[thedoc (OP)]

Kevin asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Chris.

I generally  listen to Radio 702 in Johannesburg South Africa, am a white male age 64 years, active in regional business and until recent of good health. Some 6 weeks ago I was diagnosed with a muscular condition "Polymyalgia Rheumatica" and am now prescribed to daily doses of Cortisone and allied medications with advise this condition could last 6mths to 6 years.
 
My question is what alternative medications, if any,  Homeopathic options exist and how to make contact appreciate your advise

Regards

Kevin

What do you think?

[RD]

Kevin asked the Naked Scientists:
...  Homeopathic options exist ... appreciate your advise

Homeopathy = placebo = waste of time and money ...

Placebo interventions for all clinical conditions

Placebo interventions are often claimed to substantially improve many clinical conditions. However, most reports on effects of placebos are based on unreliable studies that have not randomised patients to placebo or no treatment.

We studied the effect of placebo treatments by reviewing 202 trials comparing placebo treatment with no treatment covering 60 healthcare problems. In general, placebo treatments produced no major health benefits, although on average they had a modest effect on outcomes reported by patients, such as pain. However, the effect on pain varied from large to non-existent, even in well-conducted trials.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003974.pub3/abstract

i.e. taking the placebo affects some patient's subjective judgement of their health, but does not deliver objectively measurable benefit.


The National Health Service (NHS) in Britain has clung onto a few "homoeopathic hospitals",  but only because homoeopathic remedies, (i.e. water), is a lot cheaper than medicine  ... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10449430