to think that our new SureStart centre shouldn't flog homeopathy?

[Elpis]

Among the stay and play and breastfeeding sessions is a three-hour weekly "homeopathy clinic" at which a local homeopathist will advise you on "treating" all sorts of childhood ailments. Now, I am very open-minded about many forms of alternative medicine - I have regular acupuncture sessions that I find extremely beneficial, and I think herbal medicine has a lot to offer - but why is homeopathy being promoted by a state-funded, state-run centre? It's not even as though the placebo effect will work on babies.

Im suprised at this tbh, at our centre this would not be allowed - people come to seek professional advice from nhs/ surestart employees and play with their kids not ge a hard sell from random businesses coming in. I have a cloth nappy website and despite the trillions of potential customers who pass through some that use cloth i would get my botty severly kicked if id even mentioned my business, in fact knowone hardly knows who i work with which is a damn shame as id love the mwifes to promote my business lol!

Dierdreb, the personalised remedy issue is often used as an excuse for the lack of robust trials in homeopathy. But it's a non issue, homeopath decides individual prescription, patient given 'remedy' or non-remedy placebo, and 2 groups compared.

In SCBU, before painful procedures, such as blood tests, the baby is given glucose as it has been proven to reduce pain. I had no problem with that!

It makes me incandescent with rage when I see these lies being peddled to vulnerable people. And using state funding too.

My friend is a Christian scientist and she firmly believes that she cures her daughters coughs and colds through prayer. I have more tolerance for her views than folk who give homoeopathy. At least she admits that most people think she is barking.

OP, YANBU.

It's a sad indictment of how scientifically illiterate our society is.

Homeopathy is bollocks. End of.

I did see a tv progamme years ago about how people felt if they were prayed for. Their illnesses remained, but their ability to cope their illnesses was significantly improved. So it must have a strong placebo effect (or there is a God, if you are that way inclined).

OP, definitely not unreasonable. And definitely not state-funding it, that is really a waste of money. Homeopathy is a load of old c**p, and if your child is anything more than a teensy bit ill, you should be being encouraged to take them to the doctors for proper treatment

Glad quite a few people think IANBU!

Waving a placard is a fun idea, but when you work four days a week it's hard to find the time to design a really good one [raised eyebrow]. So I emailed the manager of the centre. He tells me the homeopathy clinic is a 'trial' which will nonetheless definitely come to an end in July as the schedule fills up with more worthwhile stuff. Apparently when the new centre was mooted he identified a demand for homeopathy. But now the NHS is retreating from it he intends to follow suit.

Could be worse. Let's hope the clinic doesn't hang aroundby popular demand, or I might have to buy some poster paints and cardboard (DD is too little for paintbrushes).