The Hindu : Call to de-recognise homoeopathy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 07, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Call to de-recognise homoeopathy

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD July 6. P.M. Bhargava, former director of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, called for de-recognition of homoeopathy as a "medical'' system and ending of all Government financial support to it.

Addressing the press here on Sunday under the banner of the Federation of Atheist and Rationalist Associations (FARA), Dr. Bhargava said that homoeopathy was "conceptually absurd and scientifically untested.'' He added that if "the theory of homoeopathy is right then the whole of science as we know it today is wrong.''

Dr. Bhargava asserted that with the levels of dilution in homoeopathic medicines, often there would not even be one molecule of the active ingredient in the final vial, which he said contained only sugar pills. He claimed that he had often taken entire vials of homoeopathic medicine without any adverse or beneficial effects on his health. He argued that the claims of treatment, which are often made for homoeopathic medicines, were due either to the placebo effect or were lies.

Dr. Bhargava gave the example of one homoeopathic medicine "Nat Muir'', which he said was just common salt diluted to very small amounts. Ordinarily every ml of blood has six mg of common salt in it. How adding another minuscule part to it could cure any disease is unbelievable, he said.

Reacting to claims of a reduction in cases of Japanese Encephalitis where homoeopathic kits had been given, whereas "allopathic'' medicine had not shown the same benefits, he said that either the data was not properly collected or was manufactured to suit vested interests.

N. Innaiah and N. Vikram of FARA also spoke. They demanded that the Government stop supporting homoeopathy and not allow homoeopaths to use the word doctor before their names. They wanted the Government to educate the public regarding the unscientific claims of homoeopathy. Dr. Innaiah demanded that homoeopathy should be included in the list of false medical systems recently released by the Medical Council of India.

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