Homeopathy as a medical treatment is suspect, says Nobel award winner Venkatraman Ramakrishnan. The reputed scientist’s observation comes in the wake of increasing commercial popularity of homeopathy in the country in general and in Andhra Pradesh in particular.
Delivering a lecture in Chennai, Venkataraman questioned the scientific validity of homeopathy as a medical treatment in curing diseases and ailments. He was delivering a lecture in the city on Thursday.
Venkatraman referred to the system as something similar to a placebo effect – a medically ineffectual treatment administered for a disease or medical condition and the patient experiences a perceived or actual improvement in his condition.
“The treatment is based on a system of beliefs that have no basis of understanding in chemistry,” he said.
Talking about the placebo effect, Venkatraman elicited several examples of studies done globally showing that patients who were given impotent drugs or sugar capsules under the pretence of it being the best remedy for their ailment reacted positively to the treatment.
“The placebo effect can actually be used in positive ways by doctors and practitioners by instilling confidence in their patients even while treating them with potent drugs,” he said.
