That Mitchell and Webb Look: Homeopathic A&E

Hilarious sketch from the fourth episode of series three of 'That Mitchell and Webb Look.'

TM&WL at amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/That-Mitchell...

M&W in 'Peep Show' at amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Peep-Show-1-Dav...

• Category

  Comedy

[GlasgowPhilosipher]

No it doesn't. It's water. Unless you're thirsty or on fire, water won't cure anything.

There are plenty of other potential explanations for your recovery, it could be your own immune system kicking in or even the medicine you took starting to work, but because you recently started homeopathy you've attributed it to that through correlation.

But what do I know? If you want to waste time and money on a few drops of H2O with nothing else in it, that's your business.

[Zereniti77]

Q: What do you call alternative medicine that has been proven to work? A: Medicine

[vorpal22]

No, if kava is used correctly, it doesn't kill off your liver.

The problem was that naturopathic companies got greedy and started buying parts of Piper methysticum other than the roots and using them to make medications, and these parts of the plant contain hepatoxins. This is why the Pacific islanders only consume the root.

And yes, it's well known that acetaminophen is very difficult on the liver. What's your point?

[Liliana Bray]

And kills off your liver.

But you know... whatever.

So does paracetamol, I suppose.

[jimmyleg5]

This is the strangest, coolest thing I have read all week.

[Orion Supergan]

Thank you for the reply. I agree with what you are saying mostly. I wrote that comment more to address the previous person relating to specific compounds found in natural plants that are effective but not able to be patented.

To make my point more specifically for you: I find it unfortunate that potentially effective yet unproven products that have scientific mechanisms of action are put in the same category as mumbo jumbo pseudo-science/mysticism because it costs a lot to do the trials.

[Jay PeeWhy]

I don't think t's a catch all for anything that isn't evidence based. For example, a calorie controlled diet is probably the most utilised recommendation from modern medicine and has absolutely nothing to do with pharmaceuticals.

Modern medicine consists of healthcare that is predominantly scientifically proven. Drugs and their derivatives come under than banner, but then so does 'getting enough sleep' or 'not eating McDonalds'; both of which have proven benefits but not pharmaceutical.

[mihaelaishtar]

Whoa, that's strong stuff. Genius!!

[Orion Supergan]

Agreed. It is unfortunate that 'alternative' is a catchall for everything that isn't pharmaceutical.

[longbendy81]

All medicine was "plants" once. Then you'll never guess what they did? Right - they TESTED them and those that work BECAME MODERN MEDICINE those that didn't..or haven't been tested yet - or were tested and just plain don't work AREN'T. If shoving a dandelion up your back passage gets you over a bout of travel sickness GOOD FOR YOU - but unless it works on a significant number of people in tests IT'S NOT MEDICINE it's just some weird stuff you do to take your mind off travelling.

[longbendy81]

151 love to drink special water - some of which has the healing properties of the Ganges - the fountains of Babylon. - Whilst some other molecules were once Hitler's Diarrhea, John Mcririck's beard spit or condensation straight out of Chernobyls cooling tanks

[vorpal22]

There are absolutely naturopathic substances that have medical properties, and would thus qualify as medicine. For example, kava absolutely has active compounds that are effective anxiolytics.