I only skimmed your article but i think a lot of alternative medicine is pure quackery. Not all, though. Unlike you, Elmer, i do think chiroprac y is valid and helps millions of people.

I only skimmed, too. It's late so I'll read it tomorrow. My doctor, a young fellow, obviously believes in homeopathic remedies as he usually tries that first before drugs whenever possible.

I don't believe in it, either, but Queen Elizabeth is quite a fan as are other members of her family. Given their amazing longevity (with no dementia!), I may give it a try someday,

Homeopathy cannot even be considered alternative medicine because its alternative to medicine is nothingness.

Exactly, watchme. The unproven, so-called "active ingredients" in these homeopathic potions are so diluted as to be not present in a patient's dose. That's why they can be legally sold without prescription and by these quacks, there's nothing being administered.

Ali, you need a new doctor if s/he prescribes treatments proven to be ineffective. Is this a medical doctor (MD) ?

moonie, chiropractors are quacks. You and others can believe and feel how you wish. Just please don't hesitate to see a real practitioner with real knowledge if you experience any illness or other medical problem.

I am also dubious about homeopathy. Placebo effect, in my observation.

I agree that given that by their own claims the so called "medicine" doesn't contain any of the supposed active ingredient, it has to be the placebo effect in action. What bothers me is when they suggest that homeopathic remedies be used for veterinary purposes, since it seems that some cognizance that this is supposed to be medicine is required for the placebo effect to come into play.

In an odd way I think it might be perfectly valid for a doctor to prescribe homeopathic remedies, especially for minor, short-term conditions that will get better on their own. Given that they don't do anything, they certainly cannot have unintended side-effects. No problem with addiction. No risk of making antibiotic resistant superbugs. No negative interaction with other actual medicines.

On the other hand, if the doctor really believed that they were efficacious, I would have to question his or her knowledge and training. And if the doctor didn't believe the remedies would actually do anything but prescribed them anyway, they are essentially cynically lying to their patients and expecting them to not be able to understand the notation on the homeopathic remedy where (as watchme described) it clearly states that it contains no active ingredient whatsoever.

For an MD, failure to treat a patient with a normal professional standard of care using accepted techniques, would likely be an open and shut case of malpractice should something go wrong. That's why I asked the question I did that is yet unanswered - I'd be shocked if Ali is speaking of a medical doctor.

The danger of going to quacks like this - whether homeopaths, naturopaths (ND), chiropractors, etc - is that their "treatments" are like shooting a charging animal with unloaded guns. There's little in what they do that's effective and the danger comes from the condition or problem being untreated. And there's also a good likelihood of problems being diagnosed incorrectly by these people, because they're inadequately trained to know enough of subjects needed to act as real medical practitioners.

My mistake. I misunderstood homeopathic and spoke out of ignorance. What my doctor does for example is suggest a change of diet, or a habit that may contribute to a health issue, like heartburn for example. Interesting topic and I learned something new.

Unfortunately not all doctors will encourage the diet/lifestyle course of treatment over medication. I always ask for alternatives to drugs whenever I see the doctor and they always try to push the pills. I don't mean infections and such, but things like my anxiety or lower back pain (4 prescriptions for that). If I have heartburn they try to give me antacids instead of figuring out why I'm getting heartburn. I see this consistently from family practice to my neurologist and dermatologist.

I tend to be a little more open minded about alternative medicine. I think there's a very, very wide range. Focusing on diet/lifestyle, and nutritional deficiencies for treatment and prevention of some diseases is smart and not utilized enough compared to medications. Treating cancer with herbs and using tumeric IV therapy is not smart. I don't think it has to be an all or nothing situation. I do think there are some glaring issues in conventional medicine and I think there's room for a more holistic approach using common sense and science.

One example - I have noticed that my nails are completely full of vertical ridges and they weren't like that a few years ago. I looked it up and there were suggestions that it could be a variety of deficiencies, like iron or b12. I asked my dermatologist and he glanced quickly at them and said it's a normal sign of aging. It started in my 20's! I would have preferred a conversation about deficiencies and some tests as I have been a vegetarian for 18 years, and it's not unheard of to have iron and b12 problems. But he insisted it's totally normal and nothing to worry about.

Chi, that is what I am talking about. In non life threatening cases, my Doctor will suggest things that are not medications and then follow up. When I had ridges and white spots on my fingernails, he sent me for blood work and followed up by explaining the results and recommended vitamins and dosage. He did follow up to see if there was an improvement and told me to continue taking them.

Added: Another example....if I complained of not sleeping well, my previous doc would want to prescribe a drug, which I refused. This one, in contrast, will spend the time to try to determine the cause and come up with ways to alleviate the cause.

Sounds like you found a good one, Ali. I would love a doctor like that!

Watchmelol, yes I see that now, but wasn't clear on that before. I was thinking more along the lines homeopathy = remedies found at home such as baking soda, Epsom salts etc.

I typed my response before I saw your other posts Ali. However it's there for others who are unaware of the difference.

By the way, chiropractic does work for specific things. When properly done, back problems can be alleviated.

You have to understand why most physicians won't counsel a patient on diet and exercise. First, they have about 30 hours of nutrition training (if that) in medical school and they really aren't qualified. But the most important reason is that people don't like to be told they are fat, and may possibly leave the physician a bad review. In this whackadoodle world of the government sticking it's fat head into patient care, patient satisfaction scores rule. The better they are, the more reimbursement the clinic or practice gets. I firmly believe this is one of the greatest contributing factors to the opioid crisis. I remember being told by a consultant that "if a patient says they have pain, they have pain and you must treat them". Meaning give them narcs. That was about 10 years ago. Look where that philosophy has taken us. It's not pretty.

Totally agree with holistic medicine as a good thing, homeopathy as known and practiced today as ineffective, except for a possible placebo effect. The article cites inconsistent removal of homeopathy references on the medical school's website as meaning they might be deliberately bowing to rich donors ... but it could also mean they need a better website manager!

My regular doctor many years ago sent me to a chiropractor. I was suffering excruciating pain from muscle spasms in my upper back. What she did worked. The doctor was honest. He said I prescribe muscle relaxers. That is treat the symptoms not the cause. I am also managing with the same doctor's approval my diabetes with diet and exercise. No medication. One hospital near me has an acupuncture section. I am also doing acupuncture and it has helped not just the neuropathy but my overall health.