http://www.parliament.uk/briefingpapers/commons/lib/research/briefings/snsg-2581.pdf

On the other hand, I’m yet to be convinced of the cervical jab and am thankful that my kids are little enough that there will be years of evidence before I need to make that decision on their behalf.

Conventional drugs don’t work evenly either – I know as I had a very, very bad reaction to a prescribed migraine tablet a couple of months ago that meant I ‘lost’ 2 days. I’m in the 1-in-1000 adverse reactions -from just one tablet. Not doing that one again!

Then I tried a product called heparinoid cream (Bruiseze is an example) which is medically proven to reduce bruising by breaking down the clots.

It worked. It has been tested extensively (I believe) and passed.
Try it.
(If you have two bruises, try arnica on one and Bruiseze on another).

However, it is right to be sceptical about many things, including the motives of the pharmaceutical industry.
That means examining the evidence.

Adverse reactions are unavoidable, but just cause a leaflet says ‘kidney failure’ does not mean that many will get that condition. Herbal remedies can cause equally horrible effects.

Arnica does not perform any better than placebo in any of the limited trials run. Read some of the research. Perhaps you are logical and intelligent, but certainly not on such matters as pharmacology and biology based on your posts here.

Essentially what you’re saying here is “It worked for me, therefore it works!” – thereby using anecdotal evidence, *not* peer-reviewed, empirical, convergent, independently tested evidence to decide what works – does that sound “logical and intelligent” to you?

Doctors are not always right, correct diagnosis are not always made and I do think it’s good to be able to question the medical profession too – and not to have a completely blind faith in the conventional methods either

Anyway that’s my tuppence worth – back to work!

Arnica for bruises when the kids get a bump – the little pill thingys – maybe it only works because the kids have to stop crying to take it. Maybe it works because even under the age of 2 they read my expectation that the egg-sized lump on their forehead will go down and they somehow make it so. I can’t explain it. But, I have seen a reduction in the size of bruises on many occasions – a physiological response. If that is all placebo based – I don’t really care as it’s working for us.

But – if it’s more major than that – I would always look to conventional medicine first

Now, sometimes I’m happy to pay for a placebo, if that’s all I’m paying for. When your child screams with teething pain in the middle of the night, and they’ve had their dose of painkiller – having those powders is a godsend. Please note – I used the powders alongside conventional medication. They did stop the kids crying, and they calmed down enough to go to sleep. As the powders were usually given over an hour after the calpol, I can’t fully believe that the painkiller was only just beginning to work at that point. However it worked, placebo or real – it saved my sanity!

But the adjectives apply I’m afraid. You have demonstrated how accurate they are with your views on this thread. But don’t be disheartened; no one here assumes that this is a complete description of you. Just on this issue. And you can correct your ignorance by some learning so chin-up! But I would honestly suggest that you will get this type of response to further illustrations of ignorant behaviour in the future so should try to either avoid those issues in which you just ‘have an opinion’ and concentrate upon those in which you ‘have an informed opinion’.

After all, the only thing you have been subjected to are a few pixels arranging themselves into certain shapes on an open forum, you haven’t been physically attacked or even threatened so try to understand that perspective, hmm?