Comments on: The benefits of homeopathy questioned (again) http://polyscience.org/2005/08/homeopathy-questioned/ Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:56:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Rian http://polyscience.org/2005/08/homeopathy-questioned/#comment-210 Rian Tue, 20 Sep 2005 11:59:54 +0000 http://polyscience.org/?p=77#comment-210   <blockquote>What works in a test tube might not be the same in a human, given that the human body is dynamic and have a tendency to heal itself. Thus the job of any medication is to help the body with its effort and not interfere with the process. Thats why you have different side effects for different people taking the same allopathic medicines.</blockquote> That's a simplistic way of looking at things and simply isn't true in all cases.  

What works in a test tube might not be the same in a human, given that the human body is dynamic and have a tendency to heal itself. Thus the job of any medication is to help the body with its effort and not interfere with the process.

Thats why you have different side effects for different people taking the same allopathic medicines.

That’s a simplistic way of looking at things and simply isn’t true in all cases.

]]> By: Jem http://polyscience.org/2005/08/homeopathy-questioned/#comment-209 Jem Tue, 20 Sep 2005 04:51:55 +0000 http://polyscience.org/?p=77#comment-209 Allopaths treat humans like they are test tubes; passive and without life of its own. What works in a test tube might not be the same in a human, given that the human body is dynamic and have a tendency to heal itself. Thus the job of any medication is to help the body with its effort and not interfere with the process. Thats why you have different side effects for different people taking the same allopathic medicines. Allopaths treat humans like they are test tubes; passive and without life of its own.

What works in a test tube might not be the same in a human, given that the human body is dynamic and have a tendency to heal itself. Thus the job of any medication is to help the body with its effort and not interfere with the process.

Thats why you have different side effects for different people taking the same allopathic medicines.

]]> By: Rian http://polyscience.org/2005/08/homeopathy-questioned/#comment-126 Rian Fri, 26 Aug 2005 22:47:58 +0000 http://polyscience.org/?p=77#comment-126 I would have to agree with you; I think the medical profession is especially bad in this respect. The issue being that much of the medical profession's power comes from the way patients see them: omniscient, nearly omnipotent beings. This is where the placebo effect derives much of its power, actually. I really should write something on the placebo effect -- I did quite a bit of research on it a few years ago. There's quite a bit of ignorance surrounding the phenomenon, and I think it'd be better if there was more education on the topic. It's really a whole network of subtleties that adds up to a cohesive, healing whole than anything else. It's often not like docs are trying to pull the wool over a patient's eyes (most of the time). Anyway, I really strayed on that one. I agree with you, and I've always been a skeptic about things. I think anyone who thinks their knowledge is perfect and complete (on any subject) has another thing coming to them sooner or later. I would have to agree with you; I think the medical profession is especially bad in this respect. The issue being that much of the medical profession’s power comes from the way patients see them: omniscient, nearly omnipotent beings. This is where the placebo effect derives much of its power, actually.

I really should write something on the placebo effect — I did quite a bit of research on it a few years ago. There’s quite a bit of ignorance surrounding the phenomenon, and I think it’d be better if there was more education on the topic. It’s really a whole network of subtleties that adds up to a cohesive, healing whole than anything else. It’s often not like docs are trying to pull the wool over a patient’s eyes (most of the time).

Anyway, I really strayed on that one. I agree with you, and I’ve always been a skeptic about things. I think anyone who thinks their knowledge is perfect and complete (on any subject) has another thing coming to them sooner or later.

]]> By: Mike http://polyscience.org/2005/08/homeopathy-questioned/#comment-125 Mike Fri, 26 Aug 2005 22:39:26 +0000 http://polyscience.org/?p=77#comment-125 Congratulations on becoming a skeptic! I think the main problem is that there are not enough skeptics in the medical (and many other) professions. Skeptic in the true sense of the word, not the twisted and diluted common usage. A skeptic denies a position of having certain knowledge, a state of being which seems anathema to many professionals. These professionals may feel that those who come to them for their expert opinions may be put off by the statement "We don't know for sure one way or the other." I think we'd be much better off if professionals of a multitude of disciplines were willing to be true skeptics, especially about their own areas of expertise. Congratulations on becoming a skeptic! I think the main problem is that there are not enough skeptics in the medical (and many other) professions. Skeptic in the true sense of the word, not the twisted and diluted common usage. A skeptic denies a position of having certain knowledge, a state of being which seems anathema to many professionals. These professionals may feel that those who come to them for their expert opinions may be put off by the statement “We don’t know for sure one way or the other.” I think we’d be much better off if professionals of a multitude of disciplines were willing to be true skeptics, especially about their own areas of expertise.

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