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Binkie The Clown

(7,911 posts)

23. It has been established that...

Sat Mar 14, 2015, 01:37 AM

Mar 2015

going to the doctor and saying "please prescribe a placebo for me." is not effective. Homeopathy provides a way for the patient to self-prescribe a placebo and believe in it enough to make the placebo effect work.

Yes, homeopathy is worthless. Objectively. However, if someone gets relief, via the placebo effect, by using it, are you really doing him a service by convincing him that his successful remedy is worthless, and in doing so, destroying the placebo effect for him? Don't kick someone's crutch out from under him unless you are prepared to support him.

First, do no harm.

I am an atheist. I think belief in god or gods is foolish beyond belief. When a dear friend was on her death bed, talking of going to heaven and meeting her deceased family members, did I explain patiently to her that her whole belief system was a delusion? Or did I allow her the comfort her beliefs brought her in her last few hours on earth?

There is a time for truth, and a time when truth is best left unspoken.

"If you propose to speak, always ask yourself, is it true, is it necessary, is it kind.” ~ Buddha

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Study: Homeopathy not effective in treating anything [View all] Nye Bevan Mar 2015 OP

Duh... Drahthaardogs Mar 2015 #1

of course it doesn't...it can't. there's no "there" there! NRaleighLiberal Mar 2015 #2

"did not find that homeopathy performed better than a placebo"?? uppityperson Mar 2015 #3

If water has a memory... backscatter712 Mar 2015 #4

... progressoid Mar 2015 #5

I could use a nice homeopathic lager right now Trekologer Mar 2015 #54

Please don't laugh... jmowreader Mar 2015 #72

I've read that homeopathy is effective at reducing... Dr. Strange Mar 2015 #6

Exactly! It cures the back pain and discomfort that comes petronius Mar 2015 #7

but not the pockets of pharmaceuticals hopemountain Mar 2015 #20

why big Pharma is hugely into herb supplements. longship Mar 2015 #26

there are quality, tested hopemountain Mar 2015 #27

No objective entity is testing them. HuckleB Mar 2015 #30

Well, homeopathy is a total waste of money. It's water. longship Mar 2015 #33

st johns wart is an herbal supplement hopemountain Mar 2015 #36

You are confusing naturopathy with homeopathy. hobbit709 Mar 2015 #39

I think I said that St. John's Wort is a supplement. longship Mar 2015 #43

incorrect. hopemountain Mar 2015 #48

That is a hopeless straw man. longship Mar 2015 #55

first do no harm? hopemountain Mar 2015 #62

Please! Do not go there. longship Mar 2015 #63

well, i have been there hopemountain Mar 2015 #65

I cannot speak for your personal health situation. longship Mar 2015 #67

you've been hopemountain Mar 2015 #68

Something devoutly to be wished. longship Mar 2015 #69

You want "something tested for safety and efficacy"? thesquanderer Mar 2015 #42

"it's old, therefore it's right!" Scootaloo Mar 2015 #34

Ah, they're doing fine on the business of the transplant surgeons... sir pball Mar 2015 #44

Separating chumps from their money hifiguy Mar 2015 #74

The fact that we have to spend money to show this is an ugly reminder of the era. HuckleB Mar 2015 #8

I can't understand why anyone would still believe in this. Ron Obvious Mar 2015 #9

Because they are desperate, and there are some conditions where there is no treatment still_one Mar 2015 #28

Germfany tests herbal remedies for selected active ingredients. eridani Mar 2015 #37

Swiss fully support Homeopathy PumpkinAle Mar 2015 #10

thank you hopemountain Mar 2015 #11

Yes, screw BIG PHARMA! HuckleB Mar 2015 #15

Oh, goodie. The Swiss allow con artists to scam people. HuckleB Mar 2015 #14

That's unfortunate that the Swiss support this. n/t deafskeptic Mar 2015 #24

Helped me a lot with interstitial cystitis discomfort. Peregrine Took Mar 2015 #12

You do realize that there is no substance in homeopathy, right? HuckleB Mar 2015 #13

Wrong. zappaman Mar 2015 #16

Slugime.inc! I've got the purest slug slime in the world! HuckleB Mar 2015 #18

I only use organic GMO-free slug slime. zappaman Mar 2015 #21

The only organic slug slime is from caged slugs! HuckleB Mar 2015 #22

I slaughter a chicken and in about a week my cold is gone also!! nt Logical Mar 2015 #56

Homeopathy is like Congress. nt valerief Mar 2015 #17

If only... HuckleB Mar 2015 #19

It has been established that... Binkie The Clown Mar 2015 #23

Citations needed. HuckleB Mar 2015 #29

Actually, placebos can work even if you know they're placebos. Frank Cannon Mar 2015 #31

Of course they can... CanSocDem Mar 2015 #45

Interseting Binkie The Clown Mar 2015 #46

Google the Homeopathic Mass Suicides jmowreader Mar 2015 #25

homeopathy is based on the titration hopemountain Mar 2015 #66

You apparently missed the point jmowreader Mar 2015 #71

then they are just as ignorant about hopemountain Mar 2015 #73

The "hoax" is the theory that homeopathy is anything but a placebo jmowreader Mar 2015 #75

We use the term Homeopathy now to describe what we used to call magic potions. Half-Century Man Mar 2015 #32

No, no, historically "magic potions" had all sorts of fun stuff Scootaloo Mar 2015 #35

As if rjsquirrel Mar 2015 #38

the placebo effect Romeo.lima333 Mar 2015 #40

And water's wet. ismnotwasm Mar 2015 #41

Message auto-removed Name removed Mar 2015 #47

Why put so much care into something that someone else believes is good for them? ScreamingMeemie Mar 2015 #49

+1 liberal_at_heart Mar 2015 #50

LOL, no some people post the truth about scams to stop the gullible from wasting money! nt Logical Mar 2015 #58

Bullshit, ignorance is not a virtue. People need to know they are wasting their money. nt Logical Mar 2015 #57

It's petty any way you slice it. ScreamingMeemie Mar 2015 #59

Nope! Facts matter. Truth matters. LOL, so GOP voters are OK to believe the BS also? We..... Logical Mar 2015 #61

Crossing you off my party list. closeupready Mar 2015 #64

I disagree Warpy Mar 2015 #51

I found another homeopathy-related atrocity jmowreader Mar 2015 #52

Did they try it on mild dehydration? Erich Bloodaxe BSN Mar 2015 #53

Criticizing it though, certainly cures a need for self-professed cleverness. LanternWaste Mar 2015 #60

Not true. Rex Mar 2015 #70