Why are people ‘cured’ by fake science?

Beyond Today

BBC

News

4.6 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 30 October 2019

⏱️ 23 minutes

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Summary

Earlier this week top NHS bosses wrote a letter to the Professional Standards Authority expressing serious concerns about homeopathy. They warned of its lack of scientific foundation and anti-science message in an era of misinformation. Homeopathic remedies are proven to be no more effective than a placebo, but for many of its defenders it has real therapeutic effects. In this episode we look at the power of placebo, why so many people swear by it and why its effectiveness is troubling for clinicians. We look at the specific list of health conditions that respond to placebo effects and explore their limitations with science journalist Erik Vance. We also speak to Julia Buckley, whose chronic pain took her on a bizarre journey via a Voodoo demon and a chorus of healing angels. You can read Julia Buckley's whole story in her book 'Heal Me'. Presented by Tina Daheley Producer: Lucy Hancock Mixed by Nicolas Raufast Additional Production: Tom Burchell Editor: John Shields

Transcript

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0:00.0	BBC Sounds, music radio podcasts.
0:06.6	Hello, I'm Tina Dehealy.
0:08.4	Welcome to Beyond Today from BBC Radio 4,
0:11.5	where we ask one big question about one big story.
0:14.0	Today why are so many people cured by fake science?
0:27.0	Earlier this week, top NHS bosses rose a letter to the Professional Standards Authority, expressing serious concerns about homeopathy.
0:40.0	The letter says we are in an era of misinformation.
0:45.4	Anything that gives homeopathy a veneer of credibility risks chances being able to con more people
0:51.6	into parting with their hard-earned cash in return for bogus treatments
0:55.8	which at best do nothing and at worst can be potentially dangerous.
1:01.6	It goes on to say, homeopathy is no replacement for rigorously tried and
1:07.4	tested medical treatments delivered or prescribed by properly qualified
1:12.1	professionals. It's a point senior NHS doctors like
1:15.8	Simon Stevens have made many times over the years.
1:19.8	If the NHS is spending any money on homeopathic medicine, is that a good use of money?
1:25.0	No, I mean they're placebo at best.
1:28.0	So it would be absurd if anybody is prescribing homeopathic medicine.
1:33.8	In my opinion, yes, I agree.
1:36.2	Today, we're not going to have the debate about scientific evidence for homeopathy.
1:40.9	To be clear, there just isn't any good science to it.
1:46.0	The problem is that dismissing it doesn't explain why so many people claim to be helped
1:51.1	by alternative cures like homeopathy. So instead we're going to look into just how powerful the placebo effect is.
	...

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