Aromatherapy vs. Homeopathy - the showdown

[Dr. Imago]

He also called the $60 antibiotics prescribed for a raging ear infection by an emergency department doc on a Thanksgiving as a "walletectomy"...

He was probably right. Most ear infections are viral. And only $60? You got off cheap, my friend. Some of the newer ABs they're pushing these days are more like $160 for a course.

-TT

 

[Chris Haynes]

Well, it was bacterial. One does not leave a Thanksgiving meal during a storm which requires dodging fallen trees to an unfamiliar town's hospital emergency department unless there is something seriously wrong... like a raging fever and a child in a great deal of pain. Since his fever came down, and the pain was mostly gone within 6 hours of getting meds... definitely not viral.

This was over 12 years ago, so prices have gone up. Our doc still likes to use the cheaper available stuff... and does refuse to prescribe if we haven't suffered enough and the test does not show strep.

He was also peeved that the ENT doc wanted too many follow-ups after the tubes were put in. He just told us to stop making the follow-up appointments with the ENT's office, to just ignore them.

Still curious of what kind of training Sarah gets to think that the homeopathic or arometherapy stuff would have any effect. Though I do admit that the arometherapy stuff can hurt my nose... I have refused to walk into shops with smelly candles and insense.

 

[Loon]

I think there is a small body of evidence that "aromatherapy" can be used to improve alertness or as a mild sedative or for some other things. I say I think because I don't have links at hand.

Of course, if anyone tells you that sniffing patchouli will cure cancer, they are probably deluded.

 

[Badly Shaved Monkey]

I never worry about coffee, toothpaste and the like counteracting the effects of remedies. IF YOU GIVE A PATIENT THE RIGHT REMEDY IT WILL WORK WHATEVER.

I don't think aromatherapy oils will either. I think there is more chance the antibiotics and steroids will stop a remedy working rather than aromatherapy.

Well then, Mendax, where were you when Rolfe was getting all sorts of grief about antidoting her little remedy trial?

Why do you persist in lying about pretending to be a doctor when you posted as NaturalHealth?

The fragility of your confidence is revealed by your instant resort to ad hom. If you really had the answers, you could take our arguments apart step by step. But you can't and you hope that your shrill shrieking of insults will make us forget all the arguments you have conclusively lost and your repeated lies.

Since you have popped up again, how about you go back to all the old threads and admit you were wrong. Then go and get a proper job instead of defrauding the sick and gullible.

 

[Benguin]

I think there is a small body of evidence that "aromatherapy" can be used to improve alertness or as a mild sedative or for some other things. I say I think because I don't have links at hand.

Of course, if anyone tells you that sniffing patchouli will cure cancer, they are probably deluded.

All I've read has indicated it can help with relaxation and short-term stress alleviation. That wouldn't seem woo, given you are supposed to dim the lights, turn the music down and relax while inhaling a herby vapour. Not a bad idea if you are stressed.

It's all the claims to cure things that are woo.

 

[Rolfe]

Come on, Sarah! Where would a doctor find out how aromatherapy interacts with homoeopathy? Or with regular pharmaceuticals? Or how homoeopathy interacts with regular pharmaceuticals?

For all your bad manners, you have to accept that this isn't taught in any medical school even nowadays, and most certainly wasn't taught in 1977 when my friend qualified - I doubt if aromatherapy had even been invented then. So, if the information is available, where does she find it?

And please explain your disagreement with all the homoeopathic authorities Psiload cited. They seem to think all sorts of things will antidote homoeopathic remedies. How come you, a mere student, are right, and these people are wrong. What is your evidence?

Rolfe.

 

[Badly Shaved Monkey]

What is your evidence?

If it wasn't for her pathetically shrill tone, I might think Sarah was a troll just trying to make homeopaths look like fools who shy away from difficult questions.

 

[Suezoled]

Rolfe,

Where did your friend train then? The Mickey Mouse School of Medicine me thinks!!!

Perhaps this was the same Mickey Mouse School of Veterinary Science that you and BSM trained at hey?!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, all I can say that is if she does not know, then she damn well should make it her business to know and find out. I am really surprised that she has any patients at all if she treats them all like that!!

...I want to go to the Mickey Mouse School of Medicine. It seems they turn out some pretty fine scientists, practioners, techs, etc etc.
Mickey Mouse seems far superior than Hanhemann.

 

[Rolfe]

Come on, Sarah! Where would a doctor find out how aromatherapy interacts with homoeopathy? Or with regular pharmaceuticals? Or how homoeopathy interacts with regular pharmaceuticals?

For all your bad manners, you have to accept that this isn't taught in any medical school even nowadays, and most certainly wasn't taught in 1977 when my friend qualified - I doubt if aromatherapy had even been invented then. So, if the information is available, where does she find it?

And please explain your disagreement with all the homoeopathic authorities Psiload cited. They seem to think all sorts of things will antidote homoeopathic remedies. How come you, a mere student, are right, and these people are wrong. What is your evidence?

Bump for Sarah, since she's here.

Rolfe.

 

[patnray]

Personally, I think these recommendations to "ask your doctor" are intended to give the victims a false impression that woo-preparations are studied in the same way as real medicine, and that their actions and interactions are actually understood. Also, to imply that they do in fact have appreciable effects that a doctor would recognise.

Exactly what I was going to say. It's just a marketing ploy...

 

[Dr Adequate]

Possible side effects of homeopathic medicine: you may commit the post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy and turn into a woo-woo. Contraindicated in patients with complications of credulity and ignorance.

 

[Badly Shaved Monkey]

Well, there seem to be homeopaths with differing opinions. How are we to decide whether you or they are right? This would involve evidence of efficacy...

Yes, I've led them to this particular logical inconsistency more times than I can count.

One of their number, Bach/bwv11 at Hpathy and elsewhere, is very keen for us to listen to his rationalisations that give what he calls "clinical evidence" a trumping supremacy over what he calls statistical medicine. But if we take "clinical evidence" at face value then they create unsuperable contradictions as soon as one says his experience has led him to a different conclusion than another homeopath. You and I would say, "Let's get a group of patients and run a trial", but he is in a logical impasse where he is required to take all "clinical evidence" at face value.

They can't all be right. Do you know what? I think that none of them are right. Someone really ought to tell them, it's going to come as a bit of a surprise.