DNA and baby bacteria

This article, which I found today on NPR, discussed some very interesting findings from a study conducted recently regarding breast milk composition and baby gut bacteria.

I highly suggest giving this quick read a few minutes of your time!

Homeopathy ineffective. No substance to that substance

A study released today by the Australian Government National Health and Medical Research Council found homeopathic medicine to be about as effective for treating health conditions as sugar pills. 

Homeopathy, according to the National Institute of Health is "is an alternative medical system that was developed in Germany more than 200 years ago." It relies on the theory that " 'like cures like'—the notion that a disease can be cured by a substance that produces similar symptoms in healthy people; and 'law of minimum dose'—the notion that the lower the dose of the medication, the greater its effectiveness." 

176 controlled studies were analyzed and, according to the researchers, found that the homeopathic substances were so diluted that no molecules of the original substance remain thus rendering the treatment entirely ineffective. 

Studies that have demonstrated homeopathy's effectiveness were "poorly designed" and excluded form the meta- analysis.

Yikes! Too bad since Americans pay $170 million annually for these medicines and another $2.9 billion for visits to homeopathic practitioners. 

What is your opinion of homeopathy? Have you used it with success in the past? Do you agree or disagree with the researcher's findings?

For the article from Al Jazeera documenting the findings, click here.