L7-Homeopathy Reflections Flashcards
State the 3 contributing factors of Evidence Based-Medicine Paradigm. Describe each briefly.
- Best evidence
- Clinical expertise
- Professional judgement
- Experience - Pt values
- Religious &moral beliefs
- Preference
What is the Law of Minimum Dose?
What is another name for it?
-AKA: Law of Infinitesimals
-Minimum dose required to make a reaction in the body
-Dilution w/ succussion (shaking) to potentize a crude drug
>Mother Tincture (Q)
>Safety of Minimum Dose
Law of Minimum Dose.
What is homeopathic 5C?
Amount of the substance is at picogram level
Law of Minimum Dose.
1 in a ___ chances of finding A SINGLE molecule in the final product when the potency is 17C.
trillion
Law of Minimum Dose.
In order of for a 30C product to contain 1 molecule of the original substance would require a container of water ____x the size of earth
30 billion
Law of Minimum Dose.
What is Anas Barbariae Hepatis & Cordis Extractum?
What is it used for?
-this is a common thing to use for flu; contains:
Anas barbariae hepatis: duck liver
Cordis extractum: duck heart
-> freshly killed and incubate for 60d and then go through serial dilutions
-this product has $20mill in profit
Law of Minimum Dose.
IF DILUTED SO HEAVILY, how do homeopaths explain the therapeutic effects of their products?
- Memory of water lol
- Nanoparticles LOL
- Hormesis
- Memory of Water.
Describe.
- Clathrates: water clusters - how properties of homeopathic dilution can be “transferred” to vehicle solvent
- Gecker and Samal: particles dissolved in polar solvent clustered into aggregates 5-10x bigger than in the original solution
- Memory of Water.
Is this a probable theory?
NO lol
- while there is truth to the formation of patterns, very improbable that it will hold once you get up to the large amount of dilutions
- also note: nothing is still nothing..
- Nanoparticles.
Describe.
- particles between 1 and 100 nanometers in size
- in nanotechnology, a particle is defined as a small object that behaves as a whole unit with respect to its transport and properties
- 0.05-200pg in 1 drop of liquid dose
- Hormesis.
Describe.
-Hormesis: stimulatory effects (i.e. body will try to fight it off) caused by a small amount of toxin substances.
>& if you give anything more then your body starts to fail.
- Hormesis.
Is it plausible?
- Nah
- Homeopathic medication diluted so aggressively, it may not even contain med - i.e. nothing to fight off.
Research.
Describe the research that has gone in to proving the efficacy of Homeopathy.
-200 years of study
-well-articulated practice theory
>philosophy is NOT proof!! (just like basic pharmacology is not straight proof)
-case report based clinical literature
-high levels of patient satisfaction
-growing modern research base
Research.
Describe the “Hierarchy of Evidence”.
(from best to worst)
1) meta analysis of RTCs
2) individual RCT
>we want the above 2!!!
3) observational studies (patient important outcomes)
4) Basic research (test tube, animal/human phys)
5) clinical experience (non-systematic clinical observation)
Study 1: “Effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of homeopathy in general practice”.
Describe:
1. Purpose &
2. Results of the research study.
-Purpose: validate homeopathy by hompeopathic drs
-Results: validated by clinical evidence & regarded as safe.
>reliable statements of cost-effectiveness N/A
Study 1: “Effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of homeopathy in general practice”.
3. Describe the problems w the references of this study.
- Non-systemic narrative reviews
- Often have non-conventional stats
>concludes HQ studies more likely to be neg (more HQ studies needed) - Old trials
- False claims
- Faked data
- Picked topic that was hard to define/based on self-reporting.
- “Individualized” tx (basically just a bunch of randy STOOF)
Study 1: “Effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of homeopathy in general practice”.
4. What is the importance of this study?
-Referenced by most research journals.
Study 1: “Effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of homeopathy in general practice”.
5. List 2 of the “therapies” used in this study.
- Mercurius vivus: quicksilver, metallic mercury
2. Arsenicum album: arsenic trioxide
Study 1: “Effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of homeopathy in general practice”.
Describe the problems with Mercurius vivus.
(hint: 1. Mind, 2. General, 3. Stool).
- Mind: Slow, lethargic, weakness of memory (basically match up the tox sx w those that the pt is displaying)
- General: Chills alternating with heat, profuse perspiration. Worse in evening and night. Profuse salivation, offensive breath, indented tongue. Violent thirst for cold drinks; worse in evening until midnight.
- Stools: Slimy, scanty, lienteric, bloody. Acrid ,corrosive, frothy, yellow. Sour odor.
Study 1: “Effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of homeopathy in general practice”.
Describe the problems with Arsenicum album.
(hint: 1. Mind, 2. General, 3. Stool).
- Mind: Great anxiety and restlessness. Tossing about in bed. Fearful doesn’t want to be alone.
- General: Prostration. Worse after midnight. Burning heat with thirst for small amounts. Chilly, better being covered, cold sweats. Vomiting immediately after eating or drinking.
- Stools: Acrid, burning, excoriating. Diarrhea worse at night, after midnight. Putrid, bloody, odor of rotten
Research.
OUR conclusions of “evidence-base” for homeopathy.
- limited evidence - at best mixed
- meta analysis - limits
- more rigorous trials tend to yield smaller effects
- publication bias
- cochrane reviews= standard and even they have said that we cannot conclude that they have benefit (no effect beyond placebo)
Homeopathic product regulations all around the world!
1. How does Canada (Health Canada) regulate this ish?
- Must have DIN-HM
>but this really means nothing as at one point even red bull had one - Limits to products (pharmacopeia)
- 12C or greater for certain products
>i.e. must have something in it LOL - homeopathic use is acceptable evidence
Homeopathic product regulations all around the world!
2. How does the US (FDA) regulate this ISH?
- FDA approval safe and effective
- focuses on safety BUT their philosophy overall is for freedom and choice
- after 1970 they basically said that no products were killing anyone so they didnt really want to be involved
Homeopathic product regulations all around the world!
3. How does the UK (National Health Service) regulate this ISHHHHH?
- NHS funds homeopathic remedies in the UK
- controversial
- boots subject of protest
- pressure to have funding removed
T/F: Canada does NOT fund homeopathy.
TRUE! - phew
-Not cost effective.
LAST TOPIC - SAFETY!
Are we concerned?
- not really..
- DI’s (hypothetically BUT there is nothing there so nothing to interact with)
- safety of minimum dose
- adulterants - safe manufacture
- however also take into the fact that they may be taking this instead of an actual product that may be beneficial for them
LAST TOPIC - SAFETY!
When may homeopathic meds not be appropriate?
- Malaria
- Tx/Px of AIDS
- Instead of vaccines
- Tx of cancer
Is it important to keep an open mind?
Yes and no.
-Give accurate info as well as take respect pt autonomy.
