Comments on: Should the NHS pay for Hyena Saliva? http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2007/07/what-our-nhs-money-is-being-spent-on.html Experiments and Thoughts on Quackery, Health Beliefs and Pseudoscience Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:47:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: The Futility of Finding Physical Explanations for Homeopathy | The Quackometer http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2007/07/what-our-nhs-money-is-being-spent-on.html#comment-12588 The Futility of Finding Physical Explanations for Homeopathy | The Quackometer Mon, 11 Oct 2010 08:34:26 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2007/07/should-the-nhs-pay-for-hyena-saliva.html#comment-12588 [...] – from plant extracts, minerals and salts to more exotic and complex remedies such as hyena saliva and the ‘nosodes’ such as puss and blood containig infectious agents. The anthropic [...] [...] – from plant extracts, minerals and salts to more exotic and complex remedies such as hyena saliva and the ‘nosodes’ such as puss and blood containig infectious agents. The anthropic [...]

]]> By: HarryC http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2007/07/what-our-nhs-money-is-being-spent-on.html#comment-12066 HarryC Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:37:11 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2007/07/should-the-nhs-pay-for-hyena-saliva.html#comment-12066 I would have thought a dilution of red double-decker London bus would be an invaluable addition to the equipment of every homeopathic ambulance and roadside trauma consultant. Also, in this era of knife crime, any preparation no longer containing lemon juice, which is sharp. I would have thought a dilution of red double-decker London bus would be an invaluable addition to the equipment of every homeopathic ambulance and roadside trauma consultant. Also, in this era of knife crime, any preparation no longer containing lemon juice, which is sharp.

]]> By: Le Canard Noir http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2007/07/what-our-nhs-money-is-being-spent-on.html#comment-11956 Le Canard Noir Tue, 15 Jun 2010 06:42:11 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2007/07/should-the-nhs-pay-for-hyena-saliva.html#comment-11956 In what sense do 'placebos work'? By definition, they have no specific effects. They may result in the patient believing the placebo has helped them, but that introduces ethical dilemmas. It is difficult to think of a cost-benefit scenario where a consultaiton with a homeopath, plus the sugar pills costs less than more standard care. Even if so, what are the full 'lifetime costs' of giving homeopathy on the NHS. If you are prepared to lei and give a patient sugar pills, do you not risk a dependency where the patient will return to the NHS for more little sugar crutches rather than face the reality of their situation? In what sense do ‘placebos work’? By definition, they have no specific effects. They may result in the patient believing the placebo has helped them, but that introduces ethical dilemmas. It is difficult to think of a cost-benefit scenario where a consultaiton with a homeopath, plus the sugar pills costs less than more standard care. Even if so, what are the full ‘lifetime costs’ of giving homeopathy on the NHS. If you are prepared to lei and give a patient sugar pills, do you not risk a dependency where the patient will return to the NHS for more little sugar crutches rather than face the reality of their situation?

]]> By: Litesp33d http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2007/07/what-our-nhs-money-is-being-spent-on.html#comment-11953 Litesp33d Mon, 14 Jun 2010 22:45:26 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2007/07/should-the-nhs-pay-for-hyena-saliva.html#comment-11953 As someone trained as an industrial chemist and technician I know that homeopathy is bollox. No matter how much magnetic potentising the shaking of the bottles by human hands makes. However I can (i am afraid to say) that I can see a benefit to it. I think it is generally accepted that placebos work. If the homeopathic treatment costs less than a pharmaceutical grade placebo does the NHS not gain financially? As someone trained as an industrial chemist and technician I know that homeopathy is bollox. No matter how much magnetic potentising the shaking of the bottles by human hands makes. However I can (i am afraid to say) that I can see a benefit to it.

I think it is generally accepted that placebos work. If the homeopathic treatment costs less than a pharmaceutical grade placebo does the NHS not gain financially?

]]> By: Fossilised Medicine | The Quackometer http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2007/07/what-our-nhs-money-is-being-spent-on.html#comment-11896 Fossilised Medicine | The Quackometer Tue, 01 Jun 2010 22:55:06 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2007/07/should-the-nhs-pay-for-hyena-saliva.html#comment-11896 [...] we see homeopaths specialising in fossils as cures – just like we see specialists in shipwrecks, hyena saliva, the light from Venus and vacuum cleaner dust. After the repeated magic dilution and banging on a [...] [...] we see homeopaths specialising in fossils as cures – just like we see specialists in shipwrecks, hyena saliva, the light from Venus and vacuum cleaner dust. After the repeated magic dilution and banging on a [...]

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2007/07/what-our-nhs-money-is-being-spent-on.html#comment-6599 Anonymous Sun, 10 Aug 2008 21:55:00 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2007/07/should-the-nhs-pay-for-hyena-saliva.html#comment-6599 Keeping with an African secretion theme, I find "Rhino nasal discharge" particularly intriguing.<br/><br/>As for the author of <i> has made the Homoeopathic Remedies effective and also stood the test of time for more than two centuries.</i> - witch trials stood the test of time for much longer. That doesn't make them a particularly ethical way of treating diseases, even if the supposed "bewitchment victims" thought so... Keeping with an African secretion theme, I find “Rhino nasal discharge” particularly intriguing.

As for the author of has made the Homoeopathic Remedies effective and also stood the test of time for more than two centuries. – witch trials stood the test of time for much longer. That doesn’t make them a particularly ethical way of treating diseases, even if the supposed “bewitchment victims” thought so…

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2007/07/what-our-nhs-money-is-being-spent-on.html#comment-6564 Anonymous Wed, 06 Aug 2008 05:14:00 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2007/07/should-the-nhs-pay-for-hyena-saliva.html#comment-6564 My favourite proving is Shipwreck, by very scary Mary<br/><br/>http://uk.geocities.com/veryscarymary/helvetiaproving.html My favourite proving is Shipwreck, by very scary Mary

http://uk.geocities.com/veryscarymary/helvetiaproving.html

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2007/07/what-our-nhs-money-is-being-spent-on.html#comment-5366 Anonymous Sat, 17 Nov 2007 17:52:00 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2007/07/should-the-nhs-pay-for-hyena-saliva.html#comment-5366 Cindy Crawford on the Oprah Show: It is VERY pleasing that Cindy Crawford chose to HIGHLIGHT the fact that she calls herself a "big fan of homeopathy" and that she uses it to treat a wide variety of ailments of her children and her animals. This is fabulous...and it adds just one more person who is smart and successful and<br/>who could choose to use ANY form of healing...but SHE chooses<br/>HOMEOPATHY.. .with good reason. The bottomline is that she emphasized that she doesn't leave home without her homeopathic medicines. Fab again. Cindy Crawford on the Oprah Show: It is VERY pleasing that Cindy Crawford chose to HIGHLIGHT the fact that she calls herself a “big fan of homeopathy” and that she uses it to treat a wide variety of ailments of her children and her animals. This is fabulous…and it adds just one more person who is smart and successful and
who could choose to use ANY form of healing…but SHE chooses
HOMEOPATHY.. .with good reason. The bottomline is that she emphasized that she doesn’t leave home without her homeopathic medicines. Fab again.

]]> By: Persiflage http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2007/07/what-our-nhs-money-is-being-spent-on.html#comment-5044 Persiflage Wed, 08 Aug 2007 10:02:00 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2007/07/should-the-nhs-pay-for-hyena-saliva.html#comment-5044 I'm impressed, in a deeply despairing sort of way. They're actually selling homeopathic preparations of "yellow" and "blue"... this scores higher on my personal weirdometer than a dilution of any actual substance.<br/><br/>I mean, assuming for a moment that someone actually does stand there and expose a vial of pure water (created by combining hydrogen and oxygen in absolute darkness, which is itself quite a trick) to the colour blue... does the potentisation also have to be done in the dark? <br/><br/>Given that at the end of the process you're left with a vial of pure water that has been exposed to Blue, is there not a danger of serious unexpected effects if you were to leave your finished remedy in an area of, say, Taupe?<br/><br/>Not only that, but is it not possible that by exposing any homeopathic remedy to a colour of some sort we're putting ourselves at risk of a confusing welter of side-effects?<br/><br/>I believe we should apply the precautionary principle here and ban the sale of homeopathic preparations that have been exposed to colours until they have been conclusively proven (if you'll pardon the pun) to be 100% safe. I’m impressed, in a deeply despairing sort of way. They’re actually selling homeopathic preparations of “yellow” and “blue”… this scores higher on my personal weirdometer than a dilution of any actual substance.

I mean, assuming for a moment that someone actually does stand there and expose a vial of pure water (created by combining hydrogen and oxygen in absolute darkness, which is itself quite a trick) to the colour blue… does the potentisation also have to be done in the dark?

Given that at the end of the process you’re left with a vial of pure water that has been exposed to Blue, is there not a danger of serious unexpected effects if you were to leave your finished remedy in an area of, say, Taupe?

Not only that, but is it not possible that by exposing any homeopathic remedy to a colour of some sort we’re putting ourselves at risk of a confusing welter of side-effects?

I believe we should apply the precautionary principle here and ban the sale of homeopathic preparations that have been exposed to colours until they have been conclusively proven (if you’ll pardon the pun) to be 100% safe.

]]> By: censored http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2007/07/what-our-nhs-money-is-being-spent-on.html#comment-5036 censored Tue, 24 Jul 2007 15:44:00 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2007/07/should-the-nhs-pay-for-hyena-saliva.html#comment-5036 Have a look under A and you'll find Air.<br/><br/>It seems the concentration of Air in the, ummmm, air isn't potent enough and must be diluted. I wonder if going up a mountain for a bit has the same effect? Have a look under A and you’ll find Air.

It seems the concentration of Air in the, ummmm, air isn’t potent enough and must be diluted. I wonder if going up a mountain for a bit has the same effect?

]]>