From: dean@vexcel.com (Dean Alaska)
Subject: Re: Analysis of Homeopathy Literature
Organization: VEXCEL Corporation, Boulder CO
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 16:36:30 GMT

In article <1993Jan12.012413.7758@netcom.com> rkaplan@netcom.com (Richard Kaplan) writes:
>In article <BSIMON.93Jan11070344@elvis.stsci.edu> bsimon@stsci.edu
> (Bernie Simon) writes:
>
>>Since the system of homeopathic threapeutics predates the widespread
>>use of clinical trials to evaluate therapeutic treatments, it's hard
>>for me to see how you can criticize homeopathy for using treatments
>>before they have been clincally tested. I also think you misunderstand
>
>This issue was discussed very well in one of the articles
>you quoted in support of homeopathy (Br J Clin Pharm 27:329).
>According to that article, an alternate school of homeopathic
>treatment lead by Finella since 1877 advocates treatment
>of diseases (including acute diseases) with substances tailored
>to the disease alone -- and therefore fully amenable to
>double-blinded studies.  Why have not more of these studies
>been done?  If the answer is cost, I still await your 
>estimate of what the costs really are.  

As with Bernie, I have not read or heard of this technique being in 
use today.
>
>>By licensed homeopath, I mean M.D. or D.O. Here in Maryland, a
>>non-licensed medical practitioner can only receive a patient after
>>referral from a licensed doctor. I am sure the law is the same in most
>>states. So I think your legitimate concerns are answered by this sort
>>of arangement.
>
>Well, I am certainly reassured by a large extent by 
>seeing this reasoning.  However, it is important to 
>point out that although this policy promotes patient 
>safety by furthering early diagnosis of serious 
>disorders, this referral pattern by its very nature 
>lends itself to anecdotal patient acceptance of 
>homeopathy since (1) the natural history of many diseases
>is to improve with time; and (2) by law homeopaths
>see patients after allopaths/osteopaths.  Therefore 
>it is very important to test homeopathic treatments
>scientifically in order to avoid falling into this potential 
>fallacy.
>-- 
>Richard Kaplan M.D.           Medical Software Exchange BBS
>806 2nd St. SW # 104          (507) 281-1989 14,400 HST
>Rochester, MN  55902          (507) 281-1689 Voice
>PP-ASEL-IA     N4VRB          rkaplan@mayo.edu|netcom.netcom.com  

If this means that an individual is not allowed to see a homeopath
before seeing an allopath or osteopath, then the laws are different.
I have never seen such a doctor before seeing a homeopath or
a TCM practitioner.  However, my TCM doctor is on a national board
for such practitioners and all of my homeopaths have been ND's.  I
think the method by which an ND (naturopathic doctor) gets
lisenced varies among the states.  I know that all of them are
subject to variety of state laws regarding their behavior and are
required to recommend allopathy under certain situation, though I
cannot say exactly what those conditions are.
-- 
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	Dean Myerson     (aka dingo in boulder)     dean@vexcel.com
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