What the conventional doctors should know about
homeopathy
By Dr Rajesh Shah, M.D.
(For information of patients and
conventional doctors.)
What the conventional doctors should know about homeopathy
The doctors of conventional medicine have not been trained to have a pragmatic
view towards homeopathy. As a result, without their fault, many of the
conventional doctors have view on homeopathy which may be far from what is being
called for. This is true with the doctors in mot countries.
Why so?
The conventional medical view on homeopathy is supported by one or more of the
following reasons:
a. Lack of knowledge about homeopathy
b. Lack of experience with homeopathy
c. Unwillingness to review homeopathy
The entire conventional medical training is centered on understanding more and
more about smallest units of human body. There has been greater success than
ever before. However, in the process, the totalistic philosophy is jeopardized.
The conventional doctors are not trained to look around and incorporated wisdom
of other system of medicine.
Lack of knowledge about homeopathy:
The conventional doctors (called as allopathic doctors in some countries) end up
having lack of knowledge about following aspects of homeopathy and homeopathic
education:
1. They are often ignorant about the fact that when the conventional medicine
was unpolished and cruel (late 18th century).
2. That homeopathy took birth in Germany, introduced by the doctor of medicine
that time, who was frustrated of blood letting and ill practice in medicine,
which has now developed into the conventional medicine.
3. The homeopathy is taught as a medical course, almost identical to the
conventional medicine, except the subject of conventional pharmacopeia (in many
countries.)
4. In other words, the homeopathic education is not different than the
conventional 'medical' education, except for the line of treatment.
5. That homeopathy is a different treatment modality, not different understating
about the human body!
6. Homeopathy works for chronic diseases, where the conventional medicine has
limitations.
7. That disease investigational parameters are same for the homeopathic science.
8. That homeopathy is a medical science! (How ironic that one stream of medical
science has no introduction to the other stream.)
9. That all forms of medical systems are nothing but parts of science viewed and
applied in different manners. This is true with the conventional medicine and
homeopathy.
10. That surgery is also a part of homeopathy. Homeopathy is just a specialized
medicinal therapeutics, whereby medicines are administered with a different
philosophy while all other treatment modalities remain the same, which include
investigations, diagnostic procedures (biopsy, MRI), surgical measures, medical
procedures (dialysis, intravenous supplements, ventilators), and other
supplementary therapies.
11. Most conventional doctors do not study the fundamentals of homeopathy hence
have no knowledge whatsoever about this faculty which has survived for over 210
years. As a result, they end up criticizing homeopathy without prior
comprehension.
12. That, homeopathy is as faculty with great therapeutic scope, which is not
yet a fully developed science. Any way, which science is fully developed?
Lack of experience:
Medical science per se is based on empirical know-how, to start with. The
conventional doctors due to many reasons fail to gain experience using
homeopathy. Any criticism without personal experience is bound to be groundless.
Some of the conventional doctors who are either open-minded hence opt for having
experience using homeopathic medicines, either for themselves of for their
family members, end up having positive views. Those who do not manage to have
first hand experience, end up missing out on the benefits for themselves, their
families as well as for their patients.
One will have experience either out of knowledge or need. If you know, you will
make use of it. Some of the conventional doctors, who would have opposed
homeopathy all life due to closed minded attitude, might suddenly come across a
situation, where someone dear and near would need for alternative medicine for a
disease not treatable using the conventional treatment. And the doors open for
ever. However, there are people, who keep the doors rigidly shut, and would
never let open!
Unwillingness to try homeopathy:
In the age of information technology, the most pitiable state is to get
information but still not try, out of prejudice. This is true with many
conventional medical professionals, as the mindset is so prejudiced that they
are just not willing to try new science. This is largely due to lack of exposure
to homeopathy at the medical schools.
So, how does it matter?
The question is that does it really matter if the conventional doctors do not
understand homeopathy? Well, it matters little if a few million doctors in this
world turn their backs to homeopathy. What matters more is when:
1. They do not guide their billions patients who need help for chronic diseases,
where the conventional treatment would not work well.
2. When, simply due to ignorance, they discourage those patients who have done
better homework about homeopathy, and are willing to opt for it.
It is absolutely unwise to let billions suffer due to the ignorance of a
million. Patients suffering from many chronic diseases all over the world remain
deprived of the benefits of homeopathy, simply because homeopathy was not taught
at the conventional medical schools.
What is the solution?
Openness of mind is a solution. The conventional medical schools all over the
world can easily integrate short courses (introductory and advance) as a part of
regular training. Those who are already in practice could be exposed to
homeopathy as a part of CME, continued medical education. This will help the
physician in particular and the suffering humanity in general.