Homeopathy for Allergies Gets Mixed Popular Press Reviews
September 1, 1998
Homeopathy for Allergies Gets Mixed Popular Press Reviews
Homeopathic remedies have received much attention in the media in recent months as part of the heightened interest in alternative medical therapies. However, the reviews for homeopathy are mixed, and many articles take a skeptical approach to this form of medicine that seems counterintuitive to many physicians and scientists.
In the June 1998 issue of Better Nutrition, readers are told that homeopathic remedies are effective for allergic reactions. Naturopaths Robert Ullman and Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman advise readers to use various homeopathic remedies for allergic reactions to bug bites and plants such as poison ivy and sumac. Dr. Reichenberg-Ullman does warn against depending on homeopathic allergy remedies when the patient is in respiratory distress. In September 1997, the same publication recommended using homeopathic medicines as part of a comprehensive approach to pediatric allergies. The article recommends specific homeopathic preparations such as allium cepa for relief of symptoms such as watery eyes, cough, and irritated throat. The article touts homeopathic remedies as having fewer side effects than typical allergy medications.
Nutrition Forum took a much more skeptical approach in a May-June 1998 article by Stephen Barrett, MD, a retired psychiatrist who is the board chairman of Quackwatch, Inc., and a board member of the National Council Against Health Fraud. Barrett claims the science behind homeopathy is "unimpressive" and notes that it is scientifically implausible to believe any active ingredient can be left in remedies that are highly diluted. In his article, he attributes anecdotal evidence of homeopathic effectiveness to a placebo effect.
In March 1998, Prevention magazine took a cautious approach to advising readers to use homeopathic remedies only if they were willing to try unproven therapies that are backed mainly by anecdotal evidence. The editors note that most homeopathic medicines are so diluted that they present little risk if used as directed. However, they warn readers that it could be dangerous to delay treatment for serious diseases in hope of a cure from a homeopathic approach.
Natural Health magazine, in its July-August 1998 issue, cited some of the studies that show homeopathy to be much more effective than placebo. While acknowledging the self-treatment uses of homeopathic remedies, the editors point out that finding the right one is difficult. They also warn readers that allopathic medicine is a much better choice for those who have serious illness.
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