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Lessons from homeopathy for the conventional practitioner
Homeopathic remedies have not reproducibly been shown to be better than
placebo in clinical trials and as such do not have a place in evidence-based
medicine. However, knowledge of homeopathy can provide valuable insights
for the practitioners and policy makers, specifically:
| Careful attention to the patient. Homeopathy stresses an
intimate interaction between the physician and patient to a degree not now seen in
the modern practice of medicine. Many surveys have shown that patient
experiences with alternative health care providers are more satisfying vs.
traditional physician office visits. Reimbursement issues prevent the
physician from spending enough time with the patient to understand all of
the factors that comprise their illness. This results in less time for
patient history and physical examination and more time devoted to impersonal
invasive tests. In addition, aspects of the practice of medicine are
being increasingly shifted to paraprofessionals. While this may be less expensive for the health care
provider, it can fragment the experience for the patient and provide less
time for meaningful interaction with the physician.
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| Importance of the placebo response. The placebo
response is the physician's best friend. Studies have shown
that one of the most critical factors in the magnitude of the placebo
response is physician enthusiasm. Since the placebo effect is a major
contributor to the response to both conventional AND alternative therapies,
the conventional medical community should attempt to maximize the
psychosocial factors that contribute to it.
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| Patients are seeking out homeopathy and it is making them feel better.
If patients were satisfied with conventional care, homeopathy would no
longer exist. Every health care provider must examine the reasons for
patient migration to alternative therapies. It is because the
conventional medical community is not providing the degree of medical care
and advice that they want. Many physicians become defensive with this
notion, but the fact is that some people are seeking medical attention
elsewhere and are reporting satisfaction. Rather than rely on
debunking of alternative practices as a primary defense, perhaps physicians
should investigate how to structure the delivery of medicine to provide
better patient satisfaction. |
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