Madam, – The letters from Brian Cleary, Peter Duddy and John Duddy against the suggestions of “Alternatives to the pink stuff” (HEALTHplus, March 8th) are typical of the prejudice resulting from ignorance. Homoeopathy has been growing since its discovery by Samuel Hahnemann – a German – over 200 years ago. Despite being a different kind of science from that prevalent in our society, it works! It works for babies and for animals, as well, who are not prone to the “placebo effect”.
I introduced a relative to Bryonia to treat a cough that wasn’t responding to conventional treatment in her infant daughter. She had never heard of homoeopathy, but was a qualified nurse. She was so impressed by the rapid success of the Bryonia that she trained as a homoeopath and has been practising successfully since she qualified – over 20 years ago. If your correspondents had the courage to suspend their disbelief, they could make a useful discovery that homoeopathy works for them, too. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I entirely support the letter from Brian Cleary and Peter Duddy (March 11th) which roundly criticised the article “Alternatives to the pink stuff” (HEALTHplus, March 8th). It is particularly heartening to see such criticism from two pharmacists. Many pharmacies in Ireland sell a wide range of homeopathic and other useless therapeutic products that can only lead to confusion in a public that places trust in the profession regarding the medicines they sell.
The situation was succinctly clarified by Paul Bennett, professional standards director and superintendent pharmacist for Boots in the UK, when interviewed by the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee in November 2009 during its investigation into the scientific evidence behind homeopathy. He stated, “I have no evidence to suggest that they (homeopathic products) are efficacious. It is about consumer choice for us and a large number of our customers believe they are efficacious”.
Efficacy and safety of medicines is not determined by customers’ beliefs or democratic decision but by scientific data. Mr Bennett is correct in his evaluation of homeopathy, but in my opinion, pharmacists who sell these products knowing they are useless except as placebos, are behaving unethically and the professional body should respond. – Yours, etc,