Are there any Homeopaths about please?

[BigFatCushion]

I'm considering using homoeopathy for DD's Molluscum Contagiosum. I am very skeptical but at that point where I'm ready to try something new.

Anyway, I was googling some homoeopaths and I'm curious about something.

A couple of people have background info and state that they trained as 'a nurse/midwife/pharmacist' which to me is reassuring.

None of the relevant registers have their name on it though. Should they still be able to use the letters after their name if they aren't actually a member of the Nursing & Midwifery Council etc?

I may just be over cautious, but using a protected title should only be allowed if they're actually registered shouldn't it?

If you are a homoeopath please tell me to go for it, and that it will work!

So conventional drugs can harm. WE ALL KNOW THAT, but thanks

Thats not actually the point.

"Thats a completely different argument which you are only introducing because you can't explain to us how your woo water works. Stick to the topic, if you can"

Why? Do you struggle with facts? Or are you perhaps in charge of what people are allowed to post?

They do quite a lot more harm than homeopathy, Penis. That's why I find the collective howls of outrage hollow and a bit silly.

My old gp was also a homeapath and I have to say as children I have no recollection of being given antibiotics (I always wanted strawberry or banana medicine like my friends) I don't think the homeopathic stuff cured anything I think they were just given for self limiting viruses that go away of their own accord. In that instance I think homeopathy was a good thing cause it meant we weren't needlessly given antibiotics as kids but got to "feel better" because we had medicine. Bit like my mum giving us a minstral chocolate before a lOng car journey and telling us they were travel sickness pills.

I tried homeopathic remedies for hyperemesis I was desperate, the guy spoke so convincingly about what he was giving and how it WOULD work. I spent about £40 and it made no difference at all. About as effective as eating ginger nut biscuits. I do feel that I was taken advantage of I was so desperate at the time I would have paid any amount to stop it and that's what concerns me that these people will tell desperate people they have the cure and when it doesn't work say "oh well I think it's best if you try this remedy next"

You are very defensive inAccuracy, its comes across as rudeness. Perhaps you need some crystal healing or something? A hopi ear candle maybe?

Going back to Molluscum: Do all spots need to get itchy & infected for body to recognise the infection & get rid of it? Or is one itchy & infected spot enough?

No idea - but surely it can't be just one, or my DD's would all be gone by now.

"That's appalling statistical analysis"

How interesting. Outrage over the application of the statistic - not the statistic itself. Presumably that number of deaths doesn't appal you at all.

"it comes across as rudeness"

I think you'd be defensive if you had some of the rudeness which I've had directed ast me in the last twenty minutes. Have a look back and see.

You're not understanding the point though, maybe you should have a look back yourself.
And you are increasingly rude, there is no need to attack personally.

I understand the point perfectly - it's not difficult. It's very easy to say it's bollocks. It's much more difficult to accept that it can be effective in ways that many people don't understand. Many doctors do see this. Perhaps you could advise your fellows to stop being rude - that would help.

OK, so if it works because of the placebo effect - & I'm happy to acknowledge that it does - I thought homeopathic hayfever pills were moderately effective as a teenager (although as an adult, I've found my hayfever invariably affects me for a day then vanishes anyway!)...

...then no need for all the percussion & dilutions & general woo, surely?

You could just take Tic-tacs & write 'woo' on them in teeny tiny letters, & that'd work fine (right up until the point when someone pointed out to the mark, sorry, patient, that they Was Being Had).

You do sound like you're saying "we haven't bullied and belittled you into agreeing with us so we're allowed to be rude". Yes, I don't really agree with that.

Accuracy could you give us the stastics in percentages for people who have died from (and I mean from not 'while taking' which is different) conventional medecine? ALso the percentage of people who were cured by conventional medecine? This would maybe give you a place to argue from. Thank you.

Raven, I have no idea what particular qualities homeopathy has which make it effective. Perhaps the fact that the homeopath spends a good deal of time talking to the patient, in the way a GP can't - perhaps the way the pills mimic the appearance of medicine, with talk of dosages and so on - perhaps the very fact that it all happens outside a clinical environment. I used to think it could be the fact that people really believe it works, but it seems that not necessary, and cynics can be converted. I don't know if anybody knows, but I think whatever it is, it's valuable.

It was me who said bollocks. I wasn't being rude to you, I was being rude about homeopathy. ACtually, not sure it was even rude in the circumstances. If you are offended, please replace the word 'bollocks' with the word 'rubbish' in that post. I don't think I have been as rude as you have otherwise - you told me there was no point in what I posted. That's quite rude.

Accuracy - I didn't bother posting on the other thread because you weren't prepared to listen. I do find the bullying accusations terribly tiresome. You're quite aggressive in your posting style but I wouldn't say that was bullying. You clearly believe passionately in what you're saying. I don't think you're right but that's my opinion.

Accuracy: You're either deluded, clueless or lying. And you don't even appear to know what a placebo is.

Oh, and as to the power of prayer, that's complete bullshit too. The only reason people mostly don't point this out on 'pray for whoever' threads is because usually the person being prayed for is going to die anyway and it's slightly poor form to start a ruck with the about-to-be-bereaved on a point of principal.

TBH, anyone who actually believes in homeopathy - or spiritualism, or gods - is really a bit too dim to be let out without a keeper.

Cardi - they are easily found on google, or by searching the BBC website. Your interest can be judged by the amount of effort you're ready to use in finding them. Believe me or not, what does it matter.

That's nice, SGB. You're pretty much worth ignoring too. In case you're waiting for any more - I haven't read past the first six words. To which my response is, grow up.

Accuracy: That's where the woo therapies 'work' - the con artist peddling them has a nice line in 'there there' and is happy to listen to the patient whining on for hours. But that's why they only work on either things that get better by themselves (colds, mild tummy bugs, rashes) or when all the patient is suffering from is self-pity.

"Accuracy - I didn't bother posting on the other thread because you weren't prepared to listen."

Why did you think that? I read and responded to what other people posted. Don't you mean "I wasn't prepared to say you were right"? My posting style isn't aggressive, it's very calm, unlike yours which has been quite not calm.

There wasn't any point. I'd already answered the question, and the rest of it ignored what I'd already said.

Accuracy I think you may have missed my tone, easy to do in an interent post. I know I could find those figures out, and I knwo waht they would prove: that conventional medecine helps many, many more people than it hurts. Even many more than it fails to help (you understand the distinction I am sure). I also believe that you know it, too. WHich is why your posts about the bad effects of some conventional medecine are disengenuous (at best).

Calm? Bwahahahaha! I can just see you stamping your little feet and clutching your crystal angel or whatever other kind of crap you're going to try to peddle next. Another thing about woo-peddlers, they can't pass for intelligent for very long. If they are intelligent enough to be aware that they are con artists, they also know there's a point when they just have to flounce off, cursing the unbelievers, because they have reached the limits of logic and lost.

"you are one of the people posting on the HPV vaccine thread. Hahahahahaha. You just ruined any ounce of credibility you might have had."

Very polite.