Homeopathy is gaining more and more followers among the French. Clinical studies and repeated health crises explain the use of this alternative medicine.
Often questioned, homeopathy (1) is today officially recognized as a medical practice in 80 countries around the world. As evidenced by the 69e edition of the world congress of homeopathy which has just opened its doors in Paris, “the major importance of this congress lies in the fact that it will demonstrate that homeopathy is a medicine based on a scientific approach and validated by results clinics, ”say the organizers.
Homeopathy widely recognized in France
In France, the practice of homeopathy has been recognized by the Ordre des médecins since 1997. And 56% of French people use homeopathic medicines (against 39% in 2004), according to a survey carried out in 2012 by Ipsos and the laboratory homeopathic Boiron. Among them, 34% said they use it on a regular basis.
Steadily increasing for ten years
In this same study, 77% of respondents declared that they “have complete confidence in homeopathy at a level equivalent to analgesics”. According to Dr Dominique Jeulin-Flamme, member of the National Union of Physicians, the use of homeopathy has been steadily increasing for ten years thanks to “word of mouth between patients, reinforced by credibility in the face of clinical results attesting that ‘a patient will be cured just as well with a natural medicine as with an antibiotic or an analgesic’. Comments which corroborate the results of the Ipsos / Boiron survey indicating that “efficacy and safety constitute the main characteristics of homeopathic medicines in the eyes of the French”. Half of them (48%) believe that these treatments are good for the body.
Repeated health crises
Another important data, 74% of French people believe that the health situation in France is becoming worrying. The recent health crises linked to the taking of medication as was the case for the Mediator or the 3rd and 4th generation pills have certainly not contributed to establishing a serene climate. Dr. Jeulin-Flamme also cites atatronégie (harmful consequences on the individual or collective state of health of a medical treatment) as the second factor (after word of mouth) of the constant progression of the use of homeopathy. in France.
“It is clear that the scandal of the pill 3e generation or the Mediator have sown doubts in the minds of people. Some of my patients told me that they had resorted to homeopathy after the scandal. This attraction for homeopathy will he accelerate. “I think it’s still a little early to find out,” comments Dr. Flamme. Perhaps carrying out studies in 2015 will be able to answer this question. “
(1) Invented by Samuel Hahnemann in 1796, homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine. It works according to the following principle: “Any active pharmacological substance capable of causing similar symptoms at a weight dose in healthy individuals can suppress similar symptoms in sick individuals, provided they are used at low doses”.
.
