Small blow to the liver: a study has appeared proving the harm of homeopathic treatment
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Bad news for those who believe that homeopathy, if not beneficial, certainly will not harm. The medical journal Hepatology Communications published an article entitled “A Series of Severe Drug-Induced Liver Injuries Caused by Homeopathic Remedies from South India.” The publication describes stories of patients who were driven to severe outcomes by “harmless” sugar balls, including four deaths. At the same time, most of the victims took sugar balls to prevent Covid.
Let us recall that the principle of homeopathic treatment, which appeared in the world just over two hundred years ago, is to treat like with like using high dilutions of natural substances (the lower the dose of the medicine, the higher its effectiveness). These dilutions are so high that no one has ever been able to find active substances in solutions. In this regard, many scientists have long declared homeopathy quackery, but they reasoned: since there are no active ingredients in such drugs, then there will be no harm from them either. Traditionally it is believed that they do not cause side effects. And the only evil that such “treatment” can bring was previously considered to be the loss of time by patients in case of serious illnesses. But everything turned out to be more complicated.
Scientists present for the first time the first series of data on severe drug-induced liver injury (DILI) caused by homeopathy, obtained from a single hepatology center in South India.
A retrospective analysis of medical records for the period from January 2019 to February 2022 identified 9 patients with liver damage associated with taking homeopathic medicines. The patients were predominantly male, with an average age of 54 years. The most typical clinical presentation was acute hepatitis, followed by acute or chronic liver failure. All patients developed jaundice, and a third of patients developed ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity).
It is noted that 5 patients had concomitant chronic liver diseases before starting homeopathic treatment. The most common indication for the use of homeopathic medicines was the prevention of COVID-19. Probable drug-induced liver damage was observed in 77.8% of cases, with hepatocellular (malignant) damage predominant (66.7%). Four patients died (three with chronic liver disease).
A total of 29 drugs were prescribed to 9 patients. Attention: toxicological studies have revealed the presence of industrial solvents, corticosteroids, antibiotics, sedatives, synthetic opioids, heavy metals and toxic phytocompounds even in ultra-diluted, i.e. homeopathic preparations.
The scientists concluded that homeopathic medicines have the potential to cause severe health effects in humans, including “severe liver damage, including death in individuals with underlying liver disease,” due to direct or indirect exposure to toxins. The causes of toxicity, in their opinion, are insufficient dilution, non-compliance with production technology, adulteration and contamination, as well as the presence of hepatotoxic plant materials. “Physicians, the public and patients must understand that homeopathic medicines are not ‘mild placebos,’” the paper notes. “They may play a major role in the development of severe liver damage and the modifiable burden of liver disease in society.”
…In India, homeopathy has been recognized as a separate medical system since 1973. Homeopathic remedies are promoted for the treatment of viral diseases, allergic conditions, skin diseases, behavioral problems and a number of chronic diseases. The official website of the Indian government, National Health Portal, notes that “the strength of homeopathy lies in its effectiveness in certain clinical conditions for which there are fewer treatments available in other medical systems, and that it can be used as a stand-alone treatment for hormonal disorders, pain , infertility and palliative care.”
However, homeopathy is actively used in other countries. For example, it is practiced in France, Germany, and the UK (although British scientists, after a comprehensive study of its effectiveness, concluded that there is no high-quality evidence that homeopathy is an effective treatment for any diseases). The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health at the National Institutes of Health notes that there is little evidence to support homeopathy as an effective treatment for any specific disease. However, it is still assumed that such drugs may contain significant amounts of active ingredients that can cause side effects and drug interactions. The following side effects after consuming homeopathic medicines have been described in the scientific literature: allergic and immune-mediated reactions, hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylactic shock, severe skin side effects, gastrointestinal disorders, acute pancreatitis, even cardiac arrest, encephalopathy.
In Russia, homeopathy has been permitted since 1995 by order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation No. 335; This specialty is even taught to students at Sechenov University today. In addition, any doctor or pharmacist can, based on his knowledge and within the scope of his professional activities, prescribe homeopathic medicines along with other medicines. Moreover: more than 150 dissertations on the topic of homeopathy have been defended in Russia, which have proven its effectiveness.
It is not surprising that Russian opinion polls show that homeopathic remedies are considered effective by more than 65% of Russians who have used them. 30% use them on the advice of relatives or friends, 28% on the advice of clinics or hospitals, 11% based on their own experience, 8% based on information on the Internet. “We are used to homeopathy being sugar balls, water and so on. Since with a huge number of dilutions there is practically not even a molecule of the active substance left,” says the famous therapist, military doctor Alexey Vodovozov. “In a new article by scientists, it is proven that if they are not diluted enough, then instead of a homeopathic “mixture” you can get an industrial solvent, corticosteroids, antibiotics or sedatives. I think that such a cocktail will not be useful even for a person without liver disease.”
What is the reason for the popularity of homeopathy in our country? “It offers the conventional consumer a product that is very attractive from a marketing point of view. After all, what do we want when faced with an illness? Heal. How do we want it? Fast, safe and preferably cheap. And homeopathy, like an experienced magician, perfectly creates the illusion of just such a medicine. Centuries-old traditions, doctors’ recommendations, the availability of drugs in all pharmacies, the absence of side effects, long friendly consultations with a homeopathic specialist and, most importantly, immense trust in personal experience without the ability to analyze it. Any of these points is enough for an ordinary person to consider that homeopathy is worthy of attention,” says Lev Averbakh, an emergency physician from St. Petersburg.
Newspaper headline:
Small doses can cause death
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