To which extent should potency choice in homeopathy be "regulated": has European legislation gone too far?
Despite ongoing controversy, homeopathy has become increasingly accepted as a "medical reality" by patients and doctors alike. This process has been accompanied by an increased quality of manufacturing, education, research, and regulation of homeopathy. This paper argues that European regulation may now have gone too far by indiscriminately prescribing that homeopathic medicines should be used in a potency of D4 and higher. Low potencies and tinctures are an important and integral part of the homeopathic heritage. The regulatory environment therefore appears to be hampering one of its own principal aims: the availability of safe and high-quality homeopathic products that practitioners, patients and consumers want and need.
van Haselen
Robbert
R
International Institute for Integrated Medicine, Kingston, Surrey, United Kingdom. vanhaselen@compuserve.com
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D017277:Drug Approval / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005060:Europe; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D008419:Materia Medica / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D008419:Materia Medica