How much should I care about Homeopathy?

[Membrain]

stewiegriffin81, I agree with your points entirely.

Me too.

What I don't understand is how these products and their claims, are not brought down by breaches of the Trade Practices Act? Surely it would only take a couple of cases?

For instance, you don't need to dig far to find all sorts of claims that are NOT prefixed by *may help* (which of course is too wishywashy to argue) - e.g. products that claim 'for the temporary relief of fever' - pretty easy to slam this scientifically, why are they allowed to keep advertising?!

The nonsense about homeopathic immunisations has recently led to this:
http://scepticsbook.com/2010/01/21/h...e-advertising/, thank goodness.

(includes a nice link for a graphic that some of you might like to bookmark: http://scepticsbook.com/wp-content/u..._4628159_n.jpg)

[DanielV]

Originally Posted by Membrain

The nonsense about homeopathic immunisations has recently led to this:
http://scepticsbook.com/2010/01/21/h...e-advertising/, thank goodness.

(includes a nice link for a graphic that some of you might like to bookmark: http://scepticsbook.com/wp-content/u..._4628159_n.jpg)

HAHA, brilliant!

[common pirate]

(includes a nice link for a graphic that some of you might like to bookmark: http://scepticsbook.com/wp-content/u..._4628159_n.jpg)

I Want that on a T-Shirt!

a quick google lead me to a higher res version http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sRDhbC46aK...09poster1A.jpg

seems like more can be found at: http://hellsnewsstand.blogspot.com/2...itute-for.html

man, i hate QUACKS!

[davo]

Nice.

http://www.homeoprophylaxis.com.au/E...0/Default.aspx

The Sale of Homeoprophylaxis Kits and Remedies

Despite being legally able to sell homeopathic medicines in most countries, this is done under the provision that no serious medical claims are attached to those medicines. By virtue of calling a homeopathic medicine ‘Homeo-prophylaxis’ a serious medical claim is implied according to regulatory bodies such as the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Association).

It is therefore effectively illegal to commercially sell Homeoprophylaxis Kits in many countries including Australia.

What is at issue is not the medicine being sold, as the same medicine may be sold in a different capacity without incurring legal action ie Ledum 200 may be sold for insect bites, but not sold to prevent tetanus without somewhat absurdly invoking the poisons act.

The TGA has therefore recommended that no attempt to sell HP remedies be made through this website without a personal consultation.

As it was the original aim of this site to make reliable HP kits available on a broad scale investigation into this area continues. Until further notice however, standard face to face consultations are a requirement for any sale of medicine, with Skype and telephone consultations being legally unavailable.


Following a complaint to the TGA in April 2010 (Therapeutic Goods Association - Australian equivalent of the US FDA) all financial activities through this site have ceased entirely and it is now for information purposes only.

[Durro]

Why should you care and what's the harm in Homeopathy ?

http://whatstheharm.net/homeopathy.html

[Justtristo]

We should care about homeopathy, because people are needlessly getting harmed or even killed. Because they are fooled in believing having homeopathy (which has never been proven scientifically) instead of tried and proven conventional medical treatments.

[heresy]

Does anyone know a health cover that does not pay frauds and con artists?

I would sign up for private health cover then.. So far, haven't found one.. There is NO way I am going to pay for someone else to see a Homeopath..
or a Naturopath, or a Reflexologist, or a Chiropractor, or an acupuncturist, or a Feng Shui nut, or a psychic, or an astrologer..

evidence based all the way...

I have been into many chemists and debated with staff there who either believe or don't know about Homeopathy not working.. One excessively wide eyed girl in a vitamin shop swore she cured her dog after it was run over..

I will continue to ask them if they are against dihydrogen monoxide...

That stuff is lethal! Somebody should ban dihydrogen monoxide ( hydric acid )

[common pirate]

Originally Posted by heresy

That stuff is lethal! Somebody should ban dihydrogen monoxide ( hydric acid )

Brilliant, homeopaths would have literally nothing to sell then.
They would probably make up something about nothing having memory.

[Loki]

They would probably make up something about nothing having memory.

Ah but then it would be religion and they'd have trouble competing with the big corporations.

[wearestardust]

While looking for something else I came across this editorial in the Journal of Medical Ethics on the subject of the ethics of funding homeopathy under the UK health system (and the principles would apply anywhere, I think). They're not in favour. A neat summary of some things we've said and some things we haven't.

http://jme.bmj.com/content/36/3/130.full

I'll just quote the summary:

To conclude, it is likely that homeopathy is where the harm is. Although homeopathic remedies do not directly harm patients, it is very possible that harm could befall homeopathy patients who refrain from seeking traditional medicine. Patients in the NHS could be indirectly harmed if funds are spent on homeopathy that could have been spent on mainstream care. Patients who are prescribed homeopathic treatments are very possibly being deceived, and thus are being treated unethically. And homeopathy is currently weakening public confidence in the NHS, the MHRA and science and medicine in general, and also doing a disservice to efficacious forms of complementary medicine. Most of these unethical effects could be minimised by withdrawing NHS funding for homeopathic practice, and educating the public about the lack of an evidence base for homeopathy. In other words, it would be more ethical for the NHS to stick to treatments of proven worth. There was once a homeopathic hospital in Tunbridge Wells, but it was closed because ‘the NHS has to decide the best use of money on the evidence of clinical effectiveness’. Other NHS trusts would do well to follow this example.