Is it a con or can it help my sick child?

I mean this pretty much explains why I never talk about homeopathy. I’m not trying to convince anyone that it works, but nor am I looking for the constant rebuttals that it’s stupid to “believe in it”. If someone wants to try it and they’re interested I’d always encourage them to do so, but I’m so tired with having to defend something that has helped me when I’m not trying to convert anyone who genuinely isn’t interested…

It would save the NHS a fortune if we could treat people with teeny tiny bottles of tap water, which is all that homoeophathy is.

Some herbal remedies do have clinical trials, they may be small scale though.

When antibiotics are not getting rid of infection it's worth trying xylitol. There is research on it's benefits for some types of bacteria, especially strep bacteria. e.g. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3434645/ and it may have other benefits https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/11/8/1813. It can be used with antibiotics and as it acts by reducing adherence may enhance their effect.

Another useful herbal product (although not in this case) is arnica https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8537440/

Elderberry may help with respiratory infections https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30670267/

Yes you should always consider possible interactions with other products/ medicines but they are not all in the same category as homeopathy.

Only those with the THR logo, which is a small proportion of the market.

Well… herbal remedies are now regulated by the MHRA so assuming you buy “real”’ones not dodgy internet ones they should be exactly what they say they are. They just haven’t been proved in clinical trials.

It’s the other stuff being sold as food supplements you really have to worry about.

"...do not believe in homeopathy...". There's the thing...I do not have to "believe" or take as a matter of faith that conventional medicine works, because there is ample evidence in the form of properly conducted clinical trials to demonstrate that it works, and the mode of action (the pathway by which it works) can be explained scientifically. There is no such evidence for homeopathy, and no scientific explanation of how taking a few drops of water (which is what a homeopathic treatment is) can possibly "cure" whatever medical condition it is.

Yep. Statement from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons on homeopathy:

“Homeopathy exists without a recognised body of evidence for its use. Furthermore, it is not based on sound scientific principles. In order to protect animal welfare, we regard such treatments as being complementary rather than alternative to treatments for which there is a recognised evidence base or which are based in sound scientific principles. It is vital to protect the welfare of animals committed to the care of the veterinary profession and the public’s confidence in the profession that any treatments not underpinned by a recognised evidence base or sound scientific principles do not delay or replace those that do.”

Homeopathy used to be mentioned as a preferred treatment for organic livestock in the organic production standards of several European countries, including the UK. It has now been removed at the insistence of national veterinary organisations because it doesn't work. There is absolutely no scientific validity behind it.

I just want to amplify this as I suspect many posters are thinking of herbal, rather than homeopathic remedies.

That is an entirely different (and diverse) proposition.

My child had infection after infection after infection. We did food elimination, course of Homeopathy and she hasn't had a viral infection the past few months but that could co-incide with the food we eliminated and the weather change. Homeopathy is a holistic approach and if you have been given constant antibiotics your child will have a damaged or leaky gut and need probiotics and immunity support. Please go private and don't wait for an NHS referral as they often won't.

NHS position on homeopathy:

www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/homeopathy

What was the control group?

Was a similar group of ailing cows given only water with no "homeopathic" additive?

And when anybody who has Psoriatic Arthritis looks at the state of his hands, it's pretty bloody obvious that it's not working.

Biologics, however, they work. Hence why I don't have fingers that look like a pound of Richmond's finest - unlike him.

"Homeopathy used to be available on the NHS, the king uses it and the Queen carried remedies in her purse."

I think it was the Queen Mother who carried homeopathic products in her handbag

But so what?

Look up the logical fallacy "Appeal to authority".

The kings and queens of England use it so it must work?

JFC!

Imagine the benefit to the NHS if water was an effective treatment instead of (rigorously tested and proven) pharmaceuticals!

No of course it can't cure serious medical problems. It's complimentary therapy. It can help some people alongside other things but only as a placebo. You'd be better off getting a massage. That's an alternative therapy that actually relaxed you physically.

I'm so sorry for your daughter. But I used to have a GP who was struck off for using homeopathic remedies and crystal therapy on child cancer patients. It's not real medicine.

Others on this thread have said that homeopathy is cheaper than big pharma med (I don't know if this is true or not). If it is, why would the NHS not be funding it? I would save them a fortune.

Why does mint and coffee interfere?

Homeopathy is very, very tiny amounts of something in water. The theory is that the water magnifies the power of the substance in it. Does that sound logical to you?

It’s because it doesn’t make any money for big pharma that’s why

Ok. I’m going to pop my head above the water and (tentatively) say that I’ve been using homeopathy for years and really do champion the benefits of it.

There is a nuance to all of this that I often find doesn’t exist in the conversation which is why I rarely discuss homeopathy with anyone outside of my family. I openly and happily use conventional medicine, and yes if I broke my leg, I would go to hospital and let medical experts sort it out. I would then use homeopathy afterwards to help with the healing. I never discount conventional medicine but that does not mean that things like homeopathy cannot be used alongside it.

Now I’ve said my bit, I do not see any harm in using a homeopath for your child’s diagnosis. I would be wary of anyone who says that they can “cure” autism, but you would (in my opinion) be doing no harm exploring this avenue and seeing if it helped your DC. I’m happy to speak more about it but I’m always cautious of doing so as the people/posters who do not believe in homeopathy are quick to shout down and sometimes get quite aggressive.

Re steroids the lady I mentioned on IG’s daughter was given steroids. This was under the care of Dr Tim Ubhi (London).

if you didn’t see my post she is @parenting_pandas (Lucy) she is very helpful and has a lot of info on her account. I seem to remember steroids did help (and homeopathy in fact)

I do, yes.

'Practicioners' believe that substances that cause an illness can also cure it if that substance is hugely diluted (often to the point of there being literally no remaining molecules of that substance remaining in what is left).

Part of that belief was that this must be done following a ritualistic process of shaking and diluting, though I wouldn't be surprised if modern day adherents play down or move away from that more clearly bonkers pillar of Hahnemann's as they start to try to play up a more 'scientific'-sounding respectability.

You're right, though, I had quite forgotten that homeopaths (one suspects for similar reasons) have also progressed to proving their 'remedies' in the form of sugar pills containing a drop of the diluted substance (water. At a push another solvent - be careful with that one.)

So I suppose theoretically they might also assist someone with low blood sugar too, but jelly babies are much more effective.

Homeopathy cannot work. Any effect is the placebo effect which can be very powerful and is scientificly real. New medicines have to prove to be at least 20% more effective than placebo. Herbal medicines can also be effective if they include true herbal active ingredients. Many conventional medicines are derived from plant compounds.