Never fear...homeopathy will save you....

The homeopaths are at it again...and this time they are trying to capitalise on the recent spate of natural disasters worldwide....

Here is an Australian homeopath's website claiming that homeopathy can be used to protect from the effects of contamination through radiation. Fortunately, the media got onto it and has published a story here to clarify the real story.

And from the same homeopathy site, this, where you can learn all about how you can use homeopathic treatments for shock, fear, hysteria and injuries.

Last year, I posted this fantastic YouTube video which pretty much sums up what I think about homeopathy. Hey, I liked it so much, I'll post it again...

Using water to treat life-threatening illnesses and injuries? Using X-rays to "minimise genetic damage following exposure to radiation"?

Nah, I think I'll stick to conventional first aid and get myself to a hospital for some medicine if I'm sick or injured.

Necklaces....

For teething? This is a picture of some amber teething jewellry. The new must have accessory for infants. Around $30-$40 from health food shops and online. They didn't seem to be in vogue when I had my two sons but third time around I have noticed many babies around Rosie's age wearing these so I thought I might do some research to find out how they worked.

Apparently they provide natural pain relief for teething because "the skin warms the amber beads, releasing healing oils which are then absorbed into the bloodstream." Hmmm.

This website, among others, explained all about it but I gave up reading not much further on. It all sounded too much like Bad Science to me. I actually thought the skin was supposed to be a protective organ which stopped foreign things entering the bloodstream....

However, if anyone would care to provide some good evidence that they do work (not just anecdotes) then I would be happy to stand corrected. I read a few reports on parenting sites from parents who had put them on their babies well before they even started teething and then said stuff like "aren't these necklaces great, my baby didn't complain at all when he was teething." But that's not proof. Their baby might just have been a non-complaining teether anyway, like all my kids have been.

(Edited to add....I just deleted a comment because I was spammed by a website that sells them!!)

Bad Science

Just for something that is not Liam-related, I have just finished reading this book. I don't know that it's everybody's cup of tea but I really enjoyed it.

The author also runs a website dedicated to exposing shonky therapies and research. I think there are some fairly dubious interventions used in the occupational therapy profession that should be on there, but since there are so many other weird therapies out there in the world he might never get to insignificant little OT techniques. Maybe I should tackle the challenge myself, I have often wanted to but not sure I can word it diplomatically enough into a paper that's suitable for publication.

My thoughts are that it is definitely a good book to read if you have never given your kids fish oil capsules to improve their behaviour and concentration but wondered if you should have (edited to add...your typically developing kids, not those who may have ADHD). And if you needed any convincing that there is no link between the MMR vaccine and autism, this book explains it very well.