Astrology in Healthcare

[SweetValentine]

"A Tory MP has has claimed NHS over-crowding could be solved by doctors using astrology to treat patients.

"Astrology is a useful diagnostic tool enabling us to see strengths and weaknesses via the birth chart.

"People who oppose what I say are usually bullies who have never studied astrology.

Bizarrely, Tredinnick, 65, who is chairman of the All-Party Group for Integrated Healthcare, went on to say people who opposed astrology were "racist".

Tredinnick, who was born under the Capricorn star sign, claims his own astrological chart suggests he was destined to be a "servant of the people." He said: "I have a strong 6th house which suggests an emphasis on being a servant of the people - and this is quite a strong indication of health and healing. My Moon-Venus-Jupiter planets (in Aquarius) sit opposite Pluto in the 12th house."

I'm not even going to ask if AIBU to think it's a load of bollocks, because it is a load of bollocks.

There is a petition to get this idiot removed from the committees

epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/67985

Well if they did get it though the astrologer could pre-empt your illness and send your prescription in the post!
Dear Ms Chilly,non the 7th if march you will have an ear infection please take these tablets twice daily
Could you imagine? How ludicrous would they be shipping in Drs educated by Hogwarts

Actually we do always know when it's a Full Moon on nights at work!
It does seem to er, affect certain patients.. could just be a coincidence though..

Well I think it's mainly to do with the 6th house and what you have in it and that it could indicate a predisposition to certain illnesses or weaknesses in certain parts of the body.

It does sound very silly written down.
And you'd be hard pushed to convince me that a penny of taxpayer's money should go into researching it!!

On the other hand, if people chose to have their birth charts done and took heed of any issues then why shouldn't they? It's no more bonkers than taking rescue remedy or having an aromatherapy massage!

And sometimes birth charts can be really . For example, I had a partner once who I think was possibly a sociopath rather than just a run of the mill knob end and his birth chart actually said 'empathy and compassion are the two qualities you most lack'

Mind you - if he's an MP he's probably GOT 6 houses. He's got a gym in the 6th one and that's why he's strong in it.

I can't pretend my mother hasn't shitted me right up with some of her predictions... She does normal astrology, birth charts etc but also horary astrology which is where you ask a specific question and get the exact time, then she'll do a chart and give you an answer. Now most of the time this seems to be used by my equally batty cousin on the latest dodgy shag she's got, and whether or not it's going to work out. Funny enough invariably the charts say no! And there was this one time I totally lost my mobile (student days, house complete shit pit) I know it was on the sofa and then just disappeared without trace. I decided to test her stupid fucking horary by asking 'where's my phone' giving no other info. Sure enough she came back to me in half an hour. 'It's in the house, somewhere near water' she seemed to think it wouldn't be in the 'water room' just outside. I Found the phone under a pile of wet towels outside the bathroom

I agree, spring heeled. People are welcome to believe in whatever they like as long as they aren't doing any harm to anybody else and aren't constantly pushing alternative therapies at people who are treating their illnesses with conventional medicine.

I don't think those people should be sitting on the health committee or the science and technology committee.

Scientific progress is a good thing!

But eg acupuncture was useful for me though whether as a placebo or a valid treatment I don't know?

What I hate is when people say 'oh, you don't want to be taking x, you should be trying the memory of a flower in water instead' and some people actually listen and come off medicine that is keeping them stable (or even sane!)

Still, even though I usually have no sympathy for Tory buffoons, I don't think there's anything wrong with raising the odd woo idea/ thinking differently/ stirring up a bit of interest...

Re: holistic approach- one way to avoid people getting certain illnesses is to improve their living standards and lift them out of poverty. It's funny how astrology is not too woo for some to consider but paying a living wage is!

Active treatment in the form of sugar pills/needles etc i have a bit of time for.

But predictive star charts having any place whatsoever in our NHS? No way.

Ps - absolutely love the videos linked, pretty much my only smiles all day thank you poor Jeremy Cunt

It's not at all impressive that he is a trained homeopath. A homeopath with two years training is only half as good as a homeopath with one year. The very best homeopaths are those who have no discernible knowledge whatsoever.

Homepathic remedies can clear up a cold in seven days. Left untreated, it can hang on for a week.

See - I have some sympathy for non traditional medicine - and definitely believe in a holistic approach.

So do I.

There's good evidence for acupuncture for instance.

It is one of my bugbears that so many people throw so many different alternative/complementary treatments in to one pot: homeopathy and astrology just don't add up, whereas herbal medicine or acupuncture have proof that they work behind them. And don't get me started on Reiki or even self-Reiki….

springheeled, you sound like you've got your head screwed on.

Ah, but *PigletJohn, with those wonderful antibiotics it will be gone in half a fortnight. Just sayin'.

Looking at his voting record on TheyWorkForYou this afternoon, I don't think that the sort of holistic, integrated healthcare he goes for, spring heeled. He seems quite fond of voting for cuts in welfare and against raising benefits.

Yes, it gets very scary when desperate people who would grasp at any straw offered out of love for their child get taken advantage of

AndrewFrogg put it well upthread.

And I agree that the hugest advantages in population health have come (and will come) from improvements in social circumstances.

He's right about the importance of homeopathy in antimicrobial resistance though. The use of homeopathy and herbal medicine is mentioned in a report about antimicrobial resistance by the science and technology committee. Oh wait...

Aargh, Rafa, don't use 'homeopathy' and 'herbal medicine' in the same sentence. Please.
They are NOT the same or even remotely similar and should never be mentioned in the same breath.