Last year, $115 billion were reportedly spent worldwide on homeopathy. The procedure was invented in 1796 by German physician Samuel Hahnemann. Homeopathic treatments are based on the belief that like cures like with substances becoming more powerful when diluted (if prepared through a specific ritual). The most powerful homeopathic mixtures might not even have a single molecule of the original ingredients. Scientifically, it makes absolutely no sense.

Millions of people around the world believe that homeopathy works, with claimants ranging from curing stomach aches to cancer. Considering these treatments are the same as sugar pills or saline injections is troubling.

Any patient who thinks they’re receiving a treatment experiences relief. This tends to lower psychological stress, boosting their immune system that helps to naturally fight off a disease. This is called the placebo effect and the only thing homeopathy triggers.

If homeopathy did not reduce the use of conventional treatment, the harm wouldn’t be so great. But preventable malaria cases and treatable cancer patients have both been sadly recorded. These cases could have been avoided.

The scientific evidence is overwhelming. Edzart Ernst, professor of complementary medicine at Exeter, reports that over 200 studies (many gold standard clinical trials) have shown that homeopathy is not positive. Famous journals like the Lancet have clearly stated time and again that homeopathy is not medicine. The Australian National Health and Medical Research Council in 2015 went one step further, saying “people who choose homeopathy may put their health at risk if they reject or delay treatments for which there is good evidence for safety and effectiveness”.

To all those homeopathic believers, take up the Ernst-Singh Homeopathic Challenge, which will give a £10,000 reward to anybody who can find scientific evidence that homeopathy works. Unluckily, money doesn’t grow on trees.

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