Posted on 05/15/2010 5:08:45 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
Homeopathy is "witchcraft" and the National Health Service should not pay for it, the British Medical Association has declared.
Hundreds of members of the BMA have passed a motion denouncing the use of the alternative medicine, saying taxpayers should not foot the bill for remedies with no scientific basis to support them.
The BMA has previously expressed scepticism about homoeopathy, arguing that the rationing body, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence should examine the evidence base and make a definitive ruling about the use of the remedies in the NHS.
Now, the annual conference of junior doctors has gone further, with a vote overwhelmingly supporting a blanket ban, and an end to all placements for trainee doctors which teach them homeopathic principles.
Dr Tom Dolphin, deputy chairman of the BMA's junior doctors committee in England told the conference: "Homeopathy is witchcraft. It is a disgrace that nestling between the National Hospital for Neurology and Great Ormond Street [in London] there is a National Hospital for Homeopathy which is paid for by the NHS".
The alternative medicine, devised in the 18th century by the German physician Samuel Hahnemann, is based on a theory that substances which cause symptoms in a healthy person can, when vastly diluted, cure the same problems in a sick person.
Proponents say the resulting remedy retains a "memory" of the original ingredient – a concept dismissed by scientists.
Latest figures show 54,000 patients are treated each year at four NHS homeopathic hospitals in London, Glasgow, Bristol and Liverpool, at an estimated cost of £4 million.
A fifth hospital in Tunbridge Wells in Kent was forced to close last year when local NHS funders stopped paying for treatments.
Gordon Lehany, chairman of the BMA's junior doctors committee in Scotland said it was
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
What is this...Salem mentality? Alternative healing methods work!
They are diluted so much that the chance of even a single molecule of the substance remaining in the bottle of the homeopathic "medicine" is almost nil. Besides that, molecules do not gain mysterious properties from having once been near other molecules.
I have to say, though, that the ‘no detectable amount’ standard that the US government applies to known carcinogens is, in effect, an endorsement of the idea that materials in homeopathic concentrations can be effective. (This is a statement about the government, not homeopathy.)
The gays might be offended to hear this.
“it’s that homeopathy is the only alternative medicine that has been scientifically proven to not work. “
Not even close. Old cultures like the Egyptians and Chinese have in depth knowledge in this area. Many of the treatments have been proven. In many countries a medical doctor will use both modern medicine as well as ‘alternative’ medicines used throughout history.
Unlike western medicine these usually treat the cause of illness and not just the symptom.
Certainly western medicine is advanced in many areas but they are learning from ancient remedies as well. Leaches are now being used to improve bloodflow in the extremities. Maggots are used to remove dead tissue from some types of wounds. Further many modern medicines are derived from the same plants as the ancient ones.
not this one.
A Chinese doctor would beat you senseless for equating their medicine with homeopathy.
“Unlike western medicine these usually treat the cause of illness and not just the symptom.”
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This is exactly right! Alternative healing methods root out the cause or the source of the illness...
I think its safe to say that every field has wackjobs working in it. No, this one is not one of the ways that has been proven to work - but for people to make statements concerning alternative healing methods in general, I’m sure they’d be surprised to find that this way of healing is quite profound.
It drives me CRAZY to see TV and magazine ads for this junk. Since all water has been recycled a zillion times in nature, I suppose it carries lingering effects from whatever it’s been mixed with? Awful, awful scam.
“Proponents say the resulting remedy retains a “memory” of the original ingredient – a concept dismissed by scientists.”
What if the “original ingredient” was poison? How does the water know the difference between good and bad? How does the water know which of the million impurities it has come in contact with is the right one that the sorcerer wants?
Homeopathy is a scam.
Many millions practice and use homeopathic methods around the world, and it is particularly common in India and that part of the world. It was fairly common in the US before the development of antibiotics.
It must have some efficacy, or there are several hundred million people in the world using methods that do them no ggo whatsoever.
“A Chinese doctor would beat you senseless for equating their medicine with homeopathy.”
Most Americans don’t understand ‘chinese’ medicine and equate it to homeopathy. I was considering the audience.
Excellent link! LOL!
Either that or what we’ve learned in the past 200 years discounts everything learned in the last 5000+ years.
There aren’t scams among licensed MDs in the US?
How is any of that homeopathic?
When you’re poorly educated you believe in magic (and homeopathy). Anyone who can swallow that a patient with arsenic poisoning can be healed by a drop of arsenic diluted 1:100, stirred in a certain direction a specific number of times, then undergo further dilution 1:100 stirred a certain direction a specified amount of time; the previous “recipe” being repeated more and more times (the more dilute the “memory” the “better the healing”) will believe anything.
People who think “homeopathic” is the same as “natural” or “alternative” are misinformed.
“it’s that homeopathy is the only alternative medicine that has been scientifically proven to not work. “ Not even close. Old cultures like the Egyptians and Chinese have in depth knowledge in this area. Many of the treatments have been proven. In many countries a medical doctor will use both modern medicine as well as ‘alternative’ medicines used throughout history."Homeopathy" isn't a generic term for any of broad range of alternative medicines. "Homeopathy" is a specific term for a school of alternative medicine originated by Samuel Hahnemann in 1796.
Comments about the ancient Egyptians and Chinese are entirely off the point.
Generally homeopathic is considered alternative medicine. As such it uses natural things to treat or prevent disease and injury. As opposed to the western medical science practice of providing drugs to cover up the symptoms.
The two examples I gave have been used for thousands of years and are regularly discounted among western science. Not because of any real scientific reason but because it wasn’t western.
Another example is honey which was used as an antibacterial for thousands of years.
IMO homeopathy is more effective at preventing and treating most diseases in their early stages. In some cases western medical science is better especially when the disease is in its advanced stages.
Actually, it's people like you who are amusing. I've used homeopathy for about six years and have gotten some great results from it. Still use it every day. I've used it successfully for several different conditions. Have also tried it for some things and gotten no results. I just use what works: modern medicine, herbs, homeopathy, whatever. Also use several supplements.
I have to say, though, that the ‘no detectable amount’ standard that the US government applies to known carcinogens is, in effect, an endorsement of the idea that materials in homeopathic concentrations can be effective.There is a couple of dozen orders of magnitude difference between the concentrations the US government applies to carcinogens and of the active [sic] ingredients in homeopathic formulas.
For getting things cut off, or bolted back on - Western medicine all the way.
For every other thing, to include long term illnesses, and emergencies, homeopathy, Eastern medicine, Native medicine, or essential oils. IOW, anything BUT western medicine.
Well stated!
That doesn’t matter. Are you saying because there’s other quackery, that makes homeopathic quackery ok?
Well educated physicians don't discount all that came before them. And the medical establishment has followed its share of treatments that were simply wrong. All those ulcers that were caused by psychological states, until it was discovered that they are actually caused by a bacteria.
Our ancestors discovered many treatments that worked to one degree or another, and only an arrogant know nothing would dismiss everything that was practiced before the discovery of antibiotics and other more recent treatments.
Would you take homeopathic over antibiotics for pneumonia? I guess the antibiotics just ‘cover it up’ to you.
If it works at all, it’s just a placebo effect. It can’t be anything else, since you’re not taking in anything but completely diluted water. If it reakky works, it is by some sort of magic.
Alternative medicine is any form of therapy that does not fall within conventional medicine. So, since homeopathy is not conventional medicine, it must be alternative medicine. But the examples of alternative medicine you have cited are not homeopathy. Thus, they are not relevant to the discussion.
Unlike homeopathy, the examples you cited alter the patient in a physically identifiable manner. Thus, it's conceivable they might actually affect the patient, perhaps even in a positive way. E.g., the honey might inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria. That's not the case with homeopathy. It's pure bunk and quackery. Placebos will work as well as homeopathy.
Utter nonsense. You have your bias and ignorance, so I'm not going to waste time trying to change your mind.
“When you’re poorly educated you believe in magic (and homeopathy).”
And the highly educated lead our country.
Those who say otherwise, don't know what they are talking about.
ok, how does it work then?
Education takes many forms. Law and medicine are two completely different things and someone "well educated" in the law doesn't necessarily have a clue about anything scientific.
But since most alt-med people I know are as religious about it as the global warming fanatics, there's no convincing them. I have never seen a valid scientific study on homeopathy showing it to have any benefit whatsoever and doubt I ever will. A collection of anecdotes is not a substitute for a double-blinded study.
I know so many people who have been killed by modern, mainstream medicine; I know of no one who has been killed by homeopathy.
My mother got sucked into the hospital by a minor injury and we barely got her out in time. It was shocking how fast she was “going” under their intensive care, and how fast she recovered once she was away from it. Sure, they have a few cures, but the system in general is sheer murder. They prescribe drugs like confetti; they cultivate stress by prodding, poking, and waking the patents. They humiliate them, and sedate them. They milk their wealth, then the taxpayer’s wealth.
Homeopathy is a cute, harmless way for people to feel cared for.
“When you’re poorly educated you believe in magic (and homeopathy).”
When you’re ignorant you think homeopathy is magic.
“”Homeopathy” is a specific term for a school of alternative medicine originated by Samuel Hahnemann in 1796. “
Guess you never spent any time in the far east. They were doing it long before him.
“Comments about the ancient Egyptians and Chinese are entirely off the point.”
ok, up to you
Just more Father knows best, from a government, telling it’s children what is best for them.
“Are you saying because there’s other quackery, that makes homeopathic quackery ok?”
No I’m saying homeopathic medicine is not quackery because a few quacks choose to use it to push their garbage.
My daughter, in the care of one of the best children's hospitals in the world, was dying in intensive care. She literally had her whole medical team (heart surgeons and the like), all 12 of them standing around her bed helpless to halt her fall from life.
Her midwife showed up, having driven herself to our location, quite without our knowledge. She walked between those learned men with authority unlike her normally timid self, surreptitiously ground two "sugar pills" into my child's scalp, whereupon the girl's vital signs evened out and everything was fine.
She turned to us and said the action would need to be repeated every five hours,, and to wake her when it was time.
And it happened over, and over, and over again.
You have *no* idea what you are talking about.
“Well educated physicians don’t discount all that came before them”
Most do, thats how they are taught.
I have gotten sick off of these medicines.
Homeopathy is a specific treatment that was NOT invented in the far east. Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine are not related to homeopathy. You continue to make this error.
“Would you take homeopathic over antibiotics for pneumonia? I guess the antibiotics just ‘cover it up’ to you.”
Of course not. But then I had bronchitis for 15 years and went to MDs 2-3 times a month and was on antibiotics pretty much straight. Once I developed an immunity to even the strongest I started looking elsewhere. Only through treating the cause was I able to get healthy.
Generally the key is to take care of yourself and prevent serious diseases as much as possible. Or you can take expensive medicines to cover up the symptoms. The choice is up to you.
“That’s not the case with homeopathy. It’s pure bunk and quackery. Placebos will work as well as homeopathy. “
Sorry you are wrong.
ok whatever floats your boat.
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