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Hi all,

I'm a first year UK podiatry student and first time poster in the arena so please forgive any ignorance on my part!

In my first term homeopathy has cropped up twice in lectures. It was in relation to marigold therapy, from the literature I can't work out if this is homeopathy or plant based medicine containing active compounds rather than just water 'memory'. (Apologies, haven't delved too deep!) I am concerned that what I thought was supposed to be an evidence based subject and profession is promoting homeopathy.

A local podiatrist also promotes homeopathy as part of their treatment offered and I was wondering how prevalent it is amongst practising podiatrists?

Does anyone know what the overall view of the profession is regards homeopathy? Also, what are people's views to homeopathy being promoted to current podiatry undergraduates with no discussion of the pseudoscience of the subject?

 

Homeopathy is a fraud and a scam.
It is biologically implausible that it can work.
Every single properly controlled trial has shown it does not work.

See these threads:
Adverse effects of homeopathy
How would 'Water Memory' change our approach to medicine?
Homeopathy and Sports Injury
Homeopathic Dr's Find That Homeopathic Pills do not Even Have A Placebo Effect!

Probably the best resource is this one: How does homeopathy worrk?

 

I understand that it's phytotherapy, not homeopathy.

 

Hello,
Marigold therapy probably falls more under the auspices of herbalism than homeopathy although obviously both have plant based foundations. If you're looking for the evidence look up the work of Tariq Khan. If you're really stuck and can't find them I would be happy to have a rummage through some (very old) files on my computer and see if I've still got them as I did homeopathy for my dissertation when at Uni (I can just about remember that far back LOL).

There is evidence pertaining to homeopathy although it is undoubtedly often small in size. Has this anything to do with the efficacy of the product or the funding of the research?

I always remember that nothing is ever concrete with science, it if was we'd never progress, develop new ideas or embrace new concepts. Many of our man made pharmeuticals are, I believe, based on originally 'natural' sources. A good, and simple, example of a plant based 'remedy' that we all know works is the use of Dock Leaves on a nettle sting - I firmly believe we can't afford to turn our noses up at such remedies simply because no-one has yet to fund or fulfill our need for paper evidence, although in podiatry practise with patients I would only talk about products I know have had some evidence base attached to them. I would hope we'll all keep open minds as true scientists should....

If you're interested and want me to see what papers I've still got on my PC please don't hesitate to ask.

 

Thanks akn102 - I've just been reading the paper we were given in relation to Marigold therapy and it was featuring the research of Tariq Khan.

Even though this does seem to be phytology a lot of the references were homeopathic and the sample size was tiny. No mention of concentration of active compounds in his studies either.

Just want to clarify that I am totally open minded about plant based medicine but have no time for homeopathic hocus pocus, most defenders of it seem to think its herbal medicine rather than 'water memory' pills. If it did actually work then there would be a need to regulate it and downing huge quantities of the pills would surely have some kind of affect http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/jan/29/sceptics-homeopathy-mass-overdose-boots

 

The atoms in our bodies are 99.9999999999999999% empty space. That in itself, is perhaps a considerable dilution.

 

Erm...Not sure what point you're making? The empty space is true of any atom in any substance not just the human body and is irrelevant when discussing the dilution of active compounds in water.

 

In Spain, it has created a platform made by physicians and other health professionals, to protest against the decision of the Ministry of Health to regulate homeopathy:"nosinevidencia.wordpress.com"
There are even universities offering Masters studies funded laboratories as Boiron...
Unbelievable

 

See this from Quackometer:
http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2014/01/homeopathy-psa-accreditation.html