To not want to see a GP who had a qualification in Homeopathy?

[cordiality]

I've been offered an appointment with a newnGP at my surgery instead of my usual one, 'as she's a woman' (not that I requested that, but that's another issue entirely!)

I looked her up on their website and, among other specialities, she is a qualified homeopathic practioner.

Am I BU to think that you either practice mainstream medicine or homeopathy (which I, possibly wrongly, consider as being a bit 'woo') and to think that she's not the sort of doctor I would want to see?

Am perfectly open to being told I'm wrong by the way!

I agree that homeopathy is a bit 'woo' or rather total f*cking bollocks but I disagree that a GP couldn't do both. Some people swear by homeopathy and all manner of other 'woo' type things and as long as the GP isn't advocating this over medical practice, rather as a complement to this, then I don't see the problem.

However you are not unreasonable to say 'no thanks I'd prefer to see my usual dr' with or without a reason so I would just say this if I were you.

My gp growing up was a homepath too so I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. Think of it as complementary rather than alternative to mainstream medicine.

Wouldn't be a problem for me but as I know not much about either conventional medicine or homeopathy I may not be your woman. I'd be happy to see someone with such a passion for healing and broadening her perspective on her profession.

I personally would be worried about their ability to advise me on treatments based on the best available evidence - considering the balance of evidence does not support homeopathy.

Maybe she did the qualification because it interested her doesn't mean she lacks ability as a GP.

I'd feel the same. Homeopathy is totally discredited, it does nothing except the placebo effect. Any doctor who believed in it would lose my trust.

YABU - My GP has also qualified in acupunture and he actually offered me some for a neck problem - it was great and free .

If she tried to treat you with homeopathy rather than "normal" medicine you would be within your rights to complain but as others said maybe its a personal interest to her.

The best GP I ever had was also a homeopath. Depending on the condition, he would offer a choice of homeopathic or "standard" treatment, nothing was ever forced upon us.

I really, really miss him. :(

(And I think homeopathy is woo, too. )

I wouldn't trust someone who believes in homeopathy to be honest! I'd think she was a bit of an idiot.

YANBU.

I too would question the judgement of a gp who practiced homeopathy.

YANBU - things that are a bit 'woo' are all good and well, and if people want to believe in them/waste their own money, that's all good and well, but I'd want to be treated by a GP who was a bit more 'evidence based' in their approach to treatment...

Call back, ask to see someone else.

YABU. Presumably she trained for many, many more years in order to become a GP than a homeopath.

Whether you believe in homeopathy or not (and I don't) it does have a more 'hoslistic' diagnostic approach than traditional NHS standard medicine which can only be a good thing in a doctor's approach to a patient.

Surely it's better to make a decision after you've actually seen her and seen how she treats you.

YABU - as long as thats not her only qualification.

Also, where do you think alot of 'mainstream medicines' come from?

I actually have no problem at all with acupuncture, I think it is proven to be effective (am I right about this?) but yes, I think that goodegg has hit the nail on the head for me, homeopathy just has no scientific proof, so what does that say about the doctor's judgement?

Very interesting to read though that there are quite a few GPs that do both, I really would have assumed that the two were mutually exclusive...

I like drs to believe in evidence-based medicine. And not be credulous fools

My judgement may also be slightly impaired by the fact that she is wearing big dangly earrings and a headscarf in her picture and looks exactly like a fortune teller... but that wouldn't put me off by itself, I'm rather partial to a tasselly scarf...

I think homeopathy is a load of shite too - my mum relied way too heavily on it and nearly died.

I think acupunture certainly has scientificly proven results.

Mario - do you understand what homeopathy is? I don't think any mainstream medicine comes from magic water that has a memory.

YABU to judge her just because she's trained in homeopathy. She may keep her two things entirely separate, and I would say it's probably quite beneficial when it comes to her hypochondriac patients.

I'd also think it would be quite useful to see someone who does not believe that conventional medicine is the only answer to everything. She is more likely to treat patients holistically (ie treating the whole person) rather than just the symptoms. Think of a GP that sees someone for depression but hands out anti depressants rather than considering councelling or other types of therapy.

Homeopathy DOES have scientific proof though.

It has been repeatedly and demonstrably scientifically proven to be a big bunch of bollocks.

It is no more and no less effective than a placebo. This is not to say it is worthless - placebos are useful and underutilised in modern medicine. But water memory? Banging a certain number of times on a stick? The weaker it is the stronger it is? Balls.

Mainstream medicines come from herbal medicine. Herbal medicine and homeopathy have nothing in common, apart from both being described as "complementary medicines".
Homeopaths believe water has memory and the more dilute stuff is the mpre powerful it is. Herbalists prescribes herbs and many learn about the pharmacology of herbs and the evidence base behind them, although sadly you can't patent alot of herbal medicines so drug companies aren't interested in funding studies on them.
Digoxin and aspirin are 2 common drugs derived from herbs (foxglove and willow bark).

YANBU

Homeopathy is not evidence based. At all. In every study, in comes out only as successfully as a placebo. Which is what it is... little sugar pills which occasionally co-incide with the patient getting better naturally.

Agree with others that acupuncture is a bit difference, a few studies have shown that maybe there is some curative effect, though it needs more research.

NHS resources being spent on homeopathy really makes me

YANBU
but then I was "treated" with homeopathy for acute allergic asthma as a child. not fun.

But placebos have been shown to have quite a startling effect on some patients, particularly those with psychological problems that manifest physically. And if she can offer a patient a homeopathic remedy when there is no mainstream treatment and the patient feels better for it, does it matter whether its a placebo effect or not?