The advantages and disadvantages of homeopathic medicines are named

— Tamara Vladimirovna, what are the basic principles of homeopathy? What explains the current surge of interest in this method in the era of evidence-based medicine?

— Evidence-based medicine today is both about standardization, confirmation of results, and about a personalized approach. In the homeopathic method, these criteria are elevated to the absolute, which, of course, cannot but arouse sympathy or simply curiosity. Moreover, many approaches to homeopathy have long been transferred to more widespread medical practices. Here are just a few examples. The principle of similarity is when “like is cured by like.” The principle is considered to be strictly “homeopathic”. However, ASIT therapy, used to treat seasonal hay fever, or vaccination are based on the same mechanism: the medicinal effect of a foreign “agent” is designed to stimulate the body’s natural response to an external stimulus.

The use of small, in some cases microdoses of drugs, although not a dogma for all homeopathic medicines (among them there are many drugs with a high content of medicinal components), is considered a feature of the method as a whole. However, even modern cardiac drugs – for example, cardiac glycoside based on foxglove woolly – in an adult dosage contain only 0.00025 g of the active substance. Personalized approach – in the case of selection of homeopathic treatment, individual characteristics, as well as the patient’s reactions, are taken into account. In particular, physiological characteristics, sensitivity to drug components, the presence of chronic diseases, lifestyle, etc. We can now see the same thing at the appointment of a cardiologist, gastroenterologist and many other specialists.

Practice shows that people who choose homeopathy have reasons for this and can explain them. The main one is the ability to have a less toxic effect on the body. And this is true: natural preparations are effective and do not affect the natural development of a person; do not change the course of development of the immune system; do not inhibit the natural microbiome; do not have a toxic effect on the liver, other organs, etc. In fact, that’s why many of them can be used even by children. The second most popular criterion for choosing homeopathy is the ability to influence not only the symptoms, but also the very cause of the disease. And the third is the ability to avoid allergic reactions and unpleasant side effects.

Doctors have reasons for prescribing these drugs. Moreover, even among doctors who follow the concept of evidence-based medicine: according to opinion polls, two-thirds of doctors (71%) have a positive or neutral attitude towards homeopathic medicines. For most specialists, the key criteria when choosing homeopathic medicines were their effectiveness (45%), safety (39%) and evidence base (22%).

— How can we explain the mechanism of action of homeopathy if, after repeated dilutions, no traces of the active substance remain in the medicine? What is the point of dilutions and shaking? Why is a certain number of them so important?

— It is worth clarifying that in a large number of homeopathic medicines the active substance is present in measurable quantities, up to the point that it can be several grams of direct extract from plant materials. All medicines with the letter “MT”, “D” or “C” with a number of no more than 15 are from this category. But since the question is about those where the dilutions are high or ultra-high, it is worth explaining. In homeopathy, a system of dilution of the active substance is actually used, which involves a multiple decrease in its concentration (matrix tincture). Thus, the initial components of plant, animal and mineral origin are reduced to a minimum, at which possible toxic effects (if these are insect poisons, extracts of poisonous plants, etc.) are safe for the body. After dilution, to maintain the activity of the substance, it is dynamized. In simple terms – this is a process of automated shaking with a constant frequency, duration and amplitude of shaking (about 150 for 7 seconds) after each dilution – this is what allows you to obtain the active drug.

Laboratory results demonstrate that homeopathic medicines definitely have biological effects. In addition, despite the fact that homeopathic medicines are produced using a special technological method, in Russia they are registered as medicines under a single registration procedure. Their position is completely legitimate – they undergo the necessary clinical studies, which are submitted in the form of a drug dossier to the Ministry of Health, and the quality of the drugs is certified according to European and Russian GMP standards.

— Where can I get acquainted with the results of clinical studies of homeopathic medicines?

— On the website of the Cochrane Society of Evidence-Based Medicine, you can find double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled studies on a number of homeopathic medicines that demonstrate positive results. For example, one of the recent studies confirmed the effectiveness of the use of homeopathic monomedicines (which contain one active ingredient) in the conservative treatment of adenoids in children. The inclusion of a special protocol of homeopathic monomedicines in the standard treatment regimen for adenoiditis can reduce the need for adenotomy in 2/3 of children, which is twice as much as when using only standard therapy. And even after adenotomy, single medications can significantly shorten the recovery period after surgery.

There are also results from the MOZArT randomized clinical trial involving 232 patients with knee osteoarthritis. During therapy with two homeopathic medicines alternately intra-articularly for three weeks, a significant decrease in pain intensity was noted (by 60%) compared to the initial state.

— Can homeopathy cause harm? And where does it give maximum results?

– To the same extent as any other medicine, dietary supplement, vitamins or even food: when used incorrectly, when other methods indicated as priority in a given situation are ignored. Any treatment regimen must be selected by a specialist individually for each individual case. Otherwise, it should be noted that homeopathy is one of the most environmentally friendly and body-friendly methods of influence.

— How to take homeopathy correctly? What can and cannot be combined with it?

— Taking homeopathic medicines can be combined with any other medicines, in particular with antibiotics, antivirals, medicinal herbs and other remedies. But here, as in any other therapy, uncontrolled self-medication is unacceptable. The treatment regimen, as well as any combination of homeopathic and allopathic drugs, should be prescribed by specialists – they will help determine how the medicinal components interact with each other. The factor of environmental friendliness of drugs is gradually gaining meaning and importance for the patients themselves. After all, a high drug load on the body is a serious test. In turn, a large-scale EPI3 study confirms that homeopathic medicines, which are integrated into treatment regimens for upper respiratory tract infections, allow the use of 57% fewer antibiotics and a 46% reduction in the use of antipyretic and anti-inflammatory drugs. Along with this, the natural components in homeopathic medicines carefully maintain health and guarantee a positive therapeutic result, and also help to significantly reduce the drug load and minimize the risk of side effects.

It is worth remembering the rules for taking homeopathic medicines – they are taken between meals. While taking homeopathy, you should also avoid consuming substances containing essential oils. And do not forget to refer to the instructions for use: they always indicate the rules of administration, possible drug interactions and side effects.

— How can you be sure that you can trust a homeopath?

— When looking for any doctor, it is always important to pay attention to qualifications, patient reviews or personal recommendations. An initial appointment with a homeopathic doctor is not much different from visiting any other specialist. Anamnesis collection, examination, in some cases laboratory and instrumental research methods, study of medical history – all textbook diagnostics.

You can clarify what additional specializations the specialist received or what training he received. Knowledge and orientation in integrative methods openly indicate that the doctor is aimed at improving the quality of his work and providing effective comprehensive care to the patient. The main task of a homeopathic specialist is to choose from the whole variety of homeopathic medicines those that affect all stages of pathogenesis, taking into account the characteristics of the patient and his reaction to the disease.

And never hesitate to ask your doctor questions that interest or concern you. A competent specialist will always give detailed recommendations and motivate for treatment – after all, taking care of health always lies on the shoulders of both the doctor and the patient.

— Does the patient’s mood affect the result of homeopathy treatment? Maybe it’s just a placebo effect?

– Any treatment – allopathic or homeopathic – is influenced by the patient’s mood. It is not only the patient’s attitude towards medications that influences, but even the image of the doctor. Our physical well-being and psychological balance are closely interconnected. This, in essence, is the placebo effect—the patient’s emotional state can influence the results of treatment. But homeopathy is a somatopsychic approach, where physical symptoms predominate, and the mental manifestations and characteristics of the patient only follow them. I will add that homeopathic medicines are successfully used in veterinary medicine, but animals, as is known, do not succumb to the placebo effect.

However, you should always remember: if you yourself are committed to a speedy recovery, and the therapy and the doctor inspire confidence in you, an increase in the effect of taking the drugs will not be long in coming.