Homeopathy vis-a-vis the placebo effect. The placebo effect is real and documented (reproducible). The article points out that there are no such studies to support homeopathy even though water may have some sort of memory. I am a skeptic of homeopathy to be sure, leaning to the highly cynical side at that, but if YOU think it does YOU some good then YOU should pay for it. To hear some of you British wags complain about the government paying for snake oil is pretty sad from an American viewpoint. Our health services are so bad they let critically ill people died in the waiting rooms (for over 20 plus hours btw.). We need to socialize our health services in the US, but by no means do I think it out to include such tripe as homeopathy.
I would support the inclusion of a single homeopathic 'potion' (100ml pure water) that could be labeled as "extract of frog nuts" or "tincture of hoodoo" (whatever the Doc thinks will help the patient). The labels could be printed, attached and the potions distributed to those who 'believe' as necessary. The doctors would not tell the patients the truth about the potions because they know plain water won't do any harm and wish to leverage the benefit of the placebo effect. All I ask it that the standard cost of such 'potions' is 5 cents.
I would support the inclusion of a single homeopathic 'potion' (100ml pure water) that could be labeled as "extract of frog nuts" or "tincture of hoodoo" (whatever the Doc thinks will help the patient). The labels could be printed, attached and the potions distributed to those who 'believe' as necessary. The doctors would not tell the patients the truth about the potions because they know plain water won't do any harm and wish to leverage the benefit of the placebo effect. All I ask it that the standard cost of such 'potions' is 5 cents.
Enjoy.