https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvH1TnzYch4 Interesting podcast discussion on complementary and alternative medecine from an evidence perspective covering homeopathy, chiropractic, acupuncture and various herbal cures: http://www.pointofinquiry.org/simon_singh_-_trick_or_treatment/ All the evidence suggests that 'cures' likes homeopathy and reiki do not work and are a waste of time and money. Cures likes chiropractic may be actively dangerous and cause serious injury. If all you are getting is a placebo, is it right we allow people to make inaccurate or implausible claims about these things and profit from people's credulity? Is it ethically right to lie to patients if these things make them feel better due to the placebo effect? What are your experiences of CAM, and do you use any? What do you feel about the evidence / lack of evidence for their efficacy? Does it matter if the right thing is happening for the wrong reason? "With homeopathic remedies, a cold will be cured in about 7 days. Without homeopathy, it can take a whole week."
All the evidence ?? I am studying to be a Medicinal Anthropologist, most of these homeopathic medicines have been around for over 3000 years. Western medicine has developed most of its medicinal cures from herbs and minerals used in homeopathic medicine. There are an awful lot of different kinds of healing in the world. Some of them we dont even understand yet. But I know alot of people think they're "hoaky", or whatever, but I do think that different people need different things to make them feel better. Whatever works for ya right ?
I was using the word homeopathy in the specific sense that's been around for about 200 years, basically the administering of water, or a solution of a substance so highly diluted that almost all doses include no molecules of the original substance at all... Herbal remedies are a different issue, some work, some don't, and as you say many mainstream medecines have been developed from plants. If they work it's because these plants have chemicals in them which affect the body, these effects can be measured, repeated etc. Homeopathic cures have never been demonstrated to be effective in this way ... because it's just water!
I gotcha, my thinking on this is that no matter what we think works or not some people really believe in these things and they think it will heal them,that in itself Is the cure for these people. I agree that some of it sounds really crazy,but in the end its what helps people deal with their suffering that Im studying..
These things are raised so much more often than the fact that a lot of the time what the doctor hands out is complete rubbish, irrelevant to your ailment, has worse side effects than the illness itself etc. I think far too many people put far too much faith in that I havent really had any experiences with more "mainstream" alternative medicines like the ones you mentioned. Im not even exactly sure what reiki is But Ive had some experiences of my own shall we say...and I tend to treat myself until it comes down to really needing a doctor, and even then Im selective. Ive done pretty fine so far
It is people like yourself that I am learning to help,hopefully, my job will be to find people of your opinion a comfortable alternative to "Western" medicine.
Thats great. But really Im fine...I do wish the system was more reliable and worked in a different way but I understand why it is as it is and I dont have any problems. My "mistrust" is only from experience, not any kind of unfounded suspicion, but I do manage to talk to doctors sometimes and come to a middleground for treatment. What I was trying to say is most people just go in there, take it all at face value and put complete trust in a doctor to do what they want to their bodies without researching first, and thats wrong, just as it would be to put total trust in these alternative people. Western medicine gets it wrong so many times too. It comes down to an individuals own intelligence and knowing what to accept. And of course as you say, different treatments for different peple in many cases
I agree that GPs don't always get things right of course, and an overstretched public healthcare system means they often have almost no time to actually engage with their patients as human beings. It's this that alternative practitioners are so good at, much of the positive effect they have is simply a result of this paying attention to people, listening to people, and appearing caring and kind. You are paying through the nose for that of course, and end up with ineffective treatments like water, sugar pills or pretend magic, but it's the attention itself which causes the placebo effect. While GPs don't always get it right, they are highly trained experts and have access to effective treatments. Obviously you don't take any opinion uncritically, and the response you get to ill defined symptoms will vary, and can only ever be a speculative response to the information you provide, which may be inaccurate, irrelevant or incomplete. A good doctor won't dish out unnecessary medication like candy, though of course many do. In this way they too are essentially issuing placebos, though of course these ones have side effects because they actually work. They get it right more often than not, and of course few would dream of seeking alternative healthcare for broken legs or terminal diseases. If you want something that works, you go to those who have access to the best information and skills. Bedside manner is less important the more serious your condition. Personally I agree with the guy in the interview I posted, that relying on the placebo effect is unethical in that you are misleading a patient as to the facts of the matter and selling ineffective treatments. I would rather have access to the best information and the most effective treatments, which clearly come from properly researched and evidence-based medical practice. I can see the other side of the argument, but I don't think belief in things that are not true is ever a particularly good idea. Reiki is where the practioner "heals" you by placing their hands in close proximity to your body while you lie down. You end up, miraculousy, with less weight in your pockets...
Good post Jonby, I agree. But being critical and researching yourself is the key. Not enough people are or do About the reiki, oh, in that case Ive had that done for free. Very long story, but the man caled it "energising". It energised. I didnt want it to, I hated that man and his family, I hated the situation I was in and I thought it was a heap of steaming crap...but that man, he did something to me. That was the strongest placebo I ever had, I can tell you. Ive even thought about the possibility that he drugged me. Maybe he did. Very strange times
Should doctors be allowed to prescribe "obecalp" sugar pills? People feel short changed if they go to the doctor and don't come away with a treatment, but many conditions simply don't need treating, and cure themselves. Doctors probably feel pressured to dish out a prescription just to get rid of patients who have essentially no treatable condition, which is probably a vast number of the patients they see. I have problems with the idea, but I'm not sure. Personally I wouldn't take something unless I knew what it was, what it did and how it worked. The information on exactly what the "obecalp" is could be readily available to anyone who does some research. But for those unwiling or stupid enough not to do this... They would be very cheap to produce, so at prescription charge rates would provide much needed additional income for the health service, though arguably, like the lottery, this would be a "tax on fools". Then again, you're saving the unnecessary prescription of actual drugs with actual effects, which are actually expensive, and cost the taxpayer. Is it ethical?
Is it ethical? No. Is it a good idea? Yes. Should we do it? eh.. I don't know. I didn't bother reading this whole thread all I wanted to say was Dude.. just cure it with your mind...
