Friday, January 14, 2011

A thought about homeopaths

The great Rhys Morgan tweeted the 10:23 campaign to 360homeopathy, who I'd not seen before, so I checked out her website, and saw this emphasis mine):

I stumbled upon Homeopathy many years ago when I had a colicky baby and a co-worker suggested these white little pills to put under her tongue. I didn't think much about it as I wasn't really that interested in what it was but more that I wanted to give my baby some relief.

My initial thought was "Wooah, how could you not care what was going into your child?" I'm fortunate enough to have some very good friends. I'm not a father now (but hopefully in the future), but I'm fairly sure that even if my Hypothetical Partner (let alone any of my friends) had white pills to give to my Hypothetical Child, whilst I'd trust her completely, I'd still very much want to know what it was that was being given.

It made me wonder if this is one of the differences between supporters of alternative medicine, and skeptical types like me. Even if I trust someone *a lot* I still want to know the whys and wherefores. I guess "Why?" is just a big part of my life, and less so for others...

(I don't know why this is though, ha ha)

5 comments:

  1. It looks as though I am the homeopath of the day on your blog. I guess I am honored by the attention. Homeopathy may not be your choice of treatment but health in my view is freedom from limitations so if someone chooses this healing modality why is this so upsetting? This questionable parent gave her child a remedy given by a friend studying homeopathy, the bottle was labeled but I trusted her and didn't have a concern. All the skeptics of homeopathy talk about its ineffectiveness so why do you feel threatened? If it is bogus why has it continued to stick around? I do have a lot of faith and trust in our body's innate wisdom so maybe that is the fundamental difference.

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  2. Thanks for your comment. My reply follows, but a much better one is here: http://www.badscience.net/2007/11/a-kind-of-magic/

    First up, I do not believe homeopathy works, as there is no evidence that it works at all. Not just that, but the theories behind it do not make any logical sense.

    As for your questions.

    "Homeopathy may not be your choice of treatment but health in my view is freedom from limitations so if someone chooses this healing modality why is this so upsetting?"

    What upsets me is when treatments that have been proven to work no better than a placebo are used in place of medicine which has been shown to work. This puts health, and potentially life, at risk. I'm all for freedom of choice, but only for things that have been shown to work (or to choose to take part in a clinical trial to find out if something works).

    "This questionable parent gave her child a remedy given by a friend studying homeopathy, the bottle was labeled but I trusted her and didn't have a concern. All the skeptics of homeopathy talk about its ineffectiveness so why do you feel threatened?"

    I don't feel threatened by homeopathy - this is demonstrated by my overdose that I am taking. However, even if my closest friends or family that I have now, were to give me a white pill to treat something for me, I would want to know what it was. Even if this person was a doctor or pharmacist. On the rare occasion I see a doctor and get a prescription, I always read all the info that comes with the drug. I guess I just question things more.

    "If it is bogus why has it continued to stick around?"

    This is an interesting question, and books have been written about it. As an analogy, let's pick region. Just pick any one. Let's say Hinduism. It's been around for a very long time. It entirely contradicts Christianity. Both cannot be correct, therefore one of them (at least) has to be bogus. Yet both persist. The psychology of belief is fascinating.

    "I do have a lot of faith and trust in our body's innate wisdom so maybe that is the fundamental difference."

    Please could you clarify what you mean by that statement?

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  3. I support a health system that supports each indvidual's body and encourages healing, that is why I choose homeopathy. I live in a very colorful world and thinking in black and white gets me nowhere. I am certain our view will never be on the same side so I agree to disagree.

    A mind is like an umbrella - only useful when open

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  4. Homeopathy is a most rational science with respect to its concepts of health, disease and cure. According to Homeopathy, health (and disease) is a dynamic entity. Signs of good health, apart from others, are mental clarity, emotional calm and refreshing sleep.

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  5. Lora: I support a health system that is backed up by evidence, and dismiss those systems which have been shown, with evidence, to not work. This is why I dismiss homeopathy.

    Science is the most colourful world of all. Read this comic and tell me a scientific world view isn't colourful: http://calamitiesofnature.com/archive/?c=458

    As for open mindedness, you should watch this http://www.youtube.com/qualiasoup#p/u/4/T69TOuqaqXI

    In addition, an umbrella also makes a good walking stick, but for that to work, it's best when closed. Seeing such things requires an open mind.

    Currently, we will have to agree to disagree. However, I am willing to accept that I am wrong with regards homeopathy if shown evidence that it works. Seriously - if homeopathy was shown to work, there'd be a Nobel Prize in it, as our understanding of how the universe works would be entirely turned on its head.

    Are you willing to admit that there exists things, hypothetically, that would make you change your mind?

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