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.

Snorbs-more andmore alternative therapies also go through trials, thats why we use them alongside medicine and sometimes on there own. Forms of massage, as i have mentioned colour therapy, meditation, to name some. Most termal wards i have worked on offer these. It is ignorant to just dismiss them and it was dangerous to put to much blind faith in scientific medicine, electric shock treatment, thalidomide drugs and others and not been the answer we thought they were. Early doctors got alot wrong especially to do with women and babies. Belief in both helps keep a balance.

"has shortcomings,yes but."

trans: "has all those deaths and side effects, yes but"

Birds, people aren't dismissing those alternative therapies. They are dismissing homeopathy.

MillyR-Or provide treatment which can be effective, but not always. Although if it's conventional treatment, it is backed by huge pharmaceutical companies who have a vested interest in selling their product.

doley, homeopathy isn't regulated. Anybody can set up shop and start selling homeopathic remedies. That some homeopaths choose to do more training is fine, but it's by no means mandatory.

Gooseberrybushes, are you actually going to post a link to these deaths then, rather than a link to deaths from people poisoning themselves with drugs, which is an entirely separate issue which you have still not explained how you intend to deal with through homeopathic medicine?

No. Clinical trials will show that the treatment has an efficacy rate higher than that of the placebo group.

300 people are given drug B. 300 people are given sugar. The people administering the pills and those taking them don't know what they're getting. At the end of the trial period a % of the people on sugar pills will report that they have had improved symptoms. This is the placebo effect. For a drug to be considered effective you want a higher % of people from the group actually taking drug B to report improved symptoms.

no dont paraphrase me erroneously to suit yourself gooseberry. any science involving human mental and physical health and diagnostics and treatment will unfortunately get it wrong sometimes.at least there is a regulatory body and accountability and monitoring

homoeopathy is unregulated and has no statutory powers.a homoeopath cannot be sanctioned or struck off. a Dr Can face such sanctions

Drs maintain regular cpd,reading and statutory training
homoeopaths dont

onlin-what do you class as a herb? because herbs are recommended to use for lots of ilnesses, they have been scientifically proven to be anti-fugal and anti-biotic. They were used to bring on abortions, lower temperatures etc centurys ago

I wonder what the QALY would be on homeopathic treatments

seeker- How do you define whether something has 'worked'? In that the afflicted feels better, has healed? How do you pinpoint the processes that have led to this outcome?

But herbal remedies are not homeopathy, so do not have to be discussed.

Lots of conventional medicine is herbal. Opiates, for example. It isn't a case of conventional vs. herbal.

snorbs I should have explained, my sister is in Norway ...I think it might be better regulated there.

I know she can't just set up shop there :)

I am aware of the benefits of some herbs and have not suggested their use in general is not of benefit. There is, however, no evidence for the use of herbal remedies for my particular clinical specialty.

ZJM, well alleviation of symptoms isn't always a good thing. It can mask the cause and lead to death.

a regulatory body? does that make up for the mortality and morbidity?

christ you can't even admit it

Everything leads to death eventually..?

Just realised the confusion...I though h/medicine was herbal medicine (as doley referred to), not homeopathy.

MillyR-some were thats why i posted. Its easy to laugh about things that you know nothing about.

Gooseberrybushes, find evidence then. Show us that people with access to conventional medicine are more likely to die than those with none.

what accusatory tone are you taking now gooseberry?that Drs deal with illness and increase mortality.my god the bastards

The truly sad thing is that it's the time that homeopaths can give to people that has such a positive effect, as well as the placebo bit. Our NHS expects doctors to fit everything into a five minute appointment, and as a lot of evidence shows, how people feel has a huge impact on health. If you feel you've been listened to and the doctor has the time to explain exactly what treatment they'd recommend and why it's more likely to be effective.

Od course there are side effects to pharmaceuticals - did anyone say there aren't?

I will supply some links milly but can I just check something with you first.

Do you need these links to prove to you that people are killed and made ill by used as prescribed pharmaceutical products?