Current Situation of Homeopathy In the United Kingdom

Homeopathy in England was introduced by Dr. Quinn in the 1830s. Since that time this form of alternative medicine has flourished in England. Homeopathy has steadily grown in England and is funded by the National Healthcare System (NHS) of the UK.

Homeopathy has always had an elite status in UK. It is used by the royal familiy and other celebrities such as Paul McCarthney and Catherine Zeta Jones. This form of alternative medicine has been under attack of late in England.

Current homeopathic hospitals in the United Kingdom face closure due to an orchestrated campaign by leading doctors in the UK saying homeopathy is simply a placebo. They point to many studies showing trials where homeopathic medicine is no better than a placebo. The doctors are telling many doctors not to give out homeopathic referrals. Without enough referrals, homeopathic hospitals will have to close. Tunbridge homeopathic hospital has already scheduled to close due to lack of funding and referrals. Some other hospitals are also facing cuts by the NHS and they are getting less referrals than in the past.

The media and other have pointed to Lancet trials showing homeopathy does not work. However, these homeopathy trials have many issues with research bias and validity. BBC has done some experiments with homeopathic dilutions showing no effects between a water dilution and a homeopathic dilution. There has not been in scientific evidence that this type of alternative medicine works.

The homeopathy users of the homeopathic hospitals seems to be quite satisified with their treatments. Even with all the lack of funding from the NHS, fewer doctors writing referrals and the bad media press, homeopathy in England still seems to be growing. The public comes in growing numbers to this type of alternative medicine. In 2007, the UK market is estimated to be worth 38 million pounds. In 2012, the market is going to reach 46 million pounds.

Is all the media coverage really bad for homeopathy? Do people feel that more homeopathic hospitals will close in England? Why have doctors targeting Homeopathy now even though it has been in England since the 1830s?