Australian research determines homeopathy is no better than the placebo effect
One of the most important roles of science is to debunk science. The scientific method hinges on the ability of disproving ideas, figuring out what doesn't work so that we can narrow the spectrum to things that do work. If you test something a thousand times and can't disprove it, it is more likely to be accepted as a truth of the times.
One such disproval seems to have come after Australian scientists spent a rigerous overview of 176 controlled studies on how effective homeopathy was in treating patients with various complaints. Homeopathy comes from the Greek translation "like suffering," and is the concept that you can treat a disease by diluting a small amount of the ailment in water or alcohol until it is no longer present, and administering it to the patient - that the solution retains a "memory" of the disease and will help treat the person. The Australian researches that viewed the 176 studies concluded that it is no more effective than a placebo (which does have its own value) and is not a medically viable treatment. “People who choose homeopathy may put their health at risk if they reject or delay treatments for which there is good evidence for safety and effectiveness,” the authors of the report added.
The study found that many instances of successful homeopathic treatments were not compared to results of those who did not use the treatment and were, therefore, unusable.
Finding out that the studies were not conclusive doesn't mean that homeopathy 100% doesn't work, but it does show that it does not fall under the umbrella of modern scientific acceptance.
The most related form of treatment to homeopathy, according to this study, is the placebo effect; that is, having a patient take a pill (or some form of treatment) that is actually not the medicine. The person THINKS they are taking the medicine and the brain reacts positively; telling the body that it is being treated. There are many instances of placebos actually healing people, just because they think they are getting better. It highlights the connection between the body and mind and just how powerful thought is in relation to physical health.
So is it no better than a placebo? Maybe. The Australian study is exhaustive and should not be taken lightly.
https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc/publications/attachments/cam02a_information_paper.pdf
Image Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_medicine