Eeek! I'm in an online Pharmacology class as a prereq for a couple of the nursing programs I'm applying for, and the professor is acting like homeopathy is a valid thing to teach about!! We're going to have material on it every week! This is from the first week:
"Why Study Homeopathy?
In each lesson in this course, you will have a short lecture and activities as appropriate on homeopathic medicine. Why should we discuss homeopathic remedies?
If you are a hands-on caregiver, it will be important during a history gathering to assure you have complete information about all the substances a patient is taking. Widespread use of homeopathic substances means there is an increased risk of potential dangerous interactions between those substances and prescribed medications.
If you are a coder, you often find clues to a patient's conditions frm the prescribed medications. You can also expect these same indications when you see a homeopathic drug listed in the patient's chart. Both situations may lead you to develop a query in order to determine if the condition will be documented and if you are able to assign a code based on the Official Coding Guidelines.
What is homeopathy?
Homeopathy, or homeopathic medicine, is a medical philosophy and practice based on the idea that the body has the ability to heal itself. Homeopathy was founded in the late 1700s in Germany and has been widely practiced throughout Europe. Homeopathic medicine views symptoms of illness as normal responses of the body as it attempts to regain health.
Homeopathy is based on the idea that "like cures like." That is, if a substance causes a symptom in a healthy person, giving the person a very small amount of the same substance may cure the illness. In theory, a homeopathic dose enhances the body's normal healing and self-regulatory processes.
A homeopathic health practitioner (homeopath) uses pills or liquid mixtures (solutions) containing only a little of an active ingredient (usually a plant or mineral) for treatment of disease. These are known as highly diluted or "potentiated" substances. There is some evidence to show that homeopathic medicines may have helpful effects.
What is homeopathy used for?
Historically, people have used homeopathy to maintain health and treat a wide range of long-term illnesses, such as allergies, atopic dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and irritable bowel syndrome. They have also used it to treat minor injuries, such as cuts and scrapes and muscle strains or sprains. Homeopathic treatment is not considered appropriate for illnesses, such as cancer, heart disease, major infections, or emergencies.
Homeopathy has been widely used in India, England, and other European countries.
Is homeopathy safe?
Homeopathic remedies have been regulated in the United States since 1938 and are considered to be safe.
Some critics of homeopathy believe that there is so little active substance in a solution that any benefits from treatment are likely not because of the substance but because you are thinking it is effective (placebo effect)."
It is absolutely terrifying to me that I will be trying to learn anything from this person. Would you be concerned?
