It is not often that you find me laughing out loudly while reading a medical paper. This study, entitled “The Application of Artificial Intelligence in Acute Prescribing in Homeopathy: A Comparative Retrospective Study” achieves exactly that. Allow me to share its abstract with you:
The use of artificial intelligence to assist in medical applications is an emerging area of investigation and discussion. The researchers studied whether there was a difference between homeopathy guidance provided by artificial intelligence (AI) (automated) and live professional practitioners (live) for acute illnesses. Additionally, the study explored the practical challenges associated with validating AI tools used for homeopathy and sought to generate insights on the potential value and limitations of these tools in the management of acute health complaints. Method: Randomly selected cases at a homeopathy teaching clinic (n = 100) were entered into a commercially available homeopathic remedy finder to investigate the consistency between automated and live recommendations. Client symptoms, medical disclaimers, remedies, and posology were compared. The findings of this study show that the purpose-built homeopathic remedy finder is not a one-to-one replacement for a live practitioner. Result: In the 100 cases compared, the automated online remedy finder provided between 1 and 20 prioritized remedy recommendations for each complaint, leaving the user to make the final remedy decision based on how well their characteristic symptoms were covered by each potential remedy. The live practitioner-recommended remedy was included somewhere among the auto-mated results in 59% of the cases, appeared in the top three results in 37% of the cases, and was a top remedy match in 17% of the cases. There was no guidance for managing remedy responses found in live clinical settings.
In true homeopathic fashion, the authors drew concise conclusions:
Limitations aside, this study is the first to compare the recommendations of live homeopathy practitioners to an online automated remedy finder. Overall, the automated remedy finder provided a clear framework for acute prescribing by asking targeted questions for a limited set of acute complaints that can safely be treated at home, with basic guidance on how to take the remedy and built-in warnings for when to seek care from a licensed health care provider. The automated remedy finder was not able to go beyond basic recommendations in these areas, however, so commonly encountered situations in ‘real-world’ acute case management—such as remedy aggravations and potency stalls—were not covered.
The primary aim of this study, which was to compare remedy recommendations between an automated remedy finder and a live practitioner, showed significant gaps between live and automated remedy recommendations. Even in cases of remedy overlap, the final remedy differentiation is left to the user, who is asked to analyze his/her symptoms against the characteristics of anywhere between 1 and 20 remedy recommendations. This finding—let alone the additional skills necessary to successfully manage a case once a remedy is chosen—demonstrates that at present there is no equivalent substitute for a guided homeopathic interview from a live practitioner that results in a single remedy recommendation that can be altered as needed depending on the remedy response.
There is a potential role for more advanced AI tools to be employed in homeopathic prescribing. Emerging AI technology has the potential to compile feedback from real-world remedy responses, providing for the possibility of validation. The potential of emerging AI technology to assist in sifting through large amounts of literature and to “learn” based on feedback from remedy recommendations provides the possibility for evidence-based prescribing that could move the profession forward, most likely in the context of acute complaints. As a consequence, there are innumerable further future research investigations that emerge. Replicating the aim of this research using large language models is an obvious next step. Investigating the challenges of training of LLMs is another. The privacy concerns of using real world health data are a clear challenge.
The investigators did not assume that the online remedy finder used for this study is comparable to other commercially available remedy finders. Future investigations could reveal significant differences between different commercial products. However, the structural questions about the nature of complaints covered, how to elicit valuable answers to questions in a way that points to potentially supportive remedies, how to incorporate feedback to improve model accuracy, and patient safety/case management limitations would have been applicable to any model investigated. The purpose of this study, therefore, was not to evaluate a specific remedy finder but rather to explore the phenomenon of AI in homeopathy and begin a discussion.
As artificial intelligence tools continue to evolve, there are important considerations for homeopathic prescribing. While there are exciting possibilities, it will be important to find ways to take advantage of the things that AI tools can do well without sacrificing the things that only homeopathic practitioners are uniquely positioned to do.
Allow me to suggest a conclusion that is a little shorter and more relevant:
Whether performed by a homeopaths, AI or anything else, homeopathic remedy finding is a process that is random, irreproducible, unscientific, implausible and meaningless. In terms of its accuracy, it is comparable to tea leaf readings, palmistry, iridology, astrology, etc. This fact highlights yet again the utter absurdity of homeopathy as a form of healthcare.
19 Responses to Artificial Intelligence for Prescribing in Homeopathy?
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That‘s not AI, but AV (artificial voodoo) then?
🤭🤭🤭
🤷🏻
very good!
Why do they use the word “intelligence” in the context of homeopathy?
A better title for their article might have been:
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR NATURAL STUPIDITY
To ChatGPT:
“Please write Samuel Hahnemann’s ‘The Organon of the Healing Art’ in the style of Edzard Ernst.”
One of my specialisms is metrology, particularly subjective and objective test & measurement. So, it should not be surprising that I sometimes write about one of my pet subjects.
QUOTE Repeatability, Wikipedia
Repeatability or test–retest reliability is the closeness of the agreement between the results of successive measurements of the same measure, when carried out under the same conditions of measurement. In other words, the measurements are taken by a single person or instrument on the same item, under the same conditions, and in a short period of time. A less-than-perfect test–retest reliability causes test–retest variability. Such variability can be caused by, for example, intra-individual [intra-rater] variability and inter-observer [inter‑rater] variability. A measurement may be said to be repeatable when this variation is smaller than a predetermined acceptance criterion.
END OF QUOTE
In statistics:
• inter-rater reliability is the degree of agreement among independent observers who rate, code, or assess the same phenomenon;
• intra-rater reliability is the degree of agreement among repeated administrations of a diagnostic test performed by a single rater;
• inter-rater reliability and intra-rater reliability are aspects of test validity.
Edzard’s articles and their reader comments have occasionally discussed the exceedingly poor inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of SCAM practitioners. Furthermore, Vickers et al. Inter-rater reliability of symptom repertorisation: a pragmatic empirical study. Br Homeopath J. concluded
This egregious unreliability means that homeopaths cannot match each other; so why would anyone expect to find a match between a homeopath and an algorithm run on a machine. Good grief!
It maybe that some homeopaths will out of a job in a few years time with homeopathees preferring AI. You lot should be delighted.
‘JK’, I wouldn’t be delighted, and I’m wondering if that would be only a short-term change because:
Of course, it would be beneficial to get rid of homeopaths who are condescending gits, such as yourself.
I am not a homeopath. I am a homeopathee. You are rather assumptuous though and some might refer to you as a condescending git. As for your ‘science’? What have you ever done other than pontificate on here?
‘JK’ emitted: “I am not a homeopath”.
Then you are a liar.
On the article under which your false accusations got you banned, you stated [my emphasis]:
Run along now, you impotent little troll.
You went back to 2018 searching for this! Glad you have the time. I haven’t practised in any way for years so I am a homeopathee right now not a homeopath. and this has been the case for years.
Anyway in 2018 I did ask Edzard to ban me and he kindly did I think for reasons long forgotten but anyway I posted again months later. I think that this is right but obviously you must check this for accuracy and detail. Therefore please resume your research. This is clearly the only kind of research that you have ever done and ever will do. Sorry you missed out on real research during your career.
isn’t there a difference: homeopath [someone traine in homeopathy]; practicing homeopath [someone currently doing homeopathy]?
I read JK’s 2018 comment the day it was posted. I have never forgotten my astonishment and sadness that such a functionally illiterate, spiteful person — the very antithesis of each of the dozens of SCAM practitioners I’ve visited over the decades — was a homeopath.
Presumptuous I think- making an educated guess based on available evidence and logical reasoning. Assumptious – accepting something as true or valid without evidence or proof, this is more you as a “homeopathee”.
I’m replying to JK: If you were still a PRACTICING homeopath in 2018, you should make it clear that you are a former homeopath. It isn’t that long since you apparently came to your senses and I think it is easy for someone checking into it to think you may still be a (practicing) homeopath.
Grok:
Which homeopathic remedy is best to treat my sore throat?
I’m not a doctor, but I can share some general information about homeopathic remedies commonly suggested for sore throat symptoms, based on homeopathic principles and the information available. Homeopathy is highly individualized, so the best remedy depends on your specific symptoms, such as the type of pain, what makes it better or worse, and any accompanying symptoms like fever or swelling. Below, I’ll outline some commonly recommended homeopathic remedies for sore throats, along with their key indications, to help you choose one that closely matches your symptoms. Always consult a healthcare professional, especially for severe or persistent symptoms, and seek immediate medical attention if you have difficulty breathing, swallowing, or suspect a bacterial infection like strep throat.
Common Homeopathic Remedies for Sore Throat
Here are some of the most frequently recommended homeopathic remedies for sore throat, with their characteristic symptoms:
1. Belladonna
• Best for: Sudden, intense sore throat with a bright red, inflamed throat and tonsils.
• Symptoms:
• Severe throat pain, worse when swallowing (especially liquids).
• Dry, burning throat with a constricted feeling.
• High fever, flushed face, and hot head with cold extremities.
• Thirst for cold drinks or lemon-flavored drinks.
• Pain may be worse on the right side.
• When to use: If your sore throat came on suddenly, feels hot and throbbing, and your throat looks very red.
• How to use: Typically taken as Belladonna 30C, 3-4 pellets every 2-4 hours until symptoms improve, then reduce frequency.
2. Mercurius Solubilis (Merc Sol)
• Best for: Sore throat with excessive salivation, bad breath, and swollen tonsils.
• Symptoms:
• Raw, burning, or stitching pain that may extend to the ears.
• Increased saliva, forcing frequent swallowing.
• Bad breath, coated tongue, or metallic taste.
• Swollen glands, especially on the right side.
• Symptoms worse at night, with sweating or feeling hot and cold.
• When to use: If you have a sore throat with lots of saliva, bad breath, or a feeling of rawness, especially worse at night.
• How to use: Merc Sol 30C, 3-4 pellets once or twice daily.
3. Hepar Sulphuris Calcareum (Hepar Sulph)
• Best for: Sharp, splinter-like pain in the throat, as if something is stuck.
• Symptoms:
• Sensation of a fishbone or splinter in the throat, worse when swallowing.
• Pain radiates to the ears.
• Throat sensitive to cold air, touch, or cold drinks; better with warm drinks.
• Irritability and hypersensitivity to noise or cold.
• May have a rattling or barking cough.
• When to use: If your sore throat feels like a sharp, pricking pain, especially after cold exposure, and you’re sensitive to cold.
• How to use: Hepar Sulph 30C, 3-4 pellets 1-3 times daily.
4. Phytolacca Decandra
• Best for: Sore throat with pain radiating to the ears and a dark red or bluish throat.
• Symptoms:
• Deep, aching pain, especially when swallowing, that shoots to the ears.
• Throat looks dark red or purple, with swollen tonsils (often on the right side).
• Pain at the root of the tongue when sticking it out.
• Worse with hot drinks; better with cold drinks.
• Feeling of a lump in the throat.
• When to use: If your sore throat pain extends to your ears and your throat appears dark red or bluish.
• How to use: Phytolacca 30C, 3-4 pellets once or twice daily.
5. Aconite
• Best for: Sudden sore throat after exposure to cold, dry wind.
• Symptoms:
• Dry, burning, or stinging throat pain that comes on suddenly.
• Restlessness, anxiety, and thirst for cold drinks.
• Often accompanied by fever within the first 24 hours.
• Red, dry, swollen throat.
• When to use: If your sore throat started abruptly after being in cold, dry air and you feel anxious or restless.
• How to use: Aconite 30C, 3-4 pellets every 1-2 hours at the onset, reducing as symptoms improve.
6. Lachesis Mutus
• Best for: Left-sided sore throat or pain that starts on the left and moves to the right.
• Symptoms:
• Constricted throat with a lump-like sensation.
• Pain worse with warm drinks or empty swallowing (saliva), better with solid food.
• Sensitivity to touch or tight clothing around the neck.
• Throat may appear purplish; symptoms worse after sleep or in the morning.
• When to use: If your sore throat is worse on the left side or feels worse with warm liquids and tight collars.
• How to use: Lachesis 30C, 3-4 pellets once or twice daily.
7. Arsenicum Album
• Best for: Burning sore throat with restlessness and anxiety.
• Symptoms:
• Burning pain in the throat, relieved by warm drinks, worse with cold drinks.
• Thirst for frequent small sips of water.
• Dry mouth, restlessness, and anxiety about health.
• Symptoms worse at night or after midnight.
• When to use: If your sore throat burns, you feel anxious, and warm drinks soothe it.
• How to use: Arsenicum Album 30C, 3-4 pellets once or twice daily.
How to Choose the Best Remedy
• Match your symptoms: Select the remedy that best fits your specific symptoms. For example, if your throat is bright red and the pain is intense, Belladonna may be the best choice. If you have sharp, splinter-like pain, Hepar Sulph is more appropriate.
• Consider the cause: If your sore throat started after cold exposure, Aconite or Hepar Sulph may be better. If it’s linked to overuse of your voice, consider remedies like Argentum Metallicum or Causticum (not listed above but mentioned in sources for voice strain).
• Potency and dosage: A common starting point is 30C potency, taking 3-4 pellets every 1-4 hours depending on severity. Once symptoms improve, reduce the frequency. Stop taking the remedy if symptoms resolve or if no improvement is seen after a few doses.
• General guidance: Dissolve pellets under the tongue and avoid eating, drinking, or brushing teeth for 15-30 minutes before and after taking the remedy to maximize absorption.
Additional Tips
• Hydration: Drink plenty of water, warm teas, or broths to keep your throat moist, unless warm drinks worsen your symptoms (e.g., with Phytolacca or Apis).
• Avoid irritants: Steer clear of acidic or very hot foods that can aggravate the throat.
• Rest: Give your body time to heal, especially if you have a fever or fatigue.
• Gargling: For Phytolacca, gargling with a tincture mixed with water and a pinch of salt may enhance relief.
• Monitor symptoms: If you have signs of strep throat (e.g., high fever, pus on tonsils, severe pain, or swollen glands), consult a doctor, as bacterial infections may require antibiotics alongside homeopathy.
Important Notes
• Seek medical advice: If your sore throat persists for more than a few days, worsens, or is accompanied by difficulty breathing, high fever, or inability to swallow, see a healthcare professional immediately. Strep throat, in particular, can lead to complications like rheumatic fever if untreated.
• Homeopathy limitations: While homeopathy can help with symptom relief, it’s not a substitute for conventional treatment in serious cases like bacterial infections. Use it as a complementary approach if needed, but don’t delay medical care.
• Individualization: Homeopathy works best when tailored to your unique symptoms. If you’re unsure which remedy to choose or if symptoms don’t improve, consult a qualified homeopath for personalized advice.
Since I don’t know the exact details of your sore throat (e.g., is it burning, sharp, worse on one side, or accompanied by fever?), I can’t pinpoint one “best” remedy. However, Belladonna is often considered a top choice for sudden, intense sore throats with redness, and Mercurius Solubilis is excellent for sore throats with excessive salivation or bad breath. If you can describe your symptoms in more detail (e.g., type of pain, what makes it better/worse, or other symptoms like fever), I can help narrow it down further.
If you’d like, you can share more about your symptoms, and I can suggest a more specific remedy. Alternatively, you can try one of the remedies above that closely matches your condition, starting with a low potency like 30C. For persistent or severe symptoms, please seek medical attention, as it’s critical to rule out serious conditions like strep throat.
I’d hoped for a concise statement about the ineffectiveness of homeopathy and that it is not EBM. Maybe in the next iteration?
It’s medicine, Jim, but not as we know it.
Nope,
since medicine is something that -scientifically – shows effects EXCEEDING placebo, homoeomagics are pseudo-medicine, same as so called „alternative treatments“ are alternatives TO treatment.
In the moment a remedy is proven effective scientifically, it’s plane MEDICINE.
Oh dear!
The British novelty band The Firm released the song “Star Trekkin’ ”, which parodies the original Star Trek TV series.
QUOTE
One of the song’s phrases, “It’s life, Jim, but not as we know it“, actually originated with “Star Trekkin’ ” but has been subsequently misattributed to the TV series.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trekkin%27