Thread: Homeopathy – does it work?

At home, we’d been discussing conventional medicine versus homeopathy. My other half cited the British Royal Family as the best advertisement for homeopathy, given their ages and their general good health. She also reminded me about one of her relatives, cured, by a homeopath, of 30 years of severe tonsillitis.

So what do you think? Better still, what experiences have you had?

As I understand it, homeopathy is similar to mithridatism. I admit I'm not too well-read on the efficacy of either.

Asking if homeopathy works in general is pretty similar to asking if traditional medicine works in general. Overall I have a favorable view of it.

My mom had most of her thyroid removed for the same reason you did, Ox. The traditional docs missed part of it and she hasn't let them get in to take the rest. She goes to a homeopathic doc and a traditional doc, compares what they say, and chooses what she thinks she should do (pretty much always favoring the homeopath). So far the cancer's not come back.

Much of what's called homeopathy isn't. You can't begin to get reasonable answers unless there's a clear understanding on what you're referring to when you use the term homeopathy.

Very enlightening, that.

Rustgold's point, if I understand it, is that many people confuse the application of ordinary home remedies with homoeopathy. Much of the confusion arises, no doubt, because U.S. dictionaries misspell homoeopathy.

Thus his statement is enlightening, for it causes us to ask, 'Exactly what are we talking about?' We cannot properly discuss an issue until we understand the terms of reference and know that we are on common ground. Homoeopathy has naught to do with the use of home remedies.

In this case, how, exactly, do you decide which drugs to use in a homoeopathic treatment of a problem with the thyroid gland? What drugs for such a condition are prescribed by a homoeopathic practitioner? Is there consensus among homoeopathic practitioners for the treatment of such a condition?

the overall opinion of scientists is that no, it does not work as a medicine. it may work as a form of placebo, and there's no denying it has a wealth of support. but then, so does astrology and ouija boards and for every piece of 'evidence' to support it you'll find about ten pieces that disprove its claims and there's no getting around the fact it has no logical basis. a high dose of homeopathic medicine is, i believe, within the ratio of 1 part 'medicine' to 100 parts dilution liquid (tap water, essentially). and that's a high dose. a typical quantity of homeopathic medicine per dose is roughly equivalent to a pinch of salt in both the north and south atlantic oceans. in other words, it may as well not be there.

i dont much care either way on the subject, but one of the more irritating things about it to me is that it is taxpayer funded in some countries' health services, such as Britain's to the tune of several millions of dollars. to me, that's like funding voodoo.

as a rule i am against virtually all 'alternative medicine'. did you know there's a name for alternative medicine that has been proven to actually work? yup, it's called 'medicine'.

All I know is homoeopathy is popular where we live (and it's not home remedies) because conventional medicine does have its side effects. My brother's Tonsillitis was cured by homoeopathy in 3 months where the doctor's medicine could not help for years; they'd wanted an operation to have it removed.

Luckyscars is right. Scientific evidence says homeopathy works as well as a placebo, no more.

Originally Posted by garza

Rustgold's point, if I understand it, is that many people confuse the application of ordinary home remedies with homoeopathy.

Thus his statement is enlightening, for it causes us to ask, 'Exactly what are we talking about?' We cannot properly discuss an issue until we understand the terms of reference and know that we are on common ground. Homoeopathy has naught to do with the use of home remedies.

This

Quote Dictionary :
homoeopathy = "a method of treating disease by drugs, given in minute doses, which produce in a healthy person symptoms similar to those of the disease."


What this means is that you give a patient small amounts of arsenic to treat a range of spotty skin conditions.

Originally Posted by garza

Rustgold's point, if I understand it, is that many people confuse the application of ordinary home remedies with homoeopathy. Much of the confusion arises, no doubt, because U.S. dictionaries misspell homoeopathy.

Thus his statement is enlightening, for it causes us to ask, 'Exactly what are we talking about?' We cannot properly discuss an issue until we understand the terms of reference and know that we are on common ground. Homoeopathy has naught to do with the use of home remedies.

In this case, how, exactly, do you decide which drugs to use in a homoeopathic treatment of a problem with the thyroid gland? What drugs for such a condition are prescribed by a homoeopathic practitioner? Is there consensus among homoeopathic practitioners for the treatment of such a condition?

garza –

I know of no one using home remedies and calling them homeo-anything. I don’t know where you get such an idea. Most people using home remedies would simply use the name of the remedy, like ‘eye of newt’ for example.

It is merely coincidence that treatment of thyroid conditions has crept into this thread. I personally am not looking for any homeo-whatsit treatment. The thread came about as a result of an entirely different catalyst.

And as to spelling, how do you pronounce the word the way you spell it? Ho-mo-eeo-pathy? It’s much easier on the lips to say ho-me-op-athy.

Originally Posted by luckyscars

as a rule i am against virtually all 'alternative medicine'. did you know there's a name for alternative medicine that has been proven to actually work? yup, it's called 'medicine'.

My General Practitioner, a doctor registered with my country’s Medical Association, also practices acupuncture and hypnotherapy, and prescribes St John’s Wort as an anti-depressant and fish oil as an anti-arthritic. All of that is alternative medicine.

Homoeopathy? Giving people diluted solutions of harmful ingredients?

Sounds suspiciously dangerous to me.

In the early 1900's a similar thought-process was pursued.. It was called "Radioactive Water", and, at the time, everyone thought it was the new magic elixir that cured all and improved health.

Companies produced water coolers lined with radioactive isotopes, under the belief that the radioactively-charged water would invigorate the body and cleanse the blood.

They even began selling portable pocket-sized capsules of radioactive water shooters for you to drink and get your radioactive dose for the day!


Mm mm.. Feel that tingly sensation? That's radiation coursing through your veins!

The Revigator was a jar made of radium-containing ore which held several gallons of water and came with these instructions: “Fill jar every night. Drink freely . . . when thirsty and upon arising and retiring, average six or more glasses daily.”
Many more radium-emanating products hit the market, many of which were cheaper, smaller and mobile so you could take your personal, perpetual health spring with you on the road or at home.

In the 1920s and early 1930s it was possible to purchase radium-containing salves, beauty creams, toothpaste (radon was thought to fight dental decay and improve digestion), ear plugs, chocolate bars, butter, soap, suppositories, and even contraceptives.

And then, a unfortunate man named Eben Bryers began drinking radon-tainted water, under the belief that it was good for him...

The Radioactive Death of Eben Byers

Agreeing with the 'homeopathy = placebo' statement.

It has been shown that in numerous occasions (e.g The Great Prayer experiment), the patient's believe-to-get-better is almost as important as the medicine itself.

Originally Posted by KyleColorado

Homoeopathy? Giving people diluted solutions of harmful ingredients?

Sounds suspiciously dangerous to me.

In the early 1900's a similar thought-process was pursued.. It was called "Radioactive Water", and, at the time, everyone thought it was the new magic elixir that cured all and improved health.

Companies produced water coolers lined with radioactive isotopes, under the belief that the radioactively-charged water would invigorate the body and cleanse the blood.

They even began selling portable pocket-sized capsules of radioactive water shooters for you to drink and get your radioactive dose for the day!


Mm mm.. Feel that tingly sensation? That's radiation coursing through your veins!



And then, a unfortunate man named Eben Bryers began drinking radon-tainted water, under the belief that it was good for him...

The Radioactive Death of Eben Byers

I swallowed radioactive iodine 12 months ago and my jaw hasn't fallen off yet.

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

I swallowed radioactive iodine 12 months ago and my jaw hasn't fallen off yet.

I'm assuming that's iodine-131, which is used in medical treatments. I don't think you'd use any radon isotopes for anything other than inducing lung cancer.