Maybe employ more teachers then priests wow get the class sizes down see if that helps

Or maybe we need these "chaplins" We need to recruit our up and coming pedophiles somewhere

Why on Earth We would want Religion in Schools in this day and age, Kids get enough of fairy-tales on TV
SCHOOL = Math/English/Basic education which clearly isn't being done atm.
Fix the Problem don't try putting band aids on things

Dear Dream On,

I don't think a remedy which has no proven efficacy should be subsidised because of the placebo effect. The placebo effect can be incorporated into conventional medicine. A doctor who treats patients with consideration, listens to their complaints even though they babble on and gives them confidence is employing the placebo effect.

Dreamon: Aromatherapy.

Now there's a heap of Hog Wash If I ever smelt it.

Dreamon: Therapeutic Massage.

Or Physiotherapy. This is very good in conjunction with Chiropractic Manipulation in correcting many Skeletal problems. However, Hot stones, "erotic oils", soft music & some big Busted, half naked woman does nothing.

Dreamon: Acupuncture.

While the jury is still out on this one, there does seem to be some value in the practice.

Dreamon: Hands on healing.

Crap. In the same vein as Praying or Waving pieces of coloured cloth or feathers & saying, "ooga booga wah wah," over the patient.

Dreamon: Cannabis would protect some people when faced with mental breakdown and suicidal ideation.

Would it? I would say that Cannabis was the cause of the Mental Breakdown & Suicidal Idealation in the first place.

Recently I was sent to a Nutritionist by my Doctor. I kept a diary of all my meals for two weeks. She said she couldn't help me. However while I was there she put the hard sell on me to purchase her range of "miracle Cures" for everything. I should give up Salt, But take her "Sal Mer" Tablets. (Sea Salt Tablets) Something else for Acid Blood. I said a teaspoon of Bicarb in a glass of waster would fix that. She was horrified I'd poison my self. I had a look at her product & the main ingredient was BiCarb Soda, under another name. There were an number of things I pointed out to her that were available at home for nothing & I didn't have to buy her "Products." She was visibly upset. I notice my Chiropractor has similar products that he tries to push.

My Auntie was a Witch Doctor/Midwife, so I know all about natural remedies. She made alcohol out of anything at hand. The family joke was she made Lawn Clipping Wine. She distilled her own Cascara which we had to take with Cod Liver Oil. It didn't kill us but it sure felt like it going down. It sure worked, & quickly too.

Dear DavidF,

I think what you say is correct to a certain extent, however, the nature of the placebo effect is not one that we reliably duplicate but we do know that it is real nonetheless. We also know that the "relaxation response" can be very personal. So, for one person a 5 minute chat with their GP may be very reassuring. For others, they will need a ceremony consistent with their beliefs. Rather nebulous, admittedly, and yet there you have it.

JayB, aromatherapy as a name to describe the use of essential oils is somewhat of a misnoma, but a recognised one by those who are informed. It does not mean that you smell all of them. In fact, amongst the essential oils are I believe the world's first potent antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal agents, brought to us from the Eastern Islamic cultures at that time when the West was still without.

Massage is as agreed a valuable therapeutic tool, and not just for skeletal issues, but also circulatory and muscular issues. Hot rocks and certain oils play a role. Whilst you may want to see this as a black and white affair, the reality is somewhere in between. Now, I recognise that quite a cult of mumbo jumbo has grown up around it, but once you seperate that out there are TGA approved agents in the mix.

Tea Tree oil is a classic example, and present in many pharmaceutical products available from the chemist though we recognise the UWA study regarding the need for sufficient active in the mix for efficacy.

Re: your comments on cannabis, again you are uninformed, as you seem to have failed to comprehend what was written. No one was suggesting the consumption of raw cannabis, but rather one of its constituent parts:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabidiol

However. there are now CBD strains available, which have only negligible amounts of intoxicants in, much like hemp.

When you spout off in ignorance you just sound silly. Try harder to comprehend what has been written.

and re:salt, well there are certainly some conditions which require the reduction and or elimination of salt from the diet, such as certain heart conditions.

And bicarb, well, it has its uses for sure but as of last I looked on the TGA, it had fallen out of favour as regular use has an unacceptably high risk of damaging the lining in the stomach. Now, other agents are preferred in its stead.

Other dietary programs are also very useful depending on the nature of the medical issue. For example, for those with certain types of Irratible Bowel Syndrome, a FODMAP diet is the way to go.

Conversely, some conditions which are claimed to be assisted by diet by dubious practitioners are in reality not affected whatsoever. So again, medicine is a complex issue which is rarely black and white but most often somewhere in between.

Talking about "natural therapies," can someone
explain to me why chiropractics, physiotherapists,
and osteopaths should receive government support?