to think homeopaths really just make money out of the gullible?

[WidowWadman]

A remedy made from diluted bits of the Berlin Wall - seriously, that's surely just a test to find out how far they can push it, isn't?

That would be exciting - scientists might be tempted to carve "fancy that" on the sides of their cocks (if they had one)

I realise this will seem like a very worrying, crazy nonsequitur to those not familiar with Tim Minchin's Storm.

Oh dear. It was a non sequitur because I was too slow.

Serious question though: why aren't people like Jasmuheen sectioned?

Breatharian?! Oh good God!

I must admit that homeopathy does seem to be rubbish to me, but I am no scientific expert.

"For example, it is claimed onions, which make eyes itchy and tearful, can be used to relieve the symptoms of hay fever.
Other treatments include anti-malaria tablets made from African swamp water, rotting plants and mosquito eggs and larvae."

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2267120/Homeopathy-rubbish-shouldnt-available-NHS-says-chief-medical-officer.html

But why on earth is it available on the NHS in some cases and why is taxpayer money used to seemingly endorse it?

Also, I presume it is regulated and the concentrations are correct etc, and who does this regulation?

Maybe it's time for some serious testing. We could lock all the Breatharians in a well ventilated room for 40 days without food or water.

The homeopaths could be in the next room with just a supply of really nice water. Those who claim prayer is the answer to everything could be just left in their room since their god will unlock their door when they are ready to leave.

Seriously (ok I was a bit serious there) I think one reason they are not sectioned is organised religion. The churches added (demanded/forced) an air of respectability to irrational babbling. Also we couldn't go around putting breatharians in padded rooms without making space for Bishops and such.

Imagine the assessments!

"You believe that if you breathe deeply you don't need to eat or drink."
"Go with the attendants and they'll find you a nice room"

"So to recap. You get together with friends and eat the remains of your founder. This is conjured up by saying the right magic words. If you do something immoral you get someone to say some more magic words to make it right"
"Go with the attendants and they'll find you a nice room"

"You voted Tory?"
"Go with the attendants and they'll find you a nice room"

Okay, maybe the last one is borderline :)

I wouldn't worry about the "concentrations", claig, as there's basically nothing in it. It's completely inert. I don't approve of the NHS funding any homeopathy myself, but I suppose they only give it to people with minor complaints if they think they'll be helped by the placebo effect.

Yes, good point, it is probably so diluted that it can't do any harm.

Given that the 'active ingredients' are so ridiculously infitessimally small (think one drop in a swimming pool full of water), and that their presence can't be detected, it would not surprise me one little bit if the only difference between the various 'remedies' was the labels on the bottles.

claig Homeopathic remedies cannot harm but telling vulnerable individuals that they no longer need their conventional treatment is very harmful as is preying on people's vulnerabilities. The latter is what bothers me about homeopathy and other similar 'therapies'.

crashdoll, I agree with you.

They should only be complementary medicine for those that want and believe in them, and I am at a loss to know why we are spending any tax money on them when our hospitals are strapped for cash.

Maybe science could come up with the genotype for believing anything vaguely rational is a 'conspiracy theory'. Because I'm sure having this disability which is so entrenched and intransigent is potentially curable if we manipulate thier DNA right.

Then again we wouldn't have so much fun on a thread, would we?

I'm really interested in people who become homeopaths etc.
I have met them socially and in the back of my mind all I can hear is 'You are talking to a NUTTER! This person has no critical faculties!'
The ones I've met have been quite nice but I do wonder what's going on underneath the facade.

Just so Oblongata to get back to one of the original questions, 'are they deluded or conning people?

Don't miss the YouTube 'Storm' by Tim Minchin. It might help you decide.

I love that Tim Minchin thingy.

I think without a doubt, most of htem are deluded.

I think for sure the weird guys who charge a fortune for weekend seminars on harnessing energies etc are exploitative and evil and not in the least bit deluded.

There's probably a fair bit of crossover. As in 'I believe in this therapy, mostly, but I also believe I am entitled to take vast amounts of money from people who also believe in it, because the universe is good to me and although I know I'm pushing it, the universe is good to them too. Sort of. Um...'

Claig many question why homeopathy continues to receive NHS money
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8524926.stm

But it has some very powerful friends
www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2013/feb/13/prince-charity-lobbied-government-homeopathy

I agree, there is a fair bit of crossover, if they are deluded, do you think they would like to be cured? A little sugar pill maybe?

If they are conning, maybe withdrawing NHS medical services from them and getting them to dip into their vast pots of money that they've extorted from vulnerable people....

Btw I'm very left leaning politically but homeopathy brings out the right wing extremist in me.

It brings out the Atilla The Hun in me.

I live in Bristol, which is quite a centre for 'alternative' lifestyles, and not far from places like Glastonbury and Totnes, which are rammed with crystals and goddesses and chakras etc.

There is a local magazine called The Spark which covers all the alternative stuff - the woo quotient is through the roof, particularly in the listings, and looking at the prices charged for all the different kinds of therapy (homeopathy is positively scientific compared to some things in there) and the weekend retreats etc, I can't help thinking that a) some people must be making serious money out of all this (while also bleating about Big Pharma's profits), and b) an awful lot of people must have more money than sense.

A friend was telling me recently about someone she knows who does 'distance healing' - you phone her up, tell her your troubles, and she then wafts healing vibrations/mind waves in your direction. People actually pay money for this. Nice work if you can get it - I wondered if I should set up in business (put a small ad in the Spark), but I don't think I'd be able to control my giggles.

Before I vote for anyone I check their voting habits regarding homeopathy. Any MP who votes in favour of homeopathic hospitals will not get my vote.
I reckon the level of actual belief in something like homeopathy decreases as you ascend the pyramid of power and influence and follow the money. Those making the most money out of homeopathy are, I reckon, the least deluded and most culpable.
I utterly loathe the ones at the top of the food chain of this sort of "alternative medicine", they know they're selling snake oil and there should be something similar to the cancer act which could be used to prosecute them.
Cheers.

some people must be making serious money out of all this

They are. That's why I call it Big Alt.

Annoys some people who would like to gloss over the profit margins aspect no end. Which is a plus.

sorry, fingers run ahead of brain

Big Alt Med

Hey Bore....do you reckon that's because there is, in fact, dilutes essence of Atilla the Hun in you?

You could be right there Minou! We ALL have dilute essence of everyone who has ever been in us, due to the Memory of Water?

Which means... ESSENCE OF HITLER!

GODWIN!