From: "Santosh Helekar" <[email protected]>
--- On Wed, 7/15/09, isouza <[email protected]> wrote:
Homeopathy requires an individualised treatment. Therefore, patients
cannot be subjected to double-blind trials.
This is exactly the kind of convenient cop out that tells us why this
practice is fundamentally unscientific. A double-blind experiment is the
essence of scientific objectivity. Without it the subjective biases that
are rampant among observers and the observed cannot be ruled out.
Faith-based illusions and delusions cannot be dispelled. No dispassionate
critical assessment is possible. No scientific fact can be ascertained. No
objective evidence can ever be obtained.
***Wrong, it is not "fundamentally unscientific", when the results of the
homeopathic drugs are tested with scientific means. You do not understand
that there is "scientific evidence" for cures when the data are observed,
measured, verified before and after the treatment. When I said that
"patients cannot be subjected to double-blind trials", I mean that one
medicine cannot be given to all the patients of the same disease and
compared with placebo-groups or allopathic drug-takers. Each patient is
treated on globality of symptoms. You are misunderstanding because you do
not know about it. Likewise, miracles cannot be subjected to double-blind
trials, because miracles are rare and are to be judged as "medically
impossible" by the panel of physicians (some of them are 'agnostic' like
you, but they are practising modern conventional medicine). God is the
Author.
<<<This outdated idiosyncratic fabrication of homeopathy is doomed to the
same fate as astrology and witchcraft, which are also claimed to be
individualized rituals impervious to double-blind randomized controlled
observations.
***Wrong again. You cannot put on the same platform homeopathy and
astrology/witchcraft. Astrology has its own plus points and has to be taken
as such. The Universe is interconnected, stars and moon have influence on
human beings. I do not accept witchcraft. Let me correct you: Homeopathy
does not belong to "individualized rituals".You can have "double-blind
randomized controlled observations" if you understand, as I said above, that
homeopathic drugs have to be selected according to the totality of symptoms.
There are scientific principles to be followed while prescribing homeopathic
drugs.
The outlandish claims of cures made in the above post have no basis in
reality. Edzard Ernst has examined all the existing hodgepodge literature
on homeopathy inside out. No treatment has been found to be effective by
any objective measure. The above cop out ensures that none will. Despite
the empty braggadocious pronouncements, no effects of any kind have ever
been reproducibly recorded on any measurable attribute of the human immune
system.
***These slogans are unscientific. Homeopathic cures do have "basis in
reality". They are scientifically tested. Edzard Ernst is no authority on
this matter. Let Dr.Santosh not base himself blindly on his "authority", by
surfing on the Internet, but come down humbly and verify the data according
to his abilities... His biased statements cannot be held face to scientific
evidence. Let him not pontificate on all matters, like homeopathy, religion,
miracles, God and astrology...
Regards.
Fr.Ivo
