George Guess in HOMEOPATHY An Alternative Medical Paradigm has this to say: “Few people today are aware of the vast degree of acceptance and the tremendous popularity homeopathic medicine enjoyed in the past in this country [USA] and the World. Much of that popularity is still intact in other countries”.
“Here are a few of the famous people, past and present, who have been supporters and patrons of homeopathy - Great Britain’s royal family, Goethe, Charles Dickens, Pope Pius X, Thomas Edison, Mark Twain, John D. Rockefeller Sr., William James, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Daniel Webster, Henry James, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and performers Jack Nicholson, Suzanne Sommers, Tina Turner, Dizzie Gillespie, and others. Even Sir William Osler, credited as being the father of modern conventional medicine, said of homœopaths of his day, ‘Our homeopathic brothers pursue very seriously the scientific study of disease.’ ”
Homœopathy is once again steadily regaining popularity around the World as an effective branch of medicine. It is non-toxic, non-addictive, economical, safe during pregnancy and in childhood, without side effects and easily administered.
The United Kingdom National Health Service surveyed Scottish doctors prescriptions, finding 49% of doctors had prescribed homœopathy over a recent two year period.
The World Health Organization in a preliminary 2005 report said homœopathy was “the second leading system of medicine for primary health care in the World and the fastest growing.”
Even James Randi, referred to a number of times in this journal, has got cold feet over the effectiveness or otherwise of homœopathy. He is the professional magician and arch sceptic who famously offered a million dollars for proof homœopathy works after a BBC program on homœopathy. He recently withdrew his offer, claiming ill health, after having approved a comprehensive trial that was about to begin and was to be monitored by international doctors at a major hospital. His personal participation wasn’t necessary, if successful he only had to write the cheque. He should have taken a homœopathic remedy.
Here in New Zealand the number of registered homœopaths has steadily increased over the last 20 years, including a number of doctors and other health professionals.
Homœopathy is effective and safe. In 200 years not one homœopathic remedy has been recalled.
Homœopathy is here to stay, and the reason is succinctly summed up in the words of renowned violinist Yehudi Menuhin: “Homœopathy is one of the few medical specialties which carries no penalties - only benefits.”
Monty Firmin