Homeopathy For Cancer, Endorsed by ASCO?? Not Really

When searching for a non-toxic cancer treatment without any side effects, for many people homeopathy seems an attractive option. And sure enough, there are people out there who try to convince cancer patients that homeopathy is a real option. A strong sales argument would be that conventional science proves it to be effective – and precisely this claim has been made for a homeopathic remedy called Psorinum.

Alternative Healer Dr Thomas Lodi of ‘Oasis of Healing’ Threatens to Sue Blogging Cancer Patient

Seanty, cancer patient and blogger at MyMalignantMelanoma (which is on our blog roll), was recently threatened with legal action for defamation by Lodi’s marketing director Shayla McCallum. The threat was made because Seanty linked to an article in which some some critical remarks were made about Dr Lodi’s ideas on how to treat cancer. How despicable is that?

Well, so much for alties and an honest discussion.

See also:
Holford Watch
Respectful Insolence

Statutory Regulation Of Alternative Medicine: What Good Will It Do?

In the UK, statutory regulation of practitioners of herbal medicine and acupuncture has been advocated by a House of Lords’ Select Committee and by three subsequent Dartment of Health (DH) working groups as well as the vast majority of respondents to a previous DH consultation on this subject (the Pittilo consultation and report). The NIMH is strongly in support of statutory regulation of this sector. They feel that only statutory regulation of this sector can enable the public to identify qualified practitioners and maintain the availability of a full range of herbal medicines in herbal practice. The same discussion is going on in other countries, the Netherlands for example. For our Dutch readers: click here.

Is it true that statutory regulation will protect the public against the risks of alternative medicine?  Many people think not and we agree with them. The pitfalls and downsides of the suggested regulations have been aptly described in a submission that was sent to the Pittilo consultation. You can read it here. There is a summary on DC’s Improbable Science, as well as extensive information on the Pittilo consultation.

With Complements From Boots

Oh my…

😆

Alternative Medicine and Why It Seems To Work

Very rarely have alternative treatments or medication been able to show any therapeutic value. Yet countless people swear by it and are convinced they can’t do without.

The mysterious placebo effect has everything to do with this. But what is it and how does it work? Harriet Hall explains.

Switzerland to insert CAM in the constitution?

On 17 May 2009 the Swiss people voted in favour of a constitutional article for complementary medicine in a national vote. 67 percent of voters supported the new constitutional article. Switzerland is the first country in Europe to set out in the constitution, authority for the state and constituent states (cantons) to take complementary medicine into consideration in the public health service.

Thanks, Mr Homeopath!

Some poor babies are born in hell…

Gloria Thomas’s eczema death ‘was parents’ fault’

By Margaret Scheikowski

Thomas and Manju Sam faced manslaughter charges in court and were found guilty.

In the last months of her life, baby Gloria Thomas suffered such terrible eczema her skin would weep and peel, sticking to her clothing when she was changed.

Despite her bleeding, crying and malnutrition, her mother and homeopath father failed to get conventional medical help before she died a painful death, a Sydney jury has been told.