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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be driven mad by how many people are utterly convinced by homeopathy?

359 replies

Wannabuyawatch · 27/03/2014 08:28

I am just completely baffled by how many educated, clued up people I know, including family members and many close friends, that do not question homeopathy in any way. It is complete nonsense that bases its "science" on the memory of water?? You might as well wave your magic wand and say Hocus Pocus. Of course the placebo effect can be a cure in itself but not for children?? Even my brilliant pediatrician tries to give me homeopathy (probably bc she thinks it will calm me down rather than my children!!)
There is a mum at school whose son has horrendous allergies and asthma. She has taken him off all his inhalers as she wants to "cleanse his system" and only gives him homeopathy. Arrrgh. I see the little boy in tears every day in the spring as he can´t sleep and is exhausted due to his breathing.
My MIL insisted on giving their old dog who was in agony and riddled with cancer homeopathy instead of conventional medicine and god, did it suffer, why why??
Don´t know why but it drives me mad…such an irresponsible industry that suckers vulnerable people in and leads some to give homeopathy instead of conventional meds in dangerous situations.

OP posts:
Martorana · 27/03/2014 10:18

"Even they were sugar pills they would probably work. A paediatrician friend told me they give sugar drops to tiny babies in the hospital as pain relief."

Absolutely. That's why homeopathic teething powders work! Just don't pretend there's more to it than there is.

What's your son taking homeopathic tabs for?

fs2013 · 27/03/2014 10:18

"Fs2013, there have also been studies on the difference between optimists and pessimists. You feel lucky, so you are an optimist, right? I'm also an optimist. But all that means is that we are predisposed to recollect more of the good things that happen to us and ignore the bad things. It doesn't actually make us lucky. Or make any more good things happen to us. Or make ineffective 'treatments' actually work. Do you see the difference?

The problem is that if you are not aware of that, you may genuinely start believing in superstitions, or positive thinking or homeopathy, which is all very well if it's just you that is affected but when it starts to affect others like the poor little boy in the op's post, it's dangerous".

A very sensible point of view and I did stress that I wouldn't go against a doctors advise for a serious condition. I genuinely believe lots of things other people don't but that doesn't make me wrong.

Martorana · 27/03/2014 10:19

" I genuinely believe lots of things other people don't but that doesn't make me wrong."

Well, if they are things which have been properly tested and proved to be false it does a bit make you wrong...........

PrimalLass · 27/03/2014 10:21

This again. Did we not just have a homeopathy thread?

fs2013 · 27/03/2014 10:23

I'm talking about the power of the mind though Martorana not medicines.

almondcake · 27/03/2014 10:23

Fs, I was thinking about the impact that you claiming that you and your family members have superior powers must have on those around you, not whether or not it disturbs you personally. It could give you a lot of comfort to believe that about yourself.

ThatOtherTime · 27/03/2014 10:23

I think most probably all homeopathy is bonkers. It's a cynical buisness that exploits gullible people.

Martorana · 27/03/2014 10:24

The "power of the mind" has been tested too..........

roadwalker · 27/03/2014 10:27

HERBALISM OR ANYTHING WHERE YOU ACTUALLY TAKE A REMEDY IS NOT HOMEOPATHY
why is this so hard to grasp. In homeopathy you do not take any remedy it relies on the 'memory' of the water that is why it is bollocks

fs2013 · 27/03/2014 10:27

The power of the mind is always being tested. I should know I'm a psychologist!

differentnameforthis · 27/03/2014 10:27

I see the little boy in tears every day in the spring as he can´t sleep and is exhausted due to his breathing.

I think I would have to inform someone of this. She is denying her ds a cure for his illness, neglect at best.

NoodleOodle · 27/03/2014 10:28

Homoeopathy is complete bollox and I lose respect for anyone if I find out they believe in it, pay for it, indulge in it for either a genuine faith in its efficacy or simply 'because it can't hurt'.

There isn't enough water in the world to create the dilutions claimed for starters. Other noted flaws have already been mentioned in this thread - why does the water remember the so minute as to be non existent contact with the purported therapeutic element and not every other thing that it's ever been in contact with? And, who decided which elements cured what? Based on some nonsense opposites theory. So, if you have bird flu, the memory of cat poo in water will fix it? There are many other points that support the debunking of this bunkum, which are out there (Google) for any sensible minded person to find if evidence is required. Though, if someone believes in homoeopathy, they obviously do not require evidence to shape their beliefs.

It is not ok to believe in nonsense because 'it doesn't cause any harm'. It harms progress, a logical thinking society, swindles people out of their money, can be dangerous, etc. Why perpetuate it? The NHS should certainly not be funding homoeopathy. If what's really effective about it is placebo and longer consultation times (wee cup of tea and a chat therapy), then that is what should be being researched and funded, not a pseudo-science (and that's being generous) that's long been disproved.

The case mentioned where a child's inhalers are being withheld is atrocious. The parent should be seriously admonished, and re-educated, and if the parental re-education fails, they should not be trusted with the medical care of the child.

A funny explanation of homoeopathy can be read here

Tuhlulah · 27/03/2014 10:28

To be fair, Mortorana, the 'power of the mind' is largely unknown. A known unknown, to be Rumsfeld-esque. We only know a very small amount about the brain's capability. So whatever has been tested can only be a small part its true capacity.

differentnameforthis · 27/03/2014 10:30

murphys rescue remedy is herbal. There is some herbal stuff that can treat certain ailments.

Homoeopathy is COMPLETELY different & has NO active ingredients!!

Martorana · 27/03/2014 10:36

"The power of the mind is always being tested. I should know I'm a psychologist!"

Fantastic! Could you give some examples of the power of the mind, please?

Stockhausen · 27/03/2014 10:37

I'm genuinely confused, and have not seen previous threads on this...

I took arnica pillules (the Nelson ones) after Labour & birth, and they worked, I use arnica cream on bruises... is this homeopathic?

differentnameforthis · 27/03/2014 10:38

I put a fertility symbol in an old yew tree near where I live (where pagans hold ceremonies on special occasions and the tree is filled with notes and offerings) a few weeks ago and whispered 'November' over and over. I got pregnant and due November 25th.

And each time I fell pregnant is was after talking to a pregnant woman. I don't think that they managed to give me any fertility vibes though. The first told me how to track ovulation & the other stopped using me as a free babysitter (i.e dh & I relaxed and had more time together as a couple)

CoteDAzur · 27/03/2014 10:39

"I am telling you that it works"

Brilliant. Study after study after meta-analysis of many studies tells us that homeopathy works no better than placebo but it's different if you say it works Grin

differentnameforthis · 27/03/2014 10:39

Arnica is herbal

CoteDAzur · 27/03/2014 10:40

Stockhausen - Arnica cream isn't homeopathy because there is actual arnica in it. And it works.

Arnica pillules are homeopathy - i.e. they don't work and they can't work. There is no arnica in them, either.

Tuhlulah · 27/03/2014 10:41

Mortorana, I understand your scepticism but I think there are a couple of experiments which have yielded interesting results. One is the Russian experiment which strongly suggested a rabbit (in a submarine I think) felt the pain inflicted on her kits who were inland miles away. I don't have references to papers, etc, but I think this was an interesting instance.

roadwalker · 27/03/2014 10:44

arnica is only homepathic if it is so dilute as to leave no arnica in the compound/cream

kali110 · 27/03/2014 10:45

Didn't realise that rescue stuff had alcohol in till after id tried it.its foul!made me sick

SelectAUserName · 27/03/2014 10:45

Stockhausen what exactly "worked" about the homeopathic pillules? Do you mean your post-birth bruising got better? As it would have done anyway?

Are you aware that arnica taken orally at a level in which the ingredient is active, i.e. capable of having any kind of effect, causes dizziness, tremors and heart irregularities, irritation of the mucous membranes and vomiting? Large doses can even be fatal. This is why it is usually applied topically.

The fact that you presumably didn't encounter any of these side effects means there was no active ingredient in the pillules you took, and therefore nothing in there to "work".

Arnica cream can be herbal or homeopathic depending on the preparation and quantity of active ingredient. If the former, it may well work. If the latter, it's as useless as anything else labelled "homeopathic".

differentnameforthis · 27/03/2014 10:46

YABU - people are free to do what they choose For themselves, yes. But not for children.