from DU Health forum: Homeopathy backlash in UK (campaign to get pharmacies to stop selling)

[villager]

... stop selling homeopathic remedies, that is:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=222x80448

The campaign is generally being lauded in the Health forum. While I'm not saying homeopathy is always a first resort, my sons' have had some good luck with it, and on occasion, so have I...

I have to wonder who would be funding such a campaign, however...

[get the red out]

1. Sheesh, and the same people worry about "big brother" and such

The "science" dogmatics in the world would probably love to have me arrested for the cup of camomile tea I drank this evening, or just have it illegal to purchase it.

I am so tired of dogma, religious, scientific, all these "true believers" that want to stifle any dissent from their cherished "truths" get on my nerves.

[Flying Dream Blues]

2. Me, too!

I think it is the thing I'm most exasperated/discouraged by at this point in the journey. Why does their version of the "truth" trump mine or yours?

[get the red out]

4. Exactly, and it goes beyond natural health

It extends greatly into spiritual matters and even into specific political matters that cannot be discussed. Opposing points of view to the "accepted" on any subject on DU GD cannot and will not be tolerated. We openly admit that the conservatives are like this and criticize them for it, it is known that you have to parrot the appropriate "Christian" verbiage for them to give you the time of day, but the liberal side is becoming just as exclusive in so many ways as well. If liberals had the media power that conservatives did there wouldn't be a place for most of us in any "political" identity in this country.

People expect everyone to agree with THEM in all things in this country or they feel they must actively find a way of shutting dissenters down, this troubles me on many levels. I think the internet will loose its usefulness over time as a means for discussing topics because only people with identical views can stand to encounter one another. I think we are all starting to separate more than compromise online, as in society. The groups just keep getting more and more exclusive too.

It has to come down to fear.

[kentauros]

3. The same thing was tried with Ephedra and failed.

I was happy they didn't try to ban the plant as well, though I do remember talk of doing just that.

The thing about DU is that you really can't have a discussion about things like herbs or homeopathy except in this forum. Anywhere else and the "reason brigade" pounces. After that, you can forget having a reasonable discussion on the topic because your point of view is invalid no matter what.

[Celebration]

5. Thanks!

I find it disturbing that people would want to curb energetically imprinted water.

No harm, no foul.

How about going after something that is actually HARMFUL?

[kentauros]

6. They do see it as harmful, though.

It separates people from their "hard-earned" money, be it the person using it or, in the case of that story, their own, as taxes are used to buy it for others. Like a Republican, it's all about the money. If they can keep a "sucker" from spending money that could be spent on something "reasonable", then they feel they've won a little more in the fight to turn the world into one based on reason and logic.

[get the red out]

7. Control

And, like Republicans, they probably call that kind of control "preserving freedom".

[kentauros]

8. Yeah, that too :)

And they don't like change (to the dominant paradigm) ;)

[Celebration]

9. That thread

Got me on his "ignore" list.

:)

[kentauros]

13. I've noticed that in the minds of the DU truth/reason/logic brigade

if you use anything from "alternative" medicine, then you are automatically anti-science/anti-medicine. I could tell them that I use both alternatives and pharmaceuticals, but I have a strong feeling they either wouldn't believe me, or still call me anti-whatever. It's either black, or it's white; there is no blending. Blending means that you've gone to the woo-side.

That's why I don't bother to argue with them. I've found that it's always best for them to find out the things we know by their own routes and methods. If their scientific sources start to put more credence behind the things we trust, only then will they start to come around.

Remember the four stages of acceptance:

Dean Radin - The Conscious Universe
In science, the acceptance of new ideas follows a predictable, four-stage sequence. In Stage 1, skeptics confidently proclaim that the idea is impossible because it violates the Laws of Science. This stage can last from years to centuries, depending on how much the idea challenges conventional wisdom. In Stage 2, skeptics reluctantly concede that the idea is possible, but it is not very interesting and the claimed effects are extremely weak. Stage 3 begins when the mainstream realizes that the idea is not only important, but its effects are much stronger and more pervasive than previously imagined. Stage 4 is achieved when the same critics who used to disavow any interest in the idea begin to proclaim that they thought of it first. Eventually, no one remembers that the idea was once considered a dangerous heresy.

;)

[get the red out]

17. Exactly!

I utilize both, same as you. This black and white thinking is running rampant in the world and something has to give!

[amitten]

10. Funny how so many want to legalize pot, especially for it's

usefulness as an alternative medicine, but the same folks poo-poo any OTHER herbal or alternative remedies.

Pot is just one of thousands of useful herbs, kids.

[Fire Walk With Me]

11. There are some very good remedies, especially flower remedies...

...yes, there is room for abuse and low-to-no quality without regulation, but shutting it down? Indeed, follow the money...

[kimmerspixelated]

12. It's almost always about the money.

Corporate greed trumps common sense. "Just pop one of our pills!" "You don't believe in the woo-woo science of those supplements, do you?..." Jerks! They are scared shitless their fatcat salaries will be permanently shut down one day, when people finally realize all their prescription drugs are slowly killing them.

[Fire Walk With Me]

14. There is a good documentary on the subject entitled "Making a killing"

about big pharma, their practices, and their profits. Astonishing evil.

[kimmerspixelated]

15. They are truly evil.

A lot of mainstream magazines have 75% Big Pharma ads cluttering up the pages. I will not purchase those mags anymore if they are endorsing Lucifer's activities.

[Fire Walk With Me]

16. I don't know if I'd say "lucifer" but I'd definitely say

that people aren't involved anywhere in their equations, except as a source of cash. Truly selfish and calculating.

[villager]

18. Latest health forum attack includes herbal remedies, too:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=222x80955

As was stated upthread, I use a mix of traditional "Western" medicine, herbs, homeopathy, etc., depending on the ailment, and have had success with all...

Kind of astonishing -- or is it? - the inflexible thinking and worldviews that even permeate DU...

[kentauros]

19. I sometimes peruse the Health forum

as well as those of our "competitors" (within DU, that is) and find that too often it's more about debunking than informing. That's their agenda and that's all they care about. Whereas while I am continuing to improve my health, I utilize herbs, diet and western medicine when needed. I try those things that make sense to me, and that help. There are several anti-allergy medications I will no longer use now, because their primary effect on my body seems to be fatigue and not regulating the allergy. I tried them, and they failed, miserably. There are some herbs I use for the same purpose, and while they are not as potent as the pharmaceuticals, there are none of the debilitating side-effects, and they are cheaper to use.

I haven't found an herbal equivalent to drugs like percocet or hydrocodone, but I'm fine with that and will use them as needed.

Another observation I have made is that the defenders of "Western Medicine" put it up on a pedestal as if only western medicine is credible in the world. I have to wonder what the scientists and medical professionals in the rest of the world think when they see this limited view of health-research and administration we have in such abundance here...

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[villager]

21. there is the same use of snark and vitriol, and a complete unwillingness to discuss

I've encountered it in the religion/theology forum as well....