Healthy Skepticism Library item: 19105

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Magazine

Homeopathy: what’s in it?
Pharmacy Daily 2011 Feb 11
http://tdlists.traveldaily.com.au/new/link.php?M=39921&N=8974&L=1297&F=H

Notes:

Link to Youtube Video – 10:23 Campaign Against Homeopathy – Melbourne, Australia 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvgRMcfo0Yk

Full text:

THE efficacy of homeopathic
therapies sold in Australian
pharmacies is being called into
question, with groups of Australian
“Skeptics” banding together to
launch their 10:23 campaign over
the weekend.
“We intend to show that there is
a growing feeling around the world
that enough time and money has
been wasted on homeopathic
remedies,” said Michael Marshall,
co-ordinator of the international
10:23 Campaign.
As part of the campaign,
members from the Victorian
Skeptics, Melbourne Skeptics and
Young Australian Skeptics groups
gathered in central Melbourne
over the weekend to take a “fatal”
overdose of homeopathic drugs.
The aim of the stunt was to
“educate the public about the true
nature of homeopathy” and to
“highlight a problem with
Australia’s therapeutic goods
regulation” which allows medicines
to be sold in pharmacies as long
as they are “low risk” and have
been used historically.
Homeopathy is, according to the
Skeptics, based on three laws: The
Law of Similars- that substances
that causes a symptom can cure it
(i.e. caffeine is good for insomnia),
The Law of Infinitesimals – that the
more diluted a substance becomes
the stronger it is, and The Law of
Succussion- whereby vigorous
shaking of a remedy makes it
stronger.
“In the two hundred years these
treatments have existed, there has
never been anything to suggest they
work – and because they’re nothing
but sugar and water, they couldn’t
possibly do the things homeopaths
claim they can do,” said Marshall.
“Tens of billions of dollars are
spent every year around the world
on these ineffective remedies, and
when told what they really are, and
how they’re made, most people are
shocked these useless treatments
are still able to be sold to an
unsuspecting public,” Marshall
added.
Highlighting the “dangers” of
homeopathy, the group referenced
a British BBC investigation which
revealed homeopaths doling out
ineffective antimalarial and vaccine
remedies to travellers and the
general public.
“People assume it’s some kind of
herbal remedy, but even if you’re
looking for something totally
natural, it’s just a con,” a Skeptic
spokesperson said.
Closer to home, the group also
referenced the 2002 Australian
case of a nine-month old child who
died of eczema after she was
treated with homeopathy over
pharmacological medicine.
“We’ve just taken what should
have effectively been a lethal
overdose of homeopathy and 30
minutes on we’re still fine” said a
spokesperson, after the Melbourne
group “overdose”.
“So why is this product being
supported by the Federal
Government, and why is it being
sold in pharmacies across Australia
alongside legitimate medicine?” the
spokesperson added.
To view video from the event
CLICK HERE.