supplier of micro-immunal therapeutic agents is Labo'Life company which also holds a patent on "specific nucleid acids". Details on effect and composition of the remedies are not available.

*Biochemical homoeopathy refers to a variant of homoeopathy which uses nosodes and potentized poisons (also see the Horvi-Enzyme-Therapy). The method is apparently only used by its inventor, biochemist and non-medical practitioner Karin Lenger from Offenbach.

*Biochemical homoeopathy refers to a variant of homoeopathy which uses nosodes and potentized toxins (also see the Horvi-Enzyme-Therapy). The method apparently is only used by its inventor, biochemist and non-medical practitioner Karin Lenger from Offenbach.

*Newer interpretations and derivatives of homoeopathy are gaining ground. Borderlines towards faith healing or energy medicine are rather blurred. Representatives of this therapy mostly refused by classical homeopaths believe an introduction of remedies into the patient's body following anamnesis and repertorization was not necessary. They believe physical proximity between patient and remedy was sufficient to develop effects. Remedies could thus e.g. be kept on the body or placed under the patient's pillow. A glass of water is also said to show homoeopathic effects when merely placed on a sheet of paper with the name of the remedy. The paper will then transfer its information to the water. Some methods typically applied in this spectrum are Harmopathy, New Homoeopathy according to Erich Körbler, Seghal method, Herscue method, process-oriented homoeopathy, quantum logical homoeopathy, creative homoeopathy, impulse homoeopathy, Similis cards, Silent Healing or the Sankaran method (also called "Bombay method" or "systematic homoeopathy"). Tele-homoeopathy is another variant of homoeopathy whose inventor claims it was effective as a remote treatment via internet (e-mail or Skype) or via telephone.

*Newer interpretations and derivatives of homoeopathy are gaining ground. Borderlines towards faith healing or energy medicine are rather blurred. Representatives of this therapy mostly refused by classical homeopaths believe an introduction of remedies into the patient's body following anamnesis and repertorization was not necessary. They believe physical proximity between patient and remedy was sufficient to develop effects. Remedies could thus e.g. be kept on the body or placed under the patient's pillow. A glass of water is also said to show homoeopathic effects when merely placed on a sheet of paper with the name of the remedy. The paper will then transfer its information to the water. Some methods typically applied in this spectrum are Harmopathy, New Homoeopathy according to Erich Körbler, Seghal's method, Herscue's method, process-oriented homoeopathy, quantum logical homoeopathy, creative homoeopathy, impulse homoeopathy, Similis cards, Silent Healing or the Sankaran method (also called "Bombay method" or "systematic homoeopathy"). Tele-homoeopathy is another variant of homoeopathy whose inventor claims it was effective as a remote treatment via internet (e-mail or Skype) or via telephone.

*Homoeosiniatry is a method combining the elements of homoeopathy and traditional Chinese medicine. Both acupuncture and homoeopathic remedies are being applied.

*Homoeosiniatry is a method combining the elements of homoeopathy and traditional Chinese medicine. Both acupuncture and homoeopathic remedies are being applied.

*Digital homoeopathy as an alternative expression for Holopathy.

*Digital homoeopathy as an alternative expression for Holopathy.

==No scientific basis==

==No scientific basis==

After some 200 years of research of homoeopaths and non-homoeopaths, no scientific proof of an efficacy of homoeopathy - beyond the placebo effect - has been established, and mechanism of actions postulated are classified as disproven today. According to the present level of knowledge, homoeopathy must be seen as a placebo therapy which, however, does not mean it is completey ineffective. One can indeed assume that, particularly given a charismatic therapist and a corresponding therapeutic ritual, it can achieve an effect with corresponding patients compared to no treatment (that is the idleness).  

After some 200 years of research of homoeopaths and non-homoeopaths, no scientific proof of an efficacy of homoeopathy - beyond the placebo effect - has been established, and mechanism of actions postulated are classified as disproven today. According to the present level of knowledge, homoeopathy must be seen as a placebo therapy which, however, does not mean it is completey ineffective. One can indeed assume that, particularly given a charismatic therapist and a corresponding therapeutic ritual, it can achieve an effect with corresponding patients compared to no treatment (i.e. inactivity).  

Dangers may result from homoeopathy when homoeopath and patient will overestimate the placebo effects and thus refrain from treatments with a reproducible proof of effectiveness beyond the placebo effect.

Dangers may result from homoeopathy when homoeopath and patient will overestimate the placebo effects and thus refrain from treatments with reproducible proof of efficacy beyond the placebo effect.

What speaks against homoeopathy is there is no evidence of efficacy, the pseudo-scientific dogmatic character of homoeopathy schools (which are actually orthodox medical practitioners), the completely lack of prevention of disease as well as inherent contradictions like the not reproducible cinchona experiment to which Hahnemann refers alternatively. Homoeopaths do not like to say how long a therapy shall be carried out. From a chemical scientific point of view the method of potentialization (which rather is a dilution) cannot be accomodated to reality.

The following aspects speak against homoeopathy: there is no evidence of efficacy, the pseudo-scientific dogmatic character of homoeopathy schools (which are actually orthodox medical practitioners), the complete lack of prevention of disease as well as inherent contradictions like the irreproducible cinchona experiment to which Hahnemann refers alternatively. Homoeopaths do not like to tell how long a therapy shall be carried out. From a chemical scientific point of view the method of potentialization (which rather is a dilution) cannot be accomodated to reality.

An alleged lack of side effects is often mentioned as an argument speaking for homoeopathy. It is being argued that hardly any side effects are to be expected from strong dilutions. This argument, however, contradicts the assumption that dilution increases the effect of a substance and thus must be seen as an inherent contradiction of homoeopathy. Another argument in favour of homoeopathy often voiced is the strengthening of human abilities to self-healing. Supporters have, as of yet, failed to provide any respective evidence.

An alleged lack of side effects is often mentioned as an argument speaking for homoeopathy. It is being argued that hardly any side effects are to be expected from strong dilutions. This argument, however, contradicts the assumption that dilution increases the effect of a substance and thus must be seen as an inherent contradiction of homoeopathy. Another argument in favour of homoeopathy often voiced is the strengthening of human abilities of self-healing. Supporters have, as of yet, failed to provide any respective evidence.

Contrary to frequent views of homoeopathy offering a holistic treatment, this alternative form of medical treatment must be considered as a symptom-based therapy exclusively based on symptoms discernible to and described by the patient. The aetiology of diseases (cause study) is vastly ignored.

Contrary to frequent views of homoeopathy offering a holistic treatment, this alternative form of medical treatment must be considered as a symptom-based therapy exclusively based on symptoms discernible to and described by the patient. The aetiology of diseases (cause study) is vastly ignored.