# Met my Primary Care Provider for the 1st time; she recommends homeopathy. Should I trust her? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 10, 2015, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/met-my-primary-care-provider-for-the-1st-time-she-recommends-homeopathy-should-i-trust-her/737161 "2015-11-10T02:54:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2015, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/met-my-primary-care-provider-for-the-1st-time-she-recommends-homeopathy-should-i-trust-her/737161/41 "2015-11-10T22:35:06Z")
There’s also a new flavor of woo called “functional medicine.” [Functional medicine - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Functional_medicine) The term “evidence-based” is all the rage in legit medicine, but the functional medicine cultists have appropriated that term for themselves too. I have dealt with real licensed legit MDs that have become enamored of functional medicine as a “more holistic approach to total body health”. So in addition to their regular diagnostic methods and typical medical interventions, they also push herbs, foods appropriate to your personal chemistry, vitamin surveys, etc. The extra revenue-producing possibilities are both obvious and endless. In a sense, “functional medicine” is just old-fashioned naturopathy with a shiny new (r)™ tacked on the back. Just like anyone else in any line of work, folks can fall into believing in astrology, crystals, and all the rest of that stuff. “Functional medicine” sounds plausible; so far it just lacks results. And may well until it’s replaced by some other fad. FTR I think it’s bunk. But I’m just a medical industry consumer, not a medical provider of any flavor. If the OP wanted to continue messing with this person I’d suggest he find out exactly what “FNP” stands for and which licenses and degrees she has. If the F is really Functional, then well, as General Patton said in the movie “… you’ll know what to do.” ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2015, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/met-my-primary-care-provider-for-the-1st-time-she-recommends-homeopathy-should-i-trust-her/737161/42 "2015-11-10T22:35:46Z")
What, exactly, did the Dr. recommend? “Homeopathy” can mean a million different things. If she’s recommending magnetic therapy and homeopathy (highly diluted active ingredients) then yes, stay away. If she’s talking about herbal medicines and pain relief, don’t write it off. I use Bengay for muscle pain all the time. It works, and is 100% herbal. Same thing with other pain relievers based on capsaicin. First degree burns are commonly treated with Aloe. Marijuana is undergoing a huge increase in medical research based on positive results seen in medical marijuana states. It just hasn’t been extensively studied before due to the difficulty of getting the raw materials and following the severe government regulations. Glucosamine Sulfate for joint pain is practically the first choice of orthopedists before NSAIDS, at least around here. My Dr. is a highly sought after practitoner with a Stanford MD, and he recommends Saw Palmetto for mild BPH and Milk Thistle for mild liver issues, although he kicked me in the ass and said to quit drinking so much, too. He has done the research. Don’t use RationalWiki as a source. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2015, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/met-my-primary-care-provider-for-the-1st-time-she-recommends-homeopathy-should-i-trust-her/737161/43 "2015-11-10T22:50:09Z")
Just to add, while sick and praying for relief I went into a store and bought a bottle of homeopathic cold and flu remedy for infants. I picked it up automatically, it was not my doing. I read the ingredients, basically water which may have had at one time a molecule of this or that, but long gone, this was just water. I was a strong believer in homeopathic medicine was total bunk. I even put it back and started to walk away, then something came over me and I went back and got it, tried it and about 30 minutes later this ‘nothing but water’ was a 100% cure, every symptom disappeared. In a latter cold I tried it and nothing. I would not take her word on it directly, but look to the intent of Love and the leading of Love in her and other’s messages. This board is clear to me, no love, just submit to our atheistic doctrine (submission is not love). I’d suggest following the path of Love how you view it, within reason, I did and was very pleasantly surprised. ---
**Author:** ![pidgeon92](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/50afbb/32.png) [@pidgeon92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pidgeon92)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2015, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/met-my-primary-care-provider-for-the-1st-time-she-recommends-homeopathy-should-i-trust-her/737161/44 "2015-11-10T23:03:52Z")
One of the problems with all of the various vitamins and supplements you can purchase is that they aren’t regulated by the FDA, and you can’t be sure that what’s on the label is even in the pill. There’s an interesting article here: [http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/dietarysupplements/dietary-supplements-fda-regulations](http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/dietarysupplements/dietary-supplements-fda-regulations) > [@](#): > > In 2013 researchers in Toronto published a report in which they sampled and analyzed 44 herbal supplements. The supplements were sold in both the US and Canada, and labeled as containing single herbs. Using DNA bar coding analysis, less than half the supplements (48%) contained any of the herb listed on the label. More than half of the supplements contained something that wasn’t on the label (substitutions or fillers). Even among the samples that contained the herb on the label, many also contained fillers or contaminants. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/met-my-primary-care-provider-for-the-1st-time-she-recommends-homeopathy-should-i-trust-her/737161/45 "2015-11-11T00:22:44Z")
Not this again. A legitimate PCP should not be promoting homeopathy for any reason whatsoever, even if their motivation is to have you doing something they think is harmless for placebo purposes. It doesn’t work, it costs money, it is unethical to prescribe placebos and it helps create a mindset that encourages use of other woo that can be harmful either due to direct effects or because of neglect of effective treatment. Science Based Medicine has a good overview of homeopathy with links to other articles and details of relevant studies. > **[Homeopathy](https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/reference/homeopathy/)** > > OverviewIndex of SBM PostsOutside ResourcesKey Research The ScienceBasedMedicine.org Reference Pages are reviews of topics relevant to science and medicine. Each consists of a c A lot of people confuse homeopathy and herbalism, which pisses off legitimate herbalists no end. There are homeopathic preparations of herbs, which is not the way herbs are generally used (they are intended as allopathic, not homeopathic treatments, although if you use the word “allopathic” in that way you’ll piss off a different set of herbalists). 😃 Homeopathic Echinacea and goldenseal for an acute and self-limited infection combine the worst of both worlds. The homeopathic dose would be ineffectual for starters, and both Echinacea and goldenseal’s value are at best dubious in pharmacologically active amounts. Add the fact that goldenseal populations in the wild are being decimated by over-collection, and you have a perfect storm of damaging woo. > [@Lamar Mundane](#): > > Glucosamine Sulfate for joint pain is practically the first choice of orthopedists before NSAIDS, at least around here. > > My Dr. is a highly sought after practitoner with a Stanford MD, and he recommends Saw Palmetto for mild BPH I have to note that neither of these interventions has a great deal of evidence behind them. Saw palmetto has been rather extensively researched (odd, considering the mantra that "herbs aren’t studied because they can’t be patented) and the overwhelming conclusion has been that it’s [a lousy drug for BPH](http://www.cochrane.org/CD001423/PROSTATE_serenoa-repens-for-benign-prostatic-hyperplasia). I don’t care if this guy has a Stanford degree with Mayo Oak Leaf Clusters, he should still know better. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/met-my-primary-care-provider-for-the-1st-time-she-recommends-homeopathy-should-i-trust-her/737161/46 "2015-11-11T00:41:09Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I have to note that neither of these interventions has a great deal of evidence behind them. Saw palmetto has been rather extensively researched (odd, considering the mantra that "herbs aren’t studied because they can’t be patented) and the overwhelming conclusion has been that it’s [a lousy drug for BPH](http://www.cochrane.org/CD001423/PROSTATE_serenoa-repens-for-benign-prostatic-hyperplasia). I don’t care if this guy has a Stanford degree with Mayo Oak Leaf Clusters, he should still know better. Saw Palmetto is a plant, and that seems to be what was tested here. It is sold commercially in capsules almost always as an extract, where the active ingredient is Beta Sitosteral. Your own link says that Beta Sitosteral shows efficacy: > [@](#): > > Authors’ conclusions: > The evidence suggests non-glucosidic B-sitosterols improve urinary symptoms and flow measures. Their long term effectiveness, safety and ability to prevent BPH complications are not known. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/met-my-primary-care-provider-for-the-1st-time-she-recommends-homeopathy-should-i-trust-her/737161/47 "2015-11-11T00:41:54Z")
See, this is what happens when medical schools “embrace complementary and alternative medicines”. It makes them seem legit. Kick that bullshit out of med school, and teach docs-in-training how to use real medicine and how to separate it from quackery and woo. I second **Jackmannii** ’s reference to the science-based medicine article. Great website. Walk the path of love all you want, but get proper evidence for any claims being made. Especially if you’re paying good money for that walk down the path. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/met-my-primary-care-provider-for-the-1st-time-she-recommends-homeopathy-should-i-trust-her/737161/48 "2015-11-11T01:09:26Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Ask if she’s OK with being paid in homeopathic money. I doubt that a single penny would be an effective dilution and we don’t have smaller coins any longer. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/met-my-primary-care-provider-for-the-1st-time-she-recommends-homeopathy-should-i-trust-her/737161/49 "2015-11-11T02:09:42Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > Saw Palmetto is a plant, and that seems to be what was tested here. It is sold commercially in capsules almost always as an extract, where the active ingredient is Beta Sitosteral. Your own link says that Beta Sitosteral shows efficacy: There are a number of putative “active ingredients” in saw palmetto preparations. As the Cochrane review indicates, evidence does not indicate such supplements are effective against BPH. The Cochrane review on beta-sitosterols states “Phytotherapeutic preparations containing beta-sitosterols, derived from the South African star grass, Hypoxis rooperi, or from species of Pinus and Picea, are available for the treatment of BPH.” The two herbal treatments are thus not equivalent. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/met-my-primary-care-provider-for-the-1st-time-she-recommends-homeopathy-should-i-trust-her/737161/50 "2015-11-11T02:57:41Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > There are a number of putative “active ingredients” in saw palmetto preparations. As the Cochrane review indicates, evidence does not indicate such supplements are effective against BPH. > > The Cochrane review on beta-sitosterols states “Phytotherapeutic preparations containing beta-sitosterols, derived from the South African star grass, Hypoxis rooperi, or from species of Pinus and Picea, are available for the treatment of BPH.” > > The two herbal treatments are thus not equivalent. Now you’re referencing a completely different study, not the one you linked to. The second one just says it got beta sitosteral from the African plant. It says absolutely nothing about Saw Palmetto. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/met-my-primary-care-provider-for-the-1st-time-she-recommends-homeopathy-should-i-trust-her/737161/51 "2015-11-11T04:36:47Z")
I see two potential possibilities: #1) She is actually promoting homeopathy which means she has no concept of what evidence-based medicine is and you should therefore find another provider. #2) She is actually promoting “holistic” or naturopathic medicine and does not actually know the different between these terms and homeopathy in which case she is an idiot and you should find another provider. IMO anybody who states they practice evidence-based medicine should know what the term means and should be prepared to furnish you with copies of articles from peer-reviewed journal supporting their ideas. It doesn’t even matter if you understand them; the point is that she should be able to furnish them. I actually have as much of a problem with her using the term “evidence-based medicine” as I do with her advice. I’ll be honest, I have on occasion suggested a trial of therapy that is generally thought harmless but is not well-proven (such as glucosamine for joint pain of coenzyme Q 10 for muscle pain from statin medications) but I’m careful to explain to patients that the data is preliminary and inconclusive and I cannot guarantee the safety or efficacy of unregulated supplements. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/met-my-primary-care-provider-for-the-1st-time-she-recommends-homeopathy-should-i-trust-her/737161/52 "2015-11-11T08:12:58Z")
> [@GrumpyBunny](#): > > Walk the path of love all you want, but get proper evidence for any claims being made. Especially if you’re paying good money for that walk down the path. In other words, to paraphrase Reagan, love but verify. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/met-my-primary-care-provider-for-the-1st-time-she-recommends-homeopathy-should-i-trust-her/737161/53 "2015-11-11T11:46:19Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > Her: “…probably just a stomach flu. I believe in homeopathy, and I recommend you take some echinacea with goldenseal”. There is no such thing as a “stomach flu”, and the term trivializes and downplays the seriousness of influenza. Homeopathy is not herbal medicine. Echinacea and goldenseal are both well-known herbal remedies, but I don’t have an herbal handy to look up what they are used for. (Do not trust 97.5% of the information on herbal remedies you find on the web; most of it is marketing, advertisement, or delusion.) I keep lots of herbal teas around, for sore throats, and respiratory congestion, and relaxation, and upset stomachs. These are generally effective; they are for specific minor symptoms, use well known herbs, and much of the efficacy is the effect of hot water or steam. Before you buy anything, see if the FDA has issued a warning letter to the company for not testing the raw materials. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/met-my-primary-care-provider-for-the-1st-time-she-recommends-homeopathy-should-i-trust-her/737161/54 "2015-11-11T13:11:04Z")
How does one find these warning letters? Is there a handy section on the FDA website? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/met-my-primary-care-provider-for-the-1st-time-she-recommends-homeopathy-should-i-trust-her/737161/55 "2015-11-11T17:50:51Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > Now you’re referencing a completely different study, not the one you linked to. The second one just says it got beta sitosteral from the African plant. It says absolutely nothing about Saw Palmetto. Sigh. Cochrane (a respected independent organization that does comprehensive reviews on efficacy of medical treatments) has concluded that saw palmetto has **not** been demonstrated effective against benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). On the other hand, beta-sitosterols (derived from other plant species) have been found to have some usefulness in treating this condition. Mind you, none of the [various anti-BPH herbal preparations](http://www.aafp.org/afp/2014/1201/p769.html) have that good a reputation in the medical community. In particular, [belief in saw palmetto](http://www.aafp.org/afp/2012/0615/p1202.html) has been declining for quite awhile. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/met-my-primary-care-provider-for-the-1st-time-she-recommends-homeopathy-should-i-trust-her/737161/56 "2015-11-11T17:51:06Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Find another doctor. Homeopathy is mostly bunk, and a scheme to sell you vitamins. Not really. It’s a scheme to sell you water that has been imbued magically with the concept of vitamins. Find another doctor. On rereading: “I believe in homeopathy, and I recommend you take some echinacea with goldenseal” Echinacea / goldenseal is probably not homeopathic, but an herbal remedy which actually contains some ingredients. In a way, worse than homeopathy, because with a lot of the herbal remedies you don’t know if you’re getting what the package claims, AND they _can_ have an effect on your body - sometimes good, sometimes bad. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/met-my-primary-care-provider-for-the-1st-time-she-recommends-homeopathy-should-i-trust-her/737161/57 "2015-11-11T17:51:53Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > How does one find these warning letters? Is there a handy section on the FDA website? [Yep.](http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/met-my-primary-care-provider-for-the-1st-time-she-recommends-homeopathy-should-i-trust-her/737161/58 "2015-11-11T18:13:17Z")
Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/met-my-primary-care-provider-for-the-1st-time-she-recommends-homeopathy-should-i-trust-her/737161/59 "2015-11-11T18:13:25Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > I’d suggest following the path of Love how you view it, within reason, I did and was very pleasantly surprised. I tried that, but now it burns when I pee.☹ ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/met-my-primary-care-provider-for-the-1st-time-she-recommends-homeopathy-should-i-trust-her/737161/60 "2015-11-11T19:23:05Z")
you are killing me **kayaker**. That was hilarious! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/met-my-primary-care-provider-for-the-1st-time-she-recommends-homeopathy-should-i-trust-her/737161.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/met-my-primary-care-provider-for-the-1st-time-she-recommends-homeopathy-should-i-trust-her/737161.md?page=4)