Homeopathy: Magical thinking, not medicine

https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/homeopathy-magical-thinking-not-medicine/

By Scott Gavura

Homeopathy might look like medicine, but it’s not—and Alberta’s government is considering funding it. Premier Danielle Smith and Health Minister Adriana LaGrange have suggested homeopathy could play a role in healthcare, despite overwhelming evidence that it doesn’t work. Homeopathic remedies are diluted to the point of containing no active ingredients, making their effects indistinguishable from placebos. While people are free to spend their money on homeopathy, using public funds for unscientific treatments is wasteful and risks legitimizing pseudoscience. Worse, relying on homeopathy instead of proven medicine can lead to preventable tragedies.

Countries like Australia have taken a stand, cutting subsidies for ineffective treatments like homeopathy after reviewing the evidence. Alberta, on the other hand, appears to be moving in the opposite direction, potentially weakening its scientific foundation in healthcare. With limited resources, governments must prioritize evidence-based medicine, not magical thinking.