Tell me more ×
Skeptics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for scientific skepticism. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 2 down vote favorite
2

Are there specific substances that are used for dilution? Can those substances have benefits or on the contrary - be harmful?

share

locked by Sklivvz♦ May 19 '12 at 7:18

This question exists because it has historical significance, but it is not considered a good, on-topic question for this site, so please do not use it as evidence that you can ask similar questions here. This question and its answers are frozen and cannot be changed. More info: FAQ.

closed as off topic by Sklivvz♦ May 19 '12 at 7:18

Questions on Skeptics Stack Exchange are expected to relate to scientific skepticism within the scope defined in the FAQ. Consider editing the question or leaving comments for improvement if you believe the question can be reworded to fit within the scope. Read more about closed questions here.

2 Answers

up vote 7 down vote accepted

Homeopathic remedies are traditionally diluted by water. As has been mentioned elsewhere on the site, there have been medicine with active ingredients marketed as homeopathic remedies, which could in that case have harmful effects, but strictly homeopathic medicine does not contain anything of the kind.

The most harmful thing you'll get out of truly homeopathic pills is in thinking they'll work, and subsequently miss out on the medication you should be described.

share
2  
@Egle: A correctly prepared homeopathic remedy does indeed contain only water. – Lennart Regebro Feb 25 '11 at 22:39
1  
@Egle: Yes, that is what they sell. They don't say that it's only water, but that's what it is. – Lennart Regebro Feb 25 '11 at 22:45
3  
@Egle: well that's the thing, there are some things out there being sold as homeopathic remedies that does contain active ingredients, but true homeopathy as per the Hahnemann instruction (and yes, that is what's being sold) is commonly at what is called a "30C" dilution. That means (0.000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 1%) of the active ingredient. You may look at the figure and say "hey, that's small, but it's greater than zero." Well, it's incredibly much smaller than one single molecule, so in effect, it is zero. – David Hedlund Feb 25 '11 at 22:46
3  
@Lennart water + sugar may be? :) Still can't believe anybody would buy water tasting like... water :) Alcohol in other hand... – Egle Feb 25 '11 at 22:49
2  
@Egle: the process of dilution is not exactly the same thing as the process of creating the actual pill. The pill does not consist of merely water, but it is, as you insinuate, a sugar pill. All pills are like that. If an aspirin was a pill of only active ingredients, the pill would either be so small you couldn't see it, or so full of active ingredients it'd be lethal. There's always packaging fluff. The problem with homeopathy is with the very small part of the pill that is the active ingredient, in that the active ingredient is nothing at all. – David Hedlund Feb 25 '11 at 22:56
show 8 more comments
up vote 0 down vote

If we assume that homeopathy and its claims are false, as this answer pertains to we can judge your question based upon what the actual base "diluting" liquid would do you body.

Pure or unfiltered water is safe to consume, as long as if it is impure the trace elements it does contain are not harmful, so don't draw your water near to a chemical waste facility.

share

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.