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homeopathic medicine

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jomifl | 16:11 Wed 26th Oct 2011 | Science
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Since the putative active ingredient in homeopathic medicine is diluted to statistical non -existence the adherents to this kind of therapy have explained that the curative properties reside in the memory of water(yeah right). Any comments?
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Homeopathy has been kicking around the block for 200 years or so, since Hahnemann first came up with the idea.

In all those 200 years, there is no reliable, rigorous evidence to show that it performs any better than placebo, and only then for (mostly) self - limiting illnesses. The more rigorous the clinical trial, the more tenous the claims to any kind of benefit.Where remedies with a proven clinical benefit that perform better than placebo exist, it could be considered unethical to offer such homeopathic remedies.

Apart from placebo, homeopathy has no plausible or scientific methodology - most of the dilutions are so great that it is doubtful there is even a single molecule of the alleged active ingredient(s) left by the time the dilutions have been performed and battered with the bible.

Now, I dont care a jot if people want to imagine that such remedies help them out for trivial illnesses, if they are paying our of their own pocket, but there should be absolutely no question of providing therapies of such limited benefit on the public purse - The money could be put to far better use.

One final point - You may think that homeopathy is harmless - but you have stores and homeopathists offering homeopathic malaria prophylaxis - In Africa you have homeopaths offering untested remedies for HIV, and childhood diarrhoea. This could be considered murderous behaviour.

Personal testimony is just anecdote - it is an untested observation and with all due respect no evidence to support it other than one persons unsubstantiated word.

Supporting it just feeds into the anti-scientific complementary and alternative medicine meme.

http://www.smh.com.au...th-20090605-bxvx.html
Sums it up....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMGIbOGu8q0
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Again I agree with you completely LG..
'One final point - You may think that homeopathy is harmless - but you have stores and homeopathists offering homeopathic malaria prophylaxis - In Africa you have homeopaths offering untested remedies for HIV, and childhood diarrhoea. This could be considered murderous behaviour. '

^^^ I didn't know that. And that I agree is absolutely wrong.
If homeopathic medicines are so expensive shouldn't their be a law for this very diluted water.

If Prince Charles believes in it then its definately a load of old tosh. You can get just as much relief if you talked to your flowers.
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Thanks Philtaz, that was brilliant and possibly true?
I think they might marty

Not Homeopathic ones - you don't believe in that.

ets suppose you went to a London Hospital were checked into the researh department, underwent a consultation, made you sign a disclaimer, followed the doctor into a security controlled area, saw him sign out a small vial and then gave you the injection and made sure you had a 24 hour help line in case of side effects.

Then I think it just might

It's all about the sell

For example reseacrh shows big red placebos are more effective than small blue ones. But the most effective were really really small ones.

The more "special" a placebo appears the greater it's chance of being effective.

It won't cure cancet or make your arm grow back but it can be excellent at "treating" chronic pain.

However I'm still not convinced it's an ethical thing to do
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i agree charlatans are dangerous in every sphere, and to not propely treat HIV or malaria is awful! but i don't think this medicine is a placebo! there is something in it!

(even at a high dilution) *pun*
cath

Let me ask you something

If Heaven forbid you wer diagnosed with something really serious - say a cancer

Would you go to a Homeopath first or a traditional medical route?

If the latter (which I suspect) is that not because really you accept it's not as effective
another branch of the wonderful world of total bollux, load of old pony!
Homeopaths are latter day snake oil salesmen.
Many vets now use homeopathic remedies - if they work on animals how can it just be the placebo effect?
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Quite shortstraw.

If Homeopathy works as a placebo effect on some people, then fine - but homeopaths try to peddle their sugar pills as a remedy.

Remedy is another word for cure.

The fact these charlatans are selling 'remedies' is dangerous.

I mean, for christ's sake, how can they possibly believe that something that is diluted 14 million million times is more effective than something that is diluted 14 million times and that water has a memory, just absolutely makes the mind boggle.

They are con artists.
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Beckersjay, just because vets use homeopathic 'remedies' on animals does not mean they work, it just means that nothing else works.
jake: i would most definitely use surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy first! and then i would use nutritional and complimentary therapies to recover from the side affects!

i work occasionally in a hospice and reflexology, relaxation and t'ai chi is really effective with palliative cases!

BUT homeopathic medicine doesn't advertise or profess a cure for cancer, because as an unproven therapy would be illegal!
Dara on Homeopathy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RstwLzikmvA
"reflexology"?? PMSL!
i don't see why a person with terminal cancer having a reflexology hand or foot massage to relieve pains or side effects of treatment is funny. i find this attitude completely offensive and puerile.

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