Homeopathy is No More Effective Than a Placebo: STUDY

The effectiveness of homeopathy has long been a contentious topic. Now, a new review of 225 research papers on homeopathy by a top Australian body for medical research has concluded that homeopathy is not effective for treating any medical condition.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) recently conducted a study into evidence on the effectiveness of homeopathy for treating health conditions, concluding that this method of therapy is ineffective.

The NHMRC has warned that "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".

"Based on the assessment of the evidence of effectiveness of homeopathy, NHMRC concludes that there are no health conditions for which there is reliable evidence that homeopathy is effective," the Guardian reported citing the report.

Homeopathy is a type of alternative and natural form of medicine, which is based on the notion that substances that may cause illness in a healthy person can treat those symptoms in a person who is sick.

An independent firm also reviewed the studies and appraised the evidence to prevent bias.

Professor Paul Glasziou, the chair of the NHMRC Homeopathy Working Committee said he hoped the findings would lead private health insurers to stop offering rebates on homeopathic treatments, and force pharmacists to reconsider stocking them.

"There will be a tail of people who won't respond to this report, and who will say it's all a conspiracy of the establishment," Glasziou said.

"But we hope there will be a lot of reasonable people out there who will reconsider selling, using or subsiding these substances."