Homeopathy: The London Overdose

By · February 1, 2010 at 10:15 am · 18 Comments · Latest News · Report an error ·

simon_singh_overdose2.jpg
Simon Singh risks his life for science.

On Saturday morning, a hundred scientists, skeptics and rationalists gathered in Holborn to overdose on homeopathic medicine. You won’t be surprised to hear that no-one died, though most had a very pleasant sugar rush. The overdose, organised by the 10:23 Campaign, set out to prove that homeopathic tablets are nothing more than sugar pills, and that any recovery after taking homeopathy is certainly not due to the contents of the tablets.

What is homeopathic medicine? Well, consider this novel cure for insomnia: dilute some caffeine (stay with us, folks), and shake it vigourously against some leather. Next, dilute that dilution, and shake it again. Now, do that twenty-eight more times. You’ll be left with 100% water; but as if by magic, the water will remember the caffeine – and the more you dilute it, the stronger the water’s memory gets. Finally, drip your water onto a sugar tablet – and hey presto, you’ve got yourself a homeopathic remedy!

The healing power of homeopathy is pure placebo. Sadly, that hasn’t stopped it becoming a multi-million pound business. The NHS spends £4 million a year on homeopathy, and Boots sell homeopathic pills alongside proper medicine, even though they admit there is no evidence to show they work. The campaign hoped to raise awareness of this, and all the protesters made sure to take Boots own-brand homeopathic tablets.

The protest had support from some prominent personalities. Simon Singh gave a rousing speech reminding the campaigners of the dangers of letting people get away with selling sugar pills as medicine; Evan Harris MP, a firm supporter of evidence-based medicine, talked about the excellent progress of parliamentary select committees in getting homeopaths to explain themselves; and Dave Gorman said that after taking his overdose of homeopathic arnica, which allegedly cure bruises and aches, he’ll “never bruise again”, challenging anyone to punch him to put this to the test. Never before have we seen a finer example of science in action.

Why is this campaign important?. Simply put, when people take sugar pills instead of life-saving medicine, they die. The protest was fun, but the message behind the campaign is vitally important. We mustn’t forget that tragedy can befall people who shun evidence-based medicine in favour of unproven alternatives.

With any luck, the 100% survival rates of the overdosers will go some way to showing people that homeopathic pills really are just sugar. As the campaign says, “Homeopathy: there’s nothing in it.”

Image by the ten23campaign

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  • http://undefined Sam

    Excellent write up, was a really fun morning despite it being freezing cold. While I doubt we’ll have convinced any homeopaths hopefully the public will be more aware the they are being sold a lie.

    While the placebo is a useful tool it shouldn’t replace medicine and the boots advice that you use their homeopathic cures over 5 days (with the implication that _then_ you should go and see a Dr) can and will harm people.

  • http://undefined Lunar

    Dumb people. Placebo can have success rates as high as 35%. Even some of the effect of taking pharmaceuticals is down to placebo. Homeopathy works because at the very least it is as GOOD as placebo without putting unnecessary chemicals into your body.

    And anyway, why are these people so obssessed with destroying homeopathy when there are far bigger problems affecting many more people in our NHS!?! Call yourself scientists, skeptics and rationalists!! Removing homeopathy from the NHS will not solve any of those problems! Get real.

    Simon Singh should concentrate on writing an article on the dangers of trusting the NHS since there are a LOT more people at RISK from the NHS than there are from homeopathy: mistakes with prescriptions, bad management, etc, etc

  • http://undefined mehtabmasih

    I am from Chandigarh, India and belong to Media community. I have been noting for the last one week that one Simon Singh is busy in denouncing the Great Homoeopathy. I want to tell him and his unawakened followers that Homoepathy is an ultra-modern system of medicine that the people like Simon Singh, who have low IQ can’t understand its way of treatment. I, with millions of other enthusiasts in favour of Homoeopathy want to tell such unfortunate people that this system of medicine is so great that: If we take a dilution of a Homoeopathic Medicine of 15 ml. It may be taken one time the whole 15 ml at a time that ‘ll be only one dose. But if we distribute the liquid of 15 ml into 3,000 drops, then it will certainly treat them. Every medicine can treat hundreds of ailments and there are hundreds of Homoeopathic medicines for every ailment only according to the symptoms. The patient may be treated even with the Homoeopathic Medicine, which have even only 40 per cent symptoms of a particular ailment. It is so great that can’t be understood like the people Simon Singh & his flatterers. I think, Simon Singh seems to have his own selfish interests. I think Allopathic system of medicine is like a blemish upon our society and its side-effects have the destructive effects like nuclear weapons. The coming generations ‘ll understand such facts. I can deliver lecture in favour of Homoeopathy hours and hours continuously but I’ve no time for Simon Singh like people and I am feeling pity upon him and his followers as they are so unfortunate that the can’t understand Homoeopathy. All the people should not follow such people having the selfish motives.
    – MEHTAB
    Faith Baptist Church, Pinjore (Haryana)

  • http://undefined Scott

    I’d second support for homeopathy – despite being highly sceptical of just about everything (I still am a liberal, science loving geek).

    When I was a teenager, I had major sinus problems (multiple eye-watering headaches every day) and went to doctors numerous times. They gave me lots of drugs – which, if the placebo effect was to be considered, should have “cured” me. It didn’t – zero effect.

    I went to a homeopath – and despite being sceptical, what he gave me worked. He thought something (weedkiller – common on roadsides in NZ where I’m from) had been effecting my sinuses and gave me homeopathic amounts of it for my system to accept (initially that made me think that was bad but the same applies to normal inoculations and is just as scary as taking “good bacteria” for the stomach). This made the headaches go away …until the next time someone sprayed their weeds.

    However, another type of practitioner probably regarded as a hippie – a naturopath – said that my immune system was in a poor state (something the doctors nor the homeopath saw) and put me on a course of simple off-the-shelf vitamins and minerals (some you’d recognise from detoxing – which is also regarded as “bad science”) and some basic good advice. Again sceptical – result, not one headache in over a year (until I diverged from the advice).

    Compared: doctors – result: no change, still had headaches – homeopath: got rid of headaches as they arised but still liable to get them – naturopath: got rid of headaches in a more permanent way.

    That said, I would still go to doctors for other things and like in every “profession” (doctors, homeopaths, or naturopaths) there are good, bad, well meaning but useless, and dangerous practitioners. Like in all professions, being able to “dot the i’s and cross the t’s” also doesn’t make you good at your job too but it would be good if there was some decently accepted certification for natural health practitioners.

    As for overdosing on homeopathic pills – when something is watered down to 1/10000 strength, that is going to take eating a LOT of pills to “dose” let alone overdose and even then, a lot of commonly available homeopathic pills are just “cleansers”. Hardly scientific there. And when you see pharmaceutical companies looking into every second crackpot idea/old wive’s tale for ideas so they can give doctors the next “scientific” cure – well, again, hardly a victory for modern science.

    If a cure works, good, if it doesn’t, bad – and for every dangerous crackpot there’ll be plenty of failed pharmaceutical trials and many successful pharmaceutical drugs that have very dangerous side effects.

    Scott

  • http://undefined Damian

    @mehtabmasih

    I am from Chandigarh, India and belong to Media community.

    Hello. I am from Brighton, UK and belong to the pornography community.

    I want to tell him and his unawakened followers that Homoepathy is an ultra-modern system of medicine

    It was created in 1796. Are you a time traveler here to help us? I like this idea.

    the people like Simon Singh, who have low IQ can’t understand its way of treatment.

    Thankfully we have people like you to help explain it:

    I, with millions of other enthusiasts in favour of Homoeopathy want to tell such unfortunate people that this system of medicine is so great that: If we take a dilution of a Homoeopathic Medicine of 15 ml. It may be taken one time the whole 15 ml at a time that ‘ll be only one dose. But if we distribute the liquid of 15 ml into 3,000 drops, then it will certainly treat them.

    Brilliant. I run busy Accident and Emergency medical centre here in Brighton. Can you please come over and show how easy it to treat gunshot wounds, broken legs, traffic accidents etc with your medicines? I think then we can laugh at the doctor pig scum!

    medicine can treat hundreds of ailments

    Indeed. I am currently taking birth control pills to help my athlete’s foot. It is clearing up nicely. I bet homeopathic birth control would work even better!

    and there are hundreds of Homoeopathic medicines for every ailment only according to the symptoms. The patient may be treated even with the Homoeopathic Medicine, which have even only 40 per cent symptoms of a particular ailment.

    This is why I am such a fan of homeopathy. I only currently have 40% testicular cancer. I am taking cancer homeopathy pills and already my balls are feeling much more nice thank you. Brilliant.

    It is so great that can’t be understood like the people Simon Singh & his flatterers. I think, Simon Singh seems to have his own selfish interests.

    Yes, I don’t even like his name. I think he is here to make you and I look like idiots! I hate his face.

    I think Allopathic system of medicine is like a blemish upon our society and its side-effects have the destructive effects like nuclear weapons.

    This is the MOST SENSE YOU HAVE MADE! I agree. Those doctors in so-called HOSPITALS are KILLING PEOPLE with their disgusting bandages, splints and penicillin. THEY MAKE ME WANT TO SPIT ON THEIR FACES. It *is* just like a nuclear war the HARM they do when super modern homeopathy has been PROVEN to work. Idiot faces.

    All the people should not follow such people having the selfish motives.


    I agree. Take your twitter followers, SINGH, and I piss on them. And you. And your mother.

    Damian Jennings

    PS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI-x-BHIcrY&feature=related I’m the guy in the middle with the grey hair

  • http://undefined inquisitio

    So this is the face of British science, Simon Singh in a tee-shirt freezing his butt off proving nothing. Ah well!

    Still he is obviously doing something right. The latest Mintel market report on homeopathic and other complementary products shows UK sales up 18% since 2007. The oxygen of publicity I guess – keep up the good work Simon!

  • http://undefined Dr.Ranu PS

    This in not the First time that people like Simon Singh had pointed fingers on the authenticity of HOMOEOPATHY.Even the founder of Homoeopathy Dr.SCF Hahnemann didnt get recognition to his newly invented Science during his life time and he himself was an MD in ALLOPATHY who was honoured and buried from an ordinary grave to a VIP grave after many years of his death when the World recognized his precious work for the Humanity and termed it a separate Science of treatment in the Medical fraternity. Mehtab Masih a journalist should not feel humilated by the comments of some fucken people who doesnt know even to use literary humble words atleast while discussing a seriuos issue. The unparliamentary words used by some colleague of Simon are utmost condemnable and regretable and we feel sorry for that as they are the sick people who are doing so as they are mentally sick.Now after reading my comments also they will do the same with me and I being a Homoeopathic Physician would suggest them to take Homoeopathic medicine instead of abusing and they will be cured.

    I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY MR.SIMON SINGH THAT HOMEOPATHY IS NOT PLACEBO. ITS THE IONIZATION ENERGY WHICH ELEVATES THE POWERS OF THE IONS IN THE DILUTIONS AND MORE THE DILUTION AND ATTENUATION THE MORE IS THE IONIZATION ENERGY AND MORE IS THE POWER OF CURE. EVEN ALLOPATHIC SYSTEM CONFIRMS THIS IF WE COMPARE IT WITH THE PROCESS OF VACCINATION MY DEAR . LIMITED KNOWLEDGE IS HARMFUL SO KINDLY TRY TO READ ORGANON OF HOMEOPATHY FIRST WHICH IS WRITTEN BY ALLOPATHIC MD DOCTORS AND THEN COME UP FOR A DISCUSSION. I APPRECIATE THE QUIRES RAISED BY THESE PEOPLE BUT THIS IS NOT THE WAY BY CONDEMNING ANY SCIENCE. WE SHOULD HAVE A POSITIVE AND RECEPTIVE MIND ALSO.

    SOME SCIENTIST of UK LAST YEAR SAID HOMEOPATHY HAS PSYCHOLOGICAL AND HYPNOTIC EFFECTS AND THE PATIENT FEELS BETTER BY THINKING HE HAS TAKEN MEDICINE BUT I GAVE HIM THE SCIENTIFIC REPLY THAT A THIRD DEGREE UTERINE PROLAPSE OF A COW IS CURED BY THREE DOSES OF SEPIA 1000 AND DIARRHEA AND FEVER OF INFANTS (CHILD LESS THAN ONE YEAR)ARE CURED BY HOMOEOPATHY AS THESE CREATURES CANT SPEAK OR UNDERSTAND US THEN HOW CAN WE DENY CURE BY HOMOEOPATHY AS THEY CANNOT BE HYPNOTISED.

    DEAR BROTHERS IN INDIA WE ARE DAILY TREATING NUMEROUS SUCH PATIENTS AND IF ANY ONE HAS ANY DOUBT HE IS MOST WELCOME TO SEE THE RESULTS OF HOMOEOPATHY.

    SOME ONE INQUIRED ABOUT THE ROLE OF HOMOEOPATHY IN INJURIES? YES WE HAVE THE ANSWER.SYMPHYTUM AND CALCAREA PHOS OF HOMOEOPATHY UNITES THE BROKEN BONES WITH AN EARLY CALLUS FORMATIONS YOU CAN TRY IT. HYPERICUM ACTS AS ANTI-TETANUS AND ARNICA REMOVES THE BRUISES AT A SHORT PERIOD . NO DOUBT STITCHES AND SPLINTS ARE SURGICAL MEASURES AND EVEN ALLOPATHS HAVE TO DO IT WITH ANESTHESIA AND SURGERY IS A SEPARATE MEDICAL SCIENCE.

    No doubt their are limitations in every Science that is why the need for an integrated system of treatment has been the need of the hour. We are all human beings and God/Nature has given us an internal doctor to treat us that is the IMMUNITY and its the Homoeopathy which directly works on the immune system of the body and helps the body to create a strong defense mechanic system within itself to fight against the diseases. Any one still having doubts can directly contact me on my mail id (drpsranu@yahoo.co.in).

    ITS MY HUMBLE REQUEST TO EVERY ONE FOR GODS SAKE KINDLY BE SENSIBLE WHILE COMMENTING AS EDUCATED MEDICAL PEOPLE ARE WATCHING THIS SITE AND IT ADDS TO THE REPUTATION OF THE OWNERS OF THE SITE ALSO. VULGARITY WILL NEVER MATTER TO ANY ONE BUT EXPRESS THE INNER SENSE AND IMAGE OF THE PERSON WHO EXPRESSES IT. HOPE MY WORDS WILL NOT HURT ANY ONE. BE POSITIVE AND WE ARE THANKFUL TO SIMON AND HIS COLLEGUES AS THEY HAVE RAISED THE QUESTIONS AND WE ARE TO SOLVE THEM WITH A SCIENTIFIC REPLY AND WE ARE DOING IT.

    The writter is: Member of :Central Council of Homoeopathy (Ministry of Health & Family welfare-Government of India),Former Chairman of Punjab Homoeopathic Medical Counil(Ministry of Medical Education & Research-Government of Punjab), Technical Expert-HMO Selection Committee-Punjab University Chandigarh, Former Member of Faculty of Homoeopathy in Baba Farid University of Health Sciences Faridkot Punjab India.

  • http://undefined Schiap

    Poor old Simon Singh. He didn’t even organise this protest, he was just lending his support to a campaign he agreed with. It’s really not fair to berate him for that.

  • http://undefined Damian

    RANTING IN CAPS MAKES ALL POINTS MUCH MORE VALID.

    SOME ONE INQUIRED ABOUT THE ROLE OF HOMOEOPATHY IN INJURIES? YES WE HAVE THE ANSWER.SYMPHYTUM AND CALCAREA PHOS OF HOMOEOPATHY UNITES THE BROKEN BONES WITH AN EARLY CALLUS FORMATIONS YOU CAN TRY IT.

    Tell you what, I will PAY for my flight to India, I will pay for a hotel, I will pay for a hammer. Then I will break YOUR leg and you rub some Calcarea Phos on it and see how you go.

    Deal?

    I am DEADLY serious. I would love to try this experiment. As you are so convinced you are right, I am sure you will be happy to try this.

    Email me at damianjennings AT gmail DOT com to arrange this.

    I can get the next available flight.

  • http://undefined Dr.Ranu PS

    My Dear Damian Jenning I think u have not read my comment properly or you mind is set for simply criticizing others. U r most welcome to come over to India and see who breaks whose legs. I am ready to come to your Country if you wanna that. Recently my brother met with an accident and broke his leg and it was re-united by Calc.Phos and Symphytum u can come and meet him. One of my Patient Mr.Harjinder Singh is residing at South Hall in your Country and his mother had suffered with a spinal fracture which needed Surgical steel plating at L5 levels but was treated by Homoeopathy and now shes walking well even without stick if you need kindly mail me your proper address and phone number he will come to you and show you her CT Scan reports as and when you wish him to do so. Kindly make up your mind to accept something. I assure you that I can cure your testicular cancer also if you give me a chance to treat you kindly try it once you will be cured. Your this attitude is also a part of your treatment brother don’t mind my words I am a Homoeopath and I know to read your psychology. I hope my words haven’t hurt you. Be Sure that Homoeopathy is gaining popularity due to critics like you and we are really very thankful to you but kindly be humble and give us opportunity to show you the truth which is palatable but non digestible only to those who are jealous of the heights of Homoeopathy in UK now a days. Thanks a lot and hope you would perceive what I said.

  • http://undefined David

    Excellent post Chris.

    Shame the quacks have made a big caps-locky mess of your comment section.
    :)

  • http://undefined Damian

    My Dear Damian Jenning I think u have not read my comment properly

    My dear Dr Ranu, I read it perfectly that you. I did a degree in reading and am pretty darn tooting’ good at it, even if I do say so myself.

    you mind is set for simply criticizing others. U r most welcome to come over to India and see who breaks whose legs.

    Well my offer was very clear Dr Ranu. I want to break YOUR legs and watch YOU apply homeopathy to it and see how long it takes to fix. I can bring a film crew. As you are *so very convinced* it will work, I am sure you will have no issue with this?
    When would be convenient timings? Will you need to book time off your Dr duties while the homeopathy cures your mashed up legs?

    I am ready to come to your Country if you wanna that.

    Yeah cool. We can do it here if you prefer? I will pay for your flight. We get BBC, Channel 4 News etc. I break your legs with a hammer. You cure yourself with homeopathy. It will make very good television and you can prove to THE WORLD that you are right and Simon Singh is pig dog liar.

    Recently my brother met with an accident and broke his leg

    I am sorry to hear that.

    I assure you that I can cure your testicular cancer also if you give me a chance to treat you kindly try it once you will be cured.

    Just one treatment and my cancer will go? BRILLIANT! I love this homeopathy stuff. Yes. I will email you my address. Mail me the anticancer pills, I will take the dose and then we can show the WORLD how very right you are. Brilliant! Thank you. You are like a life saver!

    I hope my words haven’t hurt you.

    Was that your intention? Doesn’t seem very friendly? You tell me you will let me smash your knees off with a hammer which you will then cure live in London on the news and then you tell me you can cure my cancer of the balls and you think this will hurt me? I am confused! This is GREAT NEWS my friend!

  • http://undefined mehtabmasih

    O Damian, whatsoever, UK is going downwards only due to the people like you. You should think upon your own pornography as you don’t deserve these medical statements of the learned persons like Dr. Paramjeet Singh Ranu to be heard. He is world’s topmost Homoeopath, you are nothing before him. You are as cheap as your profession i.e. pornography. I think Dr. Ranu should not reply your baseless comments. Moreover, WE, THE FOLLOWERS OF HOMOEOPATHY SHALL CONTINUE TO ANNOUNCE THAT HOMOEOPATHY IS FAR MUCH BETTER THAN ALLOPATHIC SYSTEM OF MEDICINE. ONLY YOUR COMING GENERATIONS WILL UNDERSTAND THE FACT WHEN YOU SHALL DIE WITH THE SIDE EFFECTS OF ALLOPATHY. THEREFORE, YOU HAVE NO BRAIN TO UNDERSTAND THESE HIGH LEVEL DISCUSSIONS AS YOUR BRAIN HAS BEEN DAMAGED BY THE MEAN PORNOGRAPHY. I THINK NO INDIAN SHOULD REACT UPON YOUR LOW LEVEL COMMENTS. THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE WEBSITE SHOULD ALSO INITIATE ACTION AGAINST SUCH PERSONS.
    – MEHTAB

  • M@

    Thanks for using the word pornography so many times. That’ll help our Google rank.

    Now, instead of providing bizarre references to porn, could you point interested readers to any peer-reviewed evidence that homeopathy has any effect beyond placebo?

  • http://undefined Damian

    I actually do work in porn and adding pornography as a word to the comments will make no difference whatsoever. If only it was that easy to get porn traffic!

  • http://undefined Damian

    A) No he can’t. There is no research like that

    B) Saying PORN doesn’t suddenly give you all the google traffic. I do seriously do marketing for porn sites. If only it was that easy. Porn /=candyman.

  • Dave

    “B) Saying PORN doesn’t suddenly give you all the google traffic. I do seriously do marketing for porn sites. If only it was that easy. Porn /=candyman.”

    Whereas the term ‘glory hole’ does tend to bring in Google traffic. I can attest to this.

    Slightly off-topic, mind.

  • http://www.fredperry-poloshirts.co.uk fred perry polo shirt

    Thanks for using the word pornography so many times. That’ll help our Google rank.

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