Homeopathy is a system of medicine which involves treating the individual with highly diluted substances, given mainly in tablet form, with the aim of triggering the body’s natural system of healing. Based on their specific symptoms, a homeopath will match the most appropriate medicine to each patient.
As yet, science has not been able to explain the mechanism of action of ultra high dilutions in the body, but laboratory experiments have repeatedly demonstrated that homeopathically prepared substances cause biological effects.
As a scientist and professor in the field of patient-centered care and integrative health my own bias is that there is an advantage in teaching all perspectives within medical schools and allow students to develop critical thinking skills as well as their own research skills. The history of medicine is full of areas that were initially considered 'not appropriate' including the theory of germs that has become a basic dogma in our Western mechanistic medical paradigm. I have studied homeopathy and high dilutions including hormesis phenomena (which i found even more fascinating). My viwes regarding homeopathy have evolved through the years... Regarding Integrative medicine, i consider this an evolution of the Western medical paradigm to include the best of both worlds - bringing together our western gifts with the wisdom of other healing traditions of the world. Integrative health is becoming the standard of care at the most progressive academic health centers in the USA and abroad. This is particulrly true within the field of oncology and pediatrics.
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