The NHS of England just announced they will stop funding homeopathy because they say it is not scientifically based. I do not necessarily disagree with the NHS but what is most interesting is how the vast majority of effort and expense in the field of 'Health' is also not scientifically sound. We know this from the results we are seeing in our society from being under the guidance of organizations like the NHS or Dept of Health. More childhood obesity, more cancer, more diabetes... that is the result of their instruction and priority set.
We need to radically shift away from what is not working and move to the simple and timeless solutions like eating a bit simpler with more fruits and greens. And doing daily exercise like swimming or yoga. The body always heals itself when given the right environment.
Doctors call for NHS to stop funding homeopathy
Page last updated at 13:39 GMT, Tuesday, 29 June 2010 14:39
Homeopathic remedies often contain few or no active ingredients The NHS should stop funding homeopathy and it should no longer be marketed as a medicine in pharmacies, doctors say.
Medics voted on the issue at the British Medical Association's annual conference in Brighton.
They dismissed the highly-diluted remedies as "nonsense" and potentially harmful to patients as it can lead them to shunning conventional medicines.
The Department of Health homeopathy said treatment was under review.
Homeopathy is a 200-year-old system of treatment that uses highly diluted substances.
In some cases none of the original product is left. It is given orally in the belief that it will stimulate the body's self-healing mechanism.
The NHS is thought to spend about £4m a year on the treatment, helping to fund four dedicated homeopathic hospitals and numerous prescriptions.
Dr Mary McCarthy, a GP from Shropshire, said there was no evidence from hundreds of trials that homeopathy worked beyond the placebo effect - in which a patient gets better but only because they believe the treatment will work and their symptoms clear up because of the psychological boost.
She added: "It can do harm by diverting patients from conventional medical treatments."
Watery scienceShe was supported in the debate by a number of other doctors, despite dozens of supporters of the treatment gathering outside the conference centre urging them not to.
Dr Tom Dolphin, a member of the BMA's junior doctors committee, dismissed it as "nonsense on stilts".
WHAT IS HOMEOPATHY?
- Involves giving people very dilute amounts of a substance that in larger amounts might produce symptoms similar to the condition being treated
- For example, one remedy which might be used in a person suffering from insomnia would be made from coffee
- Supporters believe homeopathy helps relieve a range of minor ailments from bruising to insomnia
- But critics say it is no better than sugar pills and people only get better because they believe the treatment will work - the so-called placebo effect
"We risk as a society slipping back into a state of magical thinking when made-up science passes for rational discourse."
2 comments:
Homeopathy is a system of medicine which is based on treating the individual with highly diluted substances given in mainly tablet form, which triggers the body’s natural system of healing. The NHS should stop funding homeopathy and should not be marketed as a medicine in pharmacies.
running tights
Of course, homeopathy works, people wouldn't take medicine, if it didn't! Thousands of people have their own proof of their own or their children to see better, why do we always have to have scientific evidence to 'prove', it works. Medical profession is a billion pound industry, so doctors do not want to hear anything about homeopathy.
Lipo
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