Amber necklace for teething baby

barbiedoll

Trying to dissuade people of the supposed benefits of homeopathy is a bit like trying to get people to abandon their religion. I've only seen a doctor's prescription for a homeopathic remedy once in my 9 year career as a pharmacy assistant/technician, and that was for a woman who had nothing wrong with her physically but she was under a great deal of stress because of caring for her terminally ill husband. Her symptoms were vague and intermittent, but her doctor, perhaps realising that she needed a sympathetic ear more than anything, prescibed her a homeopathic remedy. She researched the stuff and used to insist on a more "potent" dose on the prescription, which we would order in especially for her. (She obviously didn't realise that the higher the dose number, the more times the substance had been diluted!) She insisted that it was the only thing that calmed her nerves and she swore by it. We wouldn't have dreamed of trying to persuade her that it was a waste of time, she obviously felt that the action of taking a tablet worked for her and the fact that the remedy was "natural" made her feel as though she was helping her body.

I do feel that people have every right to waste their money on fake pills if they want but it's clearly dangerous to suggest that these treatments will work where modern medicine has failed. When people as insightful and as clever as Steve Jobs think that homeopathy and natural remedies can cure their cancer surely it's time for the scientists and sceptics to make their voices heard. It's hard to believe that in this age of computers, space travel and gene therapy, people are still trusting the word of unqualified quacks who peddle their wares to the gullible and the vunerable. And there's no-one more vunerable than an exhausted mother with a crying baby.

mildred1978

Gingham_R wrote: »

It's a funny joke in the right situation but maybe it hit a nerve in a volatile discussion?

Probably. There's rather a lot of nerve on this thread

onlyroz

barbiedoll wrote: »

Trying to dissuade people of the supposed benefits of homeopathy is a bit like trying to get people to abandon their religion. I've only seen a doctor's prescription for a homeopathic remedy once in my 9 year career as a pharmacy assistant/technician, and that was for a woman who had nothing wrong with her physically but she was under a great deal of stress because of caring for her terminally ill husband. Her symptoms were vague and intermittent, but her doctor, perhaps realising that she needed a sympathetic ear more than anything, prescibed her a homeopathic remedy. She researched the stuff and used to insist on a more "potent" dose on the prescription, which we would order in especially for her. (She obviously didn't realise that the higher the dose number, the more times the substance had been diluted!) She insisted that it was the only thing that calmed her nerves and she swore by it. We wouldn't have dreamed of trying to persuade her that it was a waste of time, she obviously felt that the action of taking a tablet worked for her and the fact that the remedy was "natural" made her feel as though she was helping her body.

This reminds me of a story that my aunt (a former pharmacist) told me - they always had a bottle of "red medicine" behind the counter, which was basically just a red sugary syrup. The local doctors would apparently prescribe this stuff fairly frequently for the local hypochondriacs, and they would swear blind that this medicine was the only thing that would help them. I don't believe that doctors are allowed to prescribe placebos any more though...

mrcow

I think it is very difficult not to defend a treatment when you've been directly and positively on the receiving end of it.

I had terrible PCOS during pregnancy. Nothing helped at all and I was unable to walk without great pain. I was referred by my consultant for acupuncture and seriously, it cured it. I've had so many people saying that it was a placebo effect, but it's so hard to swallow when you go from being almost unable to walk to feeling no pain whatsoever within a few sessions.

I get that it could have all been in my head, but if that was the case, why did the other treatments not work too? I didn't even want to go to the acupuncture session (I'm very private irl), let alone think it may work.

spaghetti_monster

barbiedoll wrote: »

I do feel that people have every right to waste their money on fake pills if they want but it's clearly dangerous to suggest that these treatments will work where modern medicine has failed. When people as insightful and as clever as Steve Jobs think that homeopathy and natural remedies can cure their cancer surely it's time for the scientists and sceptics to make their voices heard. It's hard to believe that in this age of computers, space travel and gene therapy, people are still trusting the word of unqualified quacks who peddle their wares to the gullible and the vunerable. And there's no-one more vunerable than an exhausted mother with a crying baby.

I agree, although, like you say the placebo effect can prove effective for more minor ailments.

Recently at the chemists when I've been asking for stuff behind the counter (last trip was decongestants), I was offered a few different products, one of which was homeopathic. All were offered equally, with no explanation. If I didn't know any better it wouldn't have been very money saving!

barbiedoll

Accupuncture is slightly different, there have been trials and studies which have shown that it can be beneficial in pain management. Although, interestingly, patients in a placebo trial also reported feeling the benefits too, even when treated with dummy needles.


Just because we don't understand how something works, doesn't mean that we can't use it. Many modern medicines work in ways which are poorly understood but they are still prescribed every day around the world. Whereas there is absolutely no evidence anywhere to prove that homeopathy works, other than as a placebo. Which is not surprising when you consider that there is absolutely nothing in a homeopathic remedy apart from inert ingredients such as sugar or water which make up the pills or the solution.

onlyroz

mrcow wrote: »

I had terrible PCOS during pregnancy. Nothing helped at all and I was unable to walk without great pain. I was referred by my consultant for acupuncture and seriously, it cured it. I've had so many people saying that it was a placebo effect, but it's so hard to swallow when you go from being almost unable to walk to feeling no pain whatsoever within a few sessions.

There is some evidence that acupuncture can have pain-relieving effects. See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acupuncture

However, it is harder to rule out the placebo effect because we would have to come up with a way of simulating the needles without actually inserting them.

mrcow

onlyroz wrote: »

There is some evidence that acupuncture can have pain-relieving effects. See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acupuncture

However, it is harder to rule out the placebo effect because we would have to come up with a way of simulating the needles without actually inserting them.

Although to be fair, she could have stuck those needles anywhere and I would have been none the wiser!

Rockinbikergal

onlyroz wrote: »

There is some evidence that acupuncture can have pain-relieving effects. See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acupuncture

However, it is harder to rule out the placebo effect because we would have to come up with a way of simulating the needles without actually inserting them.

hmmmmm acupressure springs to mind for me and is a well know 'homeopathic' remedy which has been used for thousands of years by the Far East.

Does everyone in this discussion know exactly what they are using at all times or is it just for slating those who admit they aren't sure why something benefits them/their child but are happy they have found something to take the pain and discomfort from the teething process? Why do you have to pick on and bully people basically accusing them of child abuse because they use a teething necklace/anklet on their child. If you don't want to do it then don't, but don't become abusive to people because of their belief in something. Everyone is entitled to a point of view, but noone is entitled to abuse someone because their point of view differs.....get over yourselves

sharkeybabe

mildred1978 wrote: »

Probably. There's rather a lot of nerve on this thread

Yes there certainley is and most of the "nerve" as you call it is coming from you and other posters disgraceful attitudes. How dare any of you all come on here and contradict other mother's idea's as to whether or not their children should be wearing these neclaces or not. Did YOU give birth to these children? Were YOU the person that spent hours and hours trying to sooth a crying/screamming child because they were in pain due to teething?
You may or may not agree with homepathy or anything like but there is certainley a way in which you speak to people and although we are on an internet forum, there if no need for rudeness. People have different views deal with it - thats life. I am a mother to an 11 month old who thankfully has not had much problems with teething however if she was in constant pain like some of the pp's have mentioned then there would be no doubt in my mind but to use any whichway I could find to prevent my daughter being in pain. Or are you one of these people that would like to see your child constantly "doped" up on calpol to get some peace and quiet. :think: Sometimes in life people have different views on how to bring up their children and that is their business and is definatley not for people to judge.
As for the PP who mentioned would we give our children acid if they said it was safe - What blooming land do you live in?