Homeopathy for farmers … with the support of Prince Charles … foolish and immoral

UK farmers are being taught how to treat their livestock with homeopathy “by kind permission of His Royal Highness, The Prince Of Wales”. This website explains:

The Homeopathy at Wellie Level (HAWL) Course has been developed specifically for those who tend livestock by the School of Agricultural Homeopathy, and is taught by homeopathic vets and qualified homeopaths – all with farm experience.  This is the ONLY course in the UK to provide qualified teaching aimed at empowering farmers and smallholders to use homeopathy for their animals with both confidence and understanding. We have been operational since 2001 and over the years have gathered literally hundreds of positive feedback comments and course testimonials >>> Homeopathy for farmers … with the support of Prince Charles … foolish and immoral

2017 – a year in alternative medicine

At this time of the year it is customary to look back and highlight some remarkable things that occurred during the last 12 months. Here I will try to identify for each month the most important event. My choice is entirely subjective, and I invite everybody to disagree with it and add other happenings.

JANUARY
[…] Read the rest here: 2017 – a year in alternative medicine

Good news regarding homeopathy for animals: RCVS POSITION ON CAM

I have this minute learnt the following from this website:

RCVS POSITION ON COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES 
“We have recently been asked questions about complementary and alternative medicines and treatments in general and homeopathy in particular.

“We would like to highlight our commitment to promoting the advancement of veterinary medicine upon sound scientific principles and to […]

Read the rest here: Good news regarding homeopathy for animals: RCVS POSITION ON CAM

Animal experiments in alternative medicine research – a new and odd phenomenon

For some time now, I got the impression that the research literature of alternative medicine is yielding more and more animal experiments. But impressions can of course be misleading, so I did a small statistical analysis. I went on to Medline, searched for all papers on ‘complementary/alternative medicine’, and counted the number of animal studies […]

Read the rest here: Animal experiments in alternative medicine research – a new and odd phenomenon

Bovine mastitis: are homeopathic remedies truly ‘as effective as antibiotics’?

Mastitis is a common disease in dairies. Numerous non-antimicrobial drugs and treatment strategies have been recommended for this condition. Homeopaths in particular have long claimed that their highly diluted remedies are an effective option, and I have reported repeatedly about the evidence – see here, here, and here, for instance. Even though it is far […]

Read the rest here: Bovine mastitis: are homeopathic remedies truly ‘as effective as antibiotics’?

HAPPILY PROMOTING BOGUS TREATMENTS: the story of animal chiropractic

I am sure you always wanted to know what animal chiropractic is all about! 

This website explains it quite well: 

START OF QUOTES 

…Animal chiropractic (veterinary spinal manipulative therapy) focuses on the preservation and health/wellness of the neuro-musculo-skeletal system. Chiropractic is the science that is centered around the relationship between the spine and the nervous system. […]

Read the rest here: HAPPILY PROMOTING BOGUS TREATMENTS: the story of animal chiropractic

Homeopathy for bovine mastitis? HOW MUCH MORE EVIDENCE IS NEEDED BEFORE HOMEOPATH ABANDON THEIR BOGUS CLAIM?

Homeopathic remedies work for animals and therefore they cannot be placebos!!!

This argument is the standard reply of believers in homeopathy (not least of Prince Charles). It shows, I think, two things:

• Believers in homeopathy fail to understand the placebo effect.
• They are ill-informed or lying about the evidence regarding homeopathy in animals.

As we have explained on this blog over and over again: the evidence for homeopathy in animals is very much like that in humans: it fails to show that highly diluted homeopathic remedies are more than placebos (see, for instance here, here and here). Now a further study confirms this fact.

The objective of this triple-blind  […]

Read more

A new RCT tests homeopathy in cats … and the results are unsurprisingly negative

Hyperthyroidism is, so I am told, a frequent veterinary problem, particularly in elderly cats. Homeopathic treatment is sometimes used to treat this condition. One article even provided encouraging details based on 4 case-reports. All 4 cats showed resolution of clinical signs; three attained normal thyroid hormone levels.  The authors concluded that homeopathic and complementary therapies avoid the potential side effects of methimazole and surgical thyroidectomy, they are less costly than radioactive iodine treatment, and they provide an option for clients who decline conventional therapies...

Read on: A new RCT tests homeopathy in cats … and the results are unsurprisingly negative

And again: no good evidence that homeopathy works in animals

HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES CANNOT POSSIBLY PLACEBOS BECAUSE THEY WORK IN ANIMALS!

How often have we heard this argument?

And how often have we pointed out that it is wrong on more than one level?

On this blog alone...

Read on: And again: no good evidence that homeopathy works in animals

Only fools and horses… and a few chiropractors | Edzard Ernst

Chiropractic for animals?

Can’t be!

Yes, it can!!!

Animal Chiropractic “is a field of animal health care that focuses on the preservation and health of the neuro-musculo-skeletal system. Why? Nerves control everything that happens in your animals. Anything adversely affecting the nervous system will have detrimental effects that will resonate throughout the entire body. The […]

Read on: Only fools and horses… and a few chiropractors

Homeopathy as a way of reducing antibiotic use in livestock ? | Edzard Ernst

The UK petition to ban homeopathy for animals has so far achieved well over 3 000 signatures. Remarkably, it also prompted a reaction from the Faculty of Homeopathy which I reproduce here in full:

Response to petition calling on the RCVS to ban homeopathy Homeopathy has a long history of being used successfully in veterinary practice for […]

Read on: Homeopathy as a way of reducing antibiotic use in livestock ?

Charles, our considerate prince* | Edzard Ernst

It has been reported in most newspapers that Prince Charles has proposed a solution to the problem of antibiotic over-use in animals and humans. He told an international gathering of scientists and government officials in London that he treats his own cows and sheep with homeopathy. Many people reacted with dismay. I, however, plead for more understanding […]

Read on: Charles, our considerate prince*

‘Acupuncture Awareness Week’: let’s not forget our horses! | Edzard Ernst

The current ‘Acupuncture Awareness Week’ is perhaps a good occasion to look beyond acupuncture for humans. The ‘Chi Institute’ is an organisation that teaches TCM for animals. There you can specialise in all sorts of intriguing things that a critical mind would have never thought about. Take acupuncture for horses, for instance; on their website, […]

Read on: ‘Acupuncture Awareness Week’: let’s not forget our horses!

Veterinary homeopathy? No thanks…(sorry Charles)! | Edzard Ernst

Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, gave a lecture on the subject of veterinary homeopathy in the mid-1810s. Ever since, homeopathy has been used for treating animals. Von Boennighausen, a Dutch lawyer and early convert to homeopathy, was one of the first influential proponents of veterinary homeopathy.

However, veterinary medical schools tended to take a very dim view of homoeopathy, and […]

Read on: Veterinary homeopathy? No thanks…(sorry Charles)!

Homeopathy works for animals – so it can’t be a placebo!

Whenever I give a public lecture about homeopathy, I explain what it is, briefly go in to its history, explain what its assumptions are, and what the evidence tells us about its efficacy and safety. When I am finished, there usually is a discussion with the audience. This is the part I like best; in fact, it is the main reason why I made the effort to do the lecture in the first place.

The questions vary, of course, but you can bet your last shirt that someone asks: “We know it works for animals; animals cannot experience a placebo-response, and therefore your claim that homeopathy relies on nothing but the placebo-effect must be wrong!” At this stage I often despair a little, I must admit. Not because the question is too daft, but because I did address it during my lecture. Thus I feel that I have failed to get the right message across – I despair with my obviously poor skills of giving an informative lecture!

Read on: Homeopathy works for animals – so it can’t be a placebo! by Edzard Ernst