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A study of trials of homoepathic medicines shows that homeopathic medicines don't tend to have any effect over and above placebo. Homeopathy is a theory which says you treat disease by going with it gently rather than fighting it. So homeopathic medications come in dilutions - some of which are so dilute, nothing of the original is left - apart, say the proponents, from a kind of memory transferred to the water by the shaking. Sceptics claim it beggars belief that homeopathy can work when all you're giving is water. But believers point to randomised trials showing benefits. They also claim that evidence on conventional medicine leaves a lot to be desired. A group of researchers has published a study comparing the results of conventional trials for particular conditions - with homeopathic studies. While homeopathy trials were often better done than conventional ones, they were often small and prone to error. When larger more reliable studies were compared, the conventional trials maintained their benefit over placebo whereas the homeopathic ones didn't. The possible exception was for respiratory problems. The conclusion was that homeopathy trials had hidden biases which encouraged positive findings. Where does that leave you the consumer? Well as long as you're not doing something completely daft like homeopathic immunisation, the chance of harm is low.
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