.
Ann - the reference to junk science was to the explanation given by proponents of homeopathy who believe it is not a placebo affect. Despite acknowledging that there is no ingredient other than water, they maintain that the water has a “molecular memory” of being in contact with an active ingredient, and it is this “memory” that accounts for it’s success. I don’t believe I am alone in considering that junk science! After all if that were the case, all the water in the world would have a molecular memory of all sorts of noxious substances - it’s just nonsense.
Mel - that’s a fascinating account - I believe you are absolutely right and the placebo affect can be extremely powerful. The difference in effectiveness of the size and colour of the pills has also been proven in double blind trials. Although presumably these days it would be impossible for that to happen, as oncs would be very unlikely to collude in the deception. It’s a fascinating subject, the power of the mind, and presumably accounts for why nearly all oncs will tell you that patients with a positive attitude do better than those without, all other things being equal.
xwelocomex - you make a very compelling point.
finty x
Hi ladies
many thanks for all u thoughts + comments on iscador. I am by no means expecting miracles from this treatment bt am hopeful for some benefits. Xwelcomex your post sums up perfectly how I feel about it thanks for that.
All the best to everyone- I will update once my referral comes through
tina x
finty - I agree that homeopathy does sound ‘cranky’ but no more so than religion, probably less so. Many things in life cannot be fully explained.
I still say there is some evidence that it works in many cases, for whatever reason.
“The most solid evidence for a treatment comes from reviewing more than one Randomised Controlled Trials. This is known as a systematic review. Four out of five major systematic reviews of RCTs in homeopathy have concluded (with certain caveats) that homeopathy has an effect greater than placebo.”
“Between 1950 and 2009, 142 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in homeopathy have been reported. This represents research in 74 different medical conditions. Of these 142 trials, 63 were positive, 11 negative and 68 non-conclusive.”
“For full details of all 142 RCTs and more in-depth information on the research, visit the research section of the Faculty of Homeopathy’s website.”
Ann you’re right - it works with what the medics call an enhanced placebo affect. The problem with most trials on homeopathy is that they are not double blind. The patient doesn’t know if they are taking a placebo or not, but the people running the trial do, and small but noticeable biases are introduced to the assessment. I am fairly sure there has never been a double blind trial that has shown an affect above placebo, and the single randomised blind ones have been successfully challenged by sceptics who have uncovered the bias.
And don’t get me started on religion:)
finty - It looks to me as if the RCTs involving a placebo were double blind:-
facultyofhomeopathy.org/research/rcts_in_homeopathy/
It obviously doesn’t work for all people and all ailments, but there is evidence that homeopathy does work.
Ann
Xwelcomex
Have just read your comment - brilliant - sums up exactly how I feel about Iscador treatment - and, as people have already pointed out, its not actually a homoeopathic remedy. I just wanted to do something after chemo and rads finished to help prevent recurrence of my cancer if at all possible.I was given a fairly high chance of developing secondaries within ten years by my oncologist but was told there was nothing I could do to prevent this happening. I guess if I do go on to have a recurrence or live for another thirty years without the cancer returning I will have no way of knowing for sure if things would have been any different if I hadn’t taken the Iscador. And my oncologist was horrified when I told him I was considering it - his exact words were "but Mistletoe is poisonous!"Wonder what he thought about the chemo I had just been given.
Tina (Gingerbud)- I know you have to make your own decisions about treatment - hope all goes well if you decide to go ahead - I have certainly not had any regrets about taking Iscador over the past six years
best wishes
Anne
Ann I think we are going to have to agree to disagree - I don’t think a bottle of water can cure anything that couldn’t get better on it’s own, and I wouldn’t accept the word of a Homeopathy Faculty as having any authority at all. If the research proved it worked, I wonder why they don’t claim the 1million dollar prize on offer. The NHS agreed when the issue was much in the news in July this year - they agreed to carry on funding homeopathy on the basis that patients like it, despite announcing there was no evidence to support it - causing an outcry in Parliament that the money was being wasted. I don’t agree it’s wasted if it makes people feel better - but I can’t agree it works.
finty
Gingerbud - thanks so much for starting this thread and xwelcomex, brilliantly put!!
I thought chemo just felt wrong. Hideously, poisonously wrong. I seriously considered stopping it, but then found another lump (FEC was completely ineffective for my tumour), so changed to tax and it took away the option of wondering if the chemo was just a bit of insurance. My cancer was obviously aggressive.
In hindsight, now it is over I am pleased I took the chemo option, but would definitely be prepared to consider something like ISCADOR if I developed further tumours.
Thanks again for posting about options other than conventional medicine, even if it is to go along-side the chemo. How much does it cost and how often do you have to inject?
I’ve just had my first iscador tonight. A retired GP has offered to prescribe it for me as my PCT refused a referral to a homeopathic hospital and he came round and showed me how to give my first one in my tummy. I’m being started on series 0, as I have sensitivities.
I’d be interested to know how well people tolerate the mistletoe. I’m wondering whether it may make me flu-like as I also have ME.
Hi carolwat do lets no how ur feeling after the iscador. So glad the retired gp helped you out. My refrral has finally gone through but my gp did loads of research on it + found it can reduce the potency+ effectiveness of chemo. She phoned my onc to discuss it + my onc isn’t keen at all but is happy for me to proceed as long as I stop if+ when I need more chemo. I’m starting rads next wk + my rads oncologist has requested that I start after his treatment in case it worsens my skins reactions. So fingers crossed it’ll be December when I get started!
Good luck
tina x
Good luck with all your treatments Gingerbud.
I managed to avoid chemotherapy, and its a while since I went down with breast cancer so the iscador shouldn’t interfere with any treatments. I’m wondering how it will affect my ME though as it can raise cytokines, so its a bit of a try it and see if I feel OK on it.
I gave myself my second one yesterday and so far I’m OK, but I am on a very low series as I have multiple intolerances.
Apparently some people suggest 3 jabs a week and others 2, but my doc suggested that I see how I feel and to take 3 a week if I feel OK on it.
.
I can’t find my receipt, but it is around £7 - £8.00 per injection. Postage is expensive - around £5 or £6 per time.
Hi all,
I’ve just got my red mark. I’d be interested to know which system people are on. Apparently once you have found the dose you can either keep on taking a series, or you can just take the same dose all the time.
Cheers,
Carol
hi
yes i am on iscador and have been for 2 mths any info you would like
i will try and help
bronwen
I had one experience of using homeopathy. After a very stressful period in my life I developed psoriasis on my scalp. My GP prescribed various potions to apply, but nothing was effective. I put up with it for 2 years then went to see a homeopath. I was perfectly willing to believe that the GP would help me but he couldn’t. I saw the homeopath once a week and was given different things each week according to how I responded the previous week. She warned me that it would take a few months and it would get worse before it got better. After 3 months I was about to give up as it became much worse, it peaked, then and then overnight changed from horrible weepy wet sore psoriasis, flaking and itchy, to healthy skin. I was astonished. An unexpected side effect was my hay fever improved from being very debilitating, to a very mild form. Psoriasis and hay fever are immune system overacting type illnesses. I wasn’t expecting this, hadn’t been told it might happen, but my homeopath was expecting it. Incidentally, the different pills I had each week all had a different taste. I realise this isn’t a double blind trial, could be placebo effect, but it cured my very nasty condition that is notoriously difficult to control. I also realise that psoriasis can come and go of it’s own accord but my condition followed the path predicted by the homeopath. I don’t care how it worked, it worked for me.
post deleted
I know this is an old thread but have to correct finty… double blind trials were carried out across Russia/Ukraine/Bulgaria/Germany and China, all at too Cancer hospitals when taken in conjunction with chemo, as complimentary therapy.
Proved beyond doubt the improvement in quality of life.
I am about to have chemo and my oncologist had never heard of Mistletoe extract (!!) but was open at least to learning.
If anyone has an oncologist or breast cancer specialist who would be happy to confirm they support it/are fans/it does not impact chemo efficacy then I would be eternally grateful.
(A small forest of Global evidence does not seem enough for her… and I have sourced hundreds of supporting stats!)… need UK based peers)
My oncologist approved it in tandem with chemo!! Yay!
Private insurance does not include ‘homeopathy’ (I was not offered it!!)
GP says no budget at all in region for any homeopathy!! (even though I am saving them about £50-£100k because I pay for health insurance and am private?? Nope, nowt at all.)
Trying to choose between oral drops and subcutaneous (former is cheaper and hassle free, but I think latter is more effective. In a quandary!)
Had first chemo yesterday without Mistleto, and so far so good, no SEs bar feeling a bit low energy. Sofa day for me.
SO many drugs to take but they seem to be working fine.
We shall see.
Cycle 2 will be with mistletoe, so be a good comparison.