How evidence works
Why one success story is not enough, why a control group is needed and how a systematic review differs from a single paper.
proven and unproven in medicine
Corpus Hahnemannicum: telling the proven from the unproven
Everyone writes about health these days: news sites, bloggers, banner ads and the people in your group chat. Some claims rest on years of careful research, others on someone's impression or wish to sell something. This reference explains the signs doctors and scientists use to tell them apart, how ideas about treatment have changed over the centuries and why the history of homeopathy has become one of the clearest lessons in evidence-based medicine.
Doubting a bold promise is not cynicism but looking after yourself. A good method stands up to testing, and a doctor can always explain what that testing is based on.
Where to start
History of doctrines
From humoral theory and bloodletting to Hahnemann's homeopathy and the rise of evidence-based medicine at the end of the twentieth century.
A breakthrough story
How not to fall for a headline about a "revolutionary discovery" or an ad for a remedy that supposedly helps with everything at once.
Questions for your doctor
What to ask at an appointment to understand how reliable a suggested method is and what alternatives there are.
Reference sections
- Topics
Topics in groups: evidence, the history of medical doctrines, news and advertising, talking to your doctor. Plus the article catalogue.
- Prevention
How to spot an ad for a "miracle cure" and avoid losing time, money and health: a step-by-step check of the promises.
- Methods
Evidence-based medicine, historical doctrines and alternative practices: what is known about them and how they are assessed.
- Research
How to read research: control groups, placebo, systematic reviews and levels of evidence.
- Questions
Questions that help you discuss the benefits, risks and reliability of a particular method with your doctor.
- Glossary
Terms from evidence-based medicine and medical history in plain words: from placebo to systematic review.
- Sources
Which official assessments this reference relies on, what it deliberately does not do and where its limits are.
Checking a health news story in five steps
Who is the source
Look at who is reporting the finding: a scientific journal, a university, a government agency or a company that sells something. A retelling of a retelling with no link to the original is a reason to be wary.
Was it studied in people
Many eye-catching headlines describe experiments on cells in a dish or on animals. That is an early stage: such a result is usually a long way from any conclusion about benefit for humans.
Was there a control group
Improvement in people who tried a method proves nothing on its own. What matters is whether they did better than similar people who received a placebo or usual care.
How many took part, and was it repeated
A study of a handful of volunteers can easily produce a chance result. Large studies and findings confirmed by independent teams deserve more trust.
Who is paying
Funding from a manufacturer does not make a study false, but it calls for extra attention. Honest publications disclose conflicts of interest openly.
Frequently asked questions
Do you support homeopathy?
No. The site's name refers to Samuel Hahnemann and the history of his doctrine. We explain where homeopathy came from and how scientific and medical bodies assess it, and those assessments are clear: there is no reliable evidence that it works.
Can you recommend something for my problem?
No. We do not name medicines, choose treatments or sell anything. This reference helps you understand how evidence works; decisions about your treatment are made by a doctor who knows your diagnosis and medical history.
What if an unproven method helped me?
Your improvement is real, and nobody is questioning it. The question is what caused it: you may have felt better because of the placebo effect, the natural course of the illness or other steps taken at the same time. Tell your doctor about your experience — together it is easier to work out what helped.
Can I drop prescribed treatment for an alternative method?
It is not wise to do this on your own: with many illnesses lost time is hard to make up. If your prescribed treatment raises doubts or causes problems, discuss it with your doctor or get an opinion from another specialist.
About the project
This domain once hosted a tech blog about computers and laptops, and later unrelated advertising appeared here. The current reference has no connection with either: the old material is not being restored, and a few former addresses now lead to new reference pages.
The project's name comes from Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy. We tell the story of his doctrine and how modern science assesses it — with respect for the people who turn to it and without endorsing the method itself.
Related sections
- Research
How to read research: control groups, placebo, systematic reviews and levels of evidence.
- Methods
Evidence-based medicine, historical doctrines and alternative practices: what is known about them and how they are assessed.
- Prevention
How to spot an ad for a "miracle cure" and avoid losing time, money and health: a step-by-step check of the promises.
Sources
- Cochrane Library
- NHMRC — Statement on Homeopathy (2015)
- WHO — information for patients
This page reflects the state of knowledge on the date it was prepared. Scientific assessments and official guidance are revised as new research appears, so make decisions about your health together with your doctor.