Celebrity Caprice - Promotion Of Pseudoscience

[LazyGun]

Sense about Science, a UK charity whose aim is to offer sensible scientific and health advice, has published its annual "celebrities and science" review...

http://www.senseaboutscience.org/data/files/Celebrities_and_Science_2012.pdf

It made me giggle anyway - then sigh in despair :)

[China Doll]

I also did some sighing... then a bit of grimacing and muttering when homeopathy was being discussed, the one thing that will push my buttons is when parents opt for a 'homeopathic remedy' for something for their kids, and then come come back to us in three months with no effing improvment and wondering why.... And I'm only typing the letters! ;o)

[LazyGun]

hang on , cannot type- too busy rubbing coffee granules into my thighs.... plays merry hell with yer typing, does this particular health craze :)

Yep, could not agree with you more regarding Homeopathy, China Doll - it has zero credibility, and zero active ingredients :)

[China Doll]

So why is there a bloody hospital dedicated to it , that's what I want to know?! Even if it has changed its name... Grrrr! I'm going to go have an oxygen shot and see if it calms me down ;o)

[LazyGun]

Hehe :) I have no clue why the NHS still funds some homeopathic hospitals and treatment centres - there is no clinical justification for it.

Speaking of bonkers homeopathy remedies - try this gem, from the president of the homeopathy society himself - a sound file to cure norovirus!

http://www.healingdownloads.com/norovirus.php

[China Doll]

For Funks Sake! You're just trying to wind me up now... Effing muppets! Maybe someone could listen to it while they're sitting on the loo wondering why the world just fell out their ar5e (to borrow a phrase from Mickey Flanagan), I'm sure it'll help!

There's a couple of reps from the hospital that I'm sure we both know come to a meeting we have, they seem like nice people but I can't help myself wanting to slap them... maybe there's a homeopathic remedy they can suggest for my irrational irritabilty.

[LazyGun]

LoL China.

The idea that the soothing susurration of the surf on the beach would cure and/or prevent norovirus could be tested epidemiologically - If it genuinely worked, then you would never see a case of norovirus by the seaside :)

I can understand your irritability, and share it. I really struggle to understand how anyone can think homeopathy is viable - I can only assume people confuse with herbal medicine, and think it is a "natural" alternative - when of course, in a conventional homeopathic remedy, you do not have a single atom of active ingredient - its just water and sugar pills, basically.

[China Doll]

Aye... well there's that stuff about the placebo effect being also a good medical outcome because it has done something I s'pose. I'm sure it's phrased better though! But still... I don't think it should be encouraged in any way.

I actually know of at least one case of a fairly serious case of depression/mental health difficulties being seen at said hospital and it's clearly not helping. I just think that's irresponsible.

They should put us in charge, sod the CQC's ;o)

[mibn2cweus]

Perhaps there is a hidden benefit to homeopathy that some scientists might be overlooking. While I would never advocate for its use, especially with regards to children, in some small way might it not contribute to weeding the gene pool of idiocy?

[naomi24]

^^ :o)

[nescio]

One thing about homoeopathy has always intrigued me - after finishing all the dilutions (not forgetting the all-important succussions at each stage), exactly how do they go about cleaning the equipment for preparation of the next "treatment". The more thay wash and rinse it, the more powerful the previous "treatment" becomes... :o)

[modeller]

The thing I find puzzling . They say the weaker it is, the more effective it is,
so taking one tablet would be more effective than taking more but I was looking at some of their preparations and I read instructions like take 6 tablets 3 times a day. How's that for logic.?