Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Science/2020 April 13

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April 13

Is Homeopathy recognized by American, European governments

There are many homeopathy doctors in India. There are some doctors who say it cannot be trusted. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 42.110.196.161 (talk) 11:26, 13 April 2020 (UTC)

In the UK homeopathy used to be provided through the NHS. In general that is no longer the case - see here. Mikenorton (talk) 11:47, 13 April 2020 (UTC)

Does the article Regulation and prevalence of homeopathy answer your questions? --ColinFine (talk) 13:09, 13 April 2020 (UTC)

It's definitely recognized in America and Europe, as Quackery. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 14:36, 13 April 2020 (UTC)

In the UK and USA, "homeopathy" is water (or sometimes something similar, like crystals). I have worked with doctors from India. They describe "homeopathy" as modern medicine mixed with classical remedies, such as herbs. Therefore, it is possible that this question is mixing up two radically different forms of medical treatment that use the same name. 97.82.165.112 (talk) 19:29, 14 April 2020 (UTC)

I think homeopathy is sometimes used loosely by those who don't understand what it is, but AFAICT, there is no difference in what homeopathy means in India except that it is possibly more likely to be mixed with other treatments like ayurvedic or naturopathic ones and I think the concept of "like cures like" is sometimes ignored. See these Indian government sites [1] [2] [3]. Note that although the last ones has "mother tinctures" AFAICT, these are intended to be diluted before homeopathic use. See also [4]. And maybe [5] which notes that a number of the "drugs" are imported from Germany (somewhat ironic since India is a major manufacturer of real pharmaceuticals). BTW, as clear from those links, homeopathy is still regulated and supported by the Indian government in some fashion. And before people laugh at how "backwards third world countries", remember that as per our articles and [6], the UK's NHS and Spain only removed funding recently, in France it's is only going to be phased out in 2021. And Germany is an interesting case, our articles may lead you to believe it no longer funded. But it sounds like it often is see the earlier external link and [7] [8] [9] [10]. The relative amounts may be low, but remember the "drugs"/"medicines" should basically cost almost nothing to produce so it's almost pure profit for the manufacturers etc and the "doctors" (who I gather are sometimes real doctors as well) get money for doing nothing really. Nil Einne (talk) 21:48, 14 April 2020 (UTC)

Can coronavirus be spread from humans to parrots?

Specifically my goffin.

I'm healthy, as far as I'm aware at this point. But in general, could she get the virus from being close to me if I had it? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 146.200.127.203 (talk) 13:04, 13 April 2020 (UTC)

Some coronaviruses can. Remember that when you say coronavirus you're referring to a huge, diverse classification of viruses; it would not be unlike asking "Can mammals do XYZ". If you are referring to the specific coronavirus causing the current pandemic, known as Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 or "SARS-CoV-2" (name of the virus species) and Coronavirus disease 2019 or "COVID-19" (the disease caused by that specific species of virus), then the answer is "we don't know". here is what the CDC in the United States says, in summation "Animals get coronaviruses, but we don't know much about if they can catch THIS coronavirus, and even if they can, what effect it will have on them". This article discusses human-to-animal transmissions we know about already, as does This one, but I don't see anything specific to birds. Consider this answer as "Humanity hasn't figured out if it can or cannot yet" and not "it cannot". --Jayron32 14:21, 13 April 2020 (UTC)

Here is something that specifically discusses birds.  --Lambiam 14:27, 13 April 2020 (UTC)

Best not to keep bats and pangolins as pets. Count Iblis (talk) 19:43, 13 April 2020 (UTC)