Do homeopathic medicines contain steroids or are steroids used in the preparation of medicines? Many homeopaths have been asked such questions for a long time. A simple answer to this is NO. It is simply a misconception that homeopathic medicines contain steroids. These claims defame the homeopathic system of medicine. In this article we will discuss this topic in more detail. But first let’s try to find out what steroids are and what their side effects are.
Are steroids natural or man-made?
Steroids are generally natural chemicals and hormones that are naturally produced in the human body for normal physiological functions. These are secreted during pregnancy by the adrenal cortex, testis and ovaries in the body and by the placenta. Steroids produced by the adrenal cortex are called corticosteroids, which include glucocorticoids such as cortisol and mineralocorticoids, and those produced by ovaries and testis are called sex steroids, which include androgens, estrogens and progestins.
But steroids are also laboratory-made drugs of two types: corticosteroids and anabolic-androgenic steroids. Corticosteroids are a type of anti-inflammatory medications that doctors prescribe to quickly reduce inflammation in the body. These work by slowing down or suppressing the body’s immune system and reducing the production of chemicals that cause the inflammation. These are used in the treatment of many health conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, eczema, asthma, lupus, multiple sclerosis, myositis, vasculitis, etc. Some examples of corticosteroids are prednisone, cortisone and methylprednisolone. Anabolic steroids are man-made types of testosterone that are prescribed by doctors in cases when testosterone is not produced in the right amount in the body, leading to medical problems and when a person has muscle mass loss due to diseases like AIDS, cancer, etc. These Steroids help build muscle and prevent muscle breakdown.
Side effects of steroids
Although steroids can be lifesaving for many health conditions, their overuse comes with many side effects, some of which can be life-threatening. The side effects depend on the type of steroids used, the dose and how long they have been used.
Use of corticosteroids can lead to weight gain, puffiness on the face, difficulty sleeping, increased appetite, nausea, unwanted hair growth on areas such as the face, increased blood sugar levels, increase in blood pressure, blurred vision, mood swings, acne and reduced immunity increased susceptibility to infections due to suppression of the immune system. Their long-term intake predisposes one to weakening of the bones, leading to fracture, such as osteoporosis, muscle weakness, slow growth in children, diabetes and adrenal insufficiency, which is a life-threatening condition.
Use of anabolic steroids can result in fluid retention, facial hair, male pattern baldness, stunted growth in teens, mood swings, aggression and changes in the menstrual cycle in women. Due to overuse, the body can stop producing testosterone, leading to a decrease in sperm count, smaller testicle size, breast growth in men and infertility. Its long-term use can damage the heart, liver and kidneys and lead to high LDL (low density lipoprotein) lipoprotein levels, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
What is homeopathy and what types of medicines are used for healing?
Homeopathy is a 200-year-old medical system, founded by the German physician Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, based on the law of ‘Similia Similibus Curentur’ or ‘like cures like’.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), homeopathy is the second largest medical system in the world. It is practiced in more than 84 countries. This globally trusted healing system is used by over 50 crore people worldwide. The homeopathic healing system is well recognized under AYUSH which includes five alternative healthcare systems namely Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy.
Homeopathy is able to cure many acute and chronic health problems. The medicines used in the homeopathic treatment of diseases are all 100 percent natural medicines, mainly derived from plants and minerals, without chemicals or toxins. To date, no side effects have been observed with the use of these medications. Prescribing steroids is not allowed in homeopathy and no homeopathic medicine contains steroids in any form. Only qualified allopathic doctors are allowed to prescribe steroids in some cases.
Homeopathy has abundant natural effective medicines, it does not require steroids
Homeopathy itself is a complete healing system highly enriched with a plethora of natural medicines that are highly effective in controlling health problems. These can help as excellent anti-inflammatory drugs without side effects and without the risk of suppressing the immune system. So why would a homeopath use steroids as homeopathy itself is blessed with safe, natural remedies that can do only good and no harm.
A rapid homeopathic effect may raise doubts
When immediate relief occurs with homeopathic medicines in acute conditions, one might expect that these medicines may contain steroids as steroids work very quickly and unimaginably quickly. There is also a belief that homeopathy works very slowly and quick relief can never happen with it, so how did I get instant relief? People who express such doubts are not well informed about homeopathy and its principles, and the types of medicines used in it, so they might believe that homeopathic medicines contain steroids.
Homeopathy works slowly is also a myth. The fact is that when homeopathic medicines are carefully selected based on homeopathic principles with the correct dose and potency, they can work significantly faster than you might think. They start working as soon as they are absorbed with the help of nerve endings on the tongue. In acute cases such as diarrhea, colds, coughs, headaches and earaches, signs of improvement may appear earlier than in chronic cases where improvement may occur gradually. How quickly these medications work varies from case to case, depending on the nature of the disease, the chronicity of the complaint and the individual response to medications.
If homeopathic medicines contained steroids, there would have been side effects too
It is a known fact that steroid use can lead to several side effects as mentioned above. So if homeopaths were to use steroids, then the side effects must be due to the use of any homeopathic medicine. But none of these side effects have ever been reported with the administration of a homeopathic medicine.
Laboratory tests to find out the presence of steroids in homeopathic medicines
Colorimetric method for steroid testing
A false positive result on this test may raise the question of whether homeopathic medicines contain steroids. Therefore, this test should not be followed to confirm the presence of steroids in homeopathic medicines.
This test is an old method of detecting the presence of a steroid in a substance that uses tetrazolium blue salts. The substance on which this test is performed produces a highly colored compound called Farmazan if it contains steroids. The presence of a reducing sugar in a substance can lead to a false positive result. Homeopathic pills contain reducing sugars, so there is always a chance that the medicine will give a false positive result. Other homeopathic medicines contain a small amount of alcohol which can also produce false positive results. Such tests cannot be followed for the confirmation of steroids in homeopathic medicines and pills.
What other tests can be followed for confirmation of steroids?
Among the authentic tests to confirm the presence of steroids in homeopathic medicines are the thin layer chromatography method, the Liebermann Burchard test and the UV absorption method. These tests are the most accurate tests for confirming steroids in any substance. Homeopathic medicines will never show a positive reaction in this test. It should also be noted that only FDA approved laboratories should be chosen for testing homeopathic medicines as not every laboratory is equipped with equipment to conduct tests.
Conclusion: From the above discussion, it becomes very clear that homeopathy is a very natural healing system based on established principles. Homeopathic medicines neither contain steroids nor do homeopaths prescribe steroids. We should never believe that there is no evidence in this regard and should in any case look for facts before becoming convinced of the veracity of any rumors.