No shit, Sherlock!

[Psychokiller]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8211925.stm

People with conditions such as HIV, TB and malaria should not rely on homeopathic treatments, the World Health Organization has warned.

It was responding to calls from young researchers who fear the promotion of homeopathy in the developing world could put people's lives at risk.

The group Voice of Young Science Network has written to health ministers to set out the WHO view.

WHO TB experts said homeopathy had "no place" in treatment of the disease.


There is no objective evidence that homeopathy has any effect on these infections

Dr Nick Beeching, Royal Liverpool University Hospital
In a letter to the WHO in June, the medics from the UK and Africa said: "We are calling on the WHO to condemn the promotion of homeopathy for treating TB, infant diarrhoea, influenza, malaria and HIV.

"Homeopathy does not protect people from, or treat, these diseases.

"Those of us working with the most rural and impoverished people of the world already struggle to deliver the medical help that is needed.

"When homeopathy stands in place of effective treatment, lives are lost."

Dr Robert Hagan is a researcher in biomolecular science at the University of St Andrews and a member of Voice of Young Science Network, which is part of the charity Sense About Science campaigning for "evidence-based" care.

He said: "We need governments around the world to recognise the dangers of promoting homeopathy for life-threatening illnesses.

"We hope that by raising awareness of the WHO's position on homeopathy we will be supporting those people who are taking a stand against these potentially disastrous practices."

'No evidence'

Dr Mario Raviglione, director of the Stop TB department at the WHO, said: "Our evidence-based WHO TB treatment/management guidelines, as well as the International Standards of Tuberculosis Care do not recommend use of homeopathy."

The doctors had also complained that homeopathy was being promoted as a treatment for diarrhoea in children.

But a spokesman for the WHO department of child and adolescent health and development said: "We have found no evidence to date that homeopathy would bring any benefit.

"Homeopathy does not focus on the treatment and prevention of dehydration - in total contradiction with the scientific basis and our recommendations for the management of diarrhoea."

Dr Nick Beeching, a specialist in infectious diseases at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, said: "Infections such as malaria, HIV and tuberculosis all have a high mortality rate but can usually be controlled or cured by a variety of proven treatments, for which there is ample experience and scientific trial data.

"There is no objective evidence that homeopathy has any effect on these infections, and I think it is irresponsible for a healthcare worker to promote the use of homeopathy in place of proven treatment for any life-threatening illness."

IMHO homeopathy is the biggest rip off going and has no health benefits whatsoever. Would be interesting to hear if anyone has actually been "cured" in this way? To me it's right up there with that spiritual healing crap that Sea(rude word)ette used to go on about, conning the weak and infirm.

[Kevin T]

Bloody homeosexuals with their homeopathy

[OscillateWildly]

If water had memory we'd all be poisoned with every drink.

[Psychokiller]

Precisely, and we'd all be into watersports by default!

[palacemaniac]

homeopathy helped with my mother's arthritis

[Heb 7:4]

Like any placebo, it can have some fantastic effects. The human mind is a strange thing.

[OscillateWildly]

Originally Posted by Heb 7:4

Like any placebo, it can have some fantastic effects. The human mind is a strange thing.

Yep, the interesting thing about homeopathy is the placebo effect, not the memory of water.

This book is very good on the issue:

http://www.badscience.net/

[philsick]

Big drug companies hate homeopathic medicines,along with chinese herbs vitamins and natural supplements.Western medicines rely more on bashing the problem on the head,which can be effective,but can damage the immune system.Homeopathic treatments ect,rely more on helping your body and mind to fight the problem itself,which as heb touched on,takes a bit of work and faith on your part.

[OscillateWildly]

Originally Posted by philsick

Homeopathic treatments ect,rely more on helping your body and mind to fight the problem itself,which as heb touched on,takes a bit of work and faith on your part.

They don't help your body or mind do anything. No more than a sugar pill would.

And homeopathy is big business too.

[anti-addick]

"Is there anything you doctors haven't tried to cure with leeches?"

[paf]

Originally Posted by philsick

Big drug companies hate homeopathic medicines,along with chinese herbs vitamins and natural supplements.Western medicines rely more on bashing the problem on the head,which can be effective,but can damage the immune system.Homeopathic treatments ect,rely more on helping your body and mind to fight the problem itself,which as heb touched on,takes a bit of work and faith on your part.

It's the greatest legal scam ever.

rub this dandelion juice in your ring piece and your brain tumour will dissapear.

chortle.

[bern5161]

Originally Posted by Psychokiller

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8211925.stm


IMHO homeopathy is the biggest rip off going and has no health benefits whatsoever. Would be interesting to hear if anyone has actually been "cured" in this way? To me it's right up there with that spiritual healing crap that Sea(rude word)ette used to go on about, conning the weak and infirm.

homeopathic edit

[PhyshtaMagishta]

Originally Posted by philsick

Big drug companies hate homeopathic medicines,along with chinese herbs vitamins and natural supplements.Western medicines rely more on bashing the problem on the head,which can be effective,but can damage the immune system.Homeopathic treatments ect,rely more on helping your body and mind to fight the problem itself,which as heb touched on,takes a bit of work and faith on your part.

as much as i hate drug companies, I'm afraid that to say homeopathic treatments have any effect on your body whatsoever is ludicrous. Obviously there may be some sort of placebo effect - but as said this could just as easily be achieved by giving a sugar pill or something.

Pretty sure i'm right in saying that it is considered unethical for a GP to prescribe a placebo treatment, and are not allowed to do it, yet homeopaths get away with this all the time.
Would probably help save the NHS some money if they could!

[selhurstparkflyer]

What is sick that some patients have tried homeopathy to deal with such diseases as diabetes.

I don't care how much postive thinking I do, nor drinking of donkey piss, I need medicine or I will die.

[kitticat]

My Erythromycin seems to be doing the job, I don't think I would trust Homeopathic, tho my Drs offers numbers for Alternative Therapies, but at £25-£50 a session no thanks.

[Psychokiller]

Some alternative therapies are quite effective. Homeopathy isn't one of them.

[brighton_eagle]

Originally Posted by OscillateWildly

Yep, the interesting thing about homeopathy is the placebo effect, not the memory of water.

This book is very good on the issue:

http://www.badscience.net/

Spot on. He tweets a lot too:

@bengoldacre

His pet peeves are 'Dr' Gillian Mckeith and homeopathy, and I make him right on both scores. You are right to say that the placebo effect is very powerful. There have even been examples of placebo operations being succesful.

Making this into a bad drug companies vs good homeopaths is not a good idea. Homeopathy is a multi billion dollar busines, and has none of the restrictive legislation that the drug companies have to (quite rightly) deal with.

[brighton_eagle]

Originally Posted by Psychokiller

Some alternative therapies are quite effective. Homeopathy isn't one of them.

It can be as effective as any placebo.

[Psychokiller]

Originally Posted by brighton_eagle

His pet peeves are 'Dr' Gillian Mckeith

She's a corprophile. She asks people what they've been eating then digs through their shit to check! Most people would just take their word for it.

[kitticat]

Originally Posted by Psychokiller

She's a corprophile. She asks people what they've been eating then digs through their shit to check! Most people would just take their word for it.

Why does she feel the need to do that? I've always found that rather odd (unless she is wierdly pervy)