Dr. MAS - Please use this thread to explain homeopathy to us

[Qureshi1_78]

Can anyone explain what homeopathy is and how it works? Can anyone describe how one could observe its affects?

You can easily observe its effect by using camphor 30. Note the temperature by using any sensitive thermometer and then take camphor 30 doses (minimum 3) after 15 minutes of time and then note it again. You will observe rise in temperature.

 

[Dragon]

You can easily observe its effect by using camphor 30. Note the temperature by using any sensitive thermometer and then take camphor 30 doses (minimum 3) after 15 minutes of time and then note it again. You will observe rise in temperature.

Qureshi - this looks like an easily testable claim. Have you ever done a double-blind trial of "camphor 30" ?
(I presume you mean 30C)

 

[Qureshi1_78]

on the above quoted question, double blind study is not necessary.

Double blind study on what claim?

 

[Curnir]

on the above quoted question, double blind study is not necessary.

Double blind study on what claim?

Umm... to see whether the experimenter effect and/or placebo effect is at work?

 

[Qureshi1_78]

ok - no problem

 

[Mouthfire]

on the above quoted question, double blind study is not necessary.

Uh... okay....

 

[Dragon]

on the above quoted question, double blind study is not necessary.

Double blind study on what claim?

Qureshi - you do know what adouble-blind placebo controlled trial means don't you?

You need to get a group of people together willing to undergo the test. The more the better but twenty would be OK to see if there really is an effect.
You should tell everyone exactly what you propose to do.

You then need to give half of the people Camphor 30C and half the stock solvent or pill - this is the placebo.
It is very important that neither the subjects or whoever gives them the remedy knows whether it is Camphor 30C or the placebo - this is the double-blinding.
You will probably need a third party to help with this bit - someone to make up 20 doses (10 of each) and mark them so that they and no one else knows which is which. This person (or persons) should not be in contact with the subjects prior to or during the test.

All the subjects will have their temperature taken before receiving the remedy (or placebo) and 15 minutes afterwards and the results recorded.

Only when this has been done should you check to see who got what.
If there is a consistent difference between the group that got the Camphor 30C and the placebo group then you are really onto something.
In fact you could be in line for $1,000,000!

 

[The_Fire]

I would also suggest that the third party is from an independent source NOT connected with either you, the testsubjects or anyone connected to the institution/party conducting the experiment. Such a thirdparty could be an independent lab, university or other. To further secure that the experiment remains untainted from "spillover" information between the third party and the experiment itself, I suggest to keep communications to a minimum after the start of the experiment, preferable kept to delivery dates only once the protocol is in place. Keep all paperwork. No meetings without witnesses etc.

 

[delphi_ote]

on the above quoted question, double blind study is not necessary.

Umm... are we noting the temperature of the solution or of a person who takes the solution?

 

[Yahzi]

why do I respond to Mas and his lackeys?

Because I love reading your responses.

 

[Yahzi]

This is paper work. But in actual practice this does not happen.

This is just... precious.

I read this in a Russian novel. "But that's all book learning, and this is practice!" - about using geometry to measure farmer's fields.

Can anybody remind what novel that was? Either "The Painted Bird" or something by Dostoevsky.

 

[Gravy]

ok - no problem

I think that means the study is under way. We look forward to your results, Qureshi1. And remember, that $1 million of Randi's is real money. Go get it!

 

[Mashuna]

This is just... precious.

I read this in a Russian novel. "But that's all book learning, and this is practice!" - about using geometry to measure farmer's fields.

Can anybody remind what novel that was? Either "The Painted Bird" or something by Dostoevsky.

I have no idea which novel the quote actually comes from. But if we're going for Dostoevsky and Dr MAS, can I vote for 'The Idiot'?

 

[Qureshi1_78]

What happened to Indian doctors who offered to prove homeopathic effects? Your skeptic team denied to carryout experimentation on homeopathic drugs.

 

[The_Fire]

AfAIR because the experiments would have meant a danger towards life and health of the testsubjects....

ETA: HA! I was right:
Thread with aplication
Dismissal Email

 

[Qureshi1_78]

so this means that homeopathy cannot be tested.

 

[Gravy]

so this means that homeopathy cannot be tested.

Wrong. It means it's unethical to ask someone to stop taking a medication if doing so may endanger them. Are you in a healthcare profession?

There are many ways to test homeopathy that do not endanger people. Does it concern you that homeopaths resist doing such tests?

 

[Mouthfire]

Easy enough... test a disease that isn't life threatening....

 

[Donks]

so this means that homeopathy cannot be tested.

Wrong. Homeopathy can be tested easily. Just demonstrate you can distinguish an ultradilute remedy, say 30c, from the stock solvent. By whatever method you want (that is, that does not involve giving it to sick people instead of real medicine).

 

[rjh01]

But Quereshi1 and co knows homeopathy does not work. If they knew it would have worked they would have some time in the last 200 years have done the required experiments and shown that it does in fact work.

For example there was once no effective medicine to treat diabetes. Homeopathy could have stepped in and said 'take these drugs to treat diabetes.' People could have seen that the drugs worked and everyone would have won. This did not happen.

If homeopathy works that their should be overwhelming evidence towards that fact, the lack of which strongly points to the fact that it does not work.