Reflux & Chemo Treatment Homeopathic Treatments

Homeopathy is a system of medicine that uses minute doses of highly diluted substances to treat disease. It's often used as a treatment for a variety of disorders including gastroesophageal reflux and the side effects of chemotherapy. Despite its continuing popularity, there is little scientific evidence that homeopathy can treat most medical conditions; moreover, some of its fundamental principles are difficult to reconcile with the laws of chemistry and physics.

Principles

• Homeopathy is founded on the idea that a minute quantity of a substance can treat the same symptoms an ordinary dose of the same substance would produce. Homeopaths refer to this as the "law of similars" or "like cures like." Typically homeopathic practitioners will dilute a solution of a substance down to minute quantities, sometimes even to the point where no molecules of the original substance remain. Treatments are often individualized so that different people with the same condition may even receive different treatments.

Gastroesophageal Reflux

• Gastroesophageal reflux (also known as acid reflux) is a common condition where refluxed stomach acid comes in contact with the lining of the esophagus and causes heartburn. Occasional heartburn is fairly normal in healthy people; if it recurs twice a week or more, however, it may require treatment. Typically doctors recommend over-the-counter medications like antacids; homeopathic practitioners prescribe various remedies like Nux vomica and Lycopodium.

Chemotherapy Side Effects

• Many chemotherapy drugs are designed to kill fast-dividing cells and, therefore, kill not only the tumor cells, but some healthy cells as well. Depending on the drug, chemotherapy for cancer can cause a variety of side effects, including nausea and vomiting, hair loss, anemia, fatigue, appetite changes or infections. Some homeopathic practitioners prescribe remedies like cadmium sulphuratum to treat side effects of chemotherapy.

Criticism

• Some of the claims made by homeopathic practitioners are difficult to reconcile with modern science; for example, homeopathic practitioners sometimes dilute solutions to the point where no molecules of the original substance remain on the theory that the substance leaves an intangible imprint on the water. Skeptics point out that this idea is inconsistent with the laws of chemistry and physics as we currently understand them. It's widely known that in most clinical trials, a percentage of the patients given a placebo or sham treatment will recover from their illness; this phenomenon is called the placebo effect. Critics of homeopathic treatments argue that cures attributed to homeopathic treatments are merely an illustration of the placebo effect, although proponents of homeopathic medicine dispute this.

Findings

• A meta-analysis of previous studies published in the European Journal of Cancer in 2005 found "insufficient evidence" to justify the use of homeopathy in cancer care. Other studies have reached similar conclusions; an analysis published in The Cochrane Library in 2010 concluded that while there was limited evidence to suggest homeopathic remedies might be useful in treating acute dermatitis during radiotherapy or stomatitis (inflammation of the mucous lining of the mouth) during chemotherapy, there was insufficient evidence for any other adverse effects. According to the American Cancer Society, most scientists believe that homeopathic remedies essentially act as placebos, although homeopathic practitioners believe their techniques merit further study. As always, none of the above is intended as medical advice; if you have any questions about the right treatment for your condition, the best person to consult is your doctor.