Z Arztl Fortbild (Jena). 1996 Apr; 90(2): 97-101.

[Homeopathy from the viewpoint of the clinical pharmacologist]

Haustein KO.

Klinikum der Friedrich-Schiller-Universit�t Jena, Klinische Pharmakologie Erfurt.

The homeopathy is a therapeutic line developed about 170 years ago which is based on the sciences of the late 18th century. The homeopathy is founded (1) on the vitalism of Aristoteles, (2) on the examination of remedy reactions in healthy subjects as basis of the therapy of patients, (3) on the "simile" rule, that means the treatment of symptoms with remedies which produce similar symptoms of a mild intoxication in healthy subjects, (4) on the principle of potentiation with the opinion that low doses provoke stronger therapeutic effects, (5) on the individual finding of a remedy due to an extensive anamnesis and (6) on the principle of nosodes, that means the use of diluted body secretion due to infectious diseases for therapy. The therapeutic principles of homeopathy are based on insecure hypotheses and on the patient's information of improved behaviour. Thus, homeopathy does not agree with the present natural science.