A blunt, shit-stained instrument wielded indiscriminately to bludgeon pseudoscience, superstition, blind faith and common or garden irrational bollocks.
Or how about medicines made from the piss of pregnant horses (oh...that's PREMARIN)...or how about a medicine made form explosives (oh...that's NITROGLYCERIN)...or how about medicine made from mold (oh...that's penicillin).
Other than perhaps referring to Miles Per Hour, might we please try and ascertain what the "MPH" stands for after your name? Some form of accreditation or qualification perhaps? If so, in what?
And the one thing you've omitted to say is that all the examples of medicines you cite have been open to peer reviews and testing for efficacy and side effects, unlike the examples Crispian satirises.
Why are so many "skeptics" so daft that they cannot think for themselves or google answers. "MPH" stands for masters in public health...from U.C. Berkeley. Here's an interview with me that UC Berkeley's alumni magazine published: http://www.homeopathic.com/articles/view,61
As for "peer view" for conventional drugs...what a joke. The lifespan of a drug is usually a couple of years until they realize that it "works" but causes more problems than benefits (whoooops).
Ah, you mean the same Dana Ullman who bills himself as 'Dana Ullman, M.P.H. is "homeopathic.com"', at the website www.homeopathic.com/main/bio_dana.jsp ?
The same Dana Ullman who's interviewed by "Homoeopathic Educational Services"?
So, apropos vested interests or any criticism of homoeopathy, neither of these can be considered remotely compromised as sources, then? Err... OK.
And as to sceptics not taking your chosen topic seriously, there is a reasonable answer to that, too: because there's very little appreciable science behind it to prove that it works.
Wow - so they don't teach you how the drug approval procedure works on your MPH? That's a pretty big gap in the curriculum right there. Or did they teach it homeopathically? The less you know, the more confident of your position you'll be?
No-one is claiming that medicines are side effect free. They alter physiology, which is *why* *they* *work*. The ones that do nothing (or at least nothing useful) are filtered out way before coming on the market.
Modern (i.e. effective) medicine is trialed against placebos, and against the best current competitors, before it ever gets near your pharmacy. Unlike homeopathy: which came on the market when the patient "just not dying for a bit" was proof of miraculous properties. The only physiological effect I'd get from necking a bottle of 30c "arsenic" is the sugar rush from the pills.
(Don't believe me? Come watch us do it: http://www.1023.org.uk/the-1023-overdose-event.php)
I must find out what institution that you did your MPH at, and make sure I never recommend it to my students.
Thanks for linking to the interview actually - it told me all I need to know the deep inconsistencies in your world view:
[DU] "... [y]ou have to speak with humility unless you’ve done some kind of systematic study or review."
...
[UCBAM] "How is homeopathy futuristic?
[DU] "I’m reminded of the Star Wars phrase: “May the force be with you.” Because underneath that view is the concept of energy medicine, the concept of an energy that flow through you, which is like a “vital force,” which is the word we use in homeopathy. “May the vital force be with you.”"
Yeah right. To paraphrase a meme "Data - or it didn't happen."
You've made my day! :D
ReplyDeleteBrilliant!
ReplyDeleteA shame you're a week late for b3ta's woowoo competition!
ReplyDeleteHahahahahahaha!!
ReplyDeleteIt has been described by a farmer as "like manuring a field with a fart" . . .
Played sir! Worth the entrance fee alone!
ReplyDeleteOr how about medicines made from the piss of pregnant horses (oh...that's PREMARIN)...or how about a medicine made form explosives (oh...that's NITROGLYCERIN)...or how about medicine made from mold (oh...that's penicillin).
ReplyDeleteConventional Rx is the real witchcraft.
Dana,
ReplyDeleteOther than perhaps referring to Miles Per Hour, might we please try and ascertain what the "MPH" stands for after your name? Some form of accreditation or qualification perhaps? If so, in what?
And the one thing you've omitted to say is that all the examples of medicines you cite have been open to peer reviews and testing for efficacy and side effects, unlike the examples Crispian satirises.
Or have I got the wrong end of the stick?
Why are so many "skeptics" so daft that they cannot think for themselves or google answers. "MPH" stands for masters in public health...from U.C. Berkeley. Here's an interview with me that UC Berkeley's alumni magazine published: http://www.homeopathic.com/articles/view,61
ReplyDeleteAs for "peer view" for conventional drugs...what a joke. The lifespan of a drug is usually a couple of years until they realize that it "works" but causes more problems than benefits (whoooops).
Ah, you mean the same Dana Ullman who bills himself as 'Dana Ullman, M.P.H. is "homeopathic.com"', at the website www.homeopathic.com/main/bio_dana.jsp ?
ReplyDeleteThe same Dana Ullman who's interviewed by "Homoeopathic Educational Services"?
So, apropos vested interests or any criticism of homoeopathy, neither of these can be considered remotely compromised as sources, then? Err... OK.
And as to sceptics not taking your chosen topic seriously, there is a reasonable answer to that, too: because there's very little appreciable science behind it to prove that it works.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/nov/25/homeopathy-nhs-commons-committee-inquiry
A bit of satire to keep us going.
ReplyDeleteThe Homoeopathic ER:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMGIbOGu8q0
Wow - so they don't teach you how the drug approval procedure works on your MPH? That's a pretty big gap in the curriculum right there. Or did they teach it homeopathically? The less you know, the more confident of your position you'll be?
ReplyDeleteNo-one is claiming that medicines are side effect free. They alter physiology, which is *why* *they* *work*. The ones that do nothing (or at least nothing useful) are filtered out way before coming on the market.
Modern (i.e. effective) medicine is trialed against placebos, and against the best current competitors, before it ever gets near your pharmacy. Unlike homeopathy: which came on the market when the patient "just not dying for a bit" was proof of miraculous properties. The only physiological effect I'd get from necking a bottle of 30c "arsenic" is the sugar rush from the pills.
(Don't believe me? Come watch us do it: http://www.1023.org.uk/the-1023-overdose-event.php)
I must find out what institution that you did your MPH at, and make sure I never recommend it to my students.
Thanks for linking to the interview actually - it told me all I need to know the deep inconsistencies in your world view:
ReplyDelete[DU] "... [y]ou have to speak with humility unless you’ve done some kind of systematic study or review."
...
[UCBAM] "How is homeopathy futuristic?
[DU] "I’m reminded of the Star Wars phrase: “May the force be with you.” Because underneath that view is the concept of energy medicine, the concept of an energy that flow through you, which is like a “vital force,” which is the word we use in homeopathy. “May the vital force be with you.”"
Yeah right. To paraphrase a meme "Data - or it didn't happen."
Hey Cosmic DingDong: It would help if you were smarter and could actually read, but I guess I'm asking too much.
ReplyDeleteThe UC Berkeley's alumni magazine published an interview with me (by its editor!).
Do you really think that UCB would publish an interview with someone who is self-interviewed? Are you really that daft? Yeah, I guess you are.
My apologies for being a tad harsh here...but sometimes you gotta fight venom with venom (it's somewhat homeopathic).
Ah, the Quack awakes!
ReplyDeleteThanks for proving what we already suspected Dana.
You're a legend in your own lunchtome.
Crispian, you've attracted Dana Ullman to your blog! Well done on getting a serious woo crank.
ReplyDeleteIs it to much to expect Deepak to put in an appearance soon?
Fuck me! I didn't realise what a total nutter Dana Ullman (MPH!) was.
ReplyDeleteThis is just mild woo, catagory errors, slippy slides from one thing to the next etc:
http://www.youtube.com/user/HomeopathicDana#p/a/u/2/xedLd9djgyg
But get a load of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10VhvCQjYUI
!!!!
Tony Lloyd ACA
That picture made me LOL! Thank you.
ReplyDelete