Note: I am not saying everything in the URL is gospel, just that there are some natural remedies that work.
Hanhemann's description of Homeopathy is:
"based on the hypothesis that a substance that causes the symptoms of a disease in healthy people will cure that disease in sick people." (Wikipedia)
This theory is nonsense and proven to be quackery.
In summary: I suspect that Professor Wadhwa's interpretation of Homeopathy was culturally biased. There is nothing wrong or revolutionary with giving natural cures a closer look, just not under the Woo of Homeopathy. If Wadhwa was advocating Hanhemann's Homeopathy then that is indeed disappointing given prevalent evidence.
" it is not unusual for all natural remedies (Neem leaves to soothe burns) to be classified as "Homeopathic"."
That's unfortunate that in this day and age, there are people who can't distinguish between scientifically proven natural remedies and homeopathy. Natural remedies work because they contain chemicals that have an effect on the body. For example, willow bark contains salicylic acid. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_aspirin
Agreed! When homeopathy works, it's because people call active formulations of herbal medicines homeopathic, even when they have way more than homeopathic doses in them.
It is fair to call it quackery because placebo is not what the homeopaths claim their medicines are working on. They claim some BS around "Law of the simlars" and "Like cures like".
Being from India, it is not unusual for all natural remedies (Neem leaves to soothe burns) to be classified as "Homeopathic".
More Examples Here:
http://hpathy.com/materia-medica/indian-homeopathic-drugs/
Note: I am not saying everything in the URL is gospel, just that there are some natural remedies that work.
Hanhemann's description of Homeopathy is:
"based on the hypothesis that a substance that causes the symptoms of a disease in healthy people will cure that disease in sick people." (Wikipedia)
This theory is nonsense and proven to be quackery.
In summary: I suspect that Professor Wadhwa's interpretation of Homeopathy was culturally biased. There is nothing wrong or revolutionary with giving natural cures a closer look, just not under the Woo of Homeopathy. If Wadhwa was advocating Hanhemann's Homeopathy then that is indeed disappointing given prevalent evidence.