Homeopathy
This page was last updated on 26th July 2010.
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The end of homeopathy?Time after time, properly conducted scientific studies have proved that homeopathic remedies work no better than simple placebos. So why do so many sensible people swear by them? And why do homeopaths believe they are victims of a smear campaign? Award-winning science and medical writer Dr Ben Goldacre follows a trail of fudged statistics, bogus surveys and widespread self-deception. Ben Goldacre MD explains homeopathy3-minute video presentation. Homeopathy“Homeopathy is best described as a belief system rather than a system of medicine. Homeopathy also qualifies as a pseudoscience. It contradicts the known laws of physics, chemistry, and pharmacology; it is also dogmatic, relies on anecdotes rather than evidence, requires special pleading to explain its failures, and relies heavily on the magical thinking of both its proponents and its consumers.” Article by John Jackson (UK-Skeptics) Dawkins vs Homeopathy: The Memory of WaterVideo clip from the 'Enemies of Reason' series by Richard Dawkins in which he explains how homeopathy works. (Science Teachers' Video Resources, 3mins 53 secs) Benefits and risks of homoeopathyBen Goldacre, The Lancet Briefing document on HomeopathyExplains the principles of homeopathy, the lack of evidence for homeopathy, and the reasons why homeopathy appears to work. Sense About Science [pdf] James Randi offers one million dollars to prove homeopathyVideo presentation (YouTube, 9mins 56secs) A 19 page strip about homeopathyDarryl Cunningham blogspot Sense About Science comments on the UK Government's response to the Commons Science and Technology Committee Report, 'Evidence Check 2: Homeopathy'"The Government has ignored the Committee’s detailed consideration of the licensing of homeopathic products as medicines. It has acknowledged that “there will be an assumption that if the NHS is offering homeopathic treatments then they will be efficacious” and that homeopathic products can be licensed with no requirement for evidence that they treat any condition at all. However, the Government has put forward a weak point about ‘patient choice’ instead of considering what to do about these problems. At a time when PCTs are reviewing expenditure on ineffective treatments, this is perverse. We urge them to go back and give proper consideration to this part of the Committee’s report. In the meantime, we recommend a warning on the label of homeopathic products telling people that the product is licensed without any evidence that it works." (26th July 2010) Taking On Homeopathy in Germany“It is good to hear that politicians in Germany are now openly discussing not only removing the protections that force insurance companies to pay for homeopathy, but actually banning insurance companies from paying for it. This would be similar to the BMA proposed ban on NHS support for homeopathy…With homeopathy the science could not be more clear, and recent exhaustive reviews, like Evidence Check 2: Homeopathy, have shown that it simply does not work.” Steven Novella MD, Science Based Medicine (21st July 2010) Homeopathy targeted in debate on German health care spendingAs Germany's government looks to fine-tune the country’s costly health care system, some government experts are suggesting that insurers stop covering homeopathy…Jürgen Windeler, who will assume leadership of Germany’s medicines assessment body in September 2010, says that the dearth of proof surrounding homeopathy’s effectiveness is well-documented enough to “not require further research”. The Local (a German-English publication) (10 July 2010) Homeopathic 'Overdosers' Support the British Medical Association“With the recent announcement from BUPA that, in light of the BMA's position on homeopathy, the company intend to address their current practice of covering homeopathic remedies in their healthcare policies, the 10:23 Campaign calls for the government to follow the reccommendations of their own experts and rid the NHS of this unproven and unscientific modality.” 1023 Website (4th July 2010) Calls for homeopathy ban"Currently at Bupa, some of our policies cover complementary therapies, including homeopathy. However, in light of the doctors' vote at the BMA conference, we will be reviewing our position on homeopathy." BUPA (2nd July 2010) Clinical Debate: No arguments – just evidence
"In February, the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee published its evidence check on the alternative therapy. The report was backed by multiple meta-analyses and could not have been more damning. It found there was no credible evidence of homeopathy’s efficacy beyond placebo, and that its supposed mechanism was “scientifically implausible”. And yet pharmacists sell homeopathic products. Arguments used to defend these sales are the patient’s right to choice, and their belief in the therapy delivering a valid result (ie the placebo effect). Homeopathy Awareness Week: Is this the homeopaths' last stand?“...bloggers and sceptics — enthused by their success on the chiropractic front — might already be considering action against any unsubstantiated claims made by UK homeopaths. This could truly be the end of homeopathy.” Professor Edzard Ernst, Guardian Science Blog (14th June 2010) Fossilised Medicine: Homeopathy as a window into an earlier world of protomedicine“...this fossilised medicine has its roots in the earlier concept of the doctrine of signatures. This idea was based on the concept that the living world was a divine, harmonious creation that was given to humans and filled with pervasive signs of the purpose of each part of that creation. Thus, illness could be treated by looking for the deep linkage between the natural world and the human body…Darwin came along and showed the doctrine of signatures cannot be true.” The Quackometer (1st June 2010) NHS scraps doctors’ training at Scots homeopathic hospitalTraining for junior doctors at NHS Scotland’s only homeopathic hospital, the Glasgow Homoepathic Hospital (also known as the ‘Centre for Integrative Care’) has been axed just days after homeopathy was condemned as “witchcraft” by young medics. The Herald (24th May 2010) British doctors call homeopathy "witchcraft"Doctors attending the annual British Medical Association (BMA) Junior Doctors Conference voted almost unanimously for a motion that, ""Given the complete lack of valid scientific evidence of benefit: (i) homeopathy should no longer be funded by the National Health Service; and (ii) no UK training post should include a placement in homeopathy." Dr. Tom Dolphin, deputy director of the BMA's junior doctor's committee, provoked raucous laughter by referring to homeopathy as witchcraft. (See 4:55:30 to 4:58:43 of link.) To become official BMA policy, the motion must be accepted at the BMA's full conference next month. [Donelley L. Homeopathy is witchcraft, say doctors. The Telegraph, May 15, 2010] The BMA has previously expressed skepticism about homeopathy, arguing that the rationing body, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence should examine the evidence base and make a definitive ruling about the use of homeopathic remedies in the NHS. BMA website (8th May 2010) Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland Denounces Homeopathy
“Following an announcement from the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland, we at the Merseyside Skeptics Society ‘10:23 Campaign‘ would like to offer our full and unequivocal support to the new draft guidelines, which would require pharmacies to explicitly inform patients that homeopathic products simply do not work. In the light of this proposal, we urge the the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain to follow suit and issue similar guidelines for its members…Until pharmacies realise that they must prioritise patient care over profit by providing only scientifically proven treatments, it is up to individual pharmacists to ensure that patients are given the information they need about homeopathy at the point of sale.” Merseyside Skeptics (23rd April 2010) Epic fail: Scientific Research in Homeopathy Conference 2010An undercover visit to the conference revealed the highly dubious input of its speakers. They included Jayney Goddard, Lionel Milgrom, Alex Tournier, Kate Chatfield, Steven Cartwright, Oliver Dowding, Clare Relton, and Dr Rob Verkerk. Skepticat blogspot (18th April 2010) Homeopathy and the Structure of Memory“With World Homeopathy Awareness Week fresh in our minds, it is appropriate to ask: why did evolution, which has always taken such a make-do attitude to developing the faculties of living things, not choose to work with water to construct an immune system capable of remembering its enemies? Surely, given the prodigious feats of memory attributed by homeopaths to this glistening, life-giving fluid, Nature could have fashioned a watery armour to protect us from disease? This has not happened of course because memories require fixed structures and water is a liquid. In this form, it is no more capable of remembering molecules than of being sculpted.” Professor Stephen Curry, structural biologist, Imperial College London (17th April 2010) James Randi speaks during Homeopathy Awareness Week 20104:32 mins video segment. (13th April 2010) What's the Harm: Homeopathy - Gloria Thomas Sam (Part 1)"The death of a small child is a tragedy. The death of a small child from parental neglect is a double tragedy. Gloria Thomas died from eczema, but she could have lived a long and normal life if her parents hadn't believed more in homeopathy than evidence based medicine." (9th April 2010) [3:47 mins video] What's the Harm: Homeopathy (Part 2)"Homeopathy, grounded in the belief that water has a memory, just doesn't work. Rational skeptics anger and inflame proponents of homeopathic because we demand evidence of effectiveness. Evidence, according to a concordance of studies, that just doesn't exist." (9th April 2010) [8:52 mins video] Homeopathic Remedy MachinesA look at simple copying machines, dial based machines, the McGurk Electrical Services MKIV Remedy Maker, the Sulis Instruments Remedy Maker Mk3, computer controlled machines, and other oddities. The Land That Tim Forgot blogspot (8th April 2010) Homeopathy preys on the desperate"When humans are afflicted with sickness and misery, when they are searching for a cure, sometimes reason is shoved aside in desperation…I'm not here to savage homeopathy, ridicule its users, and then offer no substantive comment…I certainly understand what it's like to be struck by an illness, mental or physical, and want to find a cure. But just because something gives one hope doesn't mean it works…In short, homeopathy is water.” Eric Mang, Rabble blogs (26th March 2010) Homeopaths On The Run“The cat is clearly out of the bag. Homeopathy is a 200 year old pre-scientific system of pure pseudoscience. Modern attempts to explain how it might work have failed, and the clinical evidence shows (no surprise) that it does not work…The public has been largely unaware of these facts, thinking that “homeopathic” was equivalent to “natural” and that they were getting herbs or some plant-based treatment. Like any cult, information is the enemy of homeopathy. The more the public, and regulators, understand about homeopathy the more ridiculous it seems…Homeopaths are now in the desperate situation of shouting “ignore that man behind the curtain.” They have decided to attack the messengers – skeptics. But in so doing they are just making the situation worse for themselves, as their attempts to explain homeopathy and discredit their critics are indistinguishable from drunken rants.” Steven Novella, Neurologica Blog (26th February 2010) MPs urge government to stop NHS funding, and MHRA licensing, of homeopathyProfessor David Colquhoun, DC Science (22nd February 2010) No to homeopathy placebo“…what is wrong with giving placebos to patients as long as they help? The answer, I'm afraid, is a lot. This strategy would mean not telling the truth to patients and thus depriving them of fully informed consent. This paternalistic approach of years gone by is now considered unethical. Also, placebo effects are unreliable and usually short-lived. Moreover, endorsing homeopathic placebos in this way would mean that people may use it for serious, treatable conditions. Furthermore, if we allow the homeopathic industry to sell placebos we should do the same for big pharmaceutical companies – and where would this take us? Crucially and somewhat paradoxically, we don't need a placebo to generate a placebo effect. If I give my headache patient an aspirin and do this, as all good doctors should, with empathy, time and understanding, the patient will benefit from a placebo effect plus the pharmacological effect of the aspirin. If I prescribe her a homeopathic remedy, I quite simply deprive her of the latter. It is difficult to argue that this approach would be in the interest of my patient. What follows is straightforward: homeopathy is yet another beautiful theory destroyed by ugly facts.” Edzard Ernst, The Guardian (22nd February 2010) “Consumer choice” — why Boots sell homeopathyPaul Bennett, professional standards director and superintendent pharmacist at Boots, is questioned by the House of Commons science and technology committee about whether homeopathic remedies work. BBC News (22nd February 2010) BBC ReportDr Charlotte Mendes Da Costa and Professor David Colquhoun debate after the release of the report of the Science and Technology committee that condemned the spending of NHS funds on homeopathy. The report also condemned the MHRA for allowing misleading labelling of homeopathic pills. (22nd February 2010) [4:44mins] Mass placebocide attempt: The 10:23 campaign“The campaign was focussed on Boots, the UK’s biggest pharmacy chain, in particular the fact that Boots sell homeopathic pills and regularly gives appallingly bad advice about all forms of quackery that they stock…The campaign was a success because it got good coverage in the newspapers, radio and TV. Boots, rather like vice-chancellors, seems to be uninterested in reason or morals…” Professor David Colquhoun, DC Science (4th February 2010) Homeopathy by the (mind-boggling) numbers“To put homeopathy in a medicinal context, if you wanted to consume a normal 500mg paracetamol dose you would need ten million billion homeopathic pills. Where each pill is the same mass as the Milky Way galaxy. There is actually not enough matter in the entire known Universe to make the homeopathic equivalent of a single paracetamol pill.” Matt Parker, School of Mathematical Sciences at Queen Mary, University of London. Times Typepad (20th January 2010) UK anti-homeopathy campaignSkeptics in the UK have announced their intention to raise public awareness that homeopathy is quackery. The campaign launches early in 2010. People who wish to join or monitor the campaign can register via this link. House of Commons Science and Technology Committee — Fourth Report: Evidence Check 2: HomeopathyReport and Proceedings of the Committee. (2010) Homeopathic dilutions“How do we know there are no molecules of active ingredient in most homeopathic remedies?...Methods used in chemistry confirm that homeopathic remedies contain only trace amounts of ingredients or none at all. From a rational, scientific point of view this is important as everything we know about how drugs work conventionally (dose-response studies, for example) means that homeopathy cannot work. It is not possible to dilute a substance out of existence and still expect it to have a physiological effect. The extreme dilution used in homeopathy, particularly above 12C where the remedies contain no ingredients at all, is sufficient to invalidate homeopathy from a scientific perspective. Most claims made by homeopaths, however, are based on magical thinking rather than scientific principles, so the reality of ingredient-free remedies is explained away by invoking ideas such as 'water has a memory'. Homeopaths claim that it is potentisation that makes their remedies work - not simply the dilution - and the lack of any molecules in their remedies does not invalidate the claims made for potentisation. This propensity for magical thinking is why this scientific invalidation will have little to no impact on the belief in homeopathy.” John Jackson, UK Skeptics (2010) Homeopathic potentisation“A look at the claim of increasing a remedy's strength by serially diluting and succussing it…Although critics of homeopathy tend to focus on the extreme dilutions homeopaths use, and this is correct from a scientific perspective, homeopaths themselves don't deny that their remedies often contain no ingredients. This is because they claim that their remedies work because of potentisation through succussion. However, the idea of potentisation has no basis in scientific understanding nor does it have an evidence base to support it. Homeopaths may claim that potentisation does something, even if they can't explain how or why, based on the results they see; however, those results may be as a result of how placebo effects can give the illusion of ineffective treatments working. Potentisation, therefore, could be a name given to a process whose explanation is still awaiting discovery or it may be another form of superstitious/magical thinking. As there are no effects detected in well-conducted clinical trials of homeopathic remedies, the second option looks the far more likely of the two to be correct.” Article by John Jackson, UK Skeptics (2010) Scholar triumphs as the University of Lancashire is ordered to release homeopathy materialThe ruling followed a three-day Information Tribunal hearing in Manchester, during which senior Uclan managers including Malcolm McVicar, the vice-chancellor, took to the witness stand to argue the university's case. The case was triggered by David Colquhoun, professor of pharmacology at University College London. Zoë Corbyn, Times Higher Education (17th December 2009) House of Commons Science and Technology Committee — Minutes of Evidence: Evidence Check 2: HomeopathyMinutes of Evidence. (30th November 2009) House of Commons Science and Technology Committee — Minutes of Evidence: Evidence Check 2: HomeopathyThe Minutes of Oral Evidence taken before the Science and Technology Committee, (Science and Technology Sub-Committee). Members present: Mr Phil Willis (in the Chair), Mr Tim Boswell, Dr Evan Harris, Dr Brian Iddon, Ian Stewart, and Graham Stringer. (25th November 2009) House of Commons Science and Technology Committee — Written Evidence: Evidence Check 2: HomeopathyWritten Evidence. (November 2009) Homeopathy offers fake cures for whatever ails youArticle by Steve Thoms, Toronto National Post (13th November 2009) Closing the Door on Homeopathy"Given the evidence and the state of the science, the only responsible position is to completely dismantle homeopathy and close the door on this pseudoscience once and for all." Article by Steven Novella, Science Based Medicine (11th November 2009) HMC:21 — hammering the nails into homeopathy"What homeopaths should not do is demonstrate a tendency to argue that weak papers in dubious journals represent proof of its efficacy, that it can treat and cure terminal illness, that its proponents have minds closed to changing in the face of evidence and that it actively undermines evidence based medicine. Unfortunately H:MC21 seem to believe in this latter option…" Gimpy blog (11th November 2009) Homeopathy much less popular in HollandSome 17% of Dutch doctors prescribed some sort of homeopathic medicine to their patients last year, compared with 40% 20 years ago…Doctors are most likely to prescribe homeopathic medicines because their patients ask for them rather than because they believe in homeopathy, the research, quoted in medical magazine Medisch Contact shows. Dutch News (26th October 2009) Delusions About Dilutions Never Cease"A former unsuccessful applicant for the Million Dollar Challenge (MDC), John Benneth is considering re-applying. He thinks he can distinguish between water and homeopathic remedies. He believes a recent study by Montagnier et al. supports homeopathy, and he wants to perform a variant of the same experiment. He is not alone in praising the Montagnier study: homeopaths are touting it as proof that homeopathy works." Critique by Harriet Hall, James Randi Educational Foundation (21st October 2009) How Homeopathy (Supposedly) Works IllustratedHumorous images from Depleted Cranium blogspot (17th September 2009) Homeopathic Medicine Is Homeo-PatheticCommentary by Henry I. Miller and Bruce B. Dan, Forbes magazine (11th August 2009) Scientist seeks ban on homeopathic products"British physicist Simon Singh, who was sued by the British Chiropractic Association for saying their therapies for children were bogus, said yesterday it was "obvious" that homeopathy "shouldn't be allowed" and couldn't be regulated by a code of ethics. "I take a fairly hard line," he said. "If anyone is making claims that can't be supported by evidence, these claims should be halted and these practices should be prevented."" The Age — Melbourne,Victoria, Australia (10th July 2009) Homeopathic A and EVideo clip from comedy due Mitchell and Webb, courtesy of Science Based Medicine (3rd July 2009) [2:33 mins] June 2009: Homeopathy Awareness Week and hay feverA critical look at the evidence. Homeopathy Awareness Week (2009)"…June 14-21 is Homeopathy Awareness Week. I would like to do my part to increase awareness of homeopathy. I would like people to be aware of the fact that homeopathy is a pre-scientific philosophy, that it is based entirely on magical thinking and is out of step with the last 200 years of science…The scientific community should use this week to make the public acutely aware of the fact that homeopathy is, put simply, utter rubbish. It is a classic pseudoscience and has no place in a 21st century science-based health care system." Article by Steven Novella, Skepticblog (15th June 2009) A total disaster for homeopathyJan Willem Nienhuys takes a close look at The Donner Report. Vereniging tegen de Kwakzalverij (13th May 2009) [Dutch website, article in English]| Homeopathy killsArticle by Steven Novella, MD, Neurologica Blog (6th May 2009) Homeopaths Attempt to Rubbish Ernst and Singh with Dismal Critique"The stillborn homeopathy campaign, Homeopathy Worked for Me, that attempted to collect 250,000 signatures but managed just a few percent of that, has now resorted to producing a laughably daft critique of Ernst & Singh's Trick or Treatment. William Alderson, a homeopath, has produced a 142 page response to the book that attempts to show that the book has "has no validity as a scientific examination of alternative medicine". Entitled, Halloween Science, the critique is a collection of misunderstandings, quibbles, strawmen and just plain daftness." The Quackometer (22nd April 2009) A placebo and a fraudArticle on homeopathy by Professor David Colquhoun, Professor of Pharmacology, University College London (National Health Executive journal, Jan/Feb 2009) [pdf] Homeopathy — Still Crazy After All These YearsHomeopathy is one of the longest running forms of pseudoscience in the modern world. Oliver Wendell Holmes recognized that it was nonsense back in 1842 when he wrote "Homeopathy and Its Kindred Delusions." We long ago gave up the nonsense of trying to balance the four humors by bloodletting and purging, but the homeopathy Energizer Bunny is still marching on. What makes it so indestructible? Article by Harriet Hall, MD (The Skeptic, 14th January 2009) Harmless homeopathy?"Currently the evidence fails to show that homeopathy generates more good than harm. Future research needs to scrutinise the value of homeopathy according to generally accepted scientific standards. If homeopathy does not meet these criteria, it will become obsolete." Editorial by Professor Edzard Ernst, International Journal of Clinical Rheumatology (2009) [pdf] 51 “Facts” About HomeopathyHomeopath Louise Mclean suggested 50 facts that validated homeopathy in an attempt to counter criticism that homeopathy is only water with no therapeutic effects. In this link, each ‘fact’ is evaluated in two parts: whether the fact is true and what, if any, logical fallacy is being used. Mark Crislip, Science Based Medicine (24th October 2008) A question of ethics"Homeopaths are peddling so-called 'vaccines' without any evidence that they are effective." Article by Professor Edzard Ernst, The Guardian (6th September 2008) GPs shun homeopathy as prescriptions halveReport by Nigel Praities, Pulse (18th July 2008) Is it ethical for pharmacists to sell unproven or disproven medicines?"If pharmacists must be evidence-based, up-to-date, and avoid misleading or exploiting their customers, the sale of homoeopathic medicines seems prohibited." Article by Edzard Ernst, The Pharmaceutical Journal (17th July 2008) NHS Bristol Homoeopathic Hospital in troubleThe future of the Bristol Homeopathic Hospital is in doubt because not enough patients are using it. BBC News (5th June 2008) [1 min 38 secs] Homeopathy — what a waste of time"Research clearly suggests that this alternative therapy doesn't work except as a placebo…the absurdity of homoeopathy will become apparent if you think about one of its treatments, namely a flu remedy called Oscillococcinum. Each year a homoeopathic company called Boiron kills a muscovy duck and then extracts its heart and liver. This is then repeatedly diluted to create the entire world's supply of the flu remedy that generates sales of more than $20 million. There is no reason why a duck's heart and liver should cure flu, particularly when it is so diluted that the resulting pills contain no extract of duck. This has to be the ultimate quack remedy." Article by Simon Singh, The Times (23rd April 2008) Treat with extreme caution"Homoeopathic medicine is founded on a bogus philosophy. Its continued use is a drain on NHS resources and can endanger the health of patients." Article by Simon Singh, New Statesman (17th April 2008) Homeopathy victim of PCT funding cuts"Homeopathy is becoming the highest profile victim of the Government's drive to promote cost-effective use of NHS resources, with PCTs across the country stopping funding for the controversial treatment…Professor Edzard Ernst, professor of complementary medicine at Peninsula Medical School, Exeter, and a former homeopath himself, said he supported moves to withdraw funding for homeopathy as it was nothing more than a placebo. 'There can be no cost-effectiveness without effectiveness,' he warned." Pulse (30th January 2008) The Evidence For HomeopathyA critical review of the 43 items contained under the 'evidence' tab of the Homeopathy section of the NHS Complementary and Alternative Medicine Specialist Library. Apgaylard (19th November 2007) The truth about homeopathyA commentary by Professor Edzard Ernst, British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology (September 2007) [pdf] Diluting the scientific method: Ars Technica looks at homeopathyUsing the July 2007 issue of 'Homeopathy', four science writers examine the ostensibly scientific evidence in support of homeopathic medicine — an exercise that should provide everyone with a greater understanding of the features that separate science from pseudoscience. Six page article by John Timmer, Chris Lee, Jonathan M. Gitlin and Matt Ford (11th September 2007) [Also see link immediately below] Homeopathy: Does A Teaspoon of Honey Help the Medicine Go Down?"Homeopathic remedies are nothing more than sugar and water. No evidence exists to suggest that water contains impregnated memory or that sub-atomic fields have ever affected anyone."Article by Stephen Sagar MD Current Oncology (August 2007) The Gentle Art of Homeopathic Killing'A critical look at claims made for the use of homeopathy in the treatment and management of asthma, HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria. Includes strong criticism of the Society of Homeopaths. Gimpy's Blog (original article published by The Quackometer on 16th August 2007) Homeopath Fisher Fires Back'"Last week I applauded the courage of Dr. Born for fighting against pseudoscience and quackery in the UK National Health Service by urging them to drop coverage for the utter nonsense that is homeopathy. Peter Fisher, director of the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital, has now answered Dr. Born with an open letter of his own. It is a droll patchwork of unsupported assertions, straw men, propaganda, and assorted other logical fallacies." A critical commentary on Dr Peter Fisher's open letter by Steven Novella, MD, NeuroLogica Blog (29th May 2007) Hard-up NHS trusts cut back on unproven homoeopathy treatmentIncludes a link to the 21st May 2007 open letter sent to Primary Care Trusts by Professor Gustav Born (and others) calling for a boycott of homeopathy. The Times (23rd May 2007) Homeopathy is worse than witchcraft — and the NHS must stop paying for it'A critical commentary on homeopathy from Professor Michael Baum, professor emeritus of surgery at University College London. Daily Mail (1st May 2007) Royals' favoured hospital at risk as homeopathy backlash gathers pace"The Queen loves it. But alternative medicine centre's future looks uncertain as more NHS trusts axe funding." The Observer (8th April 2007) Homeopathy: Holmes, Hogwarts, and the Prince of WalesA critical look at the promotion of homeopathy in the 21st century in which the role of HRH Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales, is compared to that of Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. By Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief, FASEB Journal — Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (September 2006) Fears over homeopathy regulation"Patients will be put at risk by a new regulatory system being brought in for homeopathic medicine, critics say. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is introducing rules to allow remedies to specify the ailments for which they can be used. But critics argue the treatments will not be rigorously tested as they do not need to undergo the clinical trials orthodox drugs do to get a licence." BBC News (1st September 2006) Homoeopathy: voodoo on the NHS"It is outrageous that the NHS should knowingly promote this quackery. And it is knowing. The NHS Direct website points out that homoeopathy is contrary to everything we know about chemistry and medicine, and that there is no experimental evidence to support its preposterous claims. Yet the NHS still promotes it…." Jamie Whyte, The Times (15th July 2006) BBC Newsnight: Homeopathy and MalariaReview of the BBC2 Newsnight investigation which revealed that every one of ten randomly selected homoeopathic clinics and pharmacies in London was willing to recommend its products as an alternative to proven prophylactic drugs for malaria. The Bad Homeopath (14th July 2006) For more reviews of the programme's segment on homeopathy and malaria please click on the 'Homeopathy > Lethal practices' link at the top of this page. Homeopathy is bunkum"If any money is going spare for the NHS, let's spend it on real medicine that actually works." A commentary by Sue Blackmore, The Guardian (23rd May 2006) Homeopathy is pointless, says expert"It is likely that this debate could go on for another 200 years, but to me it is entirely obvious. The remedies do not work." Professor Edzard Ernst, Daily Mail (23rd May 2006) Homeopathy, The House of Lords, and NICEIn this House of Lords debate on homeopathy Lord Taverne asked Her Majesty's Government whether they had any proposals to withdraw National Health Service (NHS) funding for homeopathy. He suggested that if the government wished to continue to fund homeopathy they should also fund coloured water and witchcraft which was likely to be just as effective. Hansard text, United Kingdom Parliament (23rd January 2006) [Scroll down to the 'Homeopathy' section. To view the 2nd page of the debate click on 'Next Section' ] Is homeopathy a clinically valuable approach? [FULL TEXT]Concluding remarks: "Therapeutic decisions should be based foremost on an assessment of the potential risk versus proven benefit. For homeopathy, the benefit side of this equation is currently not clearly defined: the best available evidence does not convincingly show benefits over and above those of placebo. The risks of homeopathy are probably relatively small. But even small risks can weigh heavy if the benefit is uncertain, small or totally absent. If one adds to all this, the scientific implausibility of the basic concepts that underlie homeopathic thinking, the inescapable conclusion is not positive: 250 years after the birth of its 'inventor' homeopathy is not associated with a risk-benefit profile that is demonstrably positive." Edzard Ernst, Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, Vol.26 No.11 (November 2005) [pdf] Professor savages homeopathyEdzard Ernst, Professor of Complementary Medicine at Exeter University, UK, denounces homeopathy as ineffective: "Study after study has shown it is simply the purest form of placebo. You may as well take a glass of water than a homeopathic medicine." The Observer (18th December 2005) Homoeopathy: a relict of the past"Since, after 200 years, there is still no convincing evidence for the effectiveness (never mind the 'principles') of homoeopathy, it seems pretty safe to assume it is a fraud." David Colquhoun, FRS, A. J. Clark Professor of Pharmacology, University College London. Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies [FACT] (December 2005) [pdf] A Set-Back for HomeopathyJames Randi comments on the three blows in a row for homeopaths in the second half of 2005. (18th November 2005) Bad Science homeopathy article"You know how people sometimes say "doctors should give homeopathy to their patients"? Well we can't, because to do that, we'd have to lie to our patients." Ben Goldacre, M.D., Bad Science (18th November 2005) The End of HomeopathyArticle by Leon Jaroff. Time Online (4th October 2005) A critical commentary on the leaked WHO draft report on homeopathy"The WHO [World Health Organisation] clearly applies a method which countless homeopaths also use: selective critical thinking… critical reviews by the most influential authors/authorities that are specialized in scientific research on alternative treatments--the Web site Bandolier (Oxford University), the Cochrane Library, and Edzard Ernst (Exeter University)--are entirely ignored." Critique by Cees N. M. Renckens, Tom Schoepen and Willem Betz, Skeptical Inquirer (September/October 2005) 'Miracle water' turns to money"It's time we poured cold water on the concept of homoeopathy. And kept pouring and pouring until it's undetectable." Dr Tony Copperfield (pseudonym of a GP from Essex, UK), columnist for Hospital Doctor. StrangeStuff Blogspot (July 2005) Homoeopathic medicine is the triumph of unreasonMichael Baum, Emeritus professor of surgery, University College London. Risk and Biomedicine, Spiked-risk debates (22nd June 2005) This homeopathic hokum does nobody any good"Greater Glasgow NHS Board caved in yesterday to a well organised campaign against its plan to close the in-patient ward of the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital….The resources of the tax-payer funded NHS are limited….Why should a handful of patients, or physicians for that matter, be rewarded for a belief in magic? What next — witch-doctors on the NHS?" Paul Stokes, The Scotsman (18th May 2005) Let us not collude in lending credibility to homeopathic hijacking of sciencePaul O'Donoghue, Head of the Psychology Dept., Central Remedial Clinic, Dublin, and founder member of the Irish Skeptics Society. Letter published in Irish Medical News (3rd May 2005) Looking for hard evidence"Homeopathy is a 200-year-old discipline that genuinely seems to help people — but there's still no evidence for it." Article by Edzard Ernst, The Guardian (12th April 2005) Homoeopaths 'guilty of deliberate fraud'Letter to the Veterinary Times from Richard Edwards, MSc, MA, VetMB, MRCVS (7th February 2005) Homeopathic medicine warningLetter to Irish Medical News from Paul O'Donoghue, Head of Psychology Department, Central Remedial Clinic, Dublin (29th November 2004) A close look at homeopathy"True homeopathy, both the version true to Hahnemann's principles, and the modern, somewhat revisionist form, is not only unsupported by scientific theory, but also denounced by experimental evidence." Article by Hans Egebo, Skeptic Report (May 2004) Homeopathy is little different to witchcraftViews of Dr Andrew Lawson, Imperial College School of Medicine, London, in a letter to The Daily Telegraph (4th March 2004) Dilution or Delusion?An ordinary consumer asks the questions that should be asked about homeopathy. Article by Anders W. Bonde, Skeptic Report (December 2003) Homeopathy: The TestA test protocol that homeopaths designed and approved themselves yielded null results. Transcript of BBC Horizon programme (November 2002) Homeopathy use in NHS not justifiedBritish Medical Journal (9th March 2002) Hahnemann's Homeopathy"In the final count homeopaths have to believe, put their faith into the existence of a Vital Force and a Healing Power of a dynamized medicine. Neither of these two has ever been demonstrated to the scientific world. Both remain in the sphere of philosophy and mysticism." Dr William E. Thomas M.D. (4th March 2002) HomeopathyA critical evaluation of Homeopathy for health care professionals, students and the general public. Creighton University School of Medicine (February 2002) Laws of chemistry work against homeopathyArticle by Dr Stephen Barrett, CANOE (20th December 2001) Medicine v magic: the homeopathy scamArticle by Howard Fienberg, Spiked Health (August 2001) The Scientific Evidence on HomeopathyArticle by David W. Ramey, DVM, American Council on Science and Health (2000) Homeopathy and Its Founder: Views of a British ResearcherArticle by Steven Ransom, American Council on Science and Health (October 1999) Homoeopathy: A critique (in 4 parts)(1) Are you paying good money for nothing? (2) Evaporating evidence for efficacy of homoeopathic medicine (3) Homoeopathic medicine vs spontaneous remission/placebo (4) Safety profile of homoeopathy refuted. By Stuart Thomson, Director, Gaia Research Institute, South Africa (May 1999) The Challenge to Professionalism Presented by HomeopathyThis lecture, presented in a required course on non-prescription products, was given to students who were in their final year of a Bachelor of Science program. It is heavily laden with facts whose goal is to achieve cognitive learning. However, it also attempts to influence the students’ attitudes, in order to facilitate their growth as caring professionals who can retain a firm scientific and ethical grounding in their practice. The topic is one seldom covered in non-prescription product courses. W. Steven Pray, American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, Vol. 60, No. 2 (1996) [pdf] NCAHF Position Paper on HomeopathyNational Council Against Health Fraud (February 1994) Homeopathy“The only concern of homeopaths is to treat the symptoms of disease, rather than the basic causes, which they do not recognize. Thus homeopathy correctly falls into the category of magic. And quackery.” James Randi (An Encyclopaedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural) Homeopathy and Science: A Closer LookArticle by David W. Ramey DVM, Prof. Mahlon Wagner PhD, Robert H. Imrie DVM, and Prof. Victor Stenger PhD Homeopathy article indexScience Based Medicine website HomeoWatchA skeptical guide to homeopathy HomeopathyThe Skeptic's Dictionary HomeopathySkeptic Wiki (The Encyclopaedia of Science and Critical Thinking) HomeopathyWikipedia online encyclopedia HomeoLinksArticles and links questioning the validity of homeopathy FairDeal HomeopathyA truthful homeopathy website The ‘Memory of Sugar’Homeopathy cartoon strip. The Ladybird Book of Homeopathic Treatment & High Street Chemists‘The Quacksalvers & Hucksters’ series by Crispian Jago. (Science, Reason and Critical Thinking blogspot) H:MC18 Homeopathy: Medicine for the 18th CenturyDefending the NHS From Homeopathy. H:MC18 is a website designed to help educate the public and defend their right to a decent NHS that is not undermined by expensive quack treatments. It supports orthodox medicine and its commitment to evidence, efficacy and safety. It singles out homeopathy as an excellent example of the opposite, a treatment unsupported by evidence and essentially unchanged since the 18th century. Criticism of homeopathy – video collectionIncluding Richard Dawkins (The Enemies of Reason), Dara Ó Briain (Talks Funny), James Randi (Live at Princeton), Ben Goldacre (Science.TV), Mitchell & Webb (Homeopathic A&E), BBC’s Horizon (Horizon Tests Homeopathy), Tim Minchin (Storm), Australian Sketpics (Homeopathy does not work), and Crispian Jago (If homeopathy works, I’ll drink my own…). Round up at the 1023 website. Homeopathy debunkedVideo compilation (9:19 mins) What's the harm in homeopathy?Reports of people who were harmed by homeopathy. |
