Module 1

Question 1

What is always true about the relationship between dose and biological effect?

Answer 1

The effect always approaches zero as the concentration approaches zero. The effect does not always increase with increasing concentration. For example, if a drug is a competitive inhibitor of some receptor, at some point the receptor is saturated and increasing the concentration further will not significantly increase the effect.

Question 2

How did Hahnemann believe that diseases such as measles were transmitted from one person to another?

Answer 2

He believed that the spread of disease did not involve any material substance but rather some spirit-like force similar to magnetism.

Question 3

Hahnemann believed that a person could not have any disease if they had no symptoms

Answer 3

true

Question 4

What are the “laws” of similars and infinitesimals?

Answer 4

The “law” of similars states that a substance must cause the same symptoms as the disease if it is to work. This obviously is not true. The “law” of infinitesimals states that the more times a remedy is diluted (but he hated that word) the more potent it became

Question 5

How did Hahnemann believe that the spirit-like force of a remedy was released?

Answer 5

He believed that the spirit-like force of a remedy was released by succussion, i.e. sharply rapping the container of the homeopathic remedy on a hard surface.

Question 6

List the reasons why it is inappropriate to conclude that if a patient gets better after being given a medication that it is because of the medication.

Answer 6

Association does not prove causation. There are many possible reasons for the association other than causation; they include:
○ The patient would have gotten better without any treatment, e.g. a viral illness.
○ Regression toward the mean. Many illnesses such as multiple sclerosis wax and wane. Patients usually go to a physician when they feel bad, and therefore are likely to start to feel better soon after treatment independent of the treatment even though the improvement is not long lasting.
○ The placebo effect.
○ “Laying on of hands” The simple act of going to a physician can provide reassurance and make the patient feel better. In homeopathy the extensive discussion of symptoms can also relieve anxiety and make patients feel better.
○ Bias of the observer. If the physician or other observer is not blinded to the treatment and want the treatment to work they may interpret the outcome to be positive. In other cases the patient may not want to disappoint the physician and indicate improvement when there is none.