Comments on: Defending Homeopathy (Or Not)

By: yaph

yaph — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:21:32 +0000

Well according to the Cochrane review I referred to it (placebo) does SFA, let alone cure cancer, though there seems to be a presumption amongst much of ‘proper’, evidence-based science that it does have quite significant effects. More work needed, methinks.

By: Dave Cross

Dave Cross — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:59:39 +0000

Right. I was unclear. Homeopathy works fine as a placebo. I should have been clearer. However, that’s some distance from the claims that homeopaths make. The placebo effect doesn’t cure cancer.

By: yaph

yaph — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:44:43 +0000

IIRC Goldacre reports[0] that the evidence shows that Homeopathy does work, but Homeopathic remedies don't, suggesting that it's down to the placebo effect.Of course whether the placebo effect works is another question![1][0] in his book: I couldn't find the same passage I recalled on his wibble, though he implies it in passing in other articles on homeopathy[1] http://mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD003974/frame.html

By: Dave Cross

Dave Cross — Fri, 29 May 2009 14:43:12 +0000

Thank you. And if I could remember who I stole it from, I’d happily give them credit.

By: pro_tempore

pro_tempore — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:19:09 +0000

“The plural of anecdote is not data.”That, Sir, is Genius!