Interesting Links for 21-02-2016

[andrewducker]

See the Cast of 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' Then and Now (tags: FerrisBueller movies age ) Homeopathy successfully turns water into a placebo (tags: homeopathy placebo ) Global wind power capacity tops nuclear energy for first time (tags: nuclearpower windpower renewables ) CIA-backed rebels are now fighting Pentagon-backed militants in Syria (

Comments

[gonzo21]

I continue to be shocked that the NHS is still providing homeopathy.

I know the sum involved is peanuts. But still. One patient choosing the homeopathic treatment over the treatment that might actually save their lives is one too many, and they should not be offering it on the NHS.

[bart_calendar]

Depends on how we define "homepathic treatment."

Like this week I went to my doctor because my back had gotten much worse. He said

"Well we can go the traditional medical route and operate, followed by several months of rehab. Or we can go the homeopathic route and I can give you exercises to do in the pool that will over time make the problem manageable without surgery."

I was in the pool the next day and I already feel better (but sore.)

[gonzo21]

You see, I wouldn't call physiotherapy a homeopathic route. Physiotherapy is proven science.

And as pretty much every doctor I've ever seen has said, exercise is the number 1 least utilised treatment for a vast range of problems. (Followed by good diet.)

So, yeah, no, I wouldn't call regular exercise and healthy diet, homeopathy. But I might be wrong about that.

[bart_calendar]

I think it comes under the guise of homepathy because it's "an alternative to medicine/pills."

But, yeah, if my back problem is caused by too much typing for work causing two of my nerves to get pinched and fuck me up, moving my arms and around up and down a pool for an hour every other day seems very likely to loosen up the problem (and has worked in the past, but not when it's been this bad.)

Sure swimming is a pain in the ass sometimes but it strikes me as much less of a pain in the ass than surgically repairing the nerves.

[gonzo21]

A physiotherapist I saw told me that one should never ever sit for longer than 30 minutes at a computer, without getting up, moving around, doing a bit of light stretching.

Was very good advice.

Also, 'if it hurts, you're doing it right', because, physiotherapists are sadists.

But yes, fingers crossed the pool helps alleviate your pain sooner rather than later. Back pain is sheer misery.

[andrewducker]

Then your Doctor is using the word "homeopathic" incorrectly.

"Naturalistic" would be a better word.

Homeopathy is specifically about massive dilutions of toxic substances:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeopathy

[bart_calendar]

To be fair english is my doctor's third language - and I also don't know if French makes a distinction.

[andrewducker]

Yeah, I can forgive them :-)

[skington]

It does

[cartesiandaemon]

Although I think I remember people using homeopathy as a catch-all for vaguely alternative pills as well; I suspect only a minority of people who advocate it really really believe in that method as opposed to "I know it works somehow". (And lying and claiming pills are active when they aren't is harmful and it's good that not everyone is doing that, but unfortunate that it's hard to prevent the harm when it's muddled in with lots of other things.)

[doubtingmichael]

Completely agree. Although I have absolutely no evidence of it, and dislike conspiracy theories, I cannot shake the idea that Prince Charles has had a quiet word with some undersecretaries about how wonderful homeopathy is, and how the NHS should give it due support. I think that would be enough to tip the balance a little in the health ministry.

[gonzo21]

Possible, yes. There's clearly somebody with power and influence keeping the funding alive for homeopathy. And we do know Charlie likes homeopathy.