Homeopaths: Double-blind studies of homeopathic medicines are not ideally possible

Remind me to mark April 10 down on my calendar. I never realized it was such an important day, and, in any case, I wouldn't want to miss it. Nor should the rest of the skeptical blogosphere. Why? It's World Homeopathy Day, "celebrated" (or, if you're a fan of evidence-based medicine, as I am, lamented) in "honor" of Samuel Hahnemann, the originator of homeopathy, who was born on April 10, 1755.

Oh, joy. (On the other hand, I'm sure I can think of some sort of blog fun to have next April 10.)

Homeopathy, as you may recall, is the "alternative" medical therapy in which, it is postulated, a therapeutic compound diluted to the point where chemistry would dictate that there is not a single molecule of the substance left, actually becomes more potent. Reasons put forth as an explanation for this alleged effect, which, if real, would contravene the laws of chemistry, physics, and biology, range from the claim that water somehow retains the "memory" of compounds that have been diluted in it to fallacious invocation of quantum effects, the all-purpose explanation woos like to use when their particular brand of woo clearly conflicts with the laws of nature, as homeopathy does. Moreover, according to the homeopathic "law of similars," the substance chosen to be diluted should, in non-homeopathic doses, produce an effect similar to what the disease is producing.

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