In this issue, starting on page 9, is a brief account of a display of irresponsible homœopathic prescribing in London - 10 homœopaths prescribed medicines they claimed would stop you getting malaria.
Right from the observations of Hahnemann there has been the hope of discovering a reliable malaria prophylactic. In recent times in India attempts to find such a thing have failed; or so I have been told, there does not seem to have been reports published.
Years ago the New Zealand Homœopathic Society prepared a statement-of-position on homœopathic prophylaxis; the Society’s view was that until such things have been proved beyond quibble to be effective, and harmless, their use could not be endorsed in any way. This is still the Society’s attitude.
I know from reports reaching me that there are many homœopaths and naturopaths dispensing so-called prophylactics - some offenders even being found behind the counter of a homœopathic pharmacy.
It is my personal view that this behaviour is so reprehensible that any professional homœopath guilty of encouraging the use of questionable methods of preventing serious illnesses should be struck from the register of any body to which they belong, because they are likely to bring homœopathy into serious disrepute.
Taking the position that the onus rests with the client, because they have been given the opportunity to assess the risks and deficiencies of conventional prophylactics compared to the alleged effectiveness of potentised preparations, is morally, and probably legally, very wrong.
Homœopaths must be very careful of the claims they make; I am not happy with the wording on many of the brochures advertising a homœopathic practice that I see.
Also, in this issue you may read, starting on page 3, a criticism of the usefulness of the grading of remedies in a repertory. Too much of the methodology of finding a remedy these days is a bean-counting exercise based on these dubious gradings. It is best, in my opinion, to repertorise with no regard for grading at all.
Lastly, as something to scotch the folk who say of homœopathy, “It’s all placebo” - on page 21 there is a report on the effect of different hypermolecular preparations on the growth of caterpillars. It is hard, I would say impossible, to explain away figures like those in the table accompanying this article.
Bruce Barwell