Theos-Talk Archives (July 2004 Message tt00129)

krishtar wrote:
> Acording to theosophical teachings which kind or type of energy is
> carried from one homeopathic solution to another by these
> dilutions/powering in this case? Etheric?
Beats the hell out of me. But here we get to the point I was trying to 
make. Without accurate measurements of the effectiveness of homeopathy, 
people are trying to come up with theories of how it works. That is the 
result of the emphasis of causative science over utilitarian science.

The problem with testing homeopathy is the difficulty in setting up a 
control group. Because we don't have accurate measurements, there is 
still a subjective factor to homeopathy (not to mention the fact that 
choosing remedies is based on the patients' answering subjective 
questions accurately).

On discussion with a locally prominent homeopath has resulted in a 
description of a test which should at least provide a beginning: take a 
team of homeopaths, have them individually prescribe for a group of 
people with similar symptoms (allopathically speaking) of a problem 
which gets better untreated, but would get better more quickly with 
treatment, and provide the doctors with homeopathic kits, prepared by 
recognized manufacturers. One kit has regular remedies. The other has 
neutral remedies. The doctors will not know which kit is which, but 
patients, designated A and B, will get either kind of kit. If further 
prescription is needed, the patients will continue to get remedies from 
the same type of kit (so that a type B patient STAYS a type B patient). 
See the results. There should, for completeness, be two additional 
groups of patients; one that gets allopathic treatments, and one that 
receives no treatment.

That should, at least, provide initial results which can point to 
further tests. If no difference is found between the type A and type B 
patients, it is an indicator that homeopathic preparation is an 
irrelevant factor.

And notice, no causative theory is tested, here.

Bart