The FTC has taken action against homeopathic remedies and the claims they make.
Homeopathy is different from most natural products. Homeopathy is the belief that one can treat illness by using extremely small doses of compounds that are like the disease you are trying to treat. If you want to treat poison ivy, use small doses of poison ivy. Which, is a bit ironic, since this is the theory of vaccines – use a small, inactivated dose to gain immunity to a disease.
Most natural products contain active ingredients, but homeopathy is so dilute it does not. There is nothing physically in the products, to any measurable quantity. Most homeopathic products, just using simple math, would have little to no active ingredient.
There is no evidence that homeopathic theory works, in fact, there is evidence to the contrary. Many conditions treated by homeopathy are self-limited. Most modern medical experts do not accept homeopathy due to the overwhelming evidence against it and a flawed theory of action.
The FTC says that homeopathic products that make claims should have either evidence to prove the claims, just like aspirin, acetaminophen, or other over-the-counter products or use a big ‘ol disclaimer on the bottles.
Here’s what the disclaimer must say:
1) there is no scientific evidence that the product works; and
2) the product’s claims are based only on theories of homeopathy from the 1700s that are not accepted by most modern medical experts.”
Ouch. Pretty harsh.
This is, we believe, a good step. People can use whatever products they want. We believe that when people do choose a product, it should be exactly what it claims to be – containing active ingredients that are pure, potent, and consistent batch to batch. False marketing claims plague the natural products industry and need to be corrected.
Our Woodstock Vitamins products are Vitality Approved, so you can be sure that you’re getting quality products: pure, potent, and consistent batch to batch.
Just trying to keep it real…
Neal Smoller, PharmD
Owner, Pharmacist, Big Mouth
