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Reply 1
I've never understood peoples ideas that homeopathic / herbal remedies are better for you than normal medication. I mean where do you think normal drugs come from? Plants and animals is more often than not the answer.

The only difference is that standard medication is refined to only include the active ingredients where as homeopathic remedies give you the whole lot, sometimes at the expense of effectiveness or also including ingredients which are undesirable.
Reply 2
Hey there, my grandfather wrote a book on homeopathic remedies which i can't seem to find the english translation version for at the moment. I will have a look for it and post back here for you!
OT, but initially I mis-interpreted "homeopathic stress release" and got a really disturbing mental image. Brain then engaged:smile:

I'd be careful trying out new meds (even homeopathic ones) that you're not used to on an exam day... If you react differently to you expect (drowsyness etc.) it could be a disaster.

Personally, a deep breath (low tech, always slows down a stressful situation) calms a momentary stress attack. Avoid straight sugar where possible, it tends to make you a bit wappy, and not the best for intellectual thinking. Good carbs (eg bannanas) and being well hydrated before your exam will probably do you more good than a hippy-shop placebo pill of false hopes & promises.

Either that or blag some valium for the exam... you wont be stressed, but I think you'll be floating too far above your paper to write anything....
Reply 4
wesetters
No.

Homeopathic medecines are a completely different thing.


Wikipedia
Homeopathy (also spelled homƓopathy or homoeopathy), from the Greek words όμοιος, hĂłmoios (similar) and πάθος, pĂĄthos (suffering)[1], is a controversial subset of alternative medicine practices, that aims to treat "like with like." Despite being widely discredited in scientific circles, homeopathy has grown in popularity in recent years.

Homeopathic formulas are based on the theory that even when a remedy is diluted with water to the point where no starting material remains, the water will retain a "memory" of what it was once in contact with. Homeopaths assert that the therapeutic potency of a remedy can be increased by serial dilution combined with succussion, or vigorous shaking.


And even less believable from what I understood them to be by the sounds of it.
Reply 5
Cromulent
And even less believable from what I understood them to be by the sounds of it.


So you've actually tried Homeopathy then have you? If you havent, how would you possibly know if it worked or not? :rolleyes:

To the OP- Bachs is supposed to work but Ive never tried that particular remedy so I dont really know what its like
Reply 6
If you can find something with neroli essential oil in it (or indeed, just neroli essential oil) try taking a bath in it - make sure it's real neroli. Smelling neroli raises seratonin levels in the brain, so should calm you down and make you happier.

And yes, this is scientifically proven to be the case through studies - though neroli is the only one proven to do anything.
Did you hear about the homeopath who forgot to take his medicine?

He died of an overdose.
Reply 8
thisbemadness
So you've actually tried Homeopathy then have you? If you havent, how would you possibly know if it worked or not? :rolleyes:


Because there is no active ingredient. The only possible effect you would get would be a placebo effect.

As the Wikipedia article snippet I posted suggested the premise is basically just to give the patient water.

Here is something else the Wikipedia article states regarding homeopathy.

Wikipedia
Since its inception homeopathy has received criticisms on theoretical grounds, and has been subject to a number of studies aimed at testing its efficacy scientifically. The theory that extreme dilution makes drugs more powerful by enhancing their "spirit-like medicinal powers"[7] is inconsistent with the laws of chemistry and physics and the observed dose-response relationships of conventional drugs; critics of homeopathy frequently describe it as pseudoscience[8] and quackery.[9] Placebo-controlled clinical trials have given some mixed results, but most of those showing positive results are found to have methodological problems, and the better-quality trials (e.g. those using double-blind techniques and large numbers of people) give negative results.[10] Several examples of publications in high ranking journals, that were later withdrawn, are known. [11] Additionally, cases have been reported of life-threatening complications resulting from attempts to treat serious conditions solely with homeopathic remedies.[12][13]
I'd just like to point out that studies done on the efficacy of homeopathic medicines have found that they have the same effect as placebos, that is to say, that thinking you are taking a drug is just as effective as using homeopathic medicine. I don't have a copy of the sources, sorry guys, you'll just have to take my word on it. Sure, some people have been cured by homeopathic medicines, but in very very rare occurances just like the lottery.
Reply 10
Well having had a course of homeopathy I can definately say it worked for me, and all of my colleagues who were also having it said they noticed changes/felt better too.

I just dont understand how you can say that if you've never tried it.

Anyway Im not going to get into a huge debate about homeopathy as quite frankly I cant be bothered, but Id definately recommend it
Reply 11
Homeopathy is the ultimate placebo. I have had lectures on it, and even the lecturers and academics think it is a joke.

The 'ingredient' in the homeopathic remedy, is diluted beyond Avagadros number, meaning that there is unlikely to be any active molecule in ANY homeopathic remedy.
Along with the fact that no clinical trials have shown ANY efficacy is enough proof that Homeopathy only has placebo effects.
I think the quote that I posted above is enough to disprove homeopathy.

[Homeopathy] is inconsistent with the laws of chemistry and physics.
Reply 13
I don't know if i believe that homeopathy works, but if it helps someone who are you to tell them it doesn't?

Also, herbal remedies and homeopathy are not the same. Someone seems a bit confused. Herbal remedies are proven to work for some things, and do have an effect on the body. Try taking lots of Valerian and staying awake. St John's Wort is proven to work for mild to moderate depression, and has drug interactions showing it must have some affect on the body.

For stress a really good one i found was Rhodiola Rosea. It is meant to be used at times of high stress for a few weeks at a time, and i did notice a difference.
Sarky
Also, herbal remedies and homeopathy are not the same. Someone seems a bit confused. Herbal remedies are proven to work for some things, and do have an effect on the body. Try taking lots of Valerian and staying awake. St John's Wort is proven to work for mild to moderate depression, and has drug interactions showing it must have some affect on the body.


Yep that was me. If you read the whole thread you would see that this issue has been resolved.

As for herbal medicine I agree some herbs do have medicinal qualities. I'm just questioning why people don't use conventional medication instead.

Sarky
stress a really good one i found was Rhodiola Rosea. It is meant to be used at times of high stress for a few weeks at a time, and i did notice a difference.


Much of the medicinal properties of herbs have been used in conventional medicine. After all the majority of active ingredients in conventional medication originate from plants and animals. The only difference being that conventional medication has been refined and removed some of the useless or potential nasty extraneous ingredients that are sometimes found in plants and herbs.
Reply 15
rachels
I have loads of exams on wednesday (7 hours, to be precise), and I was wondering if anyone out there can recommend anything calming. I have already been advised to purchase some Bach rescue remedy. Is there anything else that anyone could recommend (that actualy works!)?


hi, i've found 'fear of failing an exam' and not really exam stress. if you want this anyway i'll list below :

Argent - Nit
Aethusa 200x

OR

Kali-Phos
Silicea D 6x

hope that helps!
Reply 16
Cromulent
Yep that was me. If you read the whole thread you would see that this issue has been resolved.

As for herbal medicine I agree some herbs do have medicinal qualities. I'm just questioning why people don't use conventional medication instead.



Much of the medicinal properties of herbs have been used in conventional medicine. After all the majority of active ingredients in conventional medication originate from plants and animals. The only difference being that conventional medication has been refined and removed some of the useless or potential nasty extraneous ingredients that are sometimes found in plants and herbs.


Because that involves going to the doctor and explaining your problems.

Incidentally, there's nothing wrong with a placebo if the problem is in your head in the first place. If you believe something is curing your stress, it's likely that it will...
Poica
Because that involves going to the doctor and explaining your problems.


Surely you would need to do that to the person who dispenses the herbs though anyway? Unless you know all the herbal cures to every ailment known to man.
Reply 18
Cromulent
Surely you would need to do that to the person who dispenses the herbs though anyway? Unless you know all the herbal cures to every ailment known to man.


Hence the asking on The Student Room, I assume.
Poica
Hence the asking on The Student Room, I assume.


Yes but asking people who are uneducated in the subject no matter what the subject is (and lets face it 90% of answers you get about important matters on forums are from people who are not properly educated in the subject) seems like a bad idea to me.

Surely it would be 100 times better to go to a properly trained alternative medicine practitioner rather than trusting the opinions of people who you have no idea of their education on the matter. Personally I'd not trust any advice about my body unless I knew the person was well educated in the subject.