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Homoeopathy

Council's position

From Mr J. R. Sharp, HonMRPharmS

Your correspondents (PJ, April 14, p506, and April 21, p540) should have no fear that either the Royal Pharmaceutical Society or The Journal would countenance “quackery in pharmacy” in this or any other form. The Society's position on homoeopathy in general has been perfectly clear for a number of years. It is that “with regard to ... 'homoeopathic remedies', there is no scientific evidence for their efficacy, only anecdotal and subjective reports” and “there is no scientific evidence for their efficacy, beyond that to be expected from a placebo response” (Council statement, PJ, June 14, 1986, p770). I am not aware that the Council has altered its stance on this issue.

John Sharp
Woodley, Berkshire

Homoeopathy is not quackery

From Mr D. B. Needleman, MRPharmS

Homoeopathy has been used successfully for around 200 years and there are currently some 9,000-plus published clinical trials available to support this statement. I resent the word “quackery” being used by anyone in relation to homoeopathy but I resent it even more from someone who is well qualified in another field but has little or no knowledge of the subject about which he writes so scathingly (PJ, April 21, p540).

There is good, albeit anecdotal, evidence that in the 1967 outbreak of foot and mouth disease, homoeopathic borax was used successfully. The late George Macleod (probably the best known homoeopathic veterinary surgeon with many years of experience and many books to his name) stated that borax was “the chief non-biological prophylactic remedy in the control of foot and mouth disease. This has been well documented in various outbreaks and is of great value when used properly” (MacLeod G. A veterinary materia medica and clinical repertory. Saffron Walden: C. W. Daniel; 1983).

Borax does not confer immunity: immunity can only be conferred by an immune response generated by immunisation or by a previous infection. Borax also cannot mask symptoms, only reduce the susceptibility of an animal. If an animal is not susceptible then it will remain unaffected by the influence of the virus.

If I had been asked for homoeopathic borax, as a committed pharmacist and a committed homoeopath I would most definitely have provided it to be used at the discretion of the animal owner. I ask, therefore, am I a fit person to be practising pharmacy?  

David B. Needleman
Vice-President, Homoeopathic Medical Association, and Director and Dean, British Institute of Homoeopathy

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