I realized again that I am wedging into too many threads that generally are about pseudoscience so instead of derailing threads I will start my own :d
Many find it odd that I get a bit bent out of shape about things like homeopathy, psi phenomenon, and other superstitious beliefs. Therefore I would like to share some of my opinions, ideas and knowledge on why I feel pseudoscience and a lack of scientific literacy in general is dangerous and a general drain on society.
First I'll start with an easy one. Homeopathy.
Homeopathy basically has a few principles. One is that substances that cause reactions in healthy people that resemble disease could potentially cure it. Like if a plant makes a healthy person vomit then a sick person who is vomiting can use a homeopathic preparation on This isn't a bad idea many of the plants use in homeopathic medicine do contain active compounds. But then it goes horribly wrong when they dilute out the substances to the point where there is barely any molecules at all of it in the preparations. Some are so dilute that its safe to say there is nothing in them at all.
The concept is based on the idea that plant essences get into the water. This is complete utter nonsense. The reason plant medicines heal at regular doses is that the compounds in plants effect various systems in the body or fight infection etc.
So now many will say well whats wrong with homeopathy. Its safe it won't harm anybody so who cares? Well yes the preparations are safe because there is nothing in them. So that's true. Homeopathy also appears to work for some people which I will get back to after.
So what is the problem? The problem is two fold. One aspect is the financial one. Its a rip off. You literally are buying blanks. Basically its like buying placebo pills or liquids. I could sell you water and tell you something is in it and lie about it and you would get the same effects. I would probably get in trouble for selling water pills and saying it can treat disease yet homeopaths get away with it. Not only do they get away with it but they get subsidies sometimes from national governments to pay for research and hospitals and the drugs themselves. The NHS in UK puts money into homeopathy for example. So besides just wasting individuals money it also wastes public money.
The second aspect is the trend to reject western medicine. Now western medicine has its faults. But western medicine is the best medicine system in the world. It works. We know why it works in many cases. So basically those who promote homeopathic medicine as an alternative for lets say cancer treatment are really doing something that is dangerous. They are telling people who are desperate in a time of need that they can reject other forms of medicine which have been proven to work and use fake water to cure cancer. It should be a crime to lie to people like that. If a pharmaceutical company did this they would face lawsuits. Major ones. The examples are very numerous. Of course in some cases they don't directly make medical claims because in order to do so in many places like the US that's illegal without FDA approval. But the homeopathic pushers have found other ways to advertise via the internet and websites like naturenews.com. There other people can make all the claims and anecdotal reports they want to get people to believe homeopathy is a real alternative.
So now what to say about people who are actually cured by homeopathy? Well there are a few explanations. One is that the placebo effect does work. There is a reason to get a drug approved companies must prove it works better then placebo. People can often get better by thinking they are getting better. A positive attitude can effect disease outcome for many reasons. Another explanation is that homeopathic "doctors" spend time with their patients. They listen and give lifestyle advise. This is also something that many people with many conditions need instead of drugs. It also works. But none of this is unique to homeopathy lots of systems doctors could and do incorporate such positive patient relationships techniques into their work. Another mechanism is that simply the disease got better on its own.
To conclude homeopathic "medicine" is a fraud. But there are aspects of the system that do give it positive results when people do so called studies on the system and its outcomes and success rate. But none of these positive results are because of any real substances entering the body and having an effect on the individual. Its simply not how it works. So I think society would be better off to make it known that its a lie and complete BS so people don't drain resources on it. Rather people could invest their resources into doctors and other medical practitioners who are free to take the time to work with patients and give them lifestyle advise. I think this would do tremendous good to western medical systems. But it also involves freeing up some of the government regulations that bind doctors down in certain countries.
Many find it odd that I get a bit bent out of shape about things like homeopathy, psi phenomenon, and other superstitious beliefs. Therefore I would like to share some of my opinions, ideas and knowledge on why I feel pseudoscience and a lack of scientific literacy in general is dangerous and a general drain on society.
First I'll start with an easy one. Homeopathy.
Homeopathy basically has a few principles. One is that substances that cause reactions in healthy people that resemble disease could potentially cure it. Like if a plant makes a healthy person vomit then a sick person who is vomiting can use a homeopathic preparation on This isn't a bad idea many of the plants use in homeopathic medicine do contain active compounds. But then it goes horribly wrong when they dilute out the substances to the point where there is barely any molecules at all of it in the preparations. Some are so dilute that its safe to say there is nothing in them at all.
The concept is based on the idea that plant essences get into the water. This is complete utter nonsense. The reason plant medicines heal at regular doses is that the compounds in plants effect various systems in the body or fight infection etc.
So now many will say well whats wrong with homeopathy. Its safe it won't harm anybody so who cares? Well yes the preparations are safe because there is nothing in them. So that's true. Homeopathy also appears to work for some people which I will get back to after.
So what is the problem? The problem is two fold. One aspect is the financial one. Its a rip off. You literally are buying blanks. Basically its like buying placebo pills or liquids. I could sell you water and tell you something is in it and lie about it and you would get the same effects. I would probably get in trouble for selling water pills and saying it can treat disease yet homeopaths get away with it. Not only do they get away with it but they get subsidies sometimes from national governments to pay for research and hospitals and the drugs themselves. The NHS in UK puts money into homeopathy for example. So besides just wasting individuals money it also wastes public money.
The second aspect is the trend to reject western medicine. Now western medicine has its faults. But western medicine is the best medicine system in the world. It works. We know why it works in many cases. So basically those who promote homeopathic medicine as an alternative for lets say cancer treatment are really doing something that is dangerous. They are telling people who are desperate in a time of need that they can reject other forms of medicine which have been proven to work and use fake water to cure cancer. It should be a crime to lie to people like that. If a pharmaceutical company did this they would face lawsuits. Major ones. The examples are very numerous. Of course in some cases they don't directly make medical claims because in order to do so in many places like the US that's illegal without FDA approval. But the homeopathic pushers have found other ways to advertise via the internet and websites like naturenews.com. There other people can make all the claims and anecdotal reports they want to get people to believe homeopathy is a real alternative.
So now what to say about people who are actually cured by homeopathy? Well there are a few explanations. One is that the placebo effect does work. There is a reason to get a drug approved companies must prove it works better then placebo. People can often get better by thinking they are getting better. A positive attitude can effect disease outcome for many reasons. Another explanation is that homeopathic "doctors" spend time with their patients. They listen and give lifestyle advise. This is also something that many people with many conditions need instead of drugs. It also works. But none of this is unique to homeopathy lots of systems doctors could and do incorporate such positive patient relationships techniques into their work. Another mechanism is that simply the disease got better on its own.
To conclude homeopathic "medicine" is a fraud. But there are aspects of the system that do give it positive results when people do so called studies on the system and its outcomes and success rate. But none of these positive results are because of any real substances entering the body and having an effect on the individual. Its simply not how it works. So I think society would be better off to make it known that its a lie and complete BS so people don't drain resources on it. Rather people could invest their resources into doctors and other medical practitioners who are free to take the time to work with patients and give them lifestyle advise. I think this would do tremendous good to western medical systems. But it also involves freeing up some of the government regulations that bind doctors down in certain countries.
