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Some common points of argument are addressed in the FAQ below, which represents the consensus of editors here. Please remember that this page is only for discussing Misplaced Pages's encyclopedia article about Homeopathy.

To view an explanation to the answer, click the link to the right of the question. Q1: Should material critical of homeopathy be in the article? (Yes.) A1: Yes. Material critical of homeopathy must be included in the article. The articles on Misplaced Pages include information from all significant points of view. This is summarized in the policy pages which can be accessed from the Neutral point of view policy. This article strives to conform to Misplaced Pages policies, which dictate that a substantial fraction of articles in fringe areas be devoted to mainstream views of those topics. Q2: Should material critical of homeopathy be in the lead? (Yes.) A2: Yes. Material critical of homeopathy belongs in the lead section. The lead must contain a summary of all the material in the article, including the critical material. This is described further in the Lead section guideline. Q3: Is the negative material in the article NPOV? (Yes.) A3: Yes. Including negative material is part of achieving a neutral article. A neutral point of view does not necessarily equate to a sympathetic point of view. Neutrality is achieved by including all points of view – both positive and negative – in rough proportion to their prominence. Q4: Does Misplaced Pages consider homeopathy a fringe theory? (Yes.) A4: Yes. Homeopathy is described as a fringe medical system in sources reliable to make the distinction. This is defined by the Fringe theories guideline, which explains: We use the term fringe theory in a very broad sense to describe ideas that depart significantly from the prevailing or mainstream view in its particular field of study.

Since the collective weight of peer-reviewed studies does not support the efficacy of homeopathy, it departs significantly enough from the mainstream view of science to be considered a fringe theory.

References

  1. Jonas, WB; Ives, JA (February 2008). "Should we explore the clinical utility of hormesis". Human & Experimental Toxicology. 27 (2): 123–127. PMID 18480136.
Q5: Should studies that show that homeopathy does not work go into the article? (Yes.) A5: Yes. Studies that show that homeopathy does not work are part of a full treatment of the topic and should go into the article. Misplaced Pages is not the place to right great wrongs. Non-experts have suggested that all the studies that show homeopathy does not work are faulty studies and are biased, but this has not been borne out by the mainstream scientific community. Q6: Should another article called "Criticism of homeopathy" be created? (No.) A6: No. Another article called "Criticism of homeopathy" should not be created. This is called a "POV fork" and is discouraged. Q7: Should alleged proof that homeopathy works be included in the article? (No.) A7: No. Alleged proof that homeopathy works should not be included in the article. That is because no such proof has come from reliable sources. If you have found a reliable source, such as an academic study, that you think should be included, you can propose it for inclusion on the article’s talk page. Note that we do not have room for all material, both positive and negative. We try to sample some of each and report them according to their prominence. Note also that it is not the job of Misplaced Pages to convince those people who do not believe homeopathy works, nor to dissuade those who believe that it does work, but to accurately describe how many believe and how many do not believe and why. Q8: Should all references to material critical of homeopathy be put in a single section in the article? (No.) A8: No. Sources critical of homeopathy should be integrated normally in the course of presenting the topic and its reception, not shunted into a single criticism section. Such segregation is generally frowned upon as poor writing style on Misplaced Pages. Q9: Should the article mention that homeopathy might work by some as-yet undiscovered mechanism? (No.) A9: No. The article should not mention that homeopathy might work by some as-yet undiscovered mechanism. Misplaced Pages is not a place for original research or speculation. Q10: Is the article with its negative material biased? (No.) A10: No. The article with its negative material is not biased. The article must include both positive and negative views according to the policies of Misplaced Pages. Q11: Should the article characterize homeopathy as a blatant fraud and quackery? (No.) A11: No. Inflammatory language does not serve the purpose of an encyclopedia; it should only be done if essential to explain a specific point of view and must be supported from a reliable source. Misplaced Pages articles must be neutral and reflect information found in reliable sources. Misplaced Pages is an encyclopedia and not a consumer guide, so while scientific sources commonly characterise homeopathy as nonsense, fraud, pseudoscience and quackery - and the article should (and does) report this consensus - ultimately the reader should be allowed to draw his/her own conclusions.
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Article milestones
DateProcessResult
September 14, 2006Good article nomineeNot listed
September 27, 2007Good article nomineeListed
October 8, 2007Good article reassessmentDelisted
October 13, 2007Good article reassessmentDelisted
October 19, 2007Peer reviewReviewed
October 25, 2007Good article nomineeListed
February 9, 2008Peer reviewReviewed
March 2, 2009Peer reviewReviewed
April 4, 2009Featured article candidateNot promoted
November 2, 2012Good article reassessmentDelisted
June 11, 2020Good article nomineeNot listed
October 29, 2020Good article nomineeListed
Current status: Good article
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Ideal sources for Misplaced Pages's health content are defined in the guideline Misplaced Pages:Identifying reliable sources (medicine) and are typically review articles. Here are links to possibly useful sources of information about Homeopathy.
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Homeopathy oldest European alternative medicine?

The article states the following about Homeopathy: "Homeopathy, the longest established alternative medicine to come out of Europe," the source being a book on homeopathy.

How do we define something as established? Animal magnetism, for example, was created 20 years prior (in Vienna) and is still being practiced today in various countries in Europe (most prominently, it seems, in France), even if the term 'animal' has been dropped. It still has institutions. I would therefore consider it as a 'longer established alternative medicine to come out of Europe.'

In the end it is but a detail, and homeopathy is without question much wider spread than magnetism. What do other things of this? 130.92.208.129 (talk) 12:23, 12 September 2023 (UTC)

Alternative medicine is simply stuff that is used as medicine but has no valid evidence of efficacy. So, humorism is alternative medicine now, although it was mainstream for centuries before homepathy was invented.
I think this claim is simply a meaningless appeal to antiquity and should be deleted. --Hob Gadling (talk) 12:58, 12 September 2023 (UTC)
I agree, the sentence is more factually correct (and concise) without this particular insertion.
I am sure there is a debate to be had which form of complementary healthcare is the oldest, still established form coming from Europe--but this debate is largely inconsequential to the audience of this Misplaced Pages page. 130.92.208.129 (talk) 13:30, 12 September 2023 (UTC)
I agree, and I have removed it: . --Tryptofish (talk) 19:45, 12 September 2023 (UTC)

Reverting deleting edits?

Now-blocked user complaining about WP:FORUM removals on this page. — The Hand That Feeds You: 16:48, 26 November 2023 (UTC)
The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.

Is it not against Misplaced Pages rules to delete contributions made by other users in the talk page ? If you dont agree with what I suggested just try to discuss it.. If discussion is difficult for you then try to educate yourselves ... a little about rules in elementery discourse... — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jay1938 (talk • contribs) 20:59, 24 November 2023 (UTC)

It is not against Misplaced Pages rules to delete WP:FORUM contributions. Your contribution had no useable suggestion for improving it. It would have been useable if you had included a new WP:MEDRS source. Omitting the "waah! waah! bias!" rhetoric would have been a plus too. See WP:YWAB for other examples. --Hob Gadling (talk) 08:27, 25 November 2023 (UTC)

Schools of Homeopathy in the US

https://homeopathy.org/homeopathic-education/homeopathic-schools-directory/ 2600:1700:FDF0:19D0:9DA2:17A:7162:AFC7 (talk) 19:00, 3 January 2024 (UTC)

WP:NOTDIRECTORY. VQuakr (talk) 19:02, 3 January 2024 (UTC)
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