Mozambique show how to regulate homeopathy in Africa
Posted by gimpy on June 24, 2009
Via the quackometer’s twitterfeed, a story on the allAfrica news aggregation site suggests that the government of Mozambique are responding in a thoroughly sensible manner to alternative medicine practitioners, including homeopaths.
Health Minister Ivo Garrido argues that practitioners were operating in a ‘legal vacuum’ and thus it was necessary to regulate them by law. One possible effect of this law is that:
Any practitioner of “alternative” medicine could be regarded as “professionally incompetent” since the remedies he prescribes have no scientific basis, and at best act as placebos.
Thus the new bill is not a blank cheque for medical frauds, but may instead restrict their activity.
Well done Mozambique. I hope other countries follow suit.
[BPSDB]
Warhelmet said
I saw this news item this morning. What is interesting is that homeopathy has already got to Mozambique. Indeed, Homéopathes Sans Frontières seems to have been there a while and have a chapter there. What this will mean for them is not clear – partly because finding out what they are doing there isn’t easy.
Warhelmet said
I am a fool. Homéopathes Sans Frontières are not there. Got my former portuguese colonies mixed up.
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Robin said
South African homeopaths have been treating Malaria etc in Mozambique for some time. Meanwhile, a good article in support of homeopathy in today’s Telegraph from another deludfed soul. It must be galling for the likes of Gimpy and co. to see homeopathy being promoted in this way.
notspock said
The article? Is it the one about the former tennis player and radio presenter saying “it worked for me”? Fairly typical and happens all the time. Anecdotes, and a typical case study of all the things Gimpy and co bang on about.
Other points to note:
“Merc Sol” 6c. Isn’t there a possibility that will actually contain some mercury? Certainly more than the MMR vaccine contains!
Ignatia – to suppress grief. Suppressing grief sounds like it could have unwanted side effects.
freedomhomeopathy said
My question is, why would homeopathy still be around, especially as a thriving alternative
health care system if it is in fact a ‘pseudoscience’. It has not been ’scientifically proven’
because the practitioners are busy making people healthy. The best test for the effectiveness
of homeopathy is feeling better. Most homeopaths are not out trying to prove that their
modality works because they are focused on managing their busy practice because they are
getting great results. Classical Homeopathy sticks to the principles proven by Samuel
Hahnemann, founder of homeopathy. One remedy is used at a time according to homeopathic
indications. This health care is well established all over the world and continues to gain
recognition and acceptance. Why don’t you try it for yourself! It even works on skeptics!
Check out my website http://www.freedomhomeopathy.com. Classical Homeopathy can set you free from the
burden of chronic conditions.
Sandy5 said
I was taken to a homeopath for eczema when I was a nipper. It didn’t work. Realised much later in life that my mum had been conned by a charlatan. People like freedomhomeopathy prey on desperate people like my mum and milk them for cash. When the stupid water nonsense doesn’t work they blame the patient or their parents. What sort of scum could see that as a “health care system”?
Classical homeopathy will only set you free from the money in your wallet. I wish that was my “chronic condition”.
phayes said
o_O Got anything for *headdesk* injuries?
Rob Hinkley said
My question is, why would homeopathy still be around, especially as a thriving alternative health care system if it is in fact a ‘pseudoscience’? Because how long something has been used for and how popular it is provides no indication of whether it really works, and even the most utter nonsense can be popular for centuries. Examples include astrology for predicting future events or people’s personalities, bloodletting and purging as the treatment for myriad ailments (which themselves were caused by bad vapours or evil spirits or an imbalance in the body’s humours), and amulets protecting against misfortune.
Thanks for asking, and if you’ve got any other questions then don’t hesitate to come right out with them.
Michael Kingsford Gray said
Why don’t you apply to win the JREF $1m with 10 minutes’ work if you really believe that crap?
(Homeopathy counts as paranormal)
Wait for the lame excuses…
Kerry said
To say that homeopathic remedies have not been subjected to the rigours of the scientific method because practising homeopaths simply ‘don’t have the time’ is laughable! Who are you trying to kid? Medical doctors still find the time to enter into research and develop medicine they can prove actually works. The reason people who’ve taken homeopathic ‘remedies’ report feeling better is because of their belief in the worth of the ‘medicine’ which is in no way connected to the actual effects of the medicine, otherwise known as the placebo effect! Homeopathy needs to relegated to the past with the other curious eccentricities that Rob Hinkley mentions…
leigh said
Kerry
Homeopathic remedies have not been subjected to the ridiculous standard of the FDA that lately I have just been informed required 5% effect from the drugs the big farma produce.
Placebo effect has been tested to be around 30% and a little more. What do you say to that.
Listen to talk about the WTA, WHO , FDA and the rest of the gang(sters) in the name of science.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5800206429960925518
Adrienne Veseth said
There isn’t a specific remedy for ‘headdesk’ injuries because homeopathy treats the individual and not the disease. By finding a remedy that is specific to your individual symptom picture, it can send the message of what the body needs to do to heal. Take back the power, set yourself free. Our bodies are powerful things, they only need some guidance sometimes,the right message, like a homeopathic remedy to know how to fix almost any situation.
Warhelmet said
South African homeopaths in Mozambique? I’ve googled in vain to find them, but, of course, not everything is on teh interwebs. I know that South African homeopaths turn up elswewhere in Southern Africa. It is worth pointing out that homeopathic education in South Africa is somewhat different than the education that most UK lay homeopaths go through. And homeopathy in SA is regulated.
I’m surprised that Brazilian homeopaths are not there.
Don Cox said
“why would homeopathy still be around, especially as a thriving alternative
health care system if it is in fact a `pseudoscience’.”
Because there’s money in it. Practitioners can make a comfortable living without the hassle of having to go through seven years of medical training.
rosa said
Don Cox,
…”make a comfortable living without the hassle of having to go through seven years of medical training.”
Nice try to degrade homeopaths
Our bigger hassle is worth it believe it or not!
How about doctors MD who became classical homeopaths?
they would have to study additional four years and then become assistant to a senior homeopaths for another few years before they can practice on their own. Not to mention the minimum four five seminars they attend yearly . Study of every patient as an individual sometime for hours abd days before they prescribe a remedy.
Still the reward is great! The satisfaction is pleasing to tremendous just seeing the results of the treatment.
It takes at lease seven years or more to become a practicing classical homeopaths FSH and more to build a good practice , but you can do little mircles with homeopathic potencies if you study well earlier.
I heard at one particular seminar two doctors saying that homeopathy is much more difficult to practice than regular conventional allopathic medicine. One of them got up and said it ito 80 homeopaths and doctors attending that seminar (five days seminar).
But the joy of cure is unsurpassed by homeopathy (there are fialures of course as well, but then generally no harm done and you can try anew to solve a case when given a chance). Since we homeopaths get our patients by patients’ ‘word of mouth’, within families and friends and we work with whole families, we are generally given this chance.
As Dr. Malik said Micro doses Mega results – yes Nash, yes! Daily seen in our offices. you may be green with envy to learn about those results , and maybe using homeopathy secretly yourself…?!
Nash said
Some doctors become hoes because it is easier than being a proper doctor. No more keeping up with developments. Dealing with people who aren’t really ill, and if they come across someone who is ill they offload them back onto proper medical care. Easy life.
“It takes at lease seven years or more to become a practicing classical homeopaths FSH ”
This is not true. Even the full time degree at Salford was only two years (And that because degrees have to last 2 years)
It may have taken you seven years to be a hoe, but educational standards in alt medicine are atonishingly low. Nonsense is still nonsense no matter how long you study it, or which demonination of hoe you are.
And I’m not using hoe secretly. Buit I bet that when you are ill you use real medicine.
rosa said
No we do not use ordinary medicine after we have been aqainted with what homeopathy can do.
I have a small practice and in this I managed to prevent a few surgeries.
No thank you no chemicals for me, no way!
Robin said
Vithoulkas spent 4 years setting up an experiment with Randi’s co-operation and Randi pulled out at the last moment when he realised his cash may be in jeopardy.
Wait for lame excuses…..
His excuse was, “its my money and my challengs and I can do what I want”
Dr. Nancy Malik said
Homeopathy (Micro Doses Mega Results) cures even when Conventional Allopathic Medicine (CAM) fails
Nash said
No it doesn’t
Pete said
Don Cox
There are few homeopaths in the UK earning more than 10K a year. Those few who are make more by teaching or supervision. I thought that most sceptics have come to the conclusion that delusion and illogical thinking rather than money was the main factor for people studying Homeopathy?
Still if anyone likes to think that Homeopaths are making lots of money then that is fine by me.
Derrik said
The money is made by the book publishers, the high street over the counter remedy sellers like Boots and Neal’s Yard, the columnists for the glossy magazines, the schools offering courses and the big pill manufacturers like Boiron.
All these interests require there to be high street homoeopathic practitioners to keep business booming. You’re a lovely little self-sustaining motor which keeps the market strong.
In the UK heroin is a medium of exchange by which the proceeds of petty crime committed by heroin addicts is transferred to organised criminals selling the drug. No one claims the heroin addicts are getting rich off their activities, in fact most regard them as victims in their own right.
I think a similar concept can be applied to practising homoeopaths. The nonsense they sincerely believe in is the medium by which the proceeds of fraudulent healthcare prevision is passed to more profitable groups.
ez said
More profitable groups? Like what?
rosa said
Nash,
“No, it doesn’t”.
Call us liars.
We have managed to delude the Queen Mother into living a 103 years with homeopathy.
Queen Elizabeth rides horses in her eighties.
Over a century and a half of homeopathic service that they have seeb the need to built a homeopathic hospital in London.
But they do not care much if their citizens do or do not use homeopathy. Prince charles tried to push in this direction, but was ridiculed out by the media. He was naive to introduce a research into saving the taxpayers money spendings on medications, and showing the huge yearly savings by the use of alternative methods.
The Lancet has reacted to his research with their biggest lie ever to negate what they have published in 1997 to the efficacy of homeopathy.
The media including Gimpy & you Nash is bought by the shrewd big industries which are producing the little pills that do not kill immediately, but hook you on for life. Same with vaccine and all the rest of the crap.
I have not touched any for 20 years and it had done me a world of good.
I took antacids, I was arthritic, I had recurring ulcers in my duodenum for decades. Back problems – two months I have been bedridden, to turn in bed was a chore. Free from it all, on homeopathy and good food. My spirit is 10 times elated than when I was a kid.
I found the most rewarding work in homeopathy. It gives me my basic living needs, but the satisfaction in seeing the followups is immense,
Micro Doses and Macro healing indeed, body and spirit.
The younger generation to my great joy uses homeopathy, one of them a homeopath and doing much better than mum I am proud to say.
Do you see your child Nash having the same ugly business you are in.
Pete said
Are you sure about all of that second sentence Derrik? Boiron dont exist in the UK. As for OTC retail sales see Le Canard Noir quackometer article ‘Is the popularity of homeopathy collapsing?’
notspock said
Boiron? Don’t they export to the uk at all (or for that matter does anyone import it?)
Their popularity is most certainly not collapsing in france. It is massively commercial, as the prime time TV ads etc. indicate. Its even on the paper bags you get with REAL medicines in.
Wakeupplease said
Derrik,
Your view of homeopaathy is all wrong. Look to its history and it can be seen that it had little or nothing to do with commercialism or the sort of exchange that you imply. Go and look up what Samuel Hahnemann thought of apothocaries. I would question whether most of what you have presented as the “face” of homeopathy is actually homeopathy. Again go and read what Samuel Hahnemnann wrote about how homeopathy should be practiced and you will see that most of what you have criticised as being homeopathy is in fact merely organizations jumping on a bandwagon, to make money from poor people who don’t know any better. It happens in all areas of life and is part of the human condition and I dislike it as much as you ssem to. As a homeopath I see remarkasble transformations in people lives, in both those who I treat as well as those who I see my colleagues treat. I have no doubt that no minds on here will be changed by what I write, but I wanted to point out that there is much more to the understanding of homeopathy than you seem to think there is.
warhelmet said
Unless you have regulation of homeopathy, anyone can call themselves a homeopath. It’s all very well saying “oh, it takes X years to become a classical homeopath” but it’s meaningless. And, without regulation, anyone can set up a homeopathic school. Vithoulkas says that many homeopathic teachers are teaching wrong stuff – I watched his latest video on Youtube.
Nancy Malik – you are doing it wrong!
wakeuplease said
Warhelmet:
I agree that meaniful regulation is of vital imortance and i agree with George Vithoulkas about the current state of homeopathic education. The difficult question is who and what is to be taken as the authority on this? I know where i go and i know how my work is judged and evaluated, but until there is a meaningful definition of what homeopathy is and how it is to be practised then it is always open to interpretation. The most obvious image of homeopathy is the one that can be seen in most chemists and health shops. That is the over the counter remedies that treat x,y,z complaints. Homeopathy does not treat named diseases, the moment a name is give to something it loses its individualization. This is not homeopathy. Just because it says homeopathic on the bottle it doesn’t make it so. Homeopathy is system of treatment which encompasses a number of principles and unless all these principles are followed then the treatment should not be considered homeopathic.
As i said before i am not about changing peoples minds, what i am about is ensuring that when people are criticising homeopathy they know what it is and and what it isn’t.
tazzage said
@ Rosa
Nash merely called Nancy wrong, not a liar. Your response to his post does you no credit.
Then your first attempt at a rebuttal is a non sequiteur. Do you understand why many – if not most – people reading this blog will therefore dismiss your views as suspect at best?
Dr. Nancy Malik said
Homeopathy 4 Everyone, the world’s largest and most popular e-journal on homeopathy with 37,000 active subscriptions in 200 countries. It’s free. It’s available at http://www.hpathy.com/ezine
Chris said
Nancy Malik is only a spammer.