Homeopathy?

[Rissask]

Who all here, like me, thought homeopathy was just another term for using herbal medecines or natural cures?

It's not....not even close.

Here is an explanation in layman's terms:

Homeopathy is entirely un-natural.

A lot of people make this assumption. But homeopathy actually involves taking any substance (natural or not, sometimes they even use real drugs) and mixing a very small part of it in water. Then they shake it, and take a very small part of that solution and mix it in more water. Etc, etc, etc.

Essentially, by the time they get to a 12C rememdy (which means 12 successive 1 to 100 dilutions), there's only a very small chance of a single molecule of the original substance remaining. Yet they go all the way to 200C, 500C, or 1000C dilutions. And the claim is that the more you dilute it, the stronger it is.

Basically, homeopathy is giving people water, alcohol, or sugar pills with no active ingredient and claiming they feel better.

On a broader note, natural cures are usually worse than "unnatural" cures. A large portion of our drugs and other treaments were developed from natural cures. The reason they were developed is to standardize the dosage, get rid of ingredients besides the ones you are interested in, and reduce side effects.

Natural remedies often vary wildly in dosage (as growing conditions, weather, and many other factors affect how much of various chemicals each plant produces), include many chemicals besides the main ingredient that may have a physiological effect (resulting in more possibility for bad interactions with other drugs/medications and more possible side effects, not to mention the posiblity of allergy), and are often less effective. "Natural" is a buzz-word that was developed to sell. A pill full of Ginko is no more natural than a prescription medication, and contains far more chemicals than synthesized drugs.

And another good article:

http://www.acsh.org/healthissues/new...sue_detail.asp

And it's gaining in popularity.

[roni]

Originally Posted by Rissask

Who all here, like me, thought homeopathy was just another term for using herbal medecines or natural cures?

It's not....not even close.

Here is an explanation in layman's terms:


And another good article:

http://www.acsh.org/healthissues/new...sue_detail.asp

And it's gaining in popularity.

But what about homeopathic marriage?

[beer_dude]

Originally Posted by Rissask

Who all here, like me, thought homeopathy was just another term for using herbal medecines or natural cures?

It's not....not even close.

Here is an explanation in layman's terms:


And another good article:

http://www.acsh.org/healthissues/new...sue_detail.asp

And it's gaining in popularity.

Hmmm I'll take placebo effect for $500 Bob.

[Ginger]

Originally Posted by roni

But what about homeopathic marriage?

*spew*

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by roni

But what about homeopathic marriage?

That I am okay with as long as they are aware it's baloney!

Off topic but how come when it is meat, it's spelled 'balogna' but when we mean 'BS' we say baloney?

Hmmm I'll take placebo effect for $500 Bob.

No kidding huh. But it's dangerous! They convince people to take their tinctures instead of chemo, etc. People have died.

[TEX]

can't wait for stogey's response to that question......

[denisea]

Originally Posted by Rissask

That I am okay with as long as they are aware it's baloney!

Off topic but how come when it is meat, it's spelled 'balogna' but when we mean 'BS' we say baloney?

First off... it's "bologna" not "balogna".

From your favorite resource, wikipedia...

Originally Posted by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baloney

Bologna sausage is commonly believed to be created from lowly scraps of meat cuts. It is assumed that this food, therefore, is the origin of the slang word baloney, meaning "nonsense" or "BS".

[beer_dude]

Originally Posted by Rissask

That I am okay with as long as they are aware it's baloney!

Off topic but how come when it is meat, it's spelled 'balogna' but when we mean 'BS' we say baloney?

Actually the correct spelling according to Oscar Mayer is "Bologna" I know this because of memorizing the Oscar Meyer commercial.

Originally Posted by Rissask

No kidding huh. But it's dangerous! They convince people to take their tinctures instead of chemo, etc. People have died.

It is terrible that sick, desperate people are forgoing the best medical technology has to offer to listen and practice voodoo qwackerie (sp?).

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by denisea

First off... it's "bologna" not "balogna".

From your favorite resource, wikipedia...

I knew that! I just mispelled it!

It is terrible that sick, desperate people are forgoing the best medical technology has to offer to listen and practice voodoo qwackerie (sp?).

[Connie]

All I can say is that homeopathy works quite well for me. And I had been quite skeptical until I tried it myself.

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by Connie

All I can say is that homeopathy works quite well for me. And I had been quite skeptical until I tried it myself.

But how can it possibly work? The solutions are so diluted...it simply doesn't make sense....except in the 'mind is powerful thing' aspect of it being a placebo, I will give you that.

[Connie]

Originally Posted by Rissask

But how can it possibly work? The solutions are so diluted...it simply doesn't make sense....except in the 'mind is powerful thing' aspect of it being a placebo, I will give you that.

To be honest: I don't fully understand how it works as I'm neither a physician nor a chemist. BUT: I just don't think my bladder (which is the organ I used to have troubles with) believed in the "mind is powerful thing" aspect. And neither do I when it comes to this kind of treatment. When I take the stuff I don't think to myself "THIS is it. It HAS to work no matter what". I just take whatever my Mom (she's the one with all the homeopathy knowledge) tells me to take and I wait and see what happens. Sometimes the results show quickly sometimes it takes months.

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by Connie

To be honest: I don't fully understand how it works as I'm neither a physician nor a chemist. BUT: I just don't think my bladder (which is the organ I used to have troubles with) believed in the "mind is powerful thing" aspect. And neither do I when it comes to this kind of treatment. When I take the stuff I don't think to myself "THIS is it. It HAS to work no matter what". I just take whatever my Mom (she's the one with all the homeopathy knowledge) tells me to take and I wait and see what happens. Sometimes the results show quickly sometimes it takes months.

So what you are taking is a true homeopathic remedy, or is it a natural herb or something? Just to be sure.

When you say 'sometimes the results show quickly, sometimes it takes months'...just seems to be to be more evidence that it maybe is not what is truly affecting the condition, KWIM? It could be any number of other factors at play.

It just seems to be to be too weak to possibly work. If an herb or mineral or whatever has medicinal properties, they make drugs out of them, use double blind testing to make sure they work, etc. I just wouldn't put any stock in something like this. *shrug*

I am curious as to what Joana would say...or Bonnie? Or any other people here with medical backgrounds or training.

[Connie]

Originally Posted by Rissask

So what you are taking is a true homeopathic remedy, YES or is it a natural herb or something? NO Just to be sure.

When you say 'sometimes the results show quickly, sometimes it takes months'...just seems to be to be more evidence that it maybe is not what is truly affecting the condition, KWIM? It could be any number of other factors at play. When I say "sometimes the results show quickly, sometimes it takes months" I'm talking about different medical problems I may have. For instance resolving my "bladder problem" only took about 1 week whereas getting rid of some skin irritations I have from time to time usually takes more than 4 weeks (and no dermatologist could help so far at all).

It just seems to be to be too weak to possibly work. If an herb or mineral or whatever has medicinal properties, they make drugs out of them, use double blind testing to make sure they work, etc. I just wouldn't put any stock in something like this. *shrug* OK. I totally understand your doubts. I'm not here to convince anyone. It just works for me. That's all.

I am curious as to what Joana would say...or Bonnie? Or any other people here with medical backgrounds or training.

You might be interested in this thread...don't know if you already had a look at it or not...

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by Connie

You might be interested in this thread...don't know if you already had a look at it or not...

ohhhh....embarassing...I even answered on that thread....and then promptly forgot what I had learned about what homeopathy really was...in what, three months? Just goes to prove you only retain a tenth of what you read and learn.

I don't think I really realized exacly what it was then though, the drop in a solution part I mean...

Thanks Connie.