I do not really have a problem with alternative medicine - in fact, I am currently looking for an acupuncturist to relieve some of the pain in my back. But I agree with medical professional who are concerned about homeopaths that say that they can provide protection against diseases like malaria and tuberculoses.
Dr Ken Harvey, a physician with La Trobe University's school of public health, has complained to the Therapeutic Goods Administration's complaints panel about a group called Homeopathy Plus! for allegedly promoting immunisations for a range of diseases when there is no scientific evidence to back it up.
The Homeapathy Plus website points to research to support their claims, such as the Northern Ireland Government study:
Therapies involved in the study included acupuncture, chiropractic, osteopathy, homeopathy, reflexology, aromatherapy and massage. Patients who received homeopathic treatment had the greatest improvement (79%), followed by acupuncture (77%) and chiropractic or osteopathy (56%).
But on the immunisation page it says that:
Homeopathic immunisation is effective against poliomyelitis, chickenpox, meningococcal disease, hepatitis (all types), Japanese encephalitis, Hib, influenza, measles, pneumococcal disease, cholera, smallpox, typhoid, typhus, whooping cough, rubella, mumps, diphtheria, malaria, tetanus, yellow fever, dysentery, and many other epidemic diseases. Communities around the world have used its protective effect for over two hundred years.
But like Dr Rod Pearce of the AMA I get concerned:
They are putting lives at risk if they make people think they are protected.
Which is why the TGA needs to take the complaint seriously.
I do not really have a problem with alternative medicine - in fact, I am currently looking for an acupuncturist to relieve some of the pain in my back. But I agree with medical professional who are concerned about homeopaths that say that they can provide protection against diseases like malaria.
Dr Ken Harvey, a physician with La Trobe University's school of public health, has complained to the Therapeutic Goods Administration's complaints panel about a group called Homeopathy Plus! for allegedly promoting immunisations for a range of diseases when there is no scientific evidence to back it up.
The Homeopathy Plus website points to research to support their claims, such as the Northern Ireland Government study:
Therapies involved in the study included acupuncture, chiropractic, osteopathy, homeopathy, reflexology, aromatherapy and massage. Patients who received homeopathic treatment had the greatest improvement (79%), followed by acupuncture (77%) and chiropractic or osteopathy (56%).But on the immunisation page they have a fact sheet where it says:
Homeopathic immunisation is effective against poliomyelitis, chickenpox, meningococcal disease, hepatitis (all types), Japanese encephalitis, Hib, influenza, measles, pneumococcal disease, cholera, smallpox, typhoid, typhus, whooping cough, rubella, mumps, diphtheria, malaria, tetanus, yellow fever, dysentery, and many other epidemic diseases. Communities around the world have used its protective effect for over two hundred years.
But like Dr Rod Pearce of the AMA I get concerned that those who are at risk will shun traditional medicine and will put themselves and others at risk:
"They are putting lives at risk if they make people think they are protected."
Which is why the TGA needs to take the complaint very seriously.