Homeopathy to treat HIV/AIDS criticised by British doctors

NI Wire

New Delhi

Sat, 17 Nov 2007: 

Nov 17: A proposed Homeopathy’s function in the treatment of HIV/AIDS has become an object of remonstration. The seminar was to be organised by European Society of Homeopaths in United Kingdom on the ‘World AIDS Day&rsqu on December 1.

This system of practice has come under attack from the British doctors also the highly appreciated medical journal ‘Lancet’ has criticised the growing popularity of homeopathy in India.

Homeopathy though originated in Germany but is religiously practiced in India.

Michael Baum, a professor at the University College London criticised Homeopathy and said, “People say homeopathy can't do any harm but when it is being promoted for HIV, and then there is a serious problem”.

Baum had written, “It is an implausible treatment for which over a dozen systematic reviews have failed to produce convincing evidence of effectiveness. Several studies have shown that the clinical effects of homeopathic remedies are placebo effects”.

He said it’s “unethical and patronising” to prioritise placebo effect. The placebo effect is the measurable, observable, or felt improvement in health not attributable to treatment.

Earlier too he has criticised use of homeopathy in everyday illness.

Dr S P Singh, India’s advisor on Homeopathy said that they are getting ready to hit back at the report. He said that a study has shown that homeopathy has greatly helped HIV patients by improving the quality of their life by lowering anxiety and improving nutrition and health.

Even Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Dr N K Ganguly said that a homeopathic medicine was found to be effective against HIV/AIDS during screening at National AIDS Research Institute (NARI), Pune.

“The homeopathy compound screened in vitro at NARI against HIV has been found to effectively kill the virus,” he added.

Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said, “Homeopathy has very good treatment effect for certain diseases which are not amenable to treatment by conventional medicine. It is effective, safe, affordable and simple to administer. It is also cost effective”.

He said that India has plethora of studies to prove its effect.

Homeopathy is a controversial form of complementary and alternative medicine founded by German physician Samuel Hahnemann. The substances which in large quantities would cause symptoms similar to the disease are administered in highly diluted form. Hahnemann had written that the process of dilution aroused and enhanced "spirit-like medicinal powers held within a drug”.