Is homeopathy a sham?

[Mojo]

I've never really gotten what's supposed to be so horrible about "Treating the symptoms" anyway.

Homoeopaths claim that by "supressing" symptoms, real medicine drives them inwards and makes them worse.

And I expect suffering is good for the soul.

 

[Fast Eddie B]

Another problem is that not every product labeled "homeopathic" is really homeopathic. Products often use that designation to avoid government regulation. So, they may actually have active ingredients that could cause harm.

-- Roger

One possibly good, to be fair.

On example is ColdEeze. Significant levels of zinc.

I think the jury is still out on the effect of zinc on the severity/duration of the common cold. Regardless, it is NOT homeopathic, though it is labeled as such.

 

[jadebox]

One possibly good, to be fair.

Yes, but even if the active ingredient works, there are no requirements that such products demonstrate that they are safe and effective, that the amount/potency of the active ingredient is consistent from one dose to the next, that possible side effects are noted, and that the health claims made for the product are true.

-- Roger

 

[Sword_Of_Truth]

Sometimes literally: http://australasianskeptics.info/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=745

Not to give homeopathy any credit, but the thought of eating pills that remember being near dog crap is nearly as revolting as eating dog crap.

 

[Fast Eddie B]

Agreed.

BTW, I meant to say, "OR possibly good..."

 

[jadebox]

Agreed.

BTW, I meant to say, "OR possibly good..."

I understood what you meant ... and that I was preaching to the choir.

-- Roger

 

[kalen]

...

Another problem is that not every product labeled "homeopathic" is really homeopathic. Products often use that designation to avoid government regulation. So, they may actually have active ingredients that could cause harm.

So a product labeled as homeopathic is exempt from government regulation no matter what it contains?

 

[Psi Baba]

One possibly good, to be fair.

On example is ColdEeze. Significant levels of zinc.

I think the jury is still out on the effect of zinc on the severity/duration of the common cold. Regardless, it is NOT homeopathic, though it is labeled as such.

So a product labeled as homeopathic is exempt from government regulation no matter what it contains?

Apparently. I knew that Zicam was labeled as homeopathic, but didn't know that Cold-EEze was also labeled as such until I read Fast Eddie B's post. I looked at their website, and sure enough their packages are clearly marked "homeopathic." Now the curious thing is that all through their website, there is almost no mention at all about the product being homeopathic. They state flat out that the lozenges contain 13.3mg of zinc gluconate. They even list what prescription drugs might be affected by the zinc. The only mention of the product being homeopathic that I could find on the entire site was in FAQ under the question about expiration date. The answer was this

Cold-EEZE lozenges are homeopathic and therefore not required to carry an expiration date.

So it seems that by labeling the product homeopathic, they can get around having to put an expiration date on the package (meaning it can sit on store shelves indefinitely).

 

[Stomatopoda]

No expiration date? That's not very smart. They should claim that natural seismic waves will eventually un-succuss or over-succuss the remedy and that it needs to be replaced often! More profits that way.

 

[catsmate]

There's a big difference, though. Homeopathy is usually self-prescribed or prescribed by people without real medical training. So, the use of the useless "medication" may allow a real problem to go undiagnosed and untreated.

Like Russell Jenkins.

 

[EHocking]

Technically, it's more of a humbug.

Except I'd pay money for a humbug.

 

[Malfie Henpox]

If homeopathy is a sham, then so is dowsing.

 

[jadebox]

If homeopathy is a sham, then so is dowsing.

But, as long as those pills I put in my gas tank keep increasing my car's miles-per-gallon, I don't care .....

-- Roger

 

[EHocking]

If homeopathy is a sham,

It is.

then so is dowsing.

It is.

 

[marplots]

If homeopathy is a sham, then so is dowsing.

Homeopathy costs money. Dowsing is free. The market has decided!

 

[EHocking]

Homeopathy costs money. Dowsing is free.

No. As with any woo scam, "dowsers" make money off the gullible by pretending to locate water wells on their property and charging 100s of $$ for wandering around with a couple of bent wires in their hands.

The market has decided!

The market has decided the you are free to rip of the gullible with any woo idea you can think of...

 

[Stomatopoda]

Homeopathy costs money. Dowsing is free. The market has decided!

http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/ADE-651

Doesn't look "free" to me.

 

[kerikiwi]

If homeopathy is a sham, then so is dowsing.

While both are shams, your if/then statement is invalid

 

[rcfieldz]

homeo...what?

Do you have to be at home for it to work? I wouldn't stop praying...

 

[Stereolab]

There is a ton of evidence that homeopathy is legitimate.
Rite Aid, Walgreens, and other drug stores carry homeopathic remedies because they WORK.
Over-the-counter homeopathic medicine works far better than anything a doctor can prescribe.
Laws such as the law of susceptibility and law of similars prove its effectiveness too.
Look them up!