science

Homeopathy in New Zealand

Homeopathy in New Zealand is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Homeopathy in New Zealand rather than just read about it. In short: Homeopathy practice is unregulated in New Zealand and homeopathic remedies are available at pharmacies, although there are calls to have them removed from sale. A small-scale survey of homeopathic practitioners of New Zealand in 2008 showed that they all claimed to be able to treat asthma and ear infections, and statements such as "hundreds of remedies for ear infections and asthma" and "homeopaths have a success ra…

Key takeaways

Homeopathy in New Zealand belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Homeopathy in New Zealand to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Homeopathy in New Zealand from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Homeopathy practice is unregulated in New Zealand and homeopathic remedies are available at pharmacies, although there are calls to have them removed from sale. A small-scale survey of homeopathic practitioners of New Zealand in 2008 showed that they all claimed to be able to treat asthma and ear infections, and statements such as "hundreds of remedies for ear infections and asthma" and "homeopaths have a success rate nearing 80%" were made. Though large scale studies conducted across the world show that homeopathy is a pseudoscience and its remedies have been found to be no more effective than placebo. The New Zealand Medical Association does not oppose the use of alternative medical practices such as homeopathy if it can be shown that the patient can make an informed choice; however, this stance has been called unethical and may be in contravention of medical regulations.

Belief and scepticism The New Zealand Skeptics organisation took part in the international 1023 campaign in 2011. Protests were held in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. A 2012 survey showed that 51% of the New Zealand population had some degree of belief that homeopathic remedies were scientifically proven.

Organisations The Auckland Homeopathic Hospital, with Carl Fisher as superintendent, operated from 1858 to 1862. For a half-yearly report of 1859 a total of 34 patients out of 55 were claimed to have been cured. There are a number of training providers that teach homeopathy, and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority issues credits for homeopathy courses. The New Zealand Council of Homeopaths, formed in 1999, acts as a representative for the industry. It was formed by the amalgamation of New Zealand Homoeopathic Society, the New Zealand Institute of Classical Homeopathy and the New Zealand Accreditation Board of Natural Therapies. Homoeopathica a journal published by the New Zealand Homoeopathic Society.

Autism Cure Claims In 2019 18 New Zealand based Homeopathic practitioners advertised CEASE therapy as a cure for autism with Helen Petousis-Harris stating "CEASE therapy as a whole new level of homeopathic woo". Autism NZ chief executive Dane Dougan "knows of CEASE therapy but had not heard of it being used much in New Zealand, which he thinks is probably a good thing" and also said "some of the unproven therapies prey on some of the most vulnerable people in society".

Measles Immunity claims In a measles outbreak in 2016, members of the public presented certificates of homeopathic prophylaxis as evidence of immunity from measles however, randomised studies have proven there is no immunity gained from homeopathic prophylaxis.

Prosecutions The Commerce Commission, which administers the Fair Trading Act, has prosecuted companies for misleading claims about homeopathic products. In 1997 SCI Natural (NZ) Ltd was to be prosecuted for claims that the Soft Seaweed Soap product would help people to lose weight. The Commerce Commission decided not to go ahead with the prosecution since a key individual had left New Zealand and the company went into liquidation. A Tauranga-based couple who specialised in homeopathic remedies pleaded guilty to 19 charges under the Fair Trading Act in 2008 for making misleading claims. as they claimed their anti-terror kit could protect or cure anthrax, botulism, smallpox, bird flu, the Sars virus and other conditions.

Criticism To prove the lack of evidence and efficacy in Homeopathic remedies, in 2010 the NZ Skeptics planned a homeopathic overdose, with President Vicki Hyde stating the remedies "are based on “wishful thinking”" and nothing but “sham and sugar”. As part of a wider global protest across UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US, the protesters consumed large doses of homeopathic remedies with no reported overdosing or cure to existing conditions.

See also Fringe science List of topics characterized as pseudoscience Evidence and efficacy of homeopathy Health care in New Zealand

References

External links Homeopathy and naturopathy at Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand New Zealand Homoeopathic Society Homeopathy Campaign at New Zealand Skeptics

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Homeopathy in New Zealand

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Homeopathy in New Zealand claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Homeopathy in New Zealand before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Homeopathy in New Zealand ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Homeopathy in New Zealand

In research: Homeopathy in New Zealand appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Homeopathy in New Zealand in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Homeopathy in New Zealand is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Health care in New Zealand, Homeopathy, Obsolete medical theories, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Homeopathy in New Zealand outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Homeopathy in New Zealand in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Homeopathy in New Zealand means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Homeopathy in New Zealand out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Homeopathy in New Zealand in simple terms?

Why does Homeopathy in New Zealand matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Homeopathy in New Zealand?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Homeopathy in New Zealand.