Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor

Dr Isaac Golden has done some very interesting research on the value of homeopathy in the prophylaxis of infectious diseases as an alternative to mainstream vaccination procedures. He has worked on this for many years. The results appear to be equal to or even better than vaccination. If the findings are valid, and if they prove to be reproducible in another setting, this would be very good news for everybody, except for those sceptical of homeopathy. The latter have a powerful lobby, as was pointed out by Peter Chappell in the same issue of LINKS 2/2007 (p. 110). Therefore, whenever homeopathic physicians or researchers have conducted research that stands up to modern scientific standards, they should make every effort to publish their results in internationally respected peer-reviewed scientific journals. Dr. Golden mentions in his article that he was able to conduct research and even write a doctoral thesis at a university on homeoprophylaxis. Although this is good news in itself, it will not help much to inform or influence the discussion in other countries. To put it metaphorically, it is like having lunch and enjoying the view just below the summit of an unknown mountain peak, and then going home with a good feeling but with hardly anyone knowing what you did. Any mountaineer doing this would evoke disbelief and dismay from his colleagues for not finishing the job. So I am left with the question: why did Dr. Golden not go for gold? And why would his associates in the university not have urged him to publish the results in a medical journal, since their careers also depend on publishing research? I know from personal experience that there are often obstacles to be overcome before having your work published, and this is even more the case in studies of alternative medicine, but it is an unavoidable part of the game.

Dr. Golden writes: “My personal hope is that one day a country with politicians capable of making informed, independent decisions will allow HP and vaccination to be available equally to parents in the prevention of certain infectious diseases.” Politicians listen to the public and to advisory boards of experts. Members of the public will do their job if we treat them well with homeopathy. The experts read medical journals, although they change their views only slowly.

In conclusion, I challenge Dr. Golden and his university associates to publish his results in a regular medical journal, so that his dream can be brought a bit nearer to realisation.