Shekhar Gupta’s weekly column ‘National Interest’ of 15 September 2017 – Homeopathy as Ideology – focused on the Indian fear of big projects and gigantism comparing it to the preference for dainty, sweet, ineffectual homeopathy pills over a dose of bitter medicine.
The column drew a wide range of responses, mostly in defence of homeopathy. A selection of the responses are being published in ThePrint’s new section called Free Speak:
“Some people need scientific explanation for everything. When we are born we are given a name after some rituals, and also in marriage we perform some rituals. Do they have in scientific explanation?”
I have a one year old patient who got better in six months for his skin complaints…is this placebo effect? First learn about homeopathy, Sir. Some people need scientific explanation for everything. When we are born we are given a name after some rituals, and also in marriage we perform some rituals. Do they have in scientific explanation? Homeopathy is science, first go through it and then see yourself what it is actually. No offense to anybody. -SUSHANT.
“At the age of nine, a homeopathic doctor gave me one medicine for 30 days and I was cured.”
The article is excellent and quite unexpected coming from Mr Shekhar Gupta.
My only disconnect is with homeopathy as described by him. I was born with an ear defect —pus used to come. No allopathic treatment was available and having an operation was not a sureshot cure—my grandfather was a surgeon and was an FRCS. I was not allowed to swim.
At the age of nine, a homeopathic doctor gave me one medicine for 30 days and I was cured. Since then, some 55 years later, there has been no recurrence despite swimming extensively.
Hence, I can never accept that homeopathy is all hocus pocus. -HIMANSHU RASTOGI
“It is not justified to brand homeopathy as just trash. I have first hand experience of certain homeopathic drugs on cattle. They do work and quite miraculously.”
It is not justified to brand homeopathy as just trash. I have first hand experience of certain homeopathic drugs on cattle. They do work and quite miraculously. Homeopathic medicines are very effective in mastitis. Allopathic medicines have failed in completely curing blood in milk and hardness of udder. Three veterinary doctors have failed. Homeopathic medicines, Phytolacca, Bryonia, Belladonna, Calcaeria fluoricum, Ipecac have completely cured the problem. One cow was being treated with allopathic medicine for certain pathogens. The cow developed acute constipation and lack of appetite. Treatment for 21 days failed to yield any result. Four doses of Nux Vomica 30 was administered hourly. By evening, the cow passed normal dung and its appetite was also restored. I have tried so many medicines myself and they work instantaneously on cattle. The most important thing is homeopathy cures without any simultaneous decrease in milk yield.
In the rural areas, where there is lack of hygiene, we come across cases of scabies in small children. We had to use allopathic scabiol on the affected part and use a special soap costing over Rs 70. It took days, even weeks to get rid of the problem. Recently, I used the homeopathic Anthrakokila (probably 6th or the 12th level of potency). It was completely gone in a week. A miracle…I will have to wait and see if it works equally on other cases of scabies.
What is equally important is homeopathic treatment is very cheap compared to allopathic treatment. -PRADEEP KUMAR
“Your article can end up killing few cardiac patients who are being successfully treated with homeopathy.”
Your article can end up killing few cardiac patients who are being successfully treated with homeopathy. The cause of death may be the shock of taking “ineffectual treatment”—which was in fact proving to be effective for them.
Also many would-be beneficiaries of the homeopathic treatment may get dissuaded by the sheer negativity in your article about homeopathy. Wouldn’t you feel bad that would-be beneficiaries would lose the opportunity to get better by your negative publicity, which is founded on half-data?
This article that you have written on homeopathy needs further positive data.
If you are a seeker of truth, and I believe you are, then you need to invite cases of efficacy of homeopathy and judge from those responses. If you wish, I can send you such cases of men and animals which will provide evidence of the positive therapeutic effects of homeopathy. -DR. ABHAY CHEDA
“Try to experience homeopathy, because science still has to wait a couple of centuries to find an explanation.”
Cases treated with homeopathy, that have been documented so well, have found ridicule in minds like yours (but with medical degrees) and the explanation given is that it is because of a placebo effect, or natural regression, or even “magic” (this is a true comment by a well known neurologist). When diseases like psoriasis and vitiligo (incurable according to textbook medicine, which you may not know of) are seen to be cured by a homeopath, and labelled cured because of placebo effect or natural regression, then a fundamental question arises: are all those homeopaths that lucky? It takes only luck for all “hypochondriacs” (according to your article) to accumulate at homeopathy clinics.
That scenario sounds absurd: it would to anyone.
Many allopathic doctors (with good practice, and hatred towards homeopathy) have turned to homeopathy. Do you really think they are hysterical? Many surgeons use Thuja (homeopathic remedy) for warts, do you believe the treatment is placebo?
Please stay well informed to have sound views. Try to experience homeopathy, because science still has to wait a couple of centuries to find an explanation. -DR. MOHINAZ KANDOLKAR
“Let the writer confine his thoughts to the main point of bullet trains.”
Why should the writer link the bullet train with homeopathy? Many a times it works wonders, though it may not cure it. Let the writer confine his thoughts to the main point of bullet trains. -VISHWANATH
“In the context of bullet trains, I remember these homeopathy lovers also protested in the name of the poor in mid-eighties when Rajiv government introduced coloured telecast in India!”
A delightful factual account of our mindless protest by professional protesters. Almost every protest against large projects has been done in the name of India’s poor and how the money could be better spent for them rather in the project. But the masses, poor or rich rarely protest against such projects, thankfully. The best way the government should respond is to ignore such manufactured and motivated protests. Other big risk factor are PILs and their proponents. This class of professional protesters are more dangerous since they have the capacity to influence courts and delay the project or may even get the courts to order closure. In the context of bullet trains, I remember these homeopathy lovers also protested in the name of the poor in mid-eighties when Rajiv government introduced coloured telecast in India! -SMRUTI RANJAN DAS
“If only we give up patchy approaches and chase newer ideas, India’s story can be something we all want to see.”
Outstanding piece…if only we give up patchy approaches and chase newer ideas, India’s story can be something we all want to see. The funny thing is we expect transformational results after doing patchwork.Thinking-and-doing beings are abhorred and that is what stops us. -ASHWANI WINDLASS
“Was quite amused by your comments on homeopathy! There’s now scientific evidence that placebos actually work.”
The Luddites in our Society have always opposed any major technological leap but this time a lot of it stems from personal angst against Modi, BJP, and perhaps RSS. I am still waiting, but I am sure the Bullet Train will soon get linked to demonetisation, Hindutva, and the insidious RSS agenda.
I was quite amused by the comments on homeopathy! There’s now scientific evidence that placebos actually work. For a nation of hypochondriacs the little pills are a God-sent or Dr Banerji-sent, but you have no idea how opiods have become the homeopathic pills for Americans (fellow hypochondriacs!) and the damage they are doing. Maybe a Bollywood producer should try ‘Udta Amrika’.
Finally, let me leave you with a small personal anecdote. I am as rational a person (a post graduate Engineer) as you’ll find, I come from a family of doctors and grew up listening to homeopathy being routinely trashed. Some 20 years ago I suffered massively from acute heartburn. It was so bad I’d sit up most nights sipping cold milk. I was prescribed Zantac, surgery, and a whole lot of other treatments. Nothing worked. A colleague suggested I meet his father-in-law who was an amateur homeopath. Am sure you’ve guessed the rest of the story…my family has still not forgiven me for getting well! -SATISH KALRA
Homeopathic effect was there from many years before independence
Homeopathic effect was there from many years before independence and after, till now no one spoken or written against this. The people who take homeopathy as ideology take for instance Indira Gandhi ideology during 1970, that lady just divided one whole nation to many states then followed divide and rule, followed by rivers where each state wants their own water. As far as I remember, in 1973 or 1975 there was an offer from the Russian government to link all the rivers like they did for Volga river for Rs. 15000 crores only. But our lady Macbeth never allowed this to happen she did not want to improve Hindustan’s great ideology. -KRISHNA
Comments have been edited for clarity.
why homeopathy is not adopted,non availibility of prescribers who hit the bulls eye,first link homeopathic recorder aug 1930 volxlv no8 by hc schmidt. on argentum silver.homeopathy is semi metaphysical science.read hundred books including modern homeopaths all say argentum is remedy affects intellect argtnit eats much sugar simple argt has problem in knees it is superficial knowledge if we go through this article..schmidt says core of moon is silver and that of earth antimonium.he says core issue of silver is sex nerves located in sacral plexus.if he or she disobey laws laid become fidel they will have inner guilt which will make a innocent looking face become old looking with deep lines.moon faced persons look innocent but expert in saying no to any guilt residing in them even before a doctor.a fidel lady will go more sweet to husband and vice versa,but no sound sleep always hurried worried lest inner story comes out,modern doctors treat it as depression make a person living dead.high potency argt nit will clear the block atleast comfort to health if not soul.he also quotes christ story we hate those them we have injured.if homeopathic old record is screened and masterpiece lecture is prepared,on net homeopathic class is taken for all colleges,this will also filter out routine low interest teachers.unless quality comes homeopathic graduates will see what has happened to engineers no employer ready to shed out even 10000 bucks per month except talented in field.mastery over nux vom silver homeo remedy catches fifty percent diseases.gold is connected to sun all homeopaths say it is suicidal depression remedy,some article like this has to be linked,gold is bone remedy and bone skeleton is key to strength.
homeopathy is holy science based on recognising subjective objective symptoms and matching with drug picture,real homeopath practicing single remedy at time as per kent theorey requires lot of practice memory and few would like to spend many years on apprenticeship.true homeopathy is hair splitting like worse 1 am arsenic worse 4am kalicarb worse 10am natmur keeps in hand daytime umbrella glonoin better bend back or forward etc.many have tried based on clinical symptoms it does not work is only palliative..real cured cases clinical data is scattered plus some who gain deep knowledge they do not want to divulge, few homeopaths write remedy name in prescription some code like shop keepers is used.any way homeopathy has started gaining edge and more public awareness is required..
History of scientific evolution is replete with stories of genius people tortured and humiliated for propagating unconventional theories . Same is happening with homeopathy . As modern science can’t investigate the principles of homeopathy ,they call it unscientific . Remember Galileo ? Can any body give a body count of deaths in U.S. due to inter convertible diseases caused by drug toxicity ? Mr. Sheohar Gupta may be a big name in journalism but he is least qualified to question authenticity of homeopathic doctrine . Homeopathy as propagated by Hahnemann is a rational system . It is mistake on part of homeo pharmaceuticals to copy Alleopathy and market patent medicines .