My homeopathy story

[varwoche]

My wife has pushed homeopathic this, that or the other at me for some years. I didn't buy in, but nor did I see the harm. I partook, but observed no noticeable benefit (for hayfever).

Fast forward a few years. I'm a sailor who is prone to seasickness and have experimented with everything under the sun. I was planning an excursion and trying to decide which (ineffective) treatment to retry this go-around. My wife went out and got me some homeopathic "medicine". What the hell, I gave it a try.

Son of a gun, it worked beautifully. I became a convert. Not to homeopathy in general, but to this particular stuff. I continued to use it with success.

Next year rolls around, and we head out on a sailing trip. I forgot to bring the medicine and felt a little queasy. So I made a shore visit, found a natural food store, and bought a new supply. Then back on the water and feeling a-ok for remainder of trip.

When I got home I found the old bottle of medicine and noticed it was different than the new one. Upon examination, I discovered that for the past month I'd been treating my seasickness (effectively) with "medicine" intended to relieve menopause symptoms.

The best part is that the placebo effect still works, and I don't even take the placebo.

 

[Ashles]

Upon examination, I discovered that for the past month I'd been treating my seasickness (effectively) with "medicine" intended to relieve menopause symptoms.

Great story.

Maybe the menopause feels exactly like being seasick.
Like cures like and all that.

The cure for male menopause is much simpler - buying a sports car and a leather jacket.

 

[Bob Klase]

Perhaps it works because it's not really homeopathic. My gf wanted to try some stuff that said (both on the box and in ads) that it was homeopathic, however reading the ingredients on the package showed that it really contained stuff.

I'm pretty sure that the name started with a 'Z'- maybe Zantic or something similar sounding.

 

[Chris Haynes]

Re: Re: My homeopathy story

[B..Maybe the menopause feels exactly like being seasick.
.... [/B]

Nope. Been there, done both.

 

[Lisa Simpson]

Perhaps it works because it's not really homeopathic. My gf wanted to try some stuff that said (both on the box and in ads) that it was homeopathic, however reading the ingredients on the package showed that it really contained stuff.

I'm pretty sure that the name started with a 'Z'- maybe Zantic or something similar sounding.

Zicam. For colds.

 

[Timothy]

My gf wanted to try some stuff that said (both on the box and in ads) that it was homeopathic, however reading the ingredients on the package showed that it really contained stuff.

I *like* stuff that contains stuff.

- Timothy

 

[Mojo]

Zicam. For colds.

Discussed here.

 

[Ashles]

This short thread already contains 2 great quotes:

Upon examination, I discovered that for the past month I'd been treating my seasickness (effectively) with "medicine" intended to relieve menopause symptoms.

And

My gf wanted to try some stuff that said (both on the box and in ads) that it was homeopathic, however reading the ingredients on the package showed that it really contained stuff.

 

[Jas]

What exactly causes seasickness/carsickness (assuming that they're both the same)? I've never had either.

 

[Lisa Simpson]

The inner ear goes all floopy* and makes one feel nauseous. I've suffered from motion sickness my entire life, although less severe as an adult.

From http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/907367055.html

Motion sickness occurs when the body is subjected to accelerations of movement in different directions or under conditions where visual contact with the actual outside horizon is lost. The balance center of the inner ear then sends information to the brain that conflicts with the visual clues of apparently standing still in the interior cabin of a ship or airplane.

Symptoms generally consist of dizziness, fatigue, and nausea which may progress to vomiting. From one third to one half of airline passengers will experience some degree of motion sickness when encountering heavy turbulance, and it has been found that fear or anxiety can promote symptoms. Some individuals seem to be naturally prone to motion sickness since childhood.

*floopy is a scientific term

 

[varwoche]

Re: Re: My homeopathy story

Maybe the menopause feels exactly like being seasick.
Like cures like and all that.

I need to re-visit that store and see if the medicine is shelved in alphabetical order by illness -- maybe that explains why I grabbed menopause treatment versus motion sickness.

 

[Jas]

Re: Re: Re: My homeopathy story

I need to re-visit that store and see if the medicine is shelved in alphabetical order by illness -- maybe that explains why I grabbed menopause treatment versus motion sickness.

If homeopathy worked, I see see the disastrous mix-ups that would cause:

"Ah! I wanted cancer drops, not canker sore!"

 

[RSLancastr]

"Motion sickness occurs when the body is subjected to accelerations of movement in different directions or under conditions where visual contact with the actual outside horizon is lost."

Hmm.

Then why do some people get seasick on the deck of a ship, with the horizon plainly visible?

The only times I have gotten carsick in my life were times when I was in a rear-facing passenger seat. I don't think the horizon had much, if anything, to do with it for me.

 

[Rolfe]

Hmm.

Then why do some people get seasick on the deck of a ship, with the horizon plainly visible?

The only times I have gotten carsick in my life were times when I was in a rear-facing passenger seat. I don't think the horizon had much, if anything, to do with it for me.

The reason you get sick in the back of a car is that pretty much all in your field of vision is car interior, which the brain interprets as stationary, while your semicircular canals are busy insisting you're moving.

This will still happen on the deck of a ship unless you take care to look at the sea pretty much all the time. If your eyes take the ship as their frame of reference, you'll get sick.

This is why the car driver is the one who doesn't get sick. He's watching the road (I hope!).

The absolute never-fail cure is simply to shut your eyes. Which makes me wonder about selling some sort of heavily-woo-ridden seasick cure, which requires that the eyes be shut to take the cure. It should get the most wonderful testimonials and make my fortune!

Rolfe.

 

[Lisa Simpson]

Hmm.

Then why do some people get seasick on the deck of a ship, with the horizon plainly visible?

The only times I have gotten carsick in my life were times when I was in a rear-facing passenger seat. I don't think the horizon had much, if anything, to do with it for me.

Notice it says "Motion sickness occurs when the body is subjected to accelerations of movement in different directions or under conditions where visual contact with the actual outside horizon is lost."

Seasickness is due to the first part of the sentence--accelerations of movement in different directions. Rear-facing passengers probably get motion sickness because your inner ear is sensing forward motion, but your eyes are seeing behind the car.

 

[Chris Haynes]

Non-scientific anecdotal observation to follow:

I do get motion sickness, and even though I enjoy boating I must have air in my face be careful where I look. I cannot read in a car. The same goes for both of my siblings.

My mother-in-law does NOT get motion sickness.

She takes Yoga and was relating to me the difficulty she had with a post that required balance. I did it without difficulty, I have very good balance and can stand on one foot for quite a while.

Since the inner ear is what assists with balance, she and I unscientifically concluded that those with better balance were more likely to get motion sickness.