Homeopathy vs home remedies

[suspiria777]

After a long time reading on MN and elsewhere, and just general chats to people at work or at weddings or whatever, I've come to the conclusion that a significant proportion of people don't really understand what homeopathy is, and think of it as roughly synonymous with 'natural medicine' or 'home remedies'.

Am i mistaken?

I can't think what else would explain the large proportion of otherwise seemingly sensible people who discuss homeopathy as if it actually has good scientific evidence base. Surely people don't back it if they realise it is just water and woo woo?

What do you think?

Your loss. It has improved our family situation immeasurably. Have you tried it?

I've tried a homeopathic remedy that was indistinguishable from any other homeopathic remedy, apart from the writing on the label, yes.

When I was a child I had awful hayfever. My parents gave me homeopathic remedies for it. And every summer I suffered. I grew up. I discovered that homeopathy is a pile of bollocks. And I started using antihistamines and a steroid nasal spray. No more suffering, Symptoms well controlled. It's almost like science won.

@coodawoodashooda

But you're literally taking nothing, in terms of active ingredients! How can you possibly believe that it's helped you, beyond a placebo effect?!

Placebo effects can actually help, though - can have physical effects.
There's just this small question of whether it's ethical to lie to patients in order to potentially help them.

I too would be interested to know @Blackberrybunnet what other types of evidence there are other than scientific.

My friend's SIL is a homeopathy practitioner. She offered my friend a 'cure' for her DC's autism. I don't even know where to start with that one ...

This is the problem, @FunnyWonder - people that are ill, stressed, and vulnerable are exploited by these practitioners.
Talking of intolerance- I am actually intolerant of snake oil purveyors that would claim to cure autism.

@Blackberrybunnet - the definition of evidence is: the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.

Data gathered scientifically is literally the only form of valid evidence as it is free from bias.

Can anyone explain how water in a fancy bottle or dropper is any better than what comes from my tap?

@FunnyWonder your poor friend! That’s so offensive!

But you are forgetting that the more you dilute something the stronger it gets
But only if you hit it with a willow stick, jump up and down and turn around

Years ago I assumed it was the same as herbalism. Once I read about it I realised it is bollocks. How anyone can read the theory and believe is beyond me and I lose respect for any judgement they have
Our local pharmacist told me she is also provides homeopathy

[quote 24hoursfromtulsa]@coodawoodashooda

But you're literally taking nothing, in terms of active ingredients! How can you possibly believe that it's helped you, beyond a placebo effect?!

[/quote]
That's not true. I am not a homeopath so wont even try to explain but i guarantee that is incorrect.

@Quarantino

I believed they were the same sort of thing as herbal remedies until I looked it up, in my early 20s. Because I couldn't actually believe anyone would sell something like that! The "best" bit is that it's based on the belief that the more diluted it is, the more effective it is. And that "like cures like", so if e.g. a petal looks a bit like an ear, it cures ear infections or whatever...

Yeah, no.

So did I when I was younger. It's packaged and labelled as if it actually contains active ingredients like herbal remedies. Being presented with a shelf in places like Boots of supposedly different ones for different purposes gives the impression they're more than sugar pills.

I can understand why people take that at face value. I was really shocked when I looked it up and learned what it was. I am not sure why it is allowed to be sold tbh, it's completely misleading and unethical.

Placebo effects are real improvements not imagined improvements, so there's no need for anyone to be defensive about experiencing it. However, a placebo effect doesn't prove homeopathy is effective.

coodawoodashooda

All you have done is post snippy one line answers, providing absolutely no useful information but demanding people adopt your opinion as their own.

Feel free to post properly and may be people will be able to engage with you.

That's not true. I am not a homeopath so wont even try to explain but i guarantee that is incorrect.

If you can't be arsed to explain yourself, you can't expect people to accept your baseless claims.

@coodawoodashooda - Lots of research refuting the notion that homeopathy is anything other than a placebo. No credible evidence to suggest it works. www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/1800-studies-later-scientists-conclude-homeopathy-doesnt-work-180954534/

herbal remedies - fine
complementary medicine - fine
homeopathy - pointless

OchonAgusOchonOh
You're forgetting that, while there may well be 1,800 studies demonstrating that homeopathy does not work, if just one finds that it DOES work, at that sort of dilution homeopathy will be extremely powerful and effective.

@coodawoodashooda

You cannot explain it, as what you're saying is simply untrue.

If what homeopaths say is true (that water has a memory and that the more you dilute something the more powerful a cure it becomes), then every drop of water in the world would cure every ailment!

Homeopathy is a complete and utter con trick aimed at the gullible and desperate. If I had my way, it would be a criminal offence to peddle homeopathic 'cures'.

You're forgetting that, while there may well be 1,800 studies demonstrating that homeopathy does not work, if just one finds that it DOES work, at that sort of dilution homeopathy will be extremely powerful and effective.

Presumably if water had memory we may as well just drink piss.

@DewDew83

OchonAgusOchonOh You're forgetting that, while there may well be 1,800 studies demonstrating that homeopathy does not work, if just one finds that it DOES work, at that sort of dilution homeopathy will be extremely powerful and effective.

Does that mean that if the covid vaccine gets diluted, it's more powerful? Or does a willow stick have to be involved?

@DewDew83 just spat out my tea

Oh my days, just look at this nonsense from a homeopathic "doctor":
hpathy.com/cause-symptoms-treatment/homeopathy-for-domestic-violence-and-abuse/

@Binnaggy

What’s the other type of evidence *@Blackberrybunnet*? I can only assume you’re referring to anecdotal evidence which isn’t really evidence at all, it’s just a few people talking about their own experience. It’s like me saying I once had a cold, ate a banana and felt better the next day.

Try half a banana next time.