Controversies and positive claims in homeopathy: personal perspectives

Homeopathy is a topic that has brought about a great deal of controversy. In delineation, it is an alternative medical system that was developed over two centuries ago. It was developed by a German physician known as Samuel Hahnemann. In his discovery, Hahnemann found that a similar substance that could give rise to a reaction in an individual that is fully healthy could also be a remedy and treatment for an individual suffering from the same symptoms. Homeopathy is a natural, all-inclusive, method to healing a person, using little doses of specific remedies (Cook, 2010). Its significant variance from normal medical treatment and therapies has been a constant major cause of debate and criticism.

One of the controversial points is that the fundamental conceptions of homeopathy are not in line with essential theories and models of chemistry and physics. For instance, it is not conceivable to elucidate in a scientific manner the way in which a remedy comprising of minimal or no active constituent can have any effect. This, as a result, gives rise to serious challenges to demanding clinical examination of homeopathic medications (Gallagher, 2015). A good example is in the fact that one cannot approve that an exceptionally dilute remedy consists of what is itemized on the label, or cultivate impartial measures that display effects of exceptionally dilute medications in the human body. Secondly, another point of controversy encompasses the fact that homeopathic treatments are exceedingly personalized and tailored. The implication of this is that there is no standard and unvarying benchmark for homeopathic practitioners. In particular, there are hundreds of dissimilar homeopathic medications, which can be prescribed in an assortment of diverse dilutions for numerous symptoms (NCCIH, 2017).

In contrast, there are a number of positive remarks about homeopathy. One of the key positive aspects of homeopathy is that it is a holistic approach to therapy and treatment. It involves the mind, the body, emotions and the spirit of the individual receiving treatment. Another aspect is that homeopathy does not have any kind of interference with the existing medication or treatment being given to an individual. Therefore, it is deemed that it will not have an adverse effect on the person\'s body when mixed with the prevailing set of medication. According to Cook (2010), aside from rare, minor, and transitory symptom intensifications that go away quickly and have a tendency to be trailed by enhancements in the symptoms of an individual, there are no side-effects of homeopathic remedies. This indication of intensification is in fact considered by homeopaths as a symbol that the accurate homeopathic remedy has been carefully chosen and typically gives rise to symptom improvements. Moreover, it is a personalized system of medication which treats the individual, not just the symptoms. The signs, nonetheless, are addressed when employing this method and are normally improved. Another positive aspect is that homeopathic medications are easily affordable and are easily accessible and can be utilized by any individual (Cook, 2010).