Homeopathic treatments for tinnitus
Jul 17th, 2008 by rob
As a “truth seeker” there’s nothing that ruffles my feathers more, than the mention of homeopathic medicine. This totally unscientific form of treating illness is rampant on the Internet and these snake oil peddlers are particularly drawn towards desperate tinnitus sufferers. Do any search for “tinnitus cure” on the Internet and you will find a plethora of homeopathic pills and potions that swear to cure your tinnitus.
So What Is Homeopathy?
Homeopathy works on the spurious notion that “Like cures Like” - for example one of the symptoms of food poisoning is burning vomiting - Arsenic ingestion also causes this symptom - so the homeopath would consider Arsenic at a very diluted level as a treatment. Then - wait for it - your going to love this bit - the Arsenic is diluted to such a degree that not even a molecule is left in the final solution, but The Memory Of Water comes to the rescue - so in the end your literally just taking pure water “magic water”.
Is Homeopathy dangerous?
Drinking water isn’t dangerous - so homeopathic remedies aren’t dangerous - the danger lies in when a person uses homeopathy in place of real medicine.
So Homeopathy wont cure my tinnitus?
No It wont cure your tinnitus - Homeopathic remedies will part you from your money - but not your tinnitus. There have been many “double blind” experiments done under proper scientific conditions that show that homeopathic treatments do not work.
Is there anything positive about Homeopathy?
A Homeopath will spend some talking with the patient so this is a positive thing - if the patient buys into all the nonsense and leaves feeling “looked after” and in a positive mindset - this may be of some use, but you don’t get this “face to face” with Internet purchases.
Conclusion
I hold homeopathy in the same regard as Astrology, Palm reading and the such — just because it is old doesn’t mean it works. If you are considering buying a homeopathic remedy why not give the money to a tinnitus charity instead - you will be doing much more good with your money - and you will feel positive in yourself that you are contributing to a search for a proper cure.
We all laugh at the story of Jack and beanstalk and how the idiot was persuaded to part with his prize cow for a hand-full of magic beans - well if you buy into the Homeopathy bunkum - Then in my opinion - your just being a jack ……
post update 12/7/09
I had to add this update because following reading other people comments I think I am being a bit to negative — and negative isn’t a good state of mind —– The power of belief and good intent are the most powerful forces in healing and well-being — If homeopathy is used as a vessel to carry this good intent, then this can only be good.
I am not a closed minded person and I do believe in forces not yet understood. The practise of Homeopathy is a positive practise trying to achieve positive results - so I can’t really knock that.
I don’t know why nobody replied to you but here is my comment. I went to my doctor and he explained why is that some people find relief from homeopatic remedies or other. There is a cientific study that states that 30% of the people get relief or even are cured with a placebo. That is why every medication has to be double blind tested. If a medication reaches over 30% relief or cure they will consider this medication valid. Homeopatic remedies are not tested like that. I have seen these doctors measuring medicines already approved by FDA and they say are “nocive for your body”. What is that??? I think homeopatic remedies are a joke
Yes Michangel — Its all down to money — Homeopathy is very craftily marketed to sound like real science — unfortunately there are many desperate people out there who will try anything even to get an ounce of relief.
These people know this and are more than willing to offer a helping hand whilst the other hand rummages around in your back pocket.
You are very wrong about homeopathy. My M.D. treated me with homeopathy (he was also the head of the E.R.) and it worked. You need to look at the literature. You will find some double blinds where it works, some where it does not. We need to follow up on where it works. I just went to pubmed and found a study. Look at this: “In one trial, severity of symptoms was lessened in the homeopathy group compared to the placebo group. In another trial, lung function measures and medication use showed improvement in the homeopathy group compared to the placebo group. ” And in The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal a study from The Univ Of Washington said: “Conclusions. The results from these studies confirm that individualized homeopathic treatment decreases the duration of acute childhood diarrhea and suggest that larger sample sizes be used in future homeopathic research to ensure adequate statistical power. Homeopathy should be considered for use as an adjunct to oral rehydration for this illness.” (Nov. 22, 2002.)
Ask yourself: a kid with diarrhea - wouldn’t you want the treatment that shortens the time? There are plenty of double blinds with homeopathic medicine. I suggest you research before you damn it. There are contradictory studies, and much is unknown. But this is not reason to condemn possible help from this field. If you think it is only placebo, try it on a baby with poison oak. Or a dog. I know it works on them …and my husband who not only cut down a poison oak TREE, but then sat in a bath. He was covered, and in agony - he was crying. If the remedy didn’t work we were going to the hospital. But it worked. And I raised kids who seemed to find poison oak everywhere…and it worked for them. I haven’t found anything for tinnitus - that’s the bad news. But that is not proof homeopathy is nonsense. We cannot afford to ignore help from any corner especially when it has proven itself in studies.
Hi Ann
I never form an opinion without first looking into the facts and figures. The fact is that there is no “science” involved in homeopathy just “magical nonsense”. The figures on all the “Proper” medical studies cannot find any effects above the placebo.
You must admit that selling 10ml of pure water for $20 is a charlatans dream ticket - preying on the ignorant - desperate - and the gullible. That is why it is so heavily marketed and doctors paid huge endorsements because it is such a massive “Cash Cow”.
If it works for you and your dogs then great stuff - but I believe you would have got the same effect if you had buried a half ripe purple parsnip under an oak tree at midnight.
The orginal article on Homeopathy is quite ignorant and feeds the general attack on alternative therapies.
homeopathy is safe, scientific, effective and often can quickly help with numerous conditions.
look at the real research, not the fuel from the multi national pharmaceuticals and their lackeys.
I’ve seen considerable relief in many paitnets with tinnitus.
be more broad minded, Rob and get your facts right
Homeopathy gives alternative medicine a reputation for quackery and it’s important to teach people the difference. I agree with Penny that homeopathic remedies are as safe as water. I disagree that it has been shown effective. So far when trials are high quality, with large numbers and double blind the remedies are no more effective than placebos. When trials have been positive they cannot be repeated. That’s the real history of homeopathic research.
The bit about big pharmaceuticals is just a way to play to people’s mistrust. When you can’t agree with the evidence you attack it as being biased.
Being accused not being broad minded is another tactic used to attack you and not the evidence. If only you would ignore the scientific method and all known chemistry and physics, you would then be able believe. Penny I am broad minded and look at both sides. Science does not back up homeopathy. Will I look to homeopathy for my tinnitus–NO.
I agree Mark - when I form an opinion on something I really like to do the legwork and look at all the evidence - some people have these these amazing rose tinted spectacles that just filter out what they would like to see or believe. If proof surfaces that homeopathy really does work, then I would glady embrace it.
I believe I have a very open mind - - I gave blind faith a try once — someone gave me a dead cert horse racing tip — and I lost my last 20 quid.
I have question for everyone! Have any of you or do you know of anyone who has achieved some degree of relief from remedies, T.R.T, Neuromonics, hearing Aids, or any treatment not mentioned? Testing the legitimacy for these forms of treatments seem all most impossible when patients do not let others know of their experience or authorities do not publish current results from current patients.
Hi Jake
I have heard of people benifiting from TRT and also hearing aids but what may work for one person may not work for another. I tried wearing a hearing aid and it didn’t alter my T one bit - but I have heard some people reporting it reduced their tinnitus.
A good place to look is on tinnitus forums (RNID forum is a good one) you can find people on there who have tried different treatments and reported back on their results. Just be aware of the potion peddlars pretending to be cured by a certain pill or medicine - they are usually easy to spot and will crawl back into their cess pool when asked probing questions.
Homeopathy is at best a placebo. It comes down to a belief system based on nonsensical and non-scientific ideas.
But placebo is not to be dismissed - there is an excellent chapter on it in Ben Goldacre’s “Bad Science” - some quite amazing examples.
Hi All,
I have become aware over recent months that there is a need for a robust, critical debate about the evidence base for Tinnitus treatments of all kinds. I am also aware however that this debate should NOT take place on a support site. Rather it should be something you opt into if you choose to and are interested, but should not be forced upon you when you’re simply looking for some help.
To that end I have created a forum specifically for this purpose and NOT for support issues, i.e. come only if you are interested in critically debating issues around Tinnitus and Hyperacusis, not if you need empathy and support.
You can find the forum here http://badtinnitus.net/badforum/
Look forward to seeing some of you there,
Tim
It’s just another form of “the hair of the dog.”
If homeopathy would be a placebo indeed, then it could have no effect on:
- people in coma
- animals
- babies
- plants
Homeopathy it should also work when you get the wrong remedy
and it should not have any negative effect when taking a wrong remedy.
But none of the things above is true. Many people need some precriptions until the right remedy is found and placebo do not help them at all before that.
So homeopathy cannot placebo. It absolutely impossible.
But since people do not know anything about it except “placebo”, they keeo repeating the same nonsense.
I have to say that Homeopathy does work if properly prescribed, i have used it many times for different causes and it has helped or on some cases cured me. For Tinnitus my doctor is treating me to help with the stress and depression it has brought. He has been straight forward in telling me that there is no cure or magical remedies for Tinnitus, so far the treatment witch only consist of one remedy has helped with the stress and depression from Tinnitus. I rather take this “water pill” over some of the medication other doctors have given me that make me feel like Crap and have done nothing for me. I only see my Homeopathy Doctor after completing the treatment my insurance has covered me for treatments with only paying the copay visit. I have to accept that Tinnitus will go away when i die or when some magical medication comes out.
Anybody who thinks theres any truth in homeopathy should read the section on wiki on dilutions - ill post a link so they dont have to strain themselvs typing the words into a search bar
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeopathy#Dilutions
I also recommend a trip to badscience.org and find out how else youv’e been mislead
Hi Rob,
Just discovered your website, got an incident this last Monday, playing with an App on my Iphone creating High frequencies and since then I believe I have Tinnitus, really unhappy……… . as there is no cure, or is it not convenient to find one, we will never know… .
Very interestingly, who are you Rob if I may ask ? It seems that you are helping a lot of people here which is incredible……. . I am going to see different doctors and specialist which I believe might not help me….. but you might……….. . Many thanks Rob and looking forward to know more about you!
Regards.
Gilles.