Stossel: Homeopathic Remedies

Jan. 30 — -- Americans are spending hundreds of millions of dollars a year on homeopathic remedies believed to relieve the flu, colds, allergies and more, but the effectiveness of many remains debatable.

Lots of people believe in the products. Cher says she used homeopathy. So have Martina Navratilova and actress Jane Seymour (aka "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman"). The queen of England has her own homeopathic doctor.

In support of homeopathy, there are clinical studies that have found some of the medicines can help people with various conditions, such as the flu.

"There is a body of evidence to show that homeopathy is effective," author Dana Ullman told ABCNEWS. He's homeopathy's foremost spokesman and has written seven books on the subject.

But I'm skeptical. There are also clinical studies that have found many homeopathic products don't work. In fact, the National Institutes of Health says a number of its key concepts "do not follow the laws of science (particularly chemistry and physics)."

"You can choose to call us suckers," said Ullman. "But we have experience which suggests otherwise."

How It Works

Homeopathic researchers look for substances in nature that mimic the various symptoms of a sick person. It's similar to the theory behind vaccinations. You're given a little bit of the disease to keep you from getting sick. In homeopathy, if you're allergic to cats, they may give you a tiny bit of cat hair that they claim will alleviate your sneezing and itchy eyes.

But many homeopathic products are diluted to such absurd degrees that it defies science and common sense.

"We do this process of serial dilution," explained Ullman. "Diluting it and shaking it, diluting it and shaking it. Diluting and shaking."

To understand the proportions, one drop of medicine in 99 drops of water is referred to as 1 C. Then often, homeopaths just keep diluting it. At 6 C the amount is like one drop of medicine in 50 swimming pools. Taken further, 12 C is like one drop in the entire Atlantic Ocean.