People who rely on homoeopathy may be putting their lives at risk because of the alternative system of medicine's unfounded claims of curing diseases, a leading expert has warned. "Homoeopathic claims are not benign, they are dangerous. (Homoeopaths) have to demonstrate with scientific rigour that their claims work or they have to shut up," Edzard Ernst, Professor of complementary medicine, said. However, India-based homoeopath Dr SK Dasgupta has refused to buy Prof Ernst's argument. "Homoeopathy is a system of medicine in which a drug and a disease that produce similar symptoms cancel each other out in some way thereby restoring the patients to health. This principle of 'Like can cure Like' actually forms its basis," Dr Dasgupta said. Even the British Homoeopathic Association has denied that the treatments are dangerous. But, Prof Ernst of Exeter University has announced a 10,000-pound prize for any proof of a successful homoeopathic treatment, The Daily Telegraph reported. In fact, according to him, homoeopathic treatments are a ‘public health problem’ needed be more tightly regulated. His comments came just a day after a British Government report called for ‘urgent’ controls on herbalists, acupuncturists and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, amid fears over patient safety. Its recommendations, to be considered by Ministers, include a proposal that new practitioners would have to study for a degree before they could practise.
