Comments on: Baby-Spinning – The Homeopathic Way http://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/2009/11/baby-spinning-the-homeopathic-way/ The official site of the Merseyside Skeptics Society Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:40:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Andy MacGrath http://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/2009/11/baby-spinning-the-homeopathic-way/comment-page-1/#comment-2908 Andy MacGrath Mon, 08 Feb 2010 07:40:02 +0000 http://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/?p=352#comment-2908 THis is a classic example of begging a question. It doesn’t matter what Peter Fisher says, since the entire idea of homeopathy is a load of tosh anyway. The term “professional homeopath” is an oxymoron. THis is a classic example of begging a question. It doesn’t matter what Peter Fisher says, since the entire idea of homeopathy is a load of tosh anyway. The term “professional homeopath” is an oxymoron.

]]> By: An American Homeopath In Dentistry « The Merseyside Skeptics Society http://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/2009/11/baby-spinning-the-homeopathic-way/comment-page-1/#comment-2347 An American Homeopath In Dentistry « The Merseyside Skeptics Society Sat, 05 Dec 2009 10:02:21 +0000 http://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/?p=352#comment-2347 [...] a recent blog post, Marsh posed the question “is there anything homeopathy cannot do?” I think that the homeopathy fans must encounter a blank wall when it comes to physical defects [...] [...] a recent blog post, Marsh posed the question “is there anything homeopathy cannot do?” I think that the homeopathy fans must encounter a blank wall when it comes to physical defects [...]

]]> By: Stu http://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/2009/11/baby-spinning-the-homeopathic-way/comment-page-1/#comment-2325 Stu Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:15:26 +0000 http://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/?p=352#comment-2325 OKOK!!! But wait for the next psychic blog and look out for my post then. I might not beat the record for punctuation but the number of expletives will beat anyone!!!!! OKOK!!! But wait for the next psychic blog and look out for my post then. I might not beat the record for punctuation but the number of expletives will beat anyone!!!!!

]]> By: Michael http://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/2009/11/baby-spinning-the-homeopathic-way/comment-page-1/#comment-2312 Michael Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:16:14 +0000 http://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/?p=352#comment-2312 No! You Don't! I think its a draw! So far anyway! Look there is nothing wrong in saying that the " 'CLAIMS' of homeopathy don't stand up to scientific testing" Because they just don't! There have been hundreds of double blind tests using homeopathic remedies (I will never refer to them as medicine!) against a placebo and every one of them fails to show any significance (some do slightly better than placebo some do slightly worse than placebo). So what if the Royals use it (remember they are no different to a family of in-breeds from Arkansas, because they are all interbred, they marry their first cousins). Here is my story if anyone wants to read it. One day I went to Chorley Hostipal for the results of my MRI scan and any follow up treatment. The consultant told me that physiotherapy was probably the best bet as surgery could be too dangerous (neck pain). So I saw the physiotherapist. She took a lot of details from me. She then asked me if I had ever had acupuncture for pain relief? I was a bit gob-smacked. This was an NHS hospital and a seriously trained heath worker asking me this ridiculous question. Quickly I responded with the 'bacon treatment', were I told the lady that I had rubbed a piece of bacon on the site of the pain, took the bacon to the bottom of the garden, waited, watched a seagull come down, take the bacon, and flew away with it- therefore taking the pain with it! She gave me a stare that she wished had laser-beams coming out of her pupils so she could cut my head off! She was not happy at all. She then made the stupid mistake of trying to convince me that acupuncture worked. I asked for the 'peer reviewed' publications showing the efficacy of her claim. She typed stuff on her PC and showed me the 'scientific' publications. I told her that the Journal of Acupuncture Monthly incorporating Bella! was not a scientific journal. She protested and was furiously trying to find a proper scientific study. While she was doing this I informed her of the recent publication of the German meta-analysis on acupuncture which showed no efficacy whatsoever, and that the study involved thousands of subjects. She gave up her search but insisted that they were 'somewhere'. I suggested The Lancet. She sniggered and told me that "You can't believe anything you read in that!" So I left her my e-mail address so she could forward these papers to me. That was 18 months ago. I am still waiting. But alas not the end of the story. I was later billeted at Southport & Formby Hostipal, which is just around the corner, for physiotherapy. I saw a really nice 'younger' lady called Helen. She was to be my physiotherapist (rather!). Again she asked me lots of questions, weighed me, took my stooped height. And made me undress, for no apparent reason, but winked at me. She then lay her healing jangly bits against my naked flesh (her hands on my neck, I was just trying to sex-up my dossier) and asked me whether I had tried acupuncture ?! I gave her the 'bacon routine'. She snorted and said "Your one of those then, are you?" I said "One of what?!" She said "Someone who only believes things that can be proved scientifically?" This was not an odd thing for her to say as she had asked my occupation for which I replied "Nuclear Physicist" (it always impresses the ladies). Two odd things were revealed by this quick conversation. She KNEW that acupuncture only worked as well as placebo, and she wasn't going to defend it or suggest I try it. But is this the norm. That professional health care workers are obliged to ask if you use fake health products and services? The one from Chorley WAS a member of the British Acupuncture Clan (or whatever they are known as). That is probably why she referred me to Southport, as I upset her slightly by saying here side-line profession was 'made-up' crap! I understand why I have been banned from the local supermarkets but I think that was a bit heavy-handed to get me 'sent down' from Chorley NHS trust! Sorry Stu, I think I get the big prize now! (just to make sure!) No! You Don’t! I think its a draw! So far anyway!
Look there is nothing wrong in saying that the ” ‘CLAIMS’ of homeopathy don’t stand up to scientific testing” Because they just don’t! There have been hundreds of double blind tests using homeopathic remedies (I will never refer to them as medicine!) against a placebo and every one of them fails to show any significance (some do slightly better than placebo some do slightly worse than placebo). So what if the Royals use it (remember they are no different to a family of in-breeds from Arkansas, because they are all interbred, they marry their first cousins). Here is my story if anyone wants to read it.
One day I went to Chorley Hostipal for the results of my MRI scan and any follow up treatment. The consultant told me that physiotherapy was probably the best bet as surgery could be too dangerous (neck pain). So I saw the physiotherapist. She took a lot of details from me. She then asked me if I had ever had acupuncture for pain relief? I was a bit gob-smacked. This was an NHS hospital and a seriously trained heath worker asking me this ridiculous question. Quickly I responded with the ‘bacon treatment’, were I told the lady that I had rubbed a piece of bacon on the site of the pain, took the bacon to the bottom of the garden, waited, watched a seagull come down, take the bacon, and flew away with it- therefore taking the pain with it! She gave me a stare that she wished had laser-beams coming out of her pupils so she could cut my head off! She was not happy at all. She then made the stupid mistake of trying to convince me that acupuncture worked. I asked for the ‘peer reviewed’ publications showing the efficacy of her claim. She typed stuff on her PC and showed me the ‘scientific’ publications. I told her that the Journal of Acupuncture Monthly incorporating Bella! was not a scientific journal. She protested and was furiously trying to find a proper scientific study. While she was doing this I informed her of the recent publication of the German meta-analysis on acupuncture which showed no efficacy whatsoever, and that the study involved thousands of subjects. She gave up her search but insisted that they were ‘somewhere’. I suggested The Lancet. She sniggered and told me that “You can’t believe anything you read in that!” So I left her my e-mail address so she could forward these papers to me. That was 18 months ago. I am still waiting. But alas not the end of the story. I was later billeted at Southport & Formby Hostipal, which is just around the corner, for physiotherapy. I saw a really nice ‘younger’ lady called Helen. She was to be my physiotherapist (rather!). Again she asked me lots of questions, weighed me, took my stooped height. And made me undress, for no apparent reason, but winked at me. She then lay her healing jangly bits against my naked flesh (her hands on my neck, I was just trying to sex-up my dossier) and asked me whether I had tried acupuncture ?! I gave her the ‘bacon routine’. She snorted and said “Your one of those then, are you?” I said “One of what?!” She said “Someone who only believes things that can be proved scientifically?” This was not an odd thing for her to say as she had asked my occupation for which I replied “Nuclear Physicist” (it always impresses the ladies). Two odd things were revealed by this quick conversation. She KNEW that acupuncture only worked as well as placebo, and she wasn’t going to defend it or suggest I try it. But is this the norm. That professional health care workers are obliged to ask if you use fake health products and services?
The one from Chorley WAS a member of the British Acupuncture Clan (or whatever they are known as). That is probably why she referred me to Southport, as I upset her slightly by saying here side-line profession was ‘made-up’ crap!
I understand why I have been banned from the local supermarkets but I think that was a bit heavy-handed to get me ‘sent down’ from Chorley NHS trust!

Sorry Stu, I think I get the big prize now! (just to make sure!)

]]> By: Stu http://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/2009/11/baby-spinning-the-homeopathic-way/comment-page-1/#comment-2311 Stu Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:14:42 +0000 http://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/?p=352#comment-2311 I would have added the word 'allegedly' at the end of that blog! Remember Simon Singh? It is allegedly true that quackery and the fakes do kill people - we should all bear in mind that couple in America who allowed their daughter to die because they believed in the power of prayer! We should start to be a bit more vocal about the dangers posed by people like these. Why won't someone start a petition at 10 Downing Street calling for more double blind research into 'complementaries' and pseudo medicines. Sorry, I forgot part of the royal family swear by them! Silly me! Do I hold the record for the most exclamation marks in a post!? I would have added the word ‘allegedly’ at the end of that blog! Remember Simon Singh?

It is allegedly true that quackery and the fakes do kill people – we should all bear in mind that couple in America who allowed their daughter to die because they believed in the power of prayer!

We should start to be a bit more vocal about the dangers posed by people like these. Why won’t someone start a petition at 10 Downing Street calling for more double blind research into ‘complementaries’ and pseudo medicines. Sorry, I forgot part of the royal family swear by them! Silly me!

Do I hold the record for the most exclamation marks in a post!?

]]> By: Allan http://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/2009/11/baby-spinning-the-homeopathic-way/comment-page-1/#comment-2303 Allan Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:03:05 +0000 http://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/?p=352#comment-2303 http://bestdocumentaries.blogspot.com/2009/11/homeopathy-test.html Oh looksee! A scientifically controlled experiment to prove that water banged against a bible is... still just water! Dammit... I gave the ending away. http://bestdocumentaries.blogspot.com/2009/11/homeopathy-test.html

Oh looksee! A scientifically controlled experiment to prove that water banged against a bible is… still just water!

Dammit… I gave the ending away.

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