Debate over homoeopathy rages on

As a 10-year-old, Vineeta Raikar suffered from frequent bouts of colds. “And, unlike common cold, my illness used to be severe that lasted for months together,” recalled the Vineeta, who is now 28. The Andheri-resident then took a two-year-long homeopathic treatment. “I have never had to worry about cold since,” the home-maker, who swears by homoeopathy, said.

Similarly, homoeopathy changed septuagenarian T Ramaswamy’s life. Diagnosed with psoriasis — a chronic and non-contagious autoimmune disease that affects the skin and joints — at the age of 20, Ramaswamy’s life came to a standstill every winter. But then he was advised homoeopathy by a friend. “I have been on lifelong homoeopathic treatment for the past 40 years. And, it has worked wonders for me,” said Ramaswamy.

The British Medical Association (BMA) may have called homoeopathy a “witchcraft”, but it’s unlikely to impact the popularity of the alternative medicine. Once considered to be a treatment sought by only the older generation, even youngsters now seem to be interested in the alternative medicine. “I prefer homoeopathy as it has answers to questions that allopathy can’t answer,” said Thomas John, 26, a businessman. “The approach is holistic unlike allopathy, which treats you one symptom at a time.”

According to most homoeopathic doctors, a majority - about 60% —of their patients are in the paediatric age group. This indicates that a huge number of parents trust the alternative medicine when it comes to their children. “The biggest advantage of homoeopathy is that you can offer specialised ‘customised’ treatment,” said Dr Rajesh Rambhiya, homoeopathic physician, who runs Vishesh Clinic, a paediatric speciality homoeopathy centre at Matunga.

“Although we have a family doctor, we also have a homoeopathy doctor, who we go to for almost everything from common cold and fever to chronic problems,” said bank employee Manisha Puthran, 30.

Dr Sujja Appukutaan, a homoeopathic doctor, practicing for the past 13 years at IIT Powai, said the debate over effectiveness of homoeopathy has been raging for well over 40 years, and will never subside. “A majority of classical homeopaths hail from India. A classical homeopath is one who follows all the rules and regulations of basic homoeopathy. We believe that each individual is unique and needs to be treated differently even if the complaint is similar to what someone else suffers from,” Appukutaan added.

However, there is a section within the medical community, which does not feel homeopath is as effective as it is portrayed to be. “While a patient has the right to decide the treatment he wants to receive, his decision should be an informed one. Several clinical trials abroad, including the one done in January 2010 in UK, have shown that homoeopathic medicine has nothing more than a placebo effect,” said Dr Rajesh Dedhia. He added that even the prestigious Lancet Journal had published an article disproving effect of homoeopathy.

“Would you opt for a long-term homoeopathic treatment to show its effect if you meet with a car accident? There is no comparison between allopathy and homoeopathy,” said Dr Sameer Rane, intensivist at Sharada Nursing Home in Mulund.