Homeopathy is 'rubbish', says UK chief medical officer

the culture of deference · 25-01-2013 02:57PM #1

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 · 25-01-2013 02:58PM

We landed on the Moon? NO WAY!

NIMAN · 25-01-2013 02:59PM

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

enda1 · 25-01-2013 02:59PM

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

BizzyC · 25-01-2013 03:01PM

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

ancapailldorcha · 25-01-2013 03:02PM

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

mike65 · 25-01-2013 03:02PM

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

Attabear · 25-01-2013 03:06PM

BizzyC wrote: »

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

Excellent

fangee · 25-01-2013 03:09PM

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 · 25-01-2013 03:18PM

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 · 25-01-2013 03:20PM

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

gallag · 25-01-2013 03:21PM

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

Robbo · 25-01-2013 03:22PM

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

Bonus points for if it involves back pain or eczema.

Duggy747 · 25-01-2013 03:27PM

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 · 25-01-2013 03:27PM

BizzyC · 25-01-2013 03:30PM

Attabear wrote: »

Excellent

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

RebelRed90 · 25-01-2013 03:32PM

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

juan.kerr · 25-01-2013 03:32PM

maximoose wrote: »

We landed on the Moon? NO WAY!

Well the US did, anyway.

My name is URL · 25-01-2013 03:35PM

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 · 25-01-2013 03:35PM

Thread should be called "Homeopathy is 'Water'"

Real Life · 25-01-2013 03:42PM

ScumLord · 25-01-2013 03:43PM

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 · 25-01-2013 03:48PM

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 · 25-01-2013 03:56PM

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 · 25-01-2013 03:58PM

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

McLoughlin · 25-01-2013 04:01PM

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 · 25-01-2013 04:03PM

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 · 25-01-2013 04:04PM

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 · 25-01-2013 04:04PM

http://www.howdoeshomeopathywork.com/

DB21 · 25-01-2013 04:05PM

Rare case where a politician tells the truth.

ballsymchugh · 25-01-2013 04:06PM

DB21 wrote: »

Rare case where a politician tells the truth.

she'd be offended by that slur!

Homeopathy is 'rubbish', says UK chief medical officer

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