health and healthcare: health care homeopathy medicine placebo effect
by SIF
11 comments
Placebos, homeopathy and bad medicine
A couple months ago I went to my doctor with sinus pain, sniffles and a sore throat. I suspected allergies, but wanted to be sure I wasn’t suffering form some lingering sinus infection–or an evil twin lodged somewhere in a dark, snotty corner . I wanted an ‘all clear’ to keep up my athletic activities. I got that . . . and a homeopathic ‘cure’ for allergies. I’ve never experienced such a thing before, although apparently doctors regularly prescribe homeopathy in France.
I politely took the prescription as I marveled at the fact that my excellent doctor had prescribed me sugar pellets. In the spirit of experimentation, I decided to try them out–after all, they are 100 % reimbursed by social security and they can’t hurt me. I noticed absolutely no change–whatsoever. Admittedly, my state of mind was not ideal for the placebo effect to take hold. I decided to be thankful for my good health, continue my athletic activities and toss the sugar pills.
I recently read a series of articles lambasting homeopathic medicine and its use in France in Sciences et pseudo-sciences, ( a radical publication that demands scientific backing for common broad statements of truth 
). Jean Brissonnet, in his article “The Dr. House Syndrome” argues that homeopathic medicine flies directly in the face of what French doctors learn when they get their license to practice medicine. In Brissonnet’s eyes, when traditional doctors prescribe homeopathy, they’re going against the teachings that give us faith in them by offering medicine that has no backing in clinical trials. He concedes that doctors may be attempting to use the placebo effect to heal their patients, but argues that the placebo effect can be induced by the doctor-patient relationship as much as by the sugar pills the doctor may or may not prescribe.
Studies on the placebo effect fascinate me. I wish that Brissonnet had gone on to also critique some of the mainstream medications (Prozac anyone?) that increasingly struggle to compete with the placebo. Click here for an interesting article on this phenomenon.
I often wonder how many doctors prescribe traditional medications without hope that they will ‘cure’ anything but will simply relieve patient anxiety and possibly the experience of symptoms. To what extent are traditional medications used as placebos–placebos with side effects.
Obviously many traditional medications do have a proven and demonstrable effect when used appropriately. Antibiotics, for example, have a demonstrable and proven effect on fighting bacterial infection. They may have something of a placebo effect on people fighting viral infection, although there are serious drawbacks to fighting the common cold this way!
When is it appropriate to call in the placebo effect or homeopathy in fighting illness? I suppose it can’t hurt if a person finds that homeopathy ‘cures’ their anxiety, depression or erectile dysfunction. But would you opt for homeopathy only if you had HIV, TB or malaria? Here’s an article from The Guardian detailing concerns of British scientists regarding the use of homeopathy to treat such diseases in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Personally, I am all for studying and using the placebo effect wherever possible. If you can improve someone’s depression with the doctor-patient relationship then why not do it? If you can help change someone’s experience of chronic pain through sugar pills or meditation, then so much the better. If an herbal remedy is proven to be as effective in HIV treatment as conventional meds and with fewer side-effects, of course I approve. But I have to agree with the British scientists in their critique of supplying people in need of medical care for serious illness with a ‘remedy’ that is no better than the placebo. And so far, I have never heard of a study that shows that malaria can be cured with sugar pills or the placebo effect.
What do you think?
Hi.
I too use homeopathic treatments, as well as acupuncture for a variety of health concerns and have had good luck with both.
I feel people in general are too eager for a prescription and are often given one for situations when they don’t need it, just to get them out of the office.
I have a terrific doctor who is open to my using both traditional Western medicine but also alternative treatments. I trust him and he trusts me to know when I need to see him for an evaluation and when I may first try something else.
Our French friends came to visit several years ago and one of their daughters had a serious ear infection. They went to a pediatrician that was recommended by our friend. Our French friends were very surprised that they were not given a homeopathic treatment first for their daughter’s condition, as they had had that type of treatment before in France and it was successful. The prescription she got here helped her get better quickly which was good as she had to be on an airplane to go home.
I think there are many situations where alternative medicines and treatments are highly successful and can be used safely. The key is to know your body/health and to have a good doctor who will guide you through your health choices and is open to all forms of treatment. Sometimes you just dont need an antibiotic and you want a doctor who wont just dole out the prescriptions to get you out of his office.
Enjoy your blog.
Cara, that’s interesting that the results for you vary and that your dr prescribes both at once. Are both designed to treat the same illness or are they somehow complimentary?
JN–it’s interesting, I’ve never had a traditional doctor in the US prescribe homeopathy. That said, you can buy it over the counter at health food stores if you know what you want or if you just read the labels. I had a doctor in California some time ago who many people didn’t like much because he rarely gave prescriptions–I loved it. When I go to the doctor it is not to stock up no pills, it’s to find out what’s wrong when I’m not sure. Then, if I have something that just takes time and rest to get over, that’s what I do. Obviously, if there was a serious problem that needed treatment, he’d prescribe it, but I wouldn’t walk out of each visit with three prescriptions.
Interesting. I agree with you.
I used to be very pro-homeopathy…until I did a little research and found out it is complete and total crap. The tinctures are diluted so much that there isn’t even ANY of the original “active” ingredient in the pellet/drops/whatever.
In fact, that’s a good thing, because in homeopathy – the lower the dosage (of water and sugar, because that is literally ALL that exists in those pills) the better. The stronger it is.
Essentially, it works on the very unscientific theory that water has a memory…which it um, doesn’t.
That said, if the placebo effect works for you – then cool, but it is just that – a *placebo*…which unlike homeopathy, IS scientifically proven to work.
The mind is a powerful thing.
I think too many homeopath fans try to use the whole, “doctors prescribe too many meds!” as some kind of proof that homeopathy is better.
Um…
Just because I don’t take or believe that homeopathy OR acupuncture OR any other pseudo science isn’t real doesn’t mean I am obsessive with taking prescription or OTC meds. I rarely take meds unless they are actually needed…same goes for my kids.
Of course, since homeopathic remedies, acupuncture and the like are harmless, well, I wont complain that they are endangering the generally healthy population that takes them. However, when people try to treat serious illnesses in their children with homeopathy…that’s another story.
Placebo cannot work on babies. Older kids (like my own, that is miraculously healed with bandages, lol!) maybe…infants, not so much.
As for homeopathy stopping a full-blown cold or what-have-you *before* it actually starts…or when you just *think* you feel something coming on…well, there is no way to actually prove that. Would you still have gotten sick if you didn’t take a sugar pellet? Was something really coming on in the first place?
There is no way to tell, and once again, pretty much boils down to placebo.
I understand lots of people use homeopathy for animals and swear by it (http://matronofhusbandry.wordpress.com/).
On the other hand you might be interested in http://www.1023.org.uk/the-1023-overdose-event.php
Atheistmama–hah! I was just discussing this the other day with my brother-in-law who is a nurse but who is very interested in and approving of alternative medicine (oils, homeopathy etc). He made some statements and I said, “I would love to see those studies.” To which he replied, “Ah, a rationalist” and stopped trying to convince me. I found that funny. As for homeopathy being used in place of ‘too much medication,’ sometimes I also wonder if, by prescribing the sugar pills, the doctors are not simply just supporting the idea that we always need drugs when sick and can’t get better without them–I think that’s too bad because the body is pretty amazing in terms of it’s abilities.
et–excellent on both links. The overdose event is hilarious. However, my brother in law was using the use of homeopathy on horses to explain that it was not the simple placebo effect that was working–in his eyes horses cannot benefit from the placebo effect. I really want to know more about homeopathy in animals–so that I can make my own decisions.
I think the important thing really is ‘if it works for you’ which it obviously didnt…. but.. did the doctor actually give you a reasonable Homeopathic interview, in my experience and it is limited i agree, homeopathic mediciine is affected by all kinds of day to day things… like coffee… for instance, did he tell you not to drink coffee within certain pereiod when taking the pills… there is lots of that kind of restrictions, Ive only ever taken hoeopathic medicine after visiting a hoeopathic practicioner who gave good advice…
There is a good herbal remedy for sinisitis, my OH takes reguarly, make into a tea, dried lemon verbena, a small slice of root ginger (crushed) mullien, and a couple of lavender heads, hot water and a spoonful of honey…
lovely and taken at least three times a day will clear it within about three days..
Patricia–no my dr did not give me a homeopathic interview–that said the pharmacist usually tells you how to take the drug . . . and my family was full of information about how it is to be taken. Actually, it is interesting but I’ve heard that spending time with the doctor and discussing one’s health concerns etc can also make a drug (homeopathic, conventional or even placebo) more effective. . .
As for the herbal cold remedy–I do something similar with ginger, honney, lemon and spices–I find it tasty and soothing on a sore throat, but it is not my therapy of choice for shortening a sinus infection. For that I’ve found that the absolute best thing is some good rest during the first day or so of illness.
[...] Go figure. I was under the impression that Prozac was little better than the placebo. Although it will take more than some schmuck on the radio to change my mind, the wheels are [...]
I use the homeopathic medicine here. It works about 3/4 of the time depending…
I find that it can cut my recovery time – I feel better faster. I have also found that it can stop something that I feel coming on.
That being said, when really sick, my doctor prescribes both aleopathic and homeopathic medicines…which I think is fine…
Cara