Asking people what they think "homeopathy" is...

[thatguywhojuggles]

Almost every time I ask someone what they think "homeopathy" is they basically refer to non western herbal medicine.

When I explain to them the process of making a homeopathic solution, they look at me in disbelief--I can't blame them.

Homeopathy has just become a buzz word. No wonder so many people buy into it.

:hit:

Anyone else have this experience?

[Anders]

Yes I have.

I explained homeopathy to a colleague a couple of years ago, and she didn't even believe me! She thought I was lying about the dilution, the shaking. Anther colleague thought it could be compared to vaccines, "And vaccines work, don't they!". And those are quite well educated people.

[hgc]

Originally posted by Anders
Yes I have.

I explained homeopathy to a colleague a couple of years ago, and she didn't even believe me! She thought I was lying about the dilution, the shaking. Anther colleague thought it could be compared to vaccines, "And vaccines work, don't they!". And those are quite well educated people. And I wonder how many homeopaths claim that vaccines don't work.

Does that fit the definition of irony?

[KFCA]

When I took OTC Arnica pellets for my sprained knee a little short of two years ago, I too thought them a short-cut/convenient way to take "herbals" (especially since I didn't know much about them either). I think a lot of people make that mistake.

Rather than go to a herbalist (probably not available in most areas of the US) with a problem-seeking-a-remedy, one (supposedly) can go to a health food store & find their "herbal" remedy for many conditions, plainly marked, in the Homeopathic Section. They're all lined up.

Although I live in the San Frncisco/Bay Area & know many people who consult alternative medicine practitoners such as accupuncturists/accupressurists/chiropractors/Reiki therapists, etc. I have to say I've never met a person who actually "goes" to a Homeopath (though I'm sure there are many that do). Rather, I get the impression that any real growth in Homeopathy in the US is coming from the over-the-counter/self-medicating sector, mostly because of the assumed herbal connection.

[Dr. Imago]

Originally posted by KFCA
I have to say I've never met a person who actually "goes" to a Homeopath (though I'm sure there are many that do). Rather, I get the impression that any real growth in Homeopathy in the US is coming from the over-the-counter/self-medicating sector, mostly because of the assumed herbal connection.

Of course, then we have Sarah-I and Barbrae who frequent this forum (or, at least used to).

-TT

[BillC]

It is only within the last two years that I learned that homeopathy involved absolutely massive (to say the least) dilutions. In fact, I learned that fact right here on this forum.

[Art Vandelay]

Originally posted by BillC
It is only within the last two years that I learned that homeopathy involved absolutely massive (to say the least) dilutions.
Or miniscule dilutions, depending on how you look at it.

[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

Are you folks suggesting that if people actually knew there is no active ingredient in homeopathic preparations, they would guffaw loudly and stop buying the stuff?

If only I could believe you.

~~ Paul

[NarrMaster]

I had a friend who expressed disbelief when I told him what homeopathics were. He assumed they were just non-standard medicine, as thatguywhojuggles said.

I think he has stopped using them.

[geni]

Originally posted by Paul C. Anagnostopoulos
Are you folks suggesting that if people actually knew there is no active ingredient in homeopathic preparations, they would guffaw loudly and stop buying the stuff?

If only I could believe you.

~~ Paul

It's one of perhaps two tactics that I have seen work.

[Bruce]

I used to think that homeopaths were sociopaths that didn't get out much.

[Eos of the Eons]

Oh, I will shamedly admit I didn't know what homeopathic was until a few years ago. I never really thought about. There is no information out there about what it really is. Just lots of crap saying it contains this and that and what you should take it for.

How about some disclaimers on the bottles? "This bottle contains only water and alcohol (or sugar pills). That's it. Nothing else. Everything else has been diluted out, but the memory of it remains."

[Loon]

Until a few years ago, I thought homeopathy was a synonym for herbal medicine. Then a friend of mine told me about his dad, who is well woo (and even my wooish friend realizes this). He explained homeopathy, starting with like cures like.

I was just sort of dumbfounded.

[CurtC]

People in this forum keep mentioning that homeopathic mixtures contain no molecules of the substance in them, but is that true in most cases? I guess a dilution of 24X, or 12C, would likely have none, but are most of what they sell diluted that much?

I mean, even the ones that do have active ingredient are likely to have so little that there is no hope of observing an effect, even if the ingredient had a desirable effect at normal concentrations, but just to be accurate skeptics, what is the typical dilution?

[HarryKeogh]

I had no idea what homeopathy was before this forum. I thought it was herbal medicines etc.

I find a lot of people also confuse the terms "homeopathy" and "holistic" with each other.

[Jyera]

Originally posted by CurtC
People in this forum keep mentioning that homeopathic mixtures contain no molecules of the substance in them, but is that true in most cases?...snipe... I think this is a relevant question to ask.

Technically, I thought it is definitive that a "homeopathic mixture" contains only water molecules. But practically and sadly, the meaning can change.

I'm in the point of view that, some business people have no qualms, about putting the label of "homeopathic mixture" on their bottle of soft drinks. As long as it sells, and as long as no one stop them from doing so.

They are not expected to maintain the unambiguity of the meaning of a "homeopathic mixture".

[Sanamas]

CurtC, check out these links:

http://www.abchomeopathy.com/help/potency.htm

http://www.abchomeopathy.com/help/scales.htm


From the first link: f you are not 100% sure which remedy to take, usually a low potency, such as 6X, should be taken before a high potency

So it seems that 6x is the least potent end of the scale. Which means it's the least diluted. (I think. Talking about doses and potency in homeopathy is like backwards day on bizarro world.)

From the second link: for example, 6x = 1 part in 10, 6 times. So the final concentration is 1 in 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10, or 1 in 1,000,000.

Thus, the least diluted homeopathic remedies have 1 part ingredient to 1,000,000 parts water.

[Jyera]

In shop near me, I noted some subtle classification...

Fruit Juice = 100% juice from a real fruit.
Fruit Juice Drink = Juice + water.

I wonder is there such subtle classifications for homeopathic stuff.

Homeopathic solution = 100% water molecules +memory ?
Homeopathic mixture = Homeopathic solution ?
Homeopathic Drink =water+memory + other drink(alchohol?coke?sugar)?
Are these valid definitions?

[Badly Shaved Monkey]

Originally posted by thatguywhojuggles
Almost every time I ask someone what they think "homeopathy" is they basically refer to non western herbal medicine.

Over dinner the other day, a friend who is a mid-wife (and therefore also a nurse) demonstrated that she was also under the 'h' word delusion, simply not having understood that homeopathy is fundamentally different from herbalism. All the botanical cod-Latin on their bottles is a ruse to exploit this confusion.

Of course, 30-seconds after she let slip her mistaken idea of homeopathy she was set right in no uncertain terms and I suspect she mentally noted not to press that button again! But, at least she used her nurse's training to come to the right conclusion once presented with the facts unlike muppet wannabe-doctors like Sarah-I who seem to have slept through any scientifically sound part of her training that crept in around the rote-learned vocational practical stuff.

[Trinity]

I still think homeopathy goes well with my shamanism. Modern people are put off by the chanting and the drums, but they still love rituals. So taking a homeopathic pill dissolving it in water and "upping" it (this means giving it a few extra succussions) goes right in. I mentioned this at a homeopathic forum, but they did not seem to like the idea. For some reason they want to make it scientific.

Trinity

[exarch]

Originally posted by Eos of the Eons
Oh, I will shamedly admit I didn't know what homeopathic was until a few years ago. I never really thought about. There is no information out there about what it really is. Just lots of crap saying it contains this and that and what you should take it for.Same here. I always thought that there "might be something there", until someone explained to me (here on this forum) exactly what homeopathy was. I think most people's common sense kicks in once they hear the full story, and it is my opinion many people just haven't heard the full story yet.

I still like Eos' idea of a brochure titled: "What your homeopath isn't telling you" :D

[geni]

Originally posted by Badly Shaved Monkey
Over dinner the other day, a friend who is a mid-wife (and therefore also a nurse) demonstrated that she was also under the 'h' word delusion, simply not having understood that homeopathy is fundamentally different from herbalism. All the botanical cod-Latin on their bottles is a ruse to exploit this confusion.



The latin they use for part names tends to be pretty ligit. I just wish they aould use element names but then I suspose that Nat. Mur (or Natrium muriatricum) sounds more mistical than NaCl