FAQ 12 – Oh, you can’t trust studies anyway!

Many people have internalised a basic distrust of "scientific studies". They consider that study results are worthless because they depend solely on the interests of the person who conducted and/or funded the study. However, very …

FAQ 11 – But there are studies that show that homeopathy works!

"It takes more than a swallow to make a summer" There are numerous positive studies on homeopathy! This argument is regularly put forward by advocates of homeopathy. The conclusion is then drawn that the effectiveness …

FAQ 10 – And if it’s just a placebo, what does it matter?

Many people understand that homeopathy is only based on placebo effects. But they ask the question: "What does it matter? As long as the patient is better, it's all the same." But is it honest? …

FAQ 09 – Placebo effect means conceit, doesn’t it?

Many people think: placebos ("sham drugs") would be only effective in patients who imagine illnesses - and therefore also improvements - and in unstable people who can be easily influenced. But that is not true. …

FAQ 07 – He who heals is right! And that means – ?

Statement right - common understanding wrong The laurels for a cure (better: recovery) are always given to the "professional" who is nearby. Thus the "ritual waiting until it becomes good on it's own" gets the quality …

FAQ 06 – “But homeopathy helped me!”

There is hardly a discussion about homeopathy without someone taking the point: "But homeopathy has helped me! You can tell me for a long time why it can't work, I know that it did it …

… and they know what they are doing (and they do it anyway)

Pseudoscience with Academics A guest contribution by Dr. phil. Susanne Dietz There are existing, unfortunately, the Jakeszs, Hubers, Broers, Burkarts, Dahlkes, etc. of this world, who spread esoterically and spiritually veiled beliefs (in addition to …

Open Letter by the GWUP Science Board and the INH to Melanie Huml, Secretary of State for Health, Bavaria

On 13 December 2018, the CSU parliamentary group in the Bavarian state parliament published a press release entitled "Naturopathy should be more firmly anchored at Bavarian universities". This corresponded both with a similar parliamentary motion …

Homeopathic preparations also don’t act through nanoparticles

Representatives of homeopathy often claim that nanoparticles of the mother tincture are the carriers of the effectiveness of homeopathic preparations. That this is not possible at all can be seen after quite simple considerations: Nanoparticles …

Homeopathy not a “placebo” because often the first given remedy does not work?

What happens after ingesting a homeopathic remedy - according to the homeopathic build of thought? Occasionally one is confronted with the argument that the effect of homeopathic remedies cannot be based on a placebo effect …

Homeopathy isn’t a “stimulus-regulation therapy”

Teil eines technischen Regelkreises als Symbolbild
Homeopathy is occasionally referred to as "stimulus-regulation therapy", which assumes the existence of a corresponding explanatory model. The reader (or listener) is left alone with this term - there is no precise explanation of how …

Spain – Homeopathy criticism now also government official

We had reported that on 22 June this year, the Madrid Medical Association, de facto the supreme medical association of Spain, issued a very clear declaration against the use of homeopathy in medical practice and …

Infinite Stories – once again to the Australian NHMRC’s 2015 review on homeopathy

The homoeopaths have long since discovered the title of Michael Ende's well-known work "Die unendliche Geschichte" ("The Infinite Story") as a quiet motto for themselves, as their constantly repeated "arguments" in favour of homeopathy prove. …

Homeopathic study: The legend of the five times eight rats

Scientific Reports, quite a medical journal of good reputation, published on 10.09.2018 a paper entitled "Ultra-diluted Toxicodendron pubescens attenuates pro-inflammatory cytokines and ROS- mediated neuropathic pain [1] in rats". The paper concludes that homeopathic high potencies …

Glasses, dentures and homeopathy – The role of German statutory health insurances

This text describes the legal situation under which health insurance companies in Germany are legally allowed to reimburse costs for homeopathy. Due to the very specific German factual and legal situation, we refrain from a …

Greeting of the patient representative to the Hahnemannia – further open letter with 52 signatories by name

English version will appear soon.

Open letter of the INH to the government’s patient representative on the occasion of the greeting message on the 150th birthday of Hahnemannia

English version will appear soon.

France: In the fast lane in the case of homeopathy

The discussion about alternative medical methods in the health system, especially homeopathy, has quickly and apparently sustaining gained momentum in France. We reported on the request of the National Council of the Medical Chamber of …

Study from Oxford on “Best Practice” of homeopathic doctors

Are you sure ...Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com A frequently used argument in favour of homeopathy (which, however, has nothing to do with its effectiveness) is that homeopathic treatments lead to fewer prescriptions for conventional …

France: Doctors’ collective #FakeMed – a crystal-clear statement on pseudomedicine

A clear message from the French medical profession On Thursday 12 April 2018, French Health Minister Agnès Buzyn made a brief statement on French television on the question of the reimbursement of homeopathy costs by …

Alles klar mit SocialMedia – oder nicht… ?

Wir nutzen bekanntlich neben unseren Webseiten die SocialMedia-Kanäle Facebook und Twitter, um unsere Informationen anzubieten und auch, um Diskussionen über diese anzustoßen. Wir freuen uns sehr über die Resonanz und das Interesse, das uns dort …

A dialogue and its end – (no) discussion about homeopathy…

English version will appear soon.

Alternative practitioners on pharmacy-only obligation and labelling of homeopathic remedies – a statement of the INH

English version will appear soon.

Open letter of the INH to the Siemens health insurance company (SBK)

In the context of the discussion on the reimbursement of homeopathy by statutory health insurance funds, the CEO of SBK drew attention to himself on Twitter with the "argument" that the small amount spent on …

Criticism on criticism on Homeopathy #1: “There is no evidence”

"There is no scientific evidence that homeopathy works." It is evident that homeopathy associations are dealing with critical arguments more intensively than before, e.g. with the work of the Information Network on Homeopathy (INH), a Germany-based …

Criticism on criticism on Homeopathy #2: “Missing positive trials”

The second part of our series about the "homeopathic criticism on criticism on homeopathy" covers why critics conclude that there is no reliable evidence for the efficacy of homeopathy beyond placebo. „There is not a …

Criticism on criticism on homeopathy #3 – “Homeopathy is impossible”

“Scientists claim that homeopathy is not possible” ... states the Homeopathy Research Institute as allegedly supposed dictum of critics on homeopathy. The third part of our series about homeopathic criticism on criticism of homeopathy deals …

Criticism on criticism on homeopathy – #4: “They’re just sugar pills!”

"There's nothing in it - They're just sugar pills!" ... is the next thesis from homeopathic criticism to which the Homeopathy Research Institute dedicates the fourth part of its thirteen-part series in order to refute …

German Homeopathic Doctors on EASAC Statement: An Answer from the INH

We have reported on the verdict of the Advisory Committee of the Scientific Academies of the European Community on Homeopathy and reactions to it. As expected, the German Central Association of Homeopathic Physicians has also …

“High dilution research” – relevance or not?

The Information Network Homeopathy recently received a question as to why there was no discussion of ultra-high dilution research in its publications. What exactly is this about? It is about research on dilutions above the …

Negative Fälle: In die Psychose getrieben

Peter. 44 Jahre, berichtet: Ich bin seit Jahren aufgrund einer psychischen Erkrankung in Behandlung. Um genau zu sein, leide ich an einer Form von Schizophrenie, einer schweren psychischen Erkrankung. Ich bin in der Hoffnung dorthin …

Negative Fälle: Autoimmunerkrankung, die fast zum Tode führte

Helmut, 57 Jahre, berichtet: Im Jahr 2002 wurde in der zweiten Jahreshälfte eine kleine Hautreizung/Entzündung entdeckt. Diese war am Rücken und sah zunächst nach einem entzündeten Pickel aus, also harmlos. Im Laufe der Zeit wurde …

Europe-wide reactions to the EASAC statement – Natalie Grams at 20min.fr

English version will appear soon

Open letter of the INH to the interview with Dr. Tournier (HRI) on “Homöopathie online”.

Homeopathy online, the online portal of the German Central Association of Homeopathic Physicians, titled on 27 September 2017 : "Interview: How a positive homeopathy study turned into a negative one". Under this heading, an interview …

On homeopathy cost studies: Nothing is always too expensive

The homeopathy advocates and also the health insurers who have included reimbursements for homeopathy in their statutory benefits like to claim that the use of homeopathy shows a cost advantage over science-based remedies and methods. …

Study uncovers: With alternative medicine many cancer patients die earlier than necessary!

If the doctor tells you that he has diagnosed cancer, then this is an incisive event for everyone. What to do now? Conventional treatment, i.e. chemotherapy, radiation, surgery or hormone therapy, depending on the severity …

No Side Effects vs Homeopathic Drug Testing – what’s wrong?

Another point on which homeopathy is contradictory: either homeopathic remedies cannot have side effects, or homeopathic drug testing cannot work. If you ask a homeopath how one knows which remedy to use and when, he …

Homeopathy – material or immaterial?

English version will appear soon.

Naturalness reconsidered – Why babies don’t need globules

Happy without globules! - A guest contribution by Miriam Weissberg, Midwife Dear becoming and become parents! I am a midwife with heart and soul, deeply convinced that homeopathy has no use whatsoever that would make …

Homeopathy as “refugee aid” – a medical and ethical problem!

Under the flag "Homeopathy for refugees in Germany" the "Homeopaths Without Borders" together with the initiative "Homeopathy in Action" advertise a nationwide network of homeopathy offers for the "treatment of refugees". Again and again, related …

Conversation in medicine

The good conversation between patient and doctor is an essential part of the anamnesis, diagnostics and above all the therapy. Mutual trust between patient and doctor is of decisive importance. Often one hears of a …

Dead child in Italy: Homeopathic doctors association sees “individual medical malpractice”

Malpractice or systemic risk? In Italy, a child died recently because his parents and the doctor who treated him only relied on homeopathy. The German Central Association of Homeopathic Physicians sees here a "medical malpractice", …

Nocebo – what’s that again?

On this page you will find various information about the placebo effect, which explain that it is effective with any kind of attention - and therefore, of course, even more so with medical interventions. Furthermore, …

What is the Placebo effect and what are Context effects?

Let us first clarify what is meant by the term "placebo". Here we would like to limit ourselves to placebos as drugs (yes, there are a lot of placebos that have nothing to do with …

Negative Fälle – Fast Baby verloren

Maria, 35 Jahre, berichtet: Während meiner Schwangerschaft wollte ich mich möglichst wenig mit normalen Medikamenten belasten, weil ich immer wieder gehört hatte, dass dies für das Baby im Bauch nicht gut sein sollte. Ich war …

Open letter of the information network homeopathy to the statutory health insurance “Die Techniker” (TK)

English version will appear soon.

Happened afterwards, but not because of it

The "Cum hoc ergo propter hoc" fallacy of homeopathic drug testing "Cum hoc, ergo propter hoc" means "with this, therefore because of this" and, as a fallacy, is to be understood in such a way …

German Association of Homeopathic Doctors vs. Russian Academies of Science

English version will appear soon.

Placebo by proxy – what does that mean?

The placebo effect in children - even infants - and animals does not even exist, we hear again and again. But that's not true. It is present and is called "placebo-by-proxy". This has been proven …

Open letter to the German Federal Ministry of Health on the patronage of the World Congress of Homoeopathic Physicians 2017 by State Secretary A. Widmann-Mauz

English version will appear soon.

“Homeopathy is Pseudoscience” – Memorandum of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Ther Geman version of this article is the translation of die entitled memorandum of the Russion Academy of Sciences. The Abstract of the memorandum is in English available here.

Is mighty “BigPharma” suppressing Homeopathy…?

... ...and are homeopathy critics willing servants of the pharmaceutical industry? Mention this! Both are ineradicable narratives that we encounter daily. Behind this idea are assumptions that have simply nothing to do with reality. And …

Objection: Homeopathy is Ancient Wisdom!

Alt. Deshalb gut - und richtig?
"Old knowledge is just -  old." When it comes to alternative, complementary and holistic healing methods or even herbs, people like to argue with "old knowledge". But what does that mean? Out of a conglomeration …

On the developments in the USA and the demands of the FTC

A bad day for homeopathy: On November 15, 2016, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued its statement that in future, over-the-counter homeopathic remedies will have to be labelled as the product's efficacy is not …

Open letter of the INH and the science advice of the GWUP to the “Lecture Series Homeopathy” of the Munich University

In a current publication, the Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich is promoting a series of events (lecture series) in the winter semester 2016/17 on the subject of "Homeopathy: From Theory to Practice - With Practical Examples and …

Homeopathic Remedies for Teething Problems

Tooth eruption (dentition) begins in most babies in the 6th month of life and is a painful process. Before a tooth reaches the light of the oral cavity, it first has to fight its way …

On the homeopathy dispute on Wikipedia

English version will appear soon.

Minister defends the protective fence for homeopathy – INH in response to the Open Letter to the Ministry of Health (2016)

English version will appear soon.

A brief overview of the life of Samuel Hahnemann, the inventor of homeopathy

In 1755 a devastating earthquake destroyed Lisbon, the British-French war over North America raged and on 10 April Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann was born in Meissen (Triebischvorstadt) as the third child of the porcelain painter …

But health insurance companies wouldn’t pay for ineffective drugs!

(This contribution describes the legal situation in Germany which currently applies to the reimbursement of homeopathy by the statutory health insurance.) Unfortunately the health insurances do this indeed, even if one hardly considers it possible. …

Rechte und Pflichten von Heilpraktikern – ein Debattenbeitrag aus Sicht des INH

„Es wäre gut, wenn in der Medizin gar keine Lücke entstünde, in der sich die Patienten auf die Suche nach "Alternativen" machen müssen.“ - Dr. Natalie Grams Aus aktuellem Anlass Aktuell tobt ein Streit um …

Objection: But homeopathy and naturopathy are identical!

English version will appear soon.

What about Schuessler Salts?

Are Schuessler Salts Homeopathy? The so-called "Schuessler salts" are often equated or confused with homeopathy. However, they do not go back to Hahnemann, but to the Oldenburg physician Wilhelm Heinrich Schüßler (1821 to 1898). Biographical …

Objection: Homeopathy is especially suitable for self-treatment!

Really? In the pharmacy all kinds of homeopathic globules are available for sale -over the counter. They are also strongly promoted by the manufacturers with the attributes "gentle and natural". Above all, "simple and side-effect-free" …

Objection: Potentiated means stronger!?!

Water lilies grow on a lake and their surface area increases tenfold every day. After nine days the lake is completely overgrown. How much of its surface is covered after eight days? (Solution at the …

But homeopathy is a holistic method, in contrast to “orthodox medicine”! – Isn’t it?

Homeopathy "holistic"? We don't guess! The alleged holistic nature of the homeopathic method is one of the most popular "pro-arguments", you read and hear it everywhere. What is the truth? Let us get straight to …

What are Bach Flower Remedies anyway?

About the inventor Edward Bach was a doctor from Birmingham, England, who studied medicine at the University College Hospital in London and graduated from Cambridge. Before he began his studies, however, he worked in the …

Objection: But animal homeopathy still works!

Animal homeopathy is widespread and highly praised. At Google the term achieves nearly 65.000 hits (retrieved 13.04.2021). But it is a building that was first constructed by Hahnemann's successors. There is only a short text …

Objection: Globules are much better than antibiotics anyway!

"Antibiotics versus globules - really? "I'd rather take globules than antibiotics." "Doctors prescribe way too much antibiotics randomly." "If I take too much of it, I'll be resistant in later diseases." These sentences can be …

Globules are natural and plant-based – really?

Another common misconception about homeopathy Many people assume that homeopathic remedies are made from herbal substances. But if you look at the long "drug lists" of homeopathic manufacturers, it quickly becomes clear that homeopathy and …

Objection: Theoretically bumble bees can’t fly either!

"According to the known laws of aerodynamics, a bumblebee cannot fly. The bumblebee knows nothing about aerodynamics - and still flies"... ...and therefore, as the argument is intended to express, science is also not suited …

Objection: Mobile phones also function immaterially during data transmission!

Homeopathic remedies in medium and high potencies do not contain any or no significant amounts of the remedy indicated on the packaging. Some advocates of homeopathy say that it is an antiquated view of the …

Objection: CDs also store information!

Has storing music on a CD really anything to do with homeopathy? Proponents of homeopathy often point out that chemical analysis cannot determine whether a CD is recorded or not, or what is stored on …

Hahnemann’s Organon – Fundamental Work of Homeopathy

A book from the beginning of the 19th century - a Bible of today's "medicine"? The Organon can justifiably be called the Bible of homeopaths. It was first published in 1810 by the inventor of …

Declaration of the INH on the publication of WissHom: “The current state of research on homeopathy”

English version will appear soon.

Homoeopathy in Switzerland – the background to its reimbursement by the health insurance funds

English version will appear soon.

Prinz Charles und die Homöopathie (United Kingdom)

Es dürfte wohl wenige Familien geben, deren Leben in der Öffentlichkeit besser dokumentiert ist als das der Windsors. Wobei wir die Familien Kennedy und Grimaldi einmal außen vor lassen. Dies natürlich vor allem durch die …

Homeopathy helps – as a ritual

Homeopathic high potencies do not contain any active substances (and certainly no energy) and accordingly cannot have their own and immediate effects. However, the administration of medicines - this also applies to homeopathic high potencies …

Was hinter einer “positiven Studie” von Homöopathen steckt – ein Beispiel

Der nachstehende Beitrag erhellt exemplarisch, was sich so manches Mal hinter Veröffentlichungen der homöopathischen Szene verbirgt. Auf seiner Facebook-Seite hatte der DZVhÄ (Deutscher Zentralverein homöopathischer Ärzte) am 14. April 2016 um 13.37 Uhr einen Artikel …

The “But homeopathy did help me!” fallacy

You can find the original article by Dr. Steven Novella under: https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-it-worked-for-me-gambit/

Warum ich meinen Kindern keine Globuli gebe

English version will appear soon.

Negative Fälle – Hörschäden nach Mittelohrentzündung

Michael, 18 Jahre, berichtet: Meine Eltern waren damals auf dem Homöopathie-Trip und ließen meine wiederkehrenden Mittelohrentzündungen (MOE) nicht etwa antibiotisch behandeln, sondern homöopathisch. Ich war damals im typischen Alter für MOE, zwischen drei und fünf …

Homeopathy: Individuality vs. Confusion of Symptoms

Individuality... ? The "individual" homeopathy - is it really that? Homeopathy is said to be a very individual therapy. Even the smallest differences between two patients can cause them to be administered different remedies, even …

The Placebo Business

Samuel Hahnemann was born on 10 April 1755 Placebo and nocebo effects are not only found in medicine. These effects accompany us in daily life always and everywhere and are not bad in themselves. The …

Scientific medicine and homeopathy – why they can’t work together

 "For me, medicine covers not only science, but also art of healing. Only both together emerge good medicine. Unfortunately, conventional doctors often lack the art. And alternative medicine often lacks science. Both of these are …

Negative Fälle – Qualvoll an Knochenkrebs verstorben

Christine, 21 Jahre, Bericht aus einem Darmstädter Hospiz: Als Christine aus einer "Fachklinik für integrative Onkologie" in unser Hospiz verlegt wurde, litt sie bereits seit drei Jahren an dem bösartigen Knochenkrebs "Osteosarkom". Der Krebs ist …

Negative Fälle – Mit Brustkrebs verhungert

Vera, 46 Jahre, Bericht aus einem Darmstädter Hospiz: Vera war eine Mutter von zwei Kindern, ihr jüngster Sohn war damals fünf Jahre alt. Sie stellte bei sich selbst Knoten in der Brust fest. Aus Angst …

About pharmacy obligation and Latin names of homeopathic remedies

English version will appear soon.

What does physics say about homeopathy? (And why does it have something to say about it?)

About Homeopathy and Physics One of the most prominent advocates of homeopathy, Prof. Dr. Dr. Harald Walach, former head of the Institute for Transcultural Health Sciences (IntraG) at the University of Frankfurt/Oder, explains: "In my …

Why people like to believe in homeopathy

"We all don't process information as carefully and reflectively as we think we do." Fast thinking versus slow thinking People use two different ways of thinking. Normally we judge intuitively, without reflection and according to …

How homeopathy overrides common sense

What makes common sense? As a university teacher, I try to teach my students one thing above all else: common sense. By this I mean the willingness and ability to adhere to simple reasoning principles …

Why do we call homeopathy pseudo- and no longer alternative medicine?

Homeopathy is not the right answer to justified questions and wishes of patients Many patients are longing for an alternative to our often so time-limited, too often unemotional medical everyday life - and rightly so! …

FAQ 19 – Do you want to “ban” homeopathy?

Ban homeopathy? No, we do not want that and accordingly we are not striving for that. However, we have good reasons why we do not consider it useful or helpful in medicine. Of course, everyone …

Science and scientific studies in medicine and pseudo-medicine

"He who heals is right." Really? This apparent simple phrase, widely accepted as true, is full of pitfalls when looked at more closely. In fact, doctor and patient only believe they see a "cure" or …

Homeopathy is Esotericism

This true without lying, certain and most true. That which is below is like that which is above and that which is above is like that which is below to do the miracles of one …

Does homeopathy need a unique position in the Medicines Act?

English version will appear soon.

Negative Fälle: Natürliche Windpockenqual

Lucie, 37 Jahre, berichtet über ihre Tochter Carla, damals 7 Jahre: Wir waren damals ganz überzeugt davon, dass wir richtig handelten: Carla sollte möglichst natürlich aufwachsen, war nicht geimpft (bis auf Tetanus, davor hatten wir …
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