Forums » Open clinical » Medical ethics » Is Homeopathy becoming more mainstream medicine?
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Is Homeopathy becoming more mainstream medicine?
posted at 30/12/2011 2:58 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1285
First: 9/12/2011 Last: 22/5/2013 |
In the United States it appears that Homeopathy is becoming more mainstream, but still few practicioners are available. I cannot really decide on the effectiveness of it, and have alot of time studying the claims of effectiveness. Anyone have any thoughts on the effectiveness of Homeopathy? and if it is becoming more mainstream, IE-In the UK, or elsewhere in the world? |
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Re: Is Homeopathy becoming more mainstream medicine?
posted at 30/12/2011 4:08 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 6
First: 25/6/2010 Last: 21/3/2012 |
There are a minority of enlightened Dr's who follow homeopathic thinking for their patients, and use homeopathic medicines. Patients are meant to be offered choice and this is an area where this can be achieved. Much safer in the hands of medically qualified doctors than persons who might try to obfuscate patients with inneffective and innaccurate ideas about disease. If there are any medical sceptics out there (Why might I think that?) I suggest you read Professor Conrad Blacks introduction to Homeopathic Methods by Dr Jeremy Swayne |
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thecoupondoc
posted at 20/1/2012 6:22 AM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 4
First: 16/1/2012 Last: 20/1/2012 |
Homeopathy has existed for about 200 years, yet reports in the media have suggested that homeopathy is the medicine of the future. Today, homeopathy is found in almost every country. In Europe, 40% of French physicians use homeopathy; 40% of Dutch, 37% of British, and 20% of German physicians use homeopathy . In the United States, hundreds of thousands of people take homeopathic remedies each year. Indeed, homeopathy seems to be becoming more popular. Homeopathic physicians seek to cure their patients on the physical, mental and emotional levels, and each treatment is tailored to a patient's individual needs. Homeopathy is generally a safe treatment, as it uses medicines in extremely diluted quantities, and there are usually minimal side effects. Its non-toxicity makes it a good choice for the treatment of children. Another benefit of homeopathy is the cost of treatments; homeopathic remedies are inexpensive, often a fraction of the cost of conventional drugs. _________________________
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Re: Is Homeopathy becoming more mainstream medicine?
posted at 20/1/2012 6:54 AM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 959
First: 15/7/2011 Last: 21/5/2013 |
As i understand most homeopathic 'medicines' the alleged content is so extremely diluted that it does not actually contain anything except water anyway. I watched a fascinating documentary by a Consultant Surgeon who had researched heavily into homeopathy and thought it was a run by a cabal of charlatans. I will try and find the link. |
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Re: Is Homeopathy becoming more mainstream medicine?
posted at 20/1/2012 8:42 AM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1266
First: 13/4/2010 Last: 21/5/2013 |
Let's not go here again - it has been discussed ad nauseum. There is no grade A evidence that homoeopathy works any better than placebo. If individuals find it helpful and want to spend their own money on it that's entirely up to them but there is no way a State-funded health service should be paying for any of it. |
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Re: Is Homeopathy becoming more mainstream medicine?
posted at 20/1/2012 9:23 AM GMT
on bmj.com
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*Moderator*
Posts: 1447
First: 7/4/2011 Last: 22/5/2013 |
Please read Ben Goldacre's Bad Science. This gives an a good analysis of how homeopathy research is carried out, the selectiveness of homeopaths when highlighting research to back up their claims and the contents of their pills. It is pretty much a placebo effect, where the act of going to the homeopath and having someone to listen to your problems is part of the healing process - more so than the pills. |
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Re: Is Homeopathy becoming more mainstream medicine?
posted at 20/1/2012 9:26 AM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 7
First: 17/11/2011 Last: 24/2/2013 |
Really sorry, but I can't resist commenting, as I have an interest in complementary medicine & recently conducted a review of the claims made on the website of the British Homeopathic Association and Faculty of Homeopathy. Regardless of how its supposed to work, I could find no decent evidence that it has any consistent effect over placebo. This isn't just my opinion, its that of: British Medical Association http://www.gponline.com/News/article/1013157/BMA-backs-withdrawal-NHS-homeopathy-funding/ National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (USA) http://nccam.nih.gov/health/homeopathy/ Sense About Science http://www.senseaboutscience.org/data/files/resources/54/Homeopathy.pdf Weirdly, it also appears to be the conclusions reached by several of the evidence reviews & RCTs quoted by the homeopathy website itself which it says support homeopathy. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to assess all of the evidence quoted, so stuck to the 'best' evidence presented by the homeopaths. Perhaps they need to brush up on their research evaluation skills? Obviously, its impossible to prove a negative hypothesis, as evidence may come to light tomorrow which shows that well shaken water is great for some condition. However, a lot of research has been done on homeopathy, and its looking pretty unlikely. On the positive side, its relatively cheap, has similar side effects to placebo & the beleiving patients seem to like it, so why not give it a bash? |
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Re: Is Homeopathy becoming more mainstream medicine?
posted at 20/1/2012 9:52 AM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 2947
First: 10/3/2009 Last: 29/4/2013 |
To the chagrin of many of us in the medical profession, homeopathy, idirology, reflexology, diabolicalology and other -ologies have got a foothold in Australian universities. There is a rear-guard action but as in the Battle of France, we are on the beaches of Dunkirk while thousands, nay millions of people swear by their efficacy. Just read the back few pages in a regional newspaper of adverts about the therapeutic modalities of non-scientific codswallop. I have recalibrated my quartz crystals to align with Stone Henge and Ayre's Rock and my Capricornian meridian is not in conjunction with Sirius or is it Aldebaran? I am glad I am not young anymore and am at the sigmoid colon of my career. My tea leaves tell me I have too much spleen and cholic and not enough phlegm and sanguine humours. Increase the henbane I say and decrease the foxglove, recalibrate my iridlological colour chart more towards the 440 nm spectrum to align with my haemoglobin and those wriggling Candida on my live blood film....yes, my Ying and Yang are now cooling and my lotus position soothing my L5 choleric. Now, we are not talking about homeo-pathos again, are we? PS. If it has no side-effects, it doesn't work.
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Forums » Open clinical » Medical ethics » Is Homeopathy becoming more mainstream medicine?
