Two posts in one day? I must be on crack. Anyway, I came across an article called 'Proof that Homeopathy Skeptics are Still Losing the Debate'. Apparently, 13 reasons why skeptics haven't convinced people homeopathy is bollocks (my words not hers). Lets see what Sandra Courtney has to say for herself.
1) Health care consumers have not been convinced that "real drugs" (versus "sugar pills") are a better option
Maybe you haven't, but the majority of people go to their doctor when they are ill. Surprisng that.
(For the record, I'm quoting select treats from the article. I'd be sorting through slurry until next week otherwise)
2) Perhaps a bit trite, but still significant when one considers sales and market trends, the number of books about the effectiveness and theory of homeopathy for sale on Amazon at the time of this writing is 2,772.
There are over 400,000 results for the term 'medicine'. 2772 is not significant in comparison to this.
3) Every state in the U.S. now recognizes the practice of homeopathy and homeopathic doctors.
7 states make it illegal for atheists to hold office in the US. In 31 states, gay marriage is illegal. Recognition or non-recognition by government does not make something true
4) The number of online and campus setting teaching courses in all the CAM practices, including homeopathy, is steadily growing.
Scientology claims to be growing as well.
5) The number of cancer research and treatment centers in the U.S. that are using integrative medicine, including homeopathy is also expanding
If true, this is a little bit terrifying.
6) If one multiplies $5.35 billion by just 1.25% annually, without adjustment for inflation, one gets a $1.1 trillion dollar global market by 2035.
If Miss Courtney thinks this will actually happen, she's on more drugs than I've had cups of coffee.
7) Homoeopathy is the third most popular method of healing in India, after conventional medicine and Ayurveda
So homeopathy isn't even the most popular type of woo in India. Fantastic outcome there.
8) There are growing numbers of research studies and controlled clinical trials proving the efficacy of homeopathy dating back to January,1988.
Here's the Cochrane Library results for 'homeopathy'. I'm willing to bet most, if not all, are not in homeopathy's favour.
9) The homeopathy skeptics are coming under fire. (It's about time). One of the skeptics' top personalities, Brian Dunning was indicted for fraud.
Dana Ullman was arrested for practicing medicine without a license.
10) Generic argument against Edzard Ernst, who is apparently 'not a credible source on homeopathy'. The only source for why is a dead link. For reference, Edzard Ernst was the first ever professor for complementary medicine in the UK.
11) The quackbusters were soundly, and publicly, beaten in this courtroom.
A court case on America in which someone didn't successfully sue a homeopathic manufacturer for fraud. What strong evidence you have.
12) Your stupidity is boundless and it is no surprise that you believe in magic pills. So what do you ultimately hope to achieve, Sandra? If your objective is to demonstrate the rank idiocy and nastiness of followers of cult of homeopathy, then please carry on because it is behaviour like yours that keeps me going.
This is a comment from Ms Courtney's blog. Not sure I'd have put it in quite these words but it pretty much sums up what I think of her too. The whole rant is spectacular, especially the use of 'excrementum caninum' to treat 'shit-for-brains' syndrome.
13) The medical journalist and author Jerome Burne of the UK had this to say about the "arrogant batty" (Mr. Burne's terminology) skeptics, particularly the Nightingale Collaboration.
One man's opinion about skeptics? Well that definitely proves skeptics are losing the argument. SPeaking of losing arguments, follow me on Twitter and there's a couple of homeopaths who are having a good go at the 'not answer any questions directly game'.
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