How homeopathy works is that like cures like. To cure an allergy, for example, they might take the thing that you are allergic to, add it to water, and then dilute it so many times that there can't even be one molecule left. The water is supposed to still have the memory of having had the molecule in it. If that were the case, that water would remember everything it had every been in contact with. The idea behind homeopathy makes absolutely no sense. That's why they have no specific example.

@Heraclitus

Here's a specific example of a fun and popular homeopathic "medicine" for you to look into. As soon as anyone understands, really understands, how these fraudulent medicines are created, there's no more skepticism needed, unless you are just a general believer in "woo".

[en.wikipedia.org]

In a nutshell, when you think of active ingredients in medicines, the more there is, the stronger it is, right? If you take 600 mg of an actual medicine, it's general going to have more of an effect on your body than if you take 200 mg.

Dosage works the opposite way in homeopathy. "C" is the measure of the number of dilutions. 1 C means that they made a single 1:100 dilution. So they put 1 ml of ingredient into 100 ml of water. 2C means that they then took 1 ml of the dilution and added that to 100 ml of water.

Oscillococcinum is a super "potent" (LOL) medicine that is rated at 200C. So they diluted it 200 times.

So the first clue that this is BS should be that there's no evidence in the first place that duck organs can cure influenza or relieve its symptoms.

The second clue is that at 200C dilution, means that there is 1 part active ingredient to 10 to the 400 parts water. (sorry don't know how to format that number properly.) Understand that's 10 + 400 zeros after it.

From the wiki above, the amount of active ingredient in one gram of Oscillococcinum is 1×10−400 g, the mass of a single proton is 1.67×10−24 g. (roughly)

While I can't even fathom being able to make an exact calculation, I would venture to say this is like tossing an aspirin into Lake Michigan and expecting that if you drink a shot glass full of that water, it will cure your headache.

@Stephanie99 Well, that's weird. But it doesn't sound too far off from the allergy shots I was given by a doctor when I was young. They gave me shots of the allergens under the theory that I would develop some immunity to the things I was allergic to by being exposed to them. Didn't seem to work very well, though it gave me a lot of red, sore arms.

@Heraclitus
I can see how you would say that. What you miss is the dilution factor. With homeopathy, the dilution is so extreme that there can't even be one molecule of the thing being diluted anymore.

Thanks, I wish I have time to listen now. I hope I remember to come back.

Thank you. That was a good listen.

Sad. I had a relative contact me for a naturopath recommendation. My only recommendation was not to go to one.

@Stephanie99 I hope your relative listened

@pixiedust Unfortunately not.