Homoeopathy's clinical effects are placebo effects, The Lancet

[HuckleB]

Homoeopathy's clinical effects are placebo effects, The Lancet

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=29719

"The evidence for a specific effect of homoeopathic remedies is weak, according to an article in this week's issue of THE LANCET. The authors conclude that the clinical effects of homoeopathy are compatible with placebo effects.

Matthias Egger (University of Berne, Switzerland) and colleagues compared 110 placebo-controlled, randomised trials of homoeopathy with 110 conventional-medicine trials matched for disorder and type of outcome.

The clinical topics studied in the trials ranged from respiratory infections to surgery to anaesthesiology.

The researchers looked at the treatment effects in smaller, low quality trials and larger trials of higher quality. They found, in both groups, that smaller trials of lower quality showed more beneficial treatment effects than larger and higher-quality trials.


..."

[gmoney]

1. "I guess I wouldn't believe in anything...

...if it weren't for my Lucky Astrology Mood Watch." -- Steve Martin, back when he was funny

[TomInTib]

2. Then how do vaccines work?

Isn't the idea to introduce a small amount of the cause of the problem (local pollen, for instance in the case of some allergies) that the body then generates antibodies to fight?

I realize that this does not apply to acupuncture and other homeopathic methods, but homeopathy encompasses a broad range of treatments.

[HuckleB]

5. .

http://www.healthgoods.com/Education/Health_Information/Children_Health/how_vaccines_work.htm

Ideas are great, but they must be studied for efficacy. Not all vaccine ideas have worked once studied, and homeopathy's haven't been shown to be effective either.

[Maple]

3. Well oddly enough, placebos work too

Placebos trigger an opioid hit in the brain
22:00 23 August 2005
NewScientist.com news service
Alison Motluk

It seems that placebos have a real physical, not imagined, effect – activating the production of chemicals in the brain that relieve pain.

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7892

[HuckleB]

4. Yes, of course.

The idea that something occurred in a void without a physiological response was always specious.

[Moderator]

6. Locking

Please read this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=228x10346