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| title | chunk | source | category | tags | date_saved | instance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homeopathy | 10/10 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeopathy | reference | science, encyclopedia | 2026-05-05T09:21:09.663132+00:00 | kb-cron |
Using homeopathy as a treatment for animals is termed "veterinary homeopathy" and dates back to the inception of homeopathy; Hahnemann himself wrote and spoke of the use of homeopathy in animals other than humans. The use of homeopathy in the organic farming industry is heavily promoted. In humans there may be benefits following homeopathic treatment due to the placebo effect and the counseling aspects of the consultation; animals are not susceptible to these effects, eliminating these possible benefits. Studies have found that giving animals placebos can play active roles in influencing pet owners to believe in the effectiveness of a treatment which actually has no effect, so that animals given homeopathic remedies continue to suffer, prompting animal welfare concerns. Little existing research on the subject is of a high enough scientific standard to provide reliable data on efficacy. A 2016 review of peer-reviewed articles from 1981 to 2014 by scientists from the University of Kassel, Germany, concluded that there is not enough evidence to support homeopathy as an effective treatment of infectious diseases in livestock. The UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has adopted a robust position against use of "alternative" pet preparations including homeopathy. The British Veterinary Association's position statement on alternative medicines says that it "cannot endorse" homeopathy, and the Australian Veterinary Association includes it on its list of "ineffective therapies".
== See also == Fringe science List of topics characterized as pseudoscience Scientific skepticism
== Notes ==
== References ==
== External links ==
Homeopathy (NHS Choices, UK)