No-medicine medicine of homeopathy

HOMEOPATHY, founded by Hahnemann, is derived from the principle of 'like cures like.' Its other fundamental principle is the 'law of infinitesimals,' according to which the smaller the quantity of the substance in a solution, the stronger is its effect upon the patient. These are extraordinary ideas. The basis of the law of infinitesimals postulates that, though the quantity of the medicine becomes non-existent after a certain point of dilution in water, the healing power of the substance exists more strongly in the 'memory' of the water. All these are not only extraordinary ideas but also bizarre, and not corroborated by modern science. Yet, there are millions of people who take homeopathic medicine and will profess that it cured their disease. Thus, homeopathy, in the garb of science, defies the established logic of science and yet has supporters all over the world proclaiming their experiences of its power of healing.
Mr. M.H. Haider struggled with this old homeopathic dilemma in his article 'Homeopathy: faith, fact and fiction' in The Daily Star (February 18). His concluding lines reveal the contradictions: “Perhaps one day, homeopathy will gain mass acceptance of scientists and laymen alike. Perhaps it'll always remain an issue of debate. Between these two extremes will be people … who cherish homeopathy …. having a beautiful magic of its own.”
Not all are in such a pickle. The Daily Star issue of October 18, 2010, reported that a team of Rab busted a fake homeopathic medicine factory. One reader posted a comment online regarding this news, asking: “What differentiates 'fake' homeopathy from 'real' homeopathy?” Ben Goldacre, the author of the book Bad Science and the Bad Science column writer in The Guardian, finds no difference, and wrote in an article in Lancet (“Benefits and risks of homeopathy,” November 17, 2007) that trials showed homeopathy had no more benefit than a placebo.   
Homeopathy's success points to the inherent failures of the capitalist system of mainstream medicine, which is mainly a big business run for profit. Homeopathy's low cost, the close doctor-patient relation through the long discussion between them, and the harmlessness of its no-medicine medicine are its advantages over allopathic treatment.
Until and unless mainstream treatment can cure itself from the ills of high cost, lack of compassionate doctor-patient talk, and the harm caused by wrong prescriptions, and can catch up with homeopathy on these fronts, there will always be people who will keep seeking the magical power of healing from homeopathy.  

The writer is Research and Publication Officer, Centre for Development Innovations and Pratices.