To ask whether or not people here believe in homeopathy?

[DaisyLovesMetronidazole]

I don't at all.

However, I'm not out for a bunfight!

Just curious, as was surprised by the response of a certain group to this question today.

HMG CoA Reductase is an enzyme in the biochemical pathway for cholesterol synthesis.

Statins, or HMG CoA Reductase inhibitors do as they say on the tin, and inhibit this enzyme.

Thus, cholesterol production is inhibited.

Blood tests demonstrating a decrease in circulating LDL demonstrate the efficacy of these drugs.

NO!!!!!

Daisy- like I said, that is an effect. These drugs have an effect. Doesn't mean in the long term that they are the answer, like anything else. I eat my dinner, my body digests the food, uses the energy. Doesnt mean that all food I eat is good for me.

Homeopathists have a standing offer to prove that there treatment works, by the same method that all conventional medicine uses. Why haven't they taken it? All they have to do is show that their treatments are more effective than sugar pills, and yet they don't. Why?

Nobody ever claimed that drugs don't have side effects.

However, cardiovascular disease sucks fairly badly.

"The homoeopathic industry refuses to exist within the same knowledge structures that the rest of society uses to justify faith in the expertise in others" -thats a long winded way of saying homoeopathy refutes any evidence to contrary but does so on remit of challenging orthodoxy and power base of HCP.adding bit conspiracy theory "well medics would say that.." to the mix

zack you are bang on that homoeopathy is a industry, a profitable and lucrative one. ,low entry qualifications, unregulated, easy to fleece customers. can see why is so lucrative for the sales persons masquerading as clinicians.

if conventional medicine is so vile why do homoeopaths have trappings and similarities to conventional medicine
"consultation"
"treatment"
dispensing a tablet as "treatment"
...for quasi-credibility,thats why

zack im not demanding proof homoeopathy works- james Randi is.if anyone can show that homeopathy works, the James Randi Educational Foundation will pay them the million-dollar prize... so far no winners

Thanks SM, I knew I was being longwinded when I wrote it, but couldn't think how to reword.

I think my point is that these structures apply to lots of things, not just medicine. We couldn't go about our daily lives without them.

what structures?the ones homeopathy refute?what you on about

No. There's no proper evidence it works and plenty of reason to believe it can't possibly work.

But as has already been said, some people will believe anything

As for "Why does it work on animals" - See here

off as working tomorrow,but op yes homoeopathy is rubbish. and i love debating this and all the other wooh wooh stuff, and the inevitable there are things we dont understand rationale...aye like science you mean

I mean the structures of society. We accept a large number of things that we don't have direct experience or knowledge of, because they are regulated by society. The safety of children's toys, or cars, or railway signals.

Homeopathy doesn't operate within a similar regulatory system, which is why people make the rational system not to use it. It isn't about our level of understanding of homeopathy.

Sorry, that should have said, 'the rational decision not to use it.'

Believe in homeopathy? No. It's a load of bollocks.

The people saying it can do no harm make me laugh. Of course it can't, it's water.

you are rambling like a conspiracy theorist.dont inc me in your global we. i do understand lots of things and don't feel threatened by "structures"

I don't feel threatened by structures. They are in place for a reason - to make sure that a highly complex society operates safely and ethically.

If we didn't have faith in the democratic structures of society, we'd have to travel by canoe, live off nuts and berries and use homeopathic medicine.

milly that's a lot of words but no substantive content.you're rambling

now i am going to bed

I don't think that even ancient peoples who travelled by canoe and ate nuts and berries would have had any truck with homeopathy.

BOF, yes I agree.

I've used it with good results & used it with no results at all

So yes, I believe it can work & certainly no harm in trying

No, rockhippy, you've used it and got better. The two are not necessarily linked. Did you read the posts above that explained why that is?

Bunkum. Useful filter, though. A bit like when people wear certain slogan t-shirts.

sorry, rockinhippy.

"but I am careful to keep an open mind." - I'm paraphrasing but.... just be careful not to keep your mind so open that your brains fall out.

"but I am careful to keep an open mind." - I'm paraphrasing but.... just be careful not to keep your mind so open that your brains fall out. & then gets so diluted it develops superpowers & imprints everyone with its genius

Homeopathy is far from harmless. There are mindless idiots out there trying to treat AIDS with homeopathy. As Ben Goldacre says in this article "when their right to make stuff up is flattered, people can get carried away".

www.badscience.net/2007/09/homeopathy-gives-you-aids/

Don't even get me started on Homeopaths Without Borders. An organisation that rushes to disaster zones to treat injured and traumatised people - with sugar pills.