Overread
Well-Known Member
Being ill is scary and typically the worse the condition the more scary it gets. Worse might mean that you're in pain constantly or could mean that whilst you "feel" mostly fine you've got a timer ticking over you before you go down-hill very fast.
Then if you read most advice slips on medication there is a very scary list of all the possible side effects. All the things that can potentially go wrong. All medicine has it and heck if you go in fur surgery there are even more scary things that can possibly go wrong - all of these lining up to worsen your state or even result in death or long term disabilities.
It's very scary! Doctors and medicine are legally bound to inform you even of the slightest chance of what could potentially go wrong.
Some people this choose to try and use herbal medicine as it tends to be seen as more pure or safe option. The truth is many herbal medicines are simply earlier forms of commercial ones used today (for those herbal remedies proven to work - excluding placebo effect). Furthermore there is an element of trust; whilst many herbal remedies are produced in factories they are seen as more honest and "earthy" than chemicals produced by a huge multinational company.
Others choose to rely upon things like homoeopathic medicine because it basically has no scary list of things that can go wrong. It is water. The dilution effect is so strong that the original chemical put within it is gone or so far gone as to be good as gone because its now one or two molecules. It relies fully upon several true and proven principles:
1) That many forms of illness DO get better on their own without medication.
2) That placebo effect does work at improving the recovery chances and rate. In this its no different than sugar pills and many other forms of placebo
But it also relies upon the industry behind it. Because its water its is a VERY profitable business to run. This creates a huge incentive for those involved with it to continue investing their money into promoting it. You also get wild-cards - those who claim major illness cured by homoeopathic medication - however they often come with little to no valid nor actual evidence. You won't find any medically authentic and documented cases of people with terminal illness being cured.
As a placebo and one "hot" in the public eye with advertising it has a valid place as complimenting regular medication. However it cannot, nor never should be, a replacement for regular medication. It's also one of those things that will come and go - it will last in the public eye so long as it gets pushed there by interested parties; once the money dries up it will vanish and something else will likely take its place. That it gets an unfair amount of investment from the NHS in times when funding is very thin is a major problem; however part of me suspects that at least if the NHS provides such treatment and is "known" to do it then there is every chance that people who otherwise might have used 3rd party options and forgone any valid medical treatment or advice might at the very least, be convinced to use regular medication alongside homoeopathic treatment.
As for the subject of animals, placebo effect can work upon them. However in order for it to work the animal must think that what it is given will make its situation improve; now that is the real trick. Trying to convince your horse that by taking this substance it will recover and I'm sure that that subject would prove very interesting to read up on; but also one which is very inconclusive. Short and long term memory might also be issues to contend with along with association.
Further, as said above, the medication must come with regular medical treatment; although for minor ailments/conditions which would normally resolve without treatment you might be able to forgo that unless the situation is abnormal or extreme.
Chances are good food, water and warmth would do as much if not far more for recovery; along with a few treats.
Then if you read most advice slips on medication there is a very scary list of all the possible side effects. All the things that can potentially go wrong. All medicine has it and heck if you go in fur surgery there are even more scary things that can possibly go wrong - all of these lining up to worsen your state or even result in death or long term disabilities.
It's very scary! Doctors and medicine are legally bound to inform you even of the slightest chance of what could potentially go wrong.
Some people this choose to try and use herbal medicine as it tends to be seen as more pure or safe option. The truth is many herbal medicines are simply earlier forms of commercial ones used today (for those herbal remedies proven to work - excluding placebo effect). Furthermore there is an element of trust; whilst many herbal remedies are produced in factories they are seen as more honest and "earthy" than chemicals produced by a huge multinational company.
Others choose to rely upon things like homoeopathic medicine because it basically has no scary list of things that can go wrong. It is water. The dilution effect is so strong that the original chemical put within it is gone or so far gone as to be good as gone because its now one or two molecules. It relies fully upon several true and proven principles:
1) That many forms of illness DO get better on their own without medication.
2) That placebo effect does work at improving the recovery chances and rate. In this its no different than sugar pills and many other forms of placebo
But it also relies upon the industry behind it. Because its water its is a VERY profitable business to run. This creates a huge incentive for those involved with it to continue investing their money into promoting it. You also get wild-cards - those who claim major illness cured by homoeopathic medication - however they often come with little to no valid nor actual evidence. You won't find any medically authentic and documented cases of people with terminal illness being cured.
As a placebo and one "hot" in the public eye with advertising it has a valid place as complimenting regular medication. However it cannot, nor never should be, a replacement for regular medication. It's also one of those things that will come and go - it will last in the public eye so long as it gets pushed there by interested parties; once the money dries up it will vanish and something else will likely take its place. That it gets an unfair amount of investment from the NHS in times when funding is very thin is a major problem; however part of me suspects that at least if the NHS provides such treatment and is "known" to do it then there is every chance that people who otherwise might have used 3rd party options and forgone any valid medical treatment or advice might at the very least, be convinced to use regular medication alongside homoeopathic treatment.
As for the subject of animals, placebo effect can work upon them. However in order for it to work the animal must think that what it is given will make its situation improve; now that is the real trick. Trying to convince your horse that by taking this substance it will recover and I'm sure that that subject would prove very interesting to read up on; but also one which is very inconclusive. Short and long term memory might also be issues to contend with along with association.
Further, as said above, the medication must come with regular medical treatment; although for minor ailments/conditions which would normally resolve without treatment you might be able to forgo that unless the situation is abnormal or extreme.
Chances are good food, water and warmth would do as much if not far more for recovery; along with a few treats.
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