Thread: Why does Homeopathy seem to irk skeptics the most?

Originally Posted by Colonel K

Homeopathy allegedly cures HIV.

Here are some homeopathic chemicals that help reduce the detrimental effects of HIV on a human body. Read the full article for even more information:

http://www.lef.org/protocols/infecti...search&key=HIV

Beta-carotene—Beta-carotene has been shown to stimulate the immune systems of patients with HIV/AIDS (Coodley GO et al 1993). In people infected with HIV who were given 100,000 international units (IU) of vitamin A from beta-carotene daily for 4 weeks, white blood cell counts rose by 66 percent, but T-helper cells rose only slightly. Six weeks after beta-carotene treatment was discontinued, the immune-cell measurements returned to pretreatment levels (Fryburg DA et al 1995).

Green tea—Green tea leaves contain catechins with powerful antioxidant properties. The most abundant catechin found in green tea, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), inhibits HIV from infecting human T-cells. One recent study showed that EGCG can bind to T-cells and block the virus from attaching (Kawai K et al 2003). This breakthrough may significantly impact HIV research if future investigators can determine the precise location on the T-cells in which EGCG exerts its effect and whether it is the same location in which HIV binds to the T-cell.

Selenium—Selenium is required for proper functioning of the immune system (Look MP et al 1997). It is also essential in the synthesis of glutathione. Selenium’s many benefits include protecting the central nervous system from dementia caused by HIV (Shor-Posner G et al 2002a) and infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Shor-Posner G et al 2002b); slowing the loss of T-cells (Look MP et al 1997); and decreasing the effect of inflammatory cytokines, which may reduce the risk of developing neurological damage (Bjugstad KB et al 1998; Ryan LA et al 2001; Seilhean D et al 1997), Kaposi's sarcoma (a common HIV-associated cancer), and wasting syndrome. Selenium also suppresses the enhancing effect of cytokines on HIV replication (Hori K et al 1997; Tolando R et al 2000).

Vitamin C and N-acetylcysteine—Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and N-acetylcysteine (Renis HE 1975) have multiple benefits in patients with HIV/AIDS. They maintain glutathione levels (Fawzi WW et al 2004; McComsey G et al 2003), improve T-cell counts and reduce viral load in patients who have advanced AIDS (McComsey G et al 2003; Standish LJ et al 2001; Tantcheva LP et al 2003), and have a toxic effect on HIV-infected cells (high levels of vitamin C) (Harakeh S et al 1991; Rivas CI et al 1997). Supplementation with N-acetylcysteine is recommended for people who are infected with HIV, whether or not they are receiving HAART.

Whey—Whey protein contains all essential and nonessential amino acids, which are important to maintaining an adequate immune system response. Whey is also an important supplement to help boost the body’s synthesis of glutathione, and clinical trials have successfully used whey protein in treating HIV (Marshall K 2004). Whey protein appears to be unique among proteins in its ability to improve immune function, elevate cellular glutathione levels, and maintain muscle mass (Marshall K 2004; Micke P et al 2002).

Originally Posted by Homeless Guy

Here are some homeopathic chemicals that help reduce the detrimental effects of HIV on a human body. Read the full article for even more information:

http://www.lef.org/protocols/infecti...search&key=HIV

The issue with homeopathy is not that the active ingredient won't work, but that diluting it to the point of non-existence will render any remedy pointless. Those antioxidants may well be useful in treating the symptoms of HIV, but nothing in that article suggests they would work Homeopathically.

So if less is more then why aren't we all dying from extreme poisoning all the time?

Originally Posted by AllEvil

The issue with homeopathy is not that the active ingredient won't work, but tha

Life Extension Foundation is a company that concentrates the active ingredient in their supplements and give an actual milligram amount they put in. Other companies also do this, but Life Extension adds the most amount of the active chemicals, and uses the most potent version of the chemical.

I don't know what definition of "homeopathic" you are using, but to me, the word simply means any medical procedure not approved by the FDA (procedures the medical industry can't make money off of).

That being said, I am sure that many homeopathic procedures are indeed pseudo-science; the key is to see which procedures have backing by research and clinical trials, and which ones don't.

Plus, there can be remedies that work, but have not been studied by science as yet.

Originally Posted by Homeless Guy

Life Extension Foundation is a company that concentrates the active ingredient in their supplements and give an actual milligram amount they put in. Other companies also do this, but Life Extension adds the most amount of the active chemicals, and uses the most potent version of the chemical.

I don't know what definition of "homeopathic" you are using, but to me, the word simply means any medical procedure not approved by the FDA (procedures the medical industry can't make money off of).

That being said, I am sure that many homeopathic procedures are indeed pseudo-science; the key is to see which procedures have backing by research and clinical trials, and which ones don't.

Plus, there can be remedies that work, but have not been studied by science as yet.

Homeopathic does not mean any non approved treatment. It is where a drop is added to water, shaken, struck, whatever and then a drop of that is taken and added to another bottle of water, shaken, struck, etc and then a drop of that is taken........... this is repeated until it is like adding one molecule of the active ingredient to a bottle of water much larger than the Earth.

Originally Posted by Panzerkampfwagen

Homeopathic does not mean any non approved treatment. It is where a drop is added to water, shaken, struck, whatever and then a drop of that is taken and added to another bottle of water, shaken, struck, etc and then a drop of that is taken........... this is repeated until it is like adding one molecule of the active ingredient to a bottle of water much larger than the Earth.

If THIS is what you mean by homeopathic, then yes, I would say it is pure bull$hit.

I am talking about medicinal chemicals not approved by FDA that are used at clinically significant dosages, actual milligrams of bio-active molecules.

Originally Posted by perdidochas

Bunch of stupid people.

What's stupid is the lack of critical thinking and knee jerk reactions to a complex subject. The alleged physical properties of homeopathic "medicines" are, I would agree, impossible, but complementary/alternative medicine attracts people not because they are stupid but because they get better care from practitioners of those systems than they do from the increasingly clinical and unfriendly western medicine. Go to a doctor today, particularly if the government is paying for it, and you are lucky to get more than a few minutes of uninterrupted time with him or her. Go to a complementary medicine practitioner and for what might be little more than the copay, you'll have the ear of someone who cares about your health, is interested in knowing about all of your physical problems, and will meet with you regularly to alter the course of treatment which frequently goes beyond watered down tinctures and will include powerful supplements and changes in diet.

Originally Posted by Homeless Guy

If THIS is what you mean by homeopathic, then yes, I would say it is pure bull.

I am talking about medicinal chemicals not approved by FDA that are used at clinically significant dosages, actual milligrams of bio-active molecules.

Yeah, I think you are referring to what is known as complementary or alternative medicines. Homeopathy is just one branch of alternative medicine that is pretty much a fraud in terms of the efficacy of the treatment. Much like voodoo, prayer, cupping, reiki, etc. On the other hand, some studies do show that certain common ailments respond well to the course of treatment, most likely due to the interactive nature of it.

Originally Posted by BleedingHeadKen

Go to a complementary medicine practitioner and for what might be little more than the copay, you'll have the ear of someone who cares about your health, is interested in knowing about all of your physical problems, and will meet with you regularly to alter the course of treatment which frequently goes beyond watered down tinctures and will include powerful supplements and changes in diet.

So what you are saying is if Holistic Doctors included prescribing pharmaceuticals, they would be the most kick-ass type of doctors?

Originally Posted by suede

So what you are saying is if Holistic Doctors included prescribing pharmaceuticals, they would be the most kick-ass type of doctors?

Yes and no. I wouldn't necessarily trust a homeopath to make sensible decisions about the efficacy of medicine given the nature of the stuff of their trade. On the other hand, I think that the naturopaths, chiropractors, acupuncturists, herbologists and others that I've known would be quite good at it. Even massage therapists, personal trainers and others who look after the health of their clients to some degree can make suggestions that might be more beneficial than what one would get from a general practitioner.