‘Shmucks’ Like Us
Dear Editor,
While cruising through the last newsletter I read that homeopathy is “effective, safe, affordable and free of chemical side effects.” Now this comment grabbed my attention immediately, and I would like to make a few comments.
I’m a long-standing fan of the traditional medico mob, so I’m not a convert to the mystical ways of your alternative form of treatment. But I have to admit that your claims do stand in stark contrast to my experience with the traditional approach, hence my aroused level of interest.
Let me explain. My past experience has been:
- I feel that I’m often treated like a lab rat with doctors. We go through a process of trial and error as they experiment with their never-ending pills. Yet you say your homeopathy is effective,
- Everything they give me has disclaimers and warnings, yet you say homeopathy is safe,
- My medical bills could fund Cuba for a year, yet you say homeopathy is affordable,
- My photo album has a section ‘Medical Treatments: Before & After’, but it can only be viewed by those with a strong stomach. Yet you say homeopathy is free of chemical side-effects.
So what’s my point? Well, I want to know who to believe.
Should I believe homeopathic peddlers and their talk of ‘minute doses’ of strange stuff, or the ancient and exalted order of medicos who claim to stand on the rock of science?
What’s the cure rate with homeopathy? Has anyone done any research on whether homeopathy devotees live longer than the rest of us? Is homeopathy really any different to traditional medicine?
Your website says that homeopathy has a 200 year history, but my medico mob say that their roots can be traced back to the mists of time, beyond the ancient Pharaohs. With apologies to Alan Schmuckler, the author from your last newsletter, how’s a poor “schmuck” like me to know what’s what?
Yours sincerely,
Concerned Citizen
PS. Re my homeopathic beer letter. I liked your comment that homeopathic alcohol can be used to treat drunkenness. I’m treating myself as we speak.
Dear Concerned Citizen,
The questions you raise are valid and need some answers. Fundamentally, the only way ‘schmucks’ like us can know what’s what, is to look at the available research and consider the results of treatment. In other words, do people get better with homeopathy or do they not?
To answer your questions we have introduced a regular feature in the Homeopathy Plus Newsletter called, ‘Show Me the Research’. You may already have noticed it.
The first article talks of a recent study commissioned by the Northern Ireland Government. They, too, wanted an answer to the sort of questions you posed.
To assess how effective complementary and alternative therapies were, and if they should be integrated into their country’s healthcare system, they arranged for medical doctors to refer 713 patients to a variety of natural health practitioners for treatment.
The outcome? Patients, doctors, and practitioners alike reported that the majority of patients experienced improved health, less pain, and for reduced costs – and that the most successful therapy was homeopathy. To read more about this study, click here.
To help identify the benefits of homeopathy we will continue to look at relevant studies and research in future editions of the newsletter. You will also find a number of studies that will further answer your questions in articles from the Treatment Room on the Homeopathy Plus website.
In the meantime, why not try homeopathy yourself? It can be a wonderful help for self-treating minor problems at home such as coughs, colds, sprains, and headaches, and Alan Schmuckler’s book is the perfect for guide for showing schmucks like us how to do this.
As my granny said, “The proof of the pudding is in the eating.”
Kind regards,
Fran Sheffield (Homeopath)
