Re: Hormesis and homeopathy

[FIELDRW@aol.com]

Joe,

Would you also say that high dose radiation is also natural?  When does 
natural become unnatural for radiation exposure?  Some of the doses I have 
heard expressed on the Listserv as LDR are fairly significant.

Magnetic fields are also "natural", but I do not see homeopaths using 
biomagnetic therapy either, even though there have been several articles 
published in the past few years supporting the benefits of "magnetic" therapy.

I consider these types of therapies alternative to mainstream medicine at 
this point.  Additional research is needed on all these "therapies" with 
positive findings before I begin to accept their validity.  

Bill Field
University of Iowa
bill-field@uiowa.edu



In a message dated 2/1/00 1:08:16 PM Central Standard Time, 
captainnuke@earthlink.net writes:

<< Bill,
 
 Since radiation is natural, seems like it fits homepathy pretty good. As for 
the
 person who said they would distance themselves, I think I understand why the 
field
 has been marginalized.
 
 Joe Archer
 captainnuke@earthlink.net
 
 FIELDRW@aol.com wrote:
 
 > Jim,
 >
 > You ask, What is the basis for my conclusion that homeopathy would distance
 > itself from low dose radiation therapy, magnetic therapy, and far infra red
 > technology
 >
 > I am speaking about modern day homeopathy.  Practices and beliefs of today 
do
 > not necessarily reflect past beliefs. (Remember, there was a time in 
history
 > when most Health Physicist actually embraced the LNTT).
 >
 > I asked numerous homeopaths including one of the leading academic 
homeopaths
 > in the United States about it and she said, "Any current practitioner of
 > homeopathy I know and respect would distance themselves from low dose
 > radiation therapy, magnetic therapy, and far infra red technology.  That
 > pretty much sums up the basis for my statement above.
 >
 > She indicated, there are some researchers in Europe who are looking at
 > chemical hormesis and it's effects on the level of the cell and enzyme
 > production and they
 > have written a book trying to use their research as a model for how
 > homeopathy works. She did not think most homeopaths are buying into it. She
 > was not aware of any current research looking at the effects of ultralow
 > quantities of radiation in the homeopathic area.
 >
 > She pointed out that you support your statement by finding one prominent
 > individual (Arndt) who had hoped to help homeopathy become more legitimate 
by
 > wedding it to a concept  (hormesis ) which was popular at the time. A few
 > researchers may continue to think this way, but she indicated it hasn't
 > become generally accepted amongst homeopaths.
 >
 > Jim,  if you know of a current homeopath in the United States who supports
 > low dose radiation as a homeopathic practice, I would love to talk with 
them.
 >  Modern day homeopaths prescribe radium bromate for some illnesses, but you
 > would be hard pressed to find any radioactivity in the "remedy".  Their
 > dosage is so low, it is called the essence of radium bromate.
 >
 > This is an interesting area of dialogue.
 >
 > Regards, Bill
 >
 > R. William Field, Ph.D.
 > College of Public Health
 > Department of Epidemiology
 > N222 Oakdale Hall
 > University of Iowa
 > Iowa City, Iowa 52242
 >
 > 319-335-4413 (work)
 > 319-335-4748 (fax)
 > mailto:bill-field@uiowa.edu >>
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