Homeopathy is 'rubbish', says UK chief medical officer

the culture of deference

Professor Dame Sally Davies England’s chief medical officer saidHomeopathic remedies are "rubbish" and do not serve as anything more than placebos,



she was “perpetually surprised” homeopathy was provided on the NHS, and branded homeopaths “peddlers.”


Giving evidence to the Commons Science and Technology committee, she also expressed fears about the prescription of homeopathic remedies to treat malaria and other illnesses.


Its supporters believe it can treat everything from depression to hay fever, the theory being that substances that produce the symptoms of an ailment can cure it once they have been watered down many times to reduce their strength.


Advocates of the practice claim the water retains a “memory” of the original substance.


But critics say the only benefits are in the mind, with a Lancet study concluding that homeopathy was no more effective than the standard sugar pill given as a placebo in clinical trials.


In 2010, the Science and Technology Committee agreed there was no evidence the drugs were any more effective than a placebo.

http://www.independent.ie/health/health-news/homeopathy-is-rubbish-says-chief-medical-officer-3363671.html

maximoose

We landed on the Moon? NO WAY!

NIMAN

She ain't saying anything that isn't 100% true. Baffled that the NHS in the UK provide this nonsense.

enda1

Ironically the first person so high up with a pair of balls to stand up to this criminal nonsense is a woman.

BizzyC

Homeopathy is ok, but only in small doses....

ancapailldorcha

Fair play to her. Can't believe these idiots are still allowed to peddle this nonsense.

mike65

cue Mitchell and Webb....three, two, one!

Attabear

BizzyC wrote: »

Homeopathy is ok, but only in small doses....

Excellent

fangee

What a shame that so many people spend so much money on what is just water.

It really is criminal. Freaking buying snake oil in the 21st century. Who would have thunk it ?

The same people who buy this junk will laugh at witch doctors and shamans.

ScumLord

I have no problem with these treatments or other placebo treatments in general. If a person thinks the placebo treatment is working for them and relieving symptoms then that's all that matters to that individual. A placebo treatment like this is much cheaper and safer than using the fullness of modern medical treatments available today which may end up finding absolutely nothing.

I think the whole process of having someone care for you makes up the bulk of reasons why it works. Human contact and bonding is what people often crave.

anncoates

Dame Sally Davies sounds like the headmistress of a fictional 1940s girls boarding school in an Enid Blyton book.

gallag

High up person in British civil service has rare outburst of sence.

Robbo

In before an anecdote where the end result is a regression fallacy.

Bonus points for if it involves back pain or eczema.

Duggy747

I don't care what people spend their money on, it's their choice.

It's when people I know put things like "Water Memory" and "scientifically proven" in the same sentence to me that it gets silly.

Michael Scofield

BizzyC

Attabear wrote: »

Excellent

Have to admit, I stole that from Dara O' Brien...

RebelRed90

I think its rubbish too. James randi in his TED talk convinced me of this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0Z7KeNCi7g

juan.kerr

maximoose wrote: »

We landed on the Moon? NO WAY!

Well the US did, anyway.

My name is URL

ScumLord wrote: »

I have no problem with these treatments or other placebo treatments in general. If a person thinks the placebo treatment is working for them and relieving symptoms then that's all that matters to that individual. A placebo treatment like this is much cheaper and safer than using the fullness of modern medical treatments available today which may end up finding absolutely nothing.

I think the whole process of having someone care for you makes up the bulk of reasons why it works. Human contact and bonding is what people often crave.

The problem is when people opt to put everything into homeopathic remedies while completely ignoring doctors advice and proven treatment methods.

If taking small doses of Arnica makes people believe that they feel better then fine, but the cnuts selling it as a complete alternative to conventional medicines should be drawn and quartered.

darragh16

Thread should be called "Homeopathy is 'Water'"

Real Life

ScumLord

My name is URL wrote: »

The problem is when people opt to put everything into homeopathic remedies while completely ignoring doctors advice and proven treatment methods.

If taking small doses of Arnica makes people believe that they feel better then fine, but the cnuts selling it as a complete alternative to conventional medicines should be drawn and quartered.

The thing is though if it's a real condition the homoeopathy won't work and the person with the condition should know to move onto real medicine. I think for the most part the people it works for don't have anything physically wrong with them. I think it's a psychological problem and just having someone that treats them as sick and looks after them is the therapy they need.

It could be seen as a band aid for real treatment or it could be seen as bonding, in the same way chimps pick flees off each other humans need that kind of contact to feel good.

krudler

ScumLord wrote: »

The thing is though if it's a real condition the homoeopathy won't work and the person with the condition should know to move onto real medicine. I think for the most part the people it works for don't have anything physically wrong with them. I think it's a psychological problem and just having someone that treats them as sick and looks after them is the therapy they need.

It could be seen as a band aid for real treatment or it could be seen as bonding, in the same way chimps pick flees off each other humans need that kind of contact to feel good.

Except that actually has health benefits.

partyatmygaff

enda1 wrote: »

Ironically the first person so high up with a pair of balls to stand up to this criminal nonsense is a woman.

She's hardly the first "high up" person to say that homeopathy is nothing more than a placebo.

There's nothing *that* criminal about it either. If a placebo treatment works and improves your condition, then that's all well and good. The only issue is when people try to use it for serious conditions that no level of placebo effect can aid.

OCorcrainn

Homeopathy medicine has worked for the Chinese for thousands of years, so that fact alone would contradict this fellow.

McLoughlin

the culture of deference wrote: »

Professor Dame Sally Davies England’s chief medical officer saidHomeopathic remedies are "rubbish" and do not serve as anything more than placebos,

she was “perpetually surprised” homeopathy was provided on the NHS, and branded homeopaths “peddlers.”

Giving evidence to the Commons Science and Technology committee, she also expressed fears about the prescription of homeopathic remedies to treat malaria and other illnesses.

Its supporters believe it can treat everything from depression to hay fever, the theory being that substances that produce the symptoms of an ailment can cure it once they have been watered down many times to reduce their strength.

Advocates of the practice claim the water retains a “memory” of the original substance.

But critics say the only benefits are in the mind, with a Lancet study concluding that homeopathy was no more effective than the standard sugar pill given as a placebo in clinical trials.

In 2010, the Science and Technology Committee agreed there was no evidence the drugs were any more effective than a placebo.

http://www.independent.ie/health/health-news/homeopathy-is-rubbish-says-chief-medical-officer-3363671.html

Sounds like she is Homeophobic.

Gbear

OCorcrainn wrote: »

Homeopathy medicine Witch Docter medicine has worked for the Chinese Africans for thousands of years, so that fact alone would contradict this fellow.

fyp

Duggy747 wrote: »

I don't care what people spend their money on, it's their choice.

It's when people I know put things like "Water Memory" and "scientifically proven" in the same sentence to me that it gets silly.

It isn't their choice when it's provided on the NHS and paid for by the state.

Links234

the culture of deference wrote: »

Advocates of the practice claim the water retains a “memory” of the original substance.

so then your average drinking water retains a "memory" of **** and piss

ballsymchugh

http://www.howdoeshomeopathywork.com/

DB21

Rare case where a politician tells the truth.

ballsymchugh

DB21 wrote: »

Rare case where a politician tells the truth.

she'd be offended by that slur!

JazzyJ

OCorcrainn wrote: »

Homeopathy medicine has worked for the Chinese for thousands of years, so that fact alone would contradict this fellow.

Yes, and because aliens invented it 63,983,123 years ago also proves that fact.

Definitely.

IM0

ah jesus there was a massive thread on this **** a few months ago, and now its off again in 3, 2..

just delete this, dont merge it with the other one [and so giving it life]

dead horses and all that..

28064212

OCorcrainn wrote: »

Homeopathy medicine has worked for the Chinese for thousands of years, so that fact alone would contradict this fellow.

Example of Poe's law. Assuming you're being serious, you're totally wrong, Homeopathy was invented in 1796 by a German

partyatmygaff

OCorcrainn wrote: »

Homeopathy medicine has worked for the Chinese for thousands of years, so that fact alone would contradict this fellow.

Traditional Chinese Medicine has little to nothing to do with homeopathy (Which is relatively recent European form of "therapy").

Homeopathic remedies are not "medicines", they're nothing more than bottles water dressed up as medicines.

Duggy747

OCorcrainn wrote: »

Homeopathy medicine has worked for the Chinese for thousands of years, so that fact alone would contradict this fellow.

Except it's not fact, is it?

Zillah

ScumLord wrote: »

I have no problem with these treatments or other placebo treatments in general. If a person thinks the placebo treatment is working for them and relieving symptoms then that's all that matters to that individual. A placebo treatment like this is much cheaper and safer than using the fullness of modern medical treatments available today which may end up finding absolutely nothing.

I think the whole process of having someone care for you makes up the bulk of reasons why it works. Human contact and bonding is what people often crave.

Real medicine benefits from the placebo effect as well as its actual medical effect. Homeopath only gets the placebo. The placebo effect is often a false resolution and very temporary. They think they're better briefly but keep having to go back because, shockingly enough, drinking magic water doesn't cure real illness.

Honestly I think doctors should be trained to be more theatrical to maximise the placebo effect. Go into detail about what is in the medication and why it works and use fancy sciency words.

runawaybishop

fangee wrote: »

What a shame that so many people spend so much money on what is just water.

It really is criminal. Freaking buying snake oil in the 21st century. Who would have thunk it ?

The same people who buy this junk will laugh at witch doctors and shamans.

If they were actually using snake oil that would be something. Snake oil is high in omega 3 \:D/

endacl

enda1 wrote: »

Ironically the first person so high up with a pair of balls to stand up to this criminal nonsense is a woman.

Give the people what they want I suppose....

If there are enough dumb people demanding dumb stuff, then dumb stuff will be provided. Perhaps its an example of the nanny state simply giving in to the child's ridiculous demands. Pop them in front of the telly homeopath for a few hours. I know its not good for them, but I'm at my wits end....'

endacl

runawaybishop wrote: »

If they were actually using snake oil that would be something. Snake oil is high in omega 3 \:D/

And who's ever seen a squeaky snake? This sh1t works!

Akrasia

OCorcrainn wrote: »

Homeopathy medicine has worked for the Chinese for thousands of years, so that fact alone would contradict this fellow.

That's funny cause Homeopathy was invented by a german quack named Samuel Hahnemann only about 200 years ago

edit: sorry, i was well beaten to the race on this :P

Capt'n Midnight

ScumLord wrote: »

I have no problem with these treatments or other placebo treatments in general. If a person thinks the placebo treatment is working for them and relieving symptoms then that's all that matters to that individual. A placebo treatment like this is much cheaper and safer than using the fullness of modern medical treatments available today which may end up finding absolutely nothing.

fine in theory

but when people are dying because they choose alternative medicine over stuff that actually works then it's more than just fraud

Look at Steve Jobs

endacl

I think it may be time for this one again, just in case anybody missed it the last few times...

endacl

OCorcrainn wrote: »

Homeopathy medicine has worked for the Chinese for thousands of years, so that fact alone would contradict this fellow.

Not really. Chinese traditional medicine (which could be criticized on a whole other level, but that's fodder for another thread) actually contains 'active ingredients'. Even if those ingredients essentially to nothing but decimate wildlife populations. What distinguishes homeopathy is the fact that the 'active ingredient' in the solution has been reduced to a point such that it isn't in fact present at all.

My name is URL

Akrasia wrote: »

That's funny cause Homeopathy was invented by a german quack named Samuel Hahnemann only about 200 years ago

Bit harsh to call him a quack, when; at the time bloodletting and trephination etc were some the most common and accepted medical practices, which is what he was opposed to.

endacl

My name is URL wrote: »

Bit harsh to call him a quack, when; at the time bloodletting and trephination etc were some the most common and accepted medical practices, which is what he was opposed to.

Indeed. He did the best he could with the knowledge available to him at the time. It was an imaginative leap, if in a silly direction.

Knowledge has expanded since then. 'Pity the fool who follows the fool'.

HHobo

I sure either Randoi or someone else has already told this joke but on the off chance:



Did you hear about the guy who overdosed on his homeopathy remedy?






He forgot to take his pills!

Zillah

OCorcrainn wrote: »

Homeopathy medicine has worked for the Chinese for thousands of years, so that fact alone would contradict this fellow.

This is exactly the sort of fact-checking that I would expect from a homeopathy advocate.

OCorcrainn

I forget that many people have no sense of humour, or a sarcasm detector.

28064212

OCorcrainn wrote: »

I forget that many people have no sense of humour, or a sarcasm detector.

Sadly, there have been too many serious posts of exactly that level in previous threads. Poe's law. Relieved to hear you weren't serious though

Bad Santa

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Look at Steve Jobs

Is the tomb open to the public?