fallacy
Our resident defender of the indefensible, DUllman, regularly comes out with the notion that Darwin was a great fan of homeopathy. I always found this hard to believe. So, I asked AI: “What did Darwin have to say about homeopathy”. Here is the reply I got:
Darwin lived during a time when Victorian medicine was often “heroic” (a polite way of saying they used leeches and mercury), so homeopathy’s “do no harm” approach was gaining traction. However, as a rigorous man of science, Darwin found the core logic of homeopathy hard to swallow.
Darwin’s Scientific Skepticism
Darwin’s primary issue with homeopathy was the principle of infinitesimals—the idea that a substance becomes more potent the more it is diluted. In an 1844 letter to his friend and botanist J.D. Hooker, Darwin wrote:
“It is a disheartening reflection to think how much it [homeopathy] is spreading; & it is a sign of how little even the best educated people know of the laws of evidence.”
He famously compared the extreme dilutions used in homeopathy to dropping a single pin into the Atlantic Ocean and expecting it to affect the entire body of water. To a biologist who studied the physical mechanisms of nature, the idea of “water memory” or “spiritual powers” in medicine felt like a step backward into mysticism.
The Personal Twist: Dr. Gully
Despite his intellectual disdain, Darwin was a desperate man. He suffered from chronic, mystery illnesses for most of his life (vomiting, palpitations, and exhaustion). In 1849, he sought treatment from Dr. James Gully, a famous practitioner of “Hydropathy” (water cures) who also practiced homeopathy.
- The Treatment: Darwin underwent rigorous “water cures”—cold wraps, scrubbing, and strictly regulated diets.
- The Result: He actually felt better! However, being the scientist he was, he attributed his recovery to the rest, the diet, and the water treatments, rather than the homeopathic “globules” Gully occasionally prescribed.
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Yet again, it seems to me, Darwin proved to be correct in his [self-]critical analysis!
Yesterday Dana commented on this blog the following:
… And while you’re there, I am still waiting for anyone here to review and critique my newest contribution to the PubMed literature: Rockefeller, the Flexner Report, and the American Medical Association: The Contentious Relationship Between Conventional Medicine and Homeopathy in America: https://www.cureus.com/articles/370572-rockefeller-the-flexner-report-and-the-american-medical-association-the-contentious-relationship-between-conventional-medicine-and-homeopathy-in-america#!/
I am far less fond than Ullman of ChatGPT, but I am also somewhat reluctant to read a long Ullman article, as it might be full of nonsense. So, in order to decide whether or not to read it, I gave the AI platform the following task:
Give me a critique of this article: https://www.cureus.com/articles/370572-rockefeller-the-flexner-report-and-the-american-medical-association-the-contentious-relationship-between-conventional-medicine-and-homeopathy-in-america#!/
This is what I got:
Here is a critical evaluation of the article “Rockefeller, the Flexner Report, and the American Medical Association: The Contentious Relationship Between Conventional Medicine and Homeopathy in America” by Dana Ullman, published in *Cureus (2025). I’ll assess it across authorship, argumentation, evidence, historiography, and scientific credibility.
1. Author background and potential bias
A major issue with the article is conflict of interest and author positioning.
- The author is the founder of Homeopathic Educational Services, which sells homeopathic products and books.
- He has “written and lectured extensively” promoting homeopathy.
- The work was partially supported by a member of the Rockefeller family.
Why this matters
This doesn’t automatically invalidate the research, but it creates a strong ideological incentive to reinterpret history in favor of homeopathy.
The article therefore reads less like neutral scholarship and more like advocacy-driven revisionist history.
2. Journal quality and peer-review context
The article appears in Cureus, which is a legitimate but controversial open-access journal.
Characteristics of the journal:
- Rapid peer-review and publication model
- Author-pay publication structure
- Generally lower prestige than major medical journals
This doesn’t mean the article is wrong, but it lacks the historiographical scrutiny typical of top history-of-medicine journals.
3. Central thesis of the article
The article argues that the decline of homeopathy in the U.S. was primarily due to institutional power and political suppression, not scientific inferiority.
Specifically it claims:
- Rockefeller funding helped institutionalize “scientific medicine”.
- The Flexner Report collaborated with the American Medical Association to marginalize homeopathy.
- Philanthropic decisions influenced which medical schools survived.
- Homeopathy declined due to economic and institutional pressure, not lack of efficacy.
These claims mix reasonable historical observations with questionable conclusions.
4. Strengths of the article
A. Interesting archival material
The paper highlights private reports written by Frederick T. Gates for John D. Rockefeller criticizing homeopathy.
If authentic and correctly interpreted, these documents do add nuance to how philanthropy shaped medical education.
B. Correct emphasis on institutional power
The article correctly notes that the Flexner reforms reshaped medical education through:
- philanthropy
- licensing standards
- laboratory science requirements
This is well established in medical historiography.
C. Recognizes economic drivers
The discussion of:
- philanthropy
- advertising revenue of the AMA
- licensing standards
reflects legitimate sociological analysis of professionalization.
5. Major weaknesses
A. Selective and misleading historiography
The article frames the history as a conspiracy or coordinated suppression.
For example, it claims the AMA secretly collaborated with Abraham Flexner on the Flexner Report.
But historians generally agree that:
- Flexner consulted many physicians
- The AMA influenced reform
- Yet the report itself was not a covert anti-homeopathy project
The paper overinterprets routine professional collaboration as conspiracy.
B. False equivalence about efficacy
The paper suggests homeopathy declined mainly due to institutional power.
However it ignores a central issue:
homeopathy failed empirical testing.
Modern evidence shows:
- Homeopathic dilutions usually contain no active molecules.
- Clinical trials show results consistent with placebo.
This is a fundamental reason the medical community rejected it.
The article largely avoids engaging with modern evidence.
C. Use of outdated or fringe sources
Some references include:
- 19th-century homeopathic mortality comparisons
- polemical books such as Divided Legacy
These sources are often considered unreliable by historians because:
- hospital records were inconsistent
- patient populations differed
- treatments were not comparable
The paper treats them as strong evidence.
D. Misinterpretation of historical success claims
The article claims homeopathy had dramatically lower death rates during epidemics.
This is a classic homeopathy narrative, but historians have identified problems:
- reporting bias
- different patient severity
- incomplete hospital records
So these comparisons are not reliable evidence of effectiveness.
E. Presentism and ideological framing
The article repeatedly implies:
- “scientific medicine” succeeded due to money
- homeopathy was suppressed despite effectiveness
This framing ignores a key historical reality:
By the early 20th century:
- laboratory science
- bacteriology
- pharmacology
were producing replicable results, while homeopathy remained theoretically implausible.
6. Logical problems in the argument
The paper assumes:
“Homeopathy declined because institutions suppressed it.”
But the historical process is more likely:
- Medical science became more empirical.
- Universities shifted to laboratory medicine.
- Treatments were evaluated experimentally.
- Homeopathy failed to demonstrate efficacy.
Institutional change followed scientific change, not the reverse.
7. Historians’ mainstream interpretation
Most historians of medicine interpret the Flexner era as:
- professionalization of medicine
- elimination of poorly resourced schools
- transition to research-based medicine
It did reduce diversity in medical approaches, but not primarily to suppress homeopathy.
Instead it enforced:
- laboratory training
- clinical science
- standardized education
8. Overall assessment
Strengths
- Interesting archival angle
- Raises legitimate questions about philanthropy
- Highlights institutional power in medical history
Weaknesses
- Strong author bias
- Selective evidence
- Conspiracy framing
- Avoidance of modern scientific evidence
- Misleading historical comparisons
Bottom line
The article is best understood as advocacy-oriented revisionist history, not a neutral historical analysis.
It contains some useful historical details but should be read critically and alongside mainstream scholarship on medical education reform.
✅ In short:
The paper raises valid points about power and philanthropy in medicine but overstates the case that homeopathy was suppressed rather than scientifically discredited.
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I thank ChatGPT for this analysis helping my decision:
I think I don’t need to read Ullman’s new paper!
Debates on researching SCAM frequently hinge on the tension between theoretical plausibility and empirical testing. The central question is this: should interventions that contradict well-established scientific principles nonetheless be subjected to clinical trials? This issue raises fundamental concerns about the allocation of research resources, the epistemology of medical science, and the boundary between scientific openness and credulity.
In medical research, plausibility refers to the compatibility of a treatment’s purported mechanism of action with established biochemical and physiological knowledge. Treatments such as homeopathy, reiki, bioresonance, etc., etc. are typically judged to be implausible because their mechanisms violate basic physical principles (Ernst, 2010; Offit, 2013). One could argue that conducting randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on such interventions is methodologically and ethically questionable, as the prior probability of efficacy is exceedingly low (Goodman, 1999) and the probability of a positive result obtained with a rigorous trial approaches zero. Framed in Bayesian terms, if a hypothesis begins with a negligible prior probability, even seemingly positive trial outcomes are unlikely to meaningfully change its posterior credibility (Spiegelhalter, 2019).
But insisting that only theoretically plausible hypotheses merit empirical testing risks scientific conservatism. Medical history includes numerous examples – such as the discovery of the antipyretic and antithrombotic effects of aspirin – where therapeutic value was demonstrated before mechanisms were fully understood (Vane, 2000). Advocates of broader testing argue that empirical methods should retain the capacity to surprise theory and that excluding “implausible” ideas a priori risks reinforcing disciplinary dogma (Ioannidis, 2012). This appeal to epistemic humility emphasizes observation as a safeguard against the overreach of theoretical reasoning.
However, defenders of plausibility-based research prioritization contend that such humility must be balanced against the always finite resources for research and the ethical responsibility of researchers. Health research funding is limited, and prioritizing the study of implausible treatments may divert attention from interventions with rational mechanistic foundations and higher expected utility (Sampson, 2005). Additionally, the evidentiary record of clinical trials in SCAM demonstrates a consistent pattern: small, underpowered studies occasionally produce marginally positive results that fail replication, while systematic reviews of rigorous studies yield null or inconclusive conclusions (Shang et al., 2005; Ernst et al., 2011). In such cases, further testing is more likely to perpetuate public misunderstanding than to advance medical knowledge.
So, what is the solution? An epistemologically coherent approach, frequently advocated in evidence-based medicine, is to calibrate evidential standards to plausibility. Highly improbable claims should first demonstrate compelling preclinical signals – biochemical, mechanistic, or reproducible physiological effects – before human trials are considered (Goodman, 1999; Howick, 2011). This proportionality upholds methodological rigor without foreclosing the possibility of genuine empirical discovery. It respects Bayesian reasoning: extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.
Science must remain open to the unexpected yet disciplined in method and theory. Medical research is usually at its most productive when it operates between the two extremes—dogmatism that refuses to test unconventional claims, and indiscriminate empiricism that tests everything without theoretical guidance. The prudent path lies in aligning the scope of empirical investigation with scientific plausibility, ensuring openness tempered by rational constraint.
References
- Ernst, E. (2010). “A systematic review of systematic reviews of homeopathy.” British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 69(5), 577–582.
- Ernst, E., Pittler, M. H., Wider, B., & Boddy, K. (2011). The Desktop Guide to Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Elsevier.
- Goodman, S. N. (1999). “Toward evidence-based medical statistics. 1: The P value fallacy.” Annals of Internal Medicine, 130(12), 995–1004.
- Howick, J. (2011). The Philosophy of Evidence-Based Medicine. Oxford University Press.
- Ioannidis, J. P. A. (2012). “Scientific inbreeding and same-team replication: Type D personality as an example.” Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 72(6), 408–410.
- Offit, P. A. (2013). Do You Believe in Magic? The Sense and Nonsense of Alternative Medicine. HarperCollins.
- Sampson, W. (2005). “Antiscience trends in the rise of the ‘alternative medicine’ movement.” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 775(1), 188–197.
- Shang, A., et al. (2005). “Are the clinical effects of homeopathy placebo effects? Comparative study of placebo-controlled trials of homeopathy and allopathy.” The Lancet, 366(9487), 726–732.
- Spiegelhalter, D. (2019). The Art of Statistics. Pelican Books.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has, for many years, promoted claims that contradict established scientific consensus and common sense. Although he often frames his arguments as skepticism towards ‘the establishment’, his positions consistently conflict with the findings of sound science. This has led to widespread criticism from skeptics, scientists, physicians, and public health officials who argue that his rhetoric is steeped in misinformation.
The most prominent example is his long-standing insistence that vaccines cause autism, a claim that has been exhaustively studied and repeatedly disproven. Extensive epidemiological research involving millions of children across multiple countries has found no causal link between vaccination and autism, a conclusion affirmed by organizations such as the CDC and the WHO.
Kennedy has also continued to emphasize theories about mercury-based vaccine preservatives long after those substances were removed from most childhood vaccines, despite autism diagnosis rates continuing to rise—an outcome that directly contradicts his hypothesis and is not supported by sound evidence.
Recently his rejection of scientific consensus also expanded into the COVID-19 era. He characterized COVID vaccines as uniquely dangerous, suggested they could alter human DNA, and implied that public health agencies were concealing mass harm. These claims stand in overt contrast to real-world data from billions of administered doses, which show that serious adverse effects are rare and that vaccination dramatically reduces severe illness and death.
Similar patterns of misinformation appear in his claims about wireless technologies like 5G, which he has linked to immune suppression or cancer despite the well-established fact that such signals are non-ionizing and incapable of damaging DNA.
Underlying many of Kennedy’s positions is a recurring narrative that modern disease is primarily driven by hidden toxins and that public health institutions knowingly suppress cures or evidence of harm. While environmental exposures are a legitimate area of scientific study, Kennedy’s sweeping conclusions – often paired with sympathy for “detox” or so-called alternative medicine (SCAM) – go far beyond what evidence supports.
In conclusion, Kennedy erodes trust in medicine and science, replacing science with insinuations and conspiracy theories. The outcome of his ‘war on science’ has been a normalization of falsehoods that have been tested, rejected, and shown to be harmful. In a nutshell: Kennedy is a danger to all our health and well-being. The sooner he is replaced, the better for science, progress and global health.
The objective of this study was to explore the nature of retraction notices associated with so-called alternative medicine (SCAM) focused journals. Data related to retractions in SCAM journals were extracted from the Retraction Watch Database for the period 2000-2025.
The analysis found that there were 902 notices associated with 42 SCAM journals. Overall, the percentage of retractions relative to all papers published in the named journals is low (<1%) however a single journal was responsible for 84% of retractions. The majority of these retractions occurred in 2023 as the result of a wider publisher investigation into paper mills and sham peer-review. Similar to other studies, retraction was rarely due to a single cause but reflected a mix of data integrity concerns, peer-review issues, evidence of plagiarism and other issues. The average time between original publication and retraction was 19 months (mode 10 months) with 98% of publications having multiple authors. The main country of origin of authors of retracted works were China, India and South Korea.
The authors concluded that published peer-reviewed literature is used in a range of ways, as the foundation for future studies, incorporated in systematic reviews, clinical decision-making and in training of practitioners and clinicians. While this study has demonstrated that retractions in the complementary and alternative medicine literature is generally at a lower level, any evidence of publication integrity breach is a concern and should be cause for ongoing monitoring.
The way I see it, there are several problems with this study and its conclusion.
1. Do we know that SCAM journals are as willing to retract papers as are other journals? The answer, I am afraid, is NO!
2. Retraction Watch compiles retractions by monitoring publisher websites, publisher metadata, and community tips, but not all publishers report or label retractions consistently. In other words,
Retraction Watch relies on a mix of automated checks and manual curation, but it still can’t catch every retraction, especially from smaller or inconsistent sources. This means that we have no evidence that retractions from SCAM journals were fairly represented in the sample investigated in this study.
In view of this, the conclusions need to be re-formulated, I fear:
In the sample analysed for the present survey, retractions in the SCAM literature might be at a lower level than in the non-SCAM literature. This observation could be due to more than one phenomenon and requires independent replication.
This study aimed to distinguish between the usage of complementary medicine and alternative medicine, often jointly referred to as CAM. Furthermore, the analysis focuses on the role of religion, healthcare system satisfaction and the country of residence.
The analysis uses data of the International Social Survey Programme 2021 “Health and Health Care II” (ISSP 2021) to estimate the prevalence of complementary medicine and alternative medicine. A nested logistic regression model was applied to distinguish between no medicine use, conventional medicine, complementary medicine and alternative medicine.
The findings indicate the following:
- Complementary medicine is significantly more prevalent than alternative medicine, though substantial cross-country differences are observed.
- While religious affiliation alone does not show a significant relationship with CAM usage, individuals who attend religious services regularly are more likely to use CAM in a complementary manner, alongside conventional medicine.
- Individuals who are dissatisfied with the health care system also are more likely to use both complementary medicine and alternative medicine.
- Higher levels of education are negatively associated with the use of alternative medicine.
- Younger individuals are more likely to use CAM and specific alternative medicine, compared to older age groups.
- Being female is consistently associated with a higher chance of CAM usage overall.
The authorsconcluded that treating complementary and alternative medicine as distinct reveals different prevalence rates and influencing factors. Religion, satisfaction with the healthcare system, education, age, and gender play varying roles depending on whether CAM is used alongside or instead of conventional medicine. Cross-country differences point to cultural and health system influences. For public health, distinguishing between complementary and alternative use can support more targeted strategies to promote safe integration and reduce risks from substituting conventional treatment.
Complementary medicine is defined as medicine being used alongside conventional medicine; alternative medicine is defined as medicine being used instead of conventional medicine. This distinction is problematic, if not impossible. One and the same therapy can be used in an alternative fashion today and in a complementary way tomorrow. One and the same therapy will often be used in an alternative fashion for one condition and in a complementary way for another. In other words there are no alternative medicines as distinct from complementary medicines. There are merely distinct ways of using these therapies.
In turn this means that the above paper set out from a flawed premise. But perhaps it nevertheless generated some interesting findings? Let’s look at the points listed above:
- This has been noted many times before.
- This has been noted many times before.
- This has been noted many times before.
- This is invalid because of the points above.
- This has been noted many times before.
- This has been noted many times before.
My conclusion: much of the research into so-called alternative medicine is hardly worth the paper that it is printed on.
Homeopathy is among the most popular kinds of so-called alternative medicine (SCAM). Patients have different opinions about homeopathy because there is still debate about its efficacy and scientific foundation, despite its popularity. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to compare homeopathic therapies to conventional medicine in terms of patient satisfaction for a range of health issues.
Secifically, the Indian researchers aimed to compare levels of patient satisfaction with homeopathic vs conventional treatments in terms of:
- treatment results,
- side effects,
- cost,
- and overall experience.
A varied group of patients undergoing therapy for long-term diseases like anxiety, asthma, and arthritis provided the data. Patients’ levels of satisfaction with their therapy, its duration, their perceptions of safety, and the quality of their interactions with their providers were measured using a standardized survey that contained Likert-scale items.
Patients who had homeopathic treatment were more likely to be satisfied with their tailored care and the low frequency of adverse effects, according to the results. On the other hand, patients receiving conventional treatments were more satisfied with the rapid alleviation of their symptoms and the fact that their treatments were based on solid evidence. But many patients in both categories were worried about how much their treatments would cost and whether or not they would be beneficial in the long run. Perceivable treatment efficacy, safety, and the total healthcare experience are three of the many aspects that impact patients’ levels of satisfaction.
The authors concluded that the significance of patient-centered care and the necessity for additional research to comprehend the elements contributing to contentment in various treatment modalities highlight the value of both conventional and homeopathic treatments.
This amazingly incompetent paper was published in the ‘Indian Journal of Ayurvedic & Alternative Medicine’ by Dr. Anil Kumar Sharma. He is the dean of the Faculty of Homoeopathy, Govt. Ayush University, Kurukshetra Professor, JRK Homoeopathic Medical College, Rohtak Teacher Code Registered with National Homoeopathic Commission, Govt. of India.
Amazingly incompetent?
I better justify this verdict!
But where to begin? I cannot possibly discuss all the fatal flaws of this paper. Let me just mention a few obvious ones:
- A “standardized survey” was used to measure the outcomes. But was it validated to ensure that it quantified what the researcher thought to measure? No!
- Were the two patient groups comparable? No!
- Were they objective? No, the homeopathy group has chosen to consult homeopaths. Thus the results are as meaningful as asking people who choose to buy a hamburger whether they like eating beef.
- The conclusions are pure fantasy and do not follow from the data.
You may feel that all this is irrelevant nonsense – and you would be entirely correct. Yet, I think that this paper might still be important for one reason: it was published by the dean of the Faculty of Homoeopathy, Govt. Ayush University, Kurukshetra Professor. Imagine the dean of the faculty of cosmology of a reputable university wrote a paper claiming without any eveidence that the earth was flat. That, in my view, would be the equivalent of the above article.
This paper reports a project aimed to develop and refine an integrative medicine (IM) elective to improve health education and learning, thereby enhancing future physicians’ knowledge, skills, and self-care practices. Three separate cohorts of third- and fourth-year medical students (n=18) participated in a four-week immersive IM elective. Weekly and post-elective evaluations were used to assess changes in attitudes, behaviors, and self-reported IM knowledge for each cohort. Descriptive analyses were performed, and just-in-time student feedback was used to iteratively refine the IM curriculum.
Students attended at least 85% of class days. Anonymous weekly course evaluation ratings for meeting course expectations, education depth, and usefulness for patient care ranged between 4 and 5 on a Likert scale, with 5 as the most favorable. Post-course evaluations and the impact of the course on attitudes related to patient care, personal lifestyle, and self-awareness also ranged from 4 to 5. Knowledge scores significantly improved (p<.01), with moderate to large effect sizes (Hedges g’s>0.8).
The authors concluded that the implementation of an immersive elective curriculum in IM resulted in high levels of satisfaction, changes in attitudes and behaviors, as well as knowledge scores. Just-in-time feedback and curricular revisions made this curriculum effective for student training. We consider this our first step in integrating IM into the required curriculum for all students, ensuring that, as educators, we close the knowledge gap in IM among future physicians. Empowered with that knowledge, we anticipate them serving their future patients with a more holistic and patient-centered approach.
This ‘research’ was supported by the Bernard Osher Foundation Endowment. There are eleven integrative health programs receiving Osher support. The programs feature research, education, and clinical care in integrative medicine. The Foundation has also supported a career development award program for complementary medicine practitioners through the National Institutes of Health. Since the Osher Foundation is hopelessly biased towards IM, we understand why the authors’ 2nd sentence in the abstract categorically states: “integrative medicine (IM) is cost-effective and clinically effective for enhancing health and well-being”. We also comprehend why the entire article is devoid of even an attempt to critically analyse or doubt the value of IM.
And by jove, there is plenty to criticise. On this blog, we have often done so, e.g.:
- Memorandum ‘INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE’
- Integrative Medicine or Infiltrative Pseudoscience?
- More uncomfortable thoughts on ‘integrative medicine’
- The reality of ‘integrative medicine’ consists of little more than re-discoveries from conventional medicine, platitudes and outright nonsense
- Integrative medicine physicians tend to harbour anti-vaccination views
- Integrative medicine: one of the most colossal deceptions in healthcare today
- Integrated/integrative medicine: a paradise for charlatans?
The fact is that IM is nonsense: the aspects that are good about IM are ‘stolen’ from real medicine and certainly not unique to it, while the aspects related to the integration of un- or disproven (and thus dangerous) modalities are best left to disintegrate. To put it bluntly:
An elective in nonsense will result in harmful nonsense!
The alkaline diet is based on the disproven belief that shifting the body’s acidity levels can cure diseases or “detoxify” the body. It is often claimed to offer a cure for a range of conditions, e.g.:
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- Low energy levels
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
The diet is also promoted to prevent diseases such as:
- kidney stones,
- urinary tract infections.
Yet, none of these claims are supported by sound evidence. In fact, the diet is not just nonsense, it also is dangerous!
An Arizona couple is facing possible prison time after their parenting practices, shaped by online misinformation about medical care and nutrition, left their 5-month-old child dead and three other children suffering from chronic malnutrition. The couple followed the dangerous and debunked alkaline diet − and imposed it on their kids.
According to a 2024 poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation, most Americans encounter false health information online, and many are unsure whether it is accurate. Nearly 70% of doctors polled said they think patient trust declined from 2020 to 2022. Therefore, it’s all the more crucial people understand how to distinguish fact from fiction when it comes to their health. Amongst other things, people should also make sure their health protocols and diets are not clouded by politics or ideology.
“Misinformation isn’t a point of view; it does actual harm,” commented Brian Castrucci, president of the de Beaumont Foundation. “It’s hurting physicians. It’s hurting medical practice. And it’s hurting the American public.”
The pattern of harm can be traced back to an extreme version of the “alkaline diet” which the couple imposed on their children. In addition, they combined this with a growing distrust of medical care. The couple told investigators they relied on online videos and posts that warned against vaccines, infant medical treatments and even common medicines such as Tylenol. Moreover, they also avoided taking the children to doctor visits, limiting outside contact.
The children’s diet entailed eating vegetables, fruit and plant-based milks − with almost no protein, fats or fortified foods crucial for overall health. The parents interpreted the children’s rapid weight loss as evidence the diet was working and removing toxins, rather than a sign of medical crisis. “We chose this diet for good health,” Stanley told the court.
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When I encounter stories like this, I almost despair of the ignorance and naivety of some people. Then I realize how important the job of fighting dangerous misinformation is
… and I continue my work with renewed enthusiasm.
The literature of homeopathy is littered with papers that are weirdly hilarious. A recent example of this genre is an article by Indian authors published in the ‘INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE’ entitled Homeopathy in chronic disease management: a critical review of the evidence. Here is its abstract:
Homeopathy remains one of the most widely practiced complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modalities worldwide, particularly among individuals with chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) who seek safe, holistic, and personalized therapeutic options. Despite its global popularity, controversy continues regarding its mechanisms of action and clinical effectiveness. This review critically evaluates the current evidence on the role of homeopathy in chronic disease management. A comprehensive review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), systematic reviews, and meta-analyses published between 2000 and 2025 was conducted. Studies were included if they examined homeopathic interventions in chronic conditions such as asthma, arthritis, type 2 diabetes mellitus, depression, chronic pain, and fibromyalgia. Data were synthesized thematically to assess efficacy, mechanistic plausibility, methodological quality, and safety outcomes. Mechanistic hypotheses suggest that hormesis, nanoparticle-mediated signaling, immune modulation, and neuropsychological or psychosocial mechanisms may contribute to the therapeutic effects of homeopathy. Meta-analytic evidence demonstrates modest but statistically significant improvements in subjective measures such as pain, fatigue, and quality of life across several chronic diseases, with standardized mean differences ranging from 0.18 to 0.25. However, objective clinical outcomes, including spirometry and HbA1c, rarely show consistent benefit. Methodological challenges, including small sample sizes, heterogeneous interventions, limited follow-up durations, and a high risk of bias, continue to constrain the reliability of existing findings. Importantly, homeopathy exhibits a favorable safety profile, with no serious adverse events reported across chronic disease studies. Current evidence indicates that homeopathy may provide modest adjunctive benefits for symptom relief and improved patient satisfaction among individuals with chronic illnesses, although its specific therapeutic mechanisms remain uncertain. Integration of homeopathy into evidence-based, patient-centered chronic disease management frameworks may enhance holistic care. Future research should emphasize large-scale, multicenter randomized trials with standardized outcome measures and mechanistic endpoints to better define clinical relevance and biological plausibility.
The lead author of this paper earns his living in the Department of Materia Medica, NatoreHomeo Medical College, Natore, Bangladesh. Thus, we might be surprised by the critical tone of this paper. However, having a closer look at it, we soon find that, under a thin veneer of critical assessment, the paper is a prime attempt of white-washing the established evidence. Let me explain; the authors claim that:
- “Mechanistic hypotheses suggest that hormesis, nanoparticle-mediated signaling, immune modulation, and neuropsychological or psychosocial mechanisms may contribute to the therapeutic effects of homeopathy.” Do the authors really suggest that all of these vague theories are true? Why not decide which one constitutes the actual mode of action? Why not tell the truth and state clearly that none of them are remotely plausible, none would explain how homeopathy works, and none is accepted by anyone outside the cult of homeopathy?
- ” Meta-analytic evidence demonstrates modest but statistically significant improvements in subjective measures such as pain, fatigue, and quality of life across several chronic diseases, with standardized mean differences ranging from 0.18 to 0.25. ” Do the authors not see that the meta-analyses demonstrating such outcomes are invariably done by overtly biased homeopath? Do they really not know that independent scientists are unable to confirm such findings?
- “Homeopathy exhibits a favorable safety profile…” Are the authors not aware that using homeopathy (or any other ineffective therapy) to treat serious conditions at best prolongs the suffering of patients and at worst hastens their death?
- “Homeopathy may provide modest adjunctive benefits for symptom relief…” Do the authors know that this statement is firstly untrue and secondly contradicts Hahnemann’s teaching (he called doctors who employed homeopathy as an add-on therapy “traitors” and insisted that homeopathy was not a symptomatic treatment but a causal cure of disease)?
Understanding that this is what homeopaths call a ‘CRITICAL’ review might be helpful: it explains, I think, why they they feel that true critical assessments are nothing but brutal and cynical destructions of their beautiful fantasies.
