2) The only reason that the software contains homeopathic\herbal crap is because it’s allowable on the NHS.

3) Quack items turn up on the system because they’re on the ‘Dictionary of Medicines and Devices’ (DM&D – http://www.ppa.org.uk/systems/pcddbrowserv2_3/mainbrowser.htm), due to the prescribing practices a practitioner can write a script for any drug that’s not on the blacklist. Items turn up as prescribable because some one prescribed them

I am happy to recommend Autogenic Training as a good method to help stress. As is Yoga. And a stiff drink. And a nice holiday in the sun. And as John Wesley recommended – a good woman.

But I'm not happy to expect the NHS to pay for any of these, even though they are the sort of thing that people who like them will like.

NICE looks at the cost effectiveness of treatments within the context of the NHS – not within the context of "lifestyle".

What diseases does Autogenic Training purport to treat?

Now as for EBM – EBM means what it says. Evidence Based Medicine. BASED. On evidence. The best evidence that can be found. Which sometimes means, not very good evidence. But still, evidence all the same. And let us keep on trying to find some more. Then make our minds up. And abandon the treatment if there is no good evidence that it works beyond the placebo. (Which of course does work to some extent).

There is hardly a registered medical pratitioner in the land who would not use homeopathey if there was credible evidence of efficaciousness.

What a shame there is no such evidence available. Not even the Boots executive has any – and he sells the stuff!

So there we are. Homeopaths will simply have to move forward, onward, upward. John Wesley prescribed turnips for treating scurvey in 1647, but we now have vitamin C. Methodists don't spend their valuable time on web sites bleating that more research needs to be done into the scorbutic action of turnips. They have moved on. In terms of healthcare at least.

Please, homeopaths – join us. I promise you'll feel better. And if not, I'll cast a spell for you. Free!

If there is anything positive to be said about homeopathy, I thing it is this. What demonstrates is the pointlessness of many of the other over-the-counter "remedies" for self-limiting or psychosomatic conditions. But what makes homeopathy worse that the other pointless remedies is that it is a completely bogus system of medicine with no active medicinal content and no plausible mechanism by which it could work. Practitioners simply take advantage of patients' ability to fool themselves – which is why they are so keen on self-reporting and anecdote as substitutes for evidence.
The biggest crime though, in my estimation, remains the legality of what in any other sphere of business would be demed taking money under false pretences. Homeopathy is plainly and simply fraud.

"This amazing ability of each of our bodies to heal is close to being ignored by being derogatorily coined a placebo effect."

Since when is the natural history of an illness or disease part fo the placebo effect?

"60% of GPs in Scotland have had training in Homeopathy and blend it in effortlessly with their daily repertoire for the greater good of their populace."

As a homoeopath/GP acquiantance once: "When I realised what a load of codswallop homoeopathy was I continued to manage my patients with all the care and attention I did when I used homoeopathy, but I've now dispensed with the bullshit".

" An antibiotic may kill the bug- the body has yet to dispense with the dead bug and render itself ship shape. How can this be best assisted?"

What? Are you really an actual medical doctor??

"Crucifying homeopathy is a bit like not putting any water in the bath lest the baby drown, or not putting the baby in the water lest it be thrown out. The baby will grow dirty and grimy and stinky."

Christ got crucified, babies get washed, and homoeopathy….um…er..
(I mean, that's about as intelligent as your statement)

"There is evidence of effect for homeopathy from RCT's. If there were none I would not be practising and my life would be so much simpler."

There simply is none, and so it seems you should get a life and stop practising.

"The BMJ evidence website states 12% of current medical (including surgical) interventions have an evidence base. NICE could suggest 88% of medical work need no longer be funded by the taxpayer."

That's 12% of interventions, but 58% of what doctors actually do, but for the reast at least there is prior probability, which for homoeopathy is zero. For zero prior probability, homoeopathy requires extraordinary evidence but all it has are marginal effects provided you're not too fussed about protocol.

"the cost effectiveness of homeopathy is without question for those heartsink patients "

Untill they travel to third world countries foer their holidays armed with nothing more that their homoeopathetic vaccines.

"a milk sugar pill impregnated with a fraction of a chemical substance. "

And now I see you don't understand homoeopathy.

"A scientist and chemist found he developed malaria like symptoms when he took Chinchona bark"

The irony is that he had an idiosyncratic reaction to quinine

"All this came about from observation "

Yes, it came about from observation. It was the realisation that observation was prone to error that the scientific method was developed. PObservation, my dear friend, is the start not the end of the investigation.

Depends on how you define "evidence", surely. If you regard a statistical anomaly or insignificance as evidence then you can say there is evidence for loads of impossible stuff.
On the basis of such a virtually meaningless definition of evidence, as is required to claim evidence for homeopathy, there is without doubt similar quality evidence for astrological predictions, phrenology, palm reading, exorcism…

There is evidence of effect for homeopathy from RCT's. If there were none I would not be practising and my life would be so much simpler.

Dr Rawlins could look to his own back yard. The BMJ evidence website states 12% of current medical (including surgical) interventions have an evidence base. NICE could suggest 88% of medical work need no longer be funded by the taxpayer. Stones and glasshouses. But do please ask NICE to recommend the wider awareness and use of Autogenic Training of which Professr Ernst is a patron- it really is rather good!

Finally the cost effectiveness of homeopathy is without question for those heartsink patients who have graced multiple partialist out patient departments, undergone repeated expensive investigative procedures and therapeutic manoeuvres to no avail and with a 'tried everything else- try homeopathy' have found objective and subjective improvement at the cost of a milk sugar pill impregnated with a fraction of a chemical substance. Don't ask me how- A scientist and chemist found he developed malaria like symptoms when he took Chinchona bark; that these symptoms ceased with a wash out period, recommenced when he restarted the dose; that the effect was initially repeatable with himself, his family and subsequently medical colleagues; extended to other 'toxic ' substances which effected a cure on patients suffering similar effects to those the experimenters experienced and, paradoxically, the healing effect was magnified when the medicines were diluted to reduce side effects ( a bit like digoxin). All this came about from observation rather than intellectual theory. Also known to Paracelsus and Hippocrates. Please do spread the word about the truth of EBM- the truth- as wide as you can!!