Benefits of homeopathy supported by research

WHAT a badly researched piece on homeopathy by Fionola Meredith (Belfast Telegraph, Jan 26).

There is a volume of high-quality randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews validating its efficacy, and there are many high-quality and fully replicated laboratory studies showing ultra-high dilution homeopathic medicines have clear biological effects.

It is accepted within the scientific community that there is a physico-chemical change in water when producing homeopathic medicine.

Science constantly evolves, and while one scientist claims something to be impossible, another is often proving it to be a fact, including Nobel Prize-winning scientists.

There will always be those who refuse to accept the evidence of scientific findings. Do remember, the world was not round and Thalidomide was a safe medicine.

It is utter nonsense that people treat serious conditions with homeopathy instead of going to their doctors. Where is the evidence of this? Why should chemists not stock an item the author herself confirms is accepted as being totally harmless?

With death by adverse reactions to pharmaceutical drugs being the fifth biggest cause of death in Europe (reference — European Medical Journal) the scale of hypocrisy is astonishing. Could it be popular and continually selling because it works when used appropriately?

Unlike the author, I applaud someone who consults a qualified practitioner who has studied for years to accurately prescribe.

I will continue to give credence to scientists who have taken their entire career to become an expert in their field as opposed to the quoted self-proclaimed expert on all things scientific who professes to know it all.

Let’s stay in the realms of reality, please.

LIZ GORDON Antrim