More than two years ago the Ministry of Health made clear its position in reference to homeopathy by publishing a report that had requested a group of experts to analyze 139 alternative therapies. In it, they made it clear that homeopathy had the same effect as a placebo.
It is not understood then what the Ministry of Health has just done, that after many years leaving to market products that had not proven its effectiveness, instead of doing the most logical thing, which was to prevent its sale, it has done the opposite, accept it Y promote homeopathic products to the range of medications. It is not understood, but it was to be expected of a government that believes that the best way to keep chicken pox away from adults is by withdrawing the vaccine from children.
Economic interests?
Many people defend homeopathy as an alternative medicine that moves away from conventional medicine, theoretically charged with economic interests. I do not say that pharmaceutical companies are not being lined at our expense, but in large part It's the users fault They do nothing but buy things they don't need, such as vitamins, supplements and drugs that are nothing more than patches or small solutions to the unfortunate lifestyle we lead.
We eat badly, we are sedentary and we live immersed in a world that is going faster than we can tolerate. The body complains, the mind complains and also our conscience, which makes us take vitamins believing that we will compensate for the deficiencies of our diet.
Returning to homeopathy, advocates should not know that homeopathic products are made by pharmaceuticals that are also doing a multi-million dollar business. In Spain, for example, benefits of 60 million euros per year (Luckily, they have come to save us from the other pharmacists who only think about money).
The strongest is not that. The incredible thing is that the other pharmacists, those who work with real medicines, have to give Health reports of their drugs showing that they are safe, of quality, and that they have a proven effect. Meanwhile, Boiron and company, just have to deliver reports proving that their "medications" are safe and of quality. Nothing about whether they have any effect or not. Come on, the Ministry of Health does not care if they do something or if it amounts to taking candy balls.
I repeat the question economic interests? That seems, but on whose part?
By the way, I take the opportunity to talk about the best homeopath in the city where I reside. He lives downtown, in a luxurious three-story corner house. He has been visiting for years and used to adhere to homeopathic principles: he recommended his products, but urged patients and mothers not to take or give what the pediatrician or doctor sent them. This is logical (according to homeopathy), because homeopathic substances are similar, that is, to treat a symptom the person must take something that causes it. If you can't sleep, you have to drink something that doesn't let you sleep, but diluted: coffea, that is, coffee diluted to the minimum expression. If your head hurts, you have to take something that causes you a headache. If you have a fever, something that produces it. If you have an allergic reaction, something that increases it: histaminum. All that diluted to a minimum. It makes no sense to give a similar and at the same time an opposite. It makes no sense to give histamine to a child with an allergy and at the same time give him an antihistamine (real medicine).
Lately, instead, the friend should think that he has already made a lot of money and that the last thing he needs now is a lawsuit or similar, so never removes the pediatrician's treatment. Simply, add your magic balls to complement and increase the defenses (all lies, but he keeps making box).
Is homeopathy a lie?
Yes, until proven otherwise it is a lie. Yes, I know that it has worked for many of you, but it is that for each person it works for, I can bring you one that does not work for you. Many things, many ailments respond to what I have said before: stress, a busy life, suffering, etc., just by simply taking something to be better, we are already doing something to improve. If we also believe that that works, it is very possible that we are better. This is the It him Placebo effect, which is the one attributed to homeopathy.
To say that it is not a lie, that it does something, that can be considered medicine, it should show, in a serious study in which nobody knew what it takes, that people who take homeopathy really are better than those who take a substance that does not does nothing. This has not happened yet. The last major review of all studies done to date was done in 2010 and said the same as always: It does nothing, beyond the placebo effect.
But children don't know what the placebo effect is.
This is what many fathers and many mothers tell me: I am not right, because children do not know what the placebo effect is and yet they improve. Then I ask: do they improve? Who says it? Who gives the remedy?
The answers, obvious: children improve, yes, as we all improve from almost everything that happens to us, unless it is a more or less acute and serious illness. Most things that happen to us heal by themselves. Now, who says they get better are the parents, who are the ones who have given the remedy that they think works. The placebo effect acts on the parents, who, because they give the child little balls, already consider that they are going to find themselves better.
That is why real studies are not done by asking parents, but they are done double blind: neither children know what they are taking, nor does the person who gives the remedy to the child know what he is giving. Thus there is no confusion factor.
As said, double-blind studies all say the same thing: children who take homeopathy they do not heal more, neither before, nor faster, nor take less illnesses than children who take a fake medicine.
Good for the Ministry
So I can only say the usual, the Spain brand is the laughingstock of the rest of the world ... I'm sure they look at us like someone watching a humorous or similar program, because every day we make headlines of the most varied and ridiculous. But the worst is not that, the worst is that even the Spaniards feel more and more like that.
The pity is that then that is not reflected in the polls and that we always have an exhaust valve (aka "La Roja") to look the other way. This is how it goes.
Now come, everyone to spend the money we do not have on things that do nothing and pharmacies to recommend balls and remedies that do nothing but cost a paste (except for the rare exceptions that they know do nothing and refuse to sell them) .
