Be Excellent To Each Other

Paul Bennett, professional standards director for Boots, told a committee of MPs that the pharmacy chain stocks such items for no other reason than that they are popular.

"There is certainly a consumer demand for these products," he said. "I have no evidence to suggest they are efficacious.

"It is about consumer choice for us and a large number of our customers believe they are efficacious."

His comments recall Gerald Ratner's infamous admission in 1991 that one of the gifts sold by his chain of jewellers was "total crap".

Mr Bennett made his comments to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, which is investigating the scientific evidence behind homoeopathy.

The committee also heard from scientists and doctors who said that giving homeopathic remedies to patients on the NHS is unethical and a dubious use of public money.

The treatments, which are licensed by the government and offered through several NHS hospitals, have insufficient clinical evidence to support them, they said.

"If you prescribe a drug to patients that you know has no efficacy, on a basis which is essentially dishonest with a patient, I personally feel that is unethical," Dr James Thallon, medical director at the NHS West Kent primary care trust told MPs.

A £40 million industry in the UK, homeopathic remedies claim to be able to prevent yellow fever, typhoid, polio and even leukaemia, as well as cure symptoms ranging from toothache to hearing loss.

But there are growing concerns over whether the homeopathic remedies have any effect. Homeopathists differ from herbalists, who use a variety of plants to combat diseases, because their treatments are heavily diluted. There can often be as little as one millionth of the original ingredient in a homeopathic remedy.

Since 2006, manufacturers have been allowed to claim their products can treat specific ailments, as long as they can prove the treatment is safe.

The committee also heard there is little evidence the remedies work other than as a placebo. But Robert Wilson, chairman of the British Association of Homeopathic Manufacturers, told the committee that there is "strong evidence" that homoeopathy works.

"Boots are a very important retailer, they sell a great deal of these products. If these products don't work beyond the placebo effect, why do people keep buying them?"

His comments recall Gerald Ratner's infamous admission in 1991 that one of the gifts sold by his chain of jewellers was "total crap".

Since 2006, manufacturers have been allowed to claim their products can treat specific ailments, as long as they can prove the treatment is safe.

I'm sorry? There's a 'growing concern' homeopathy doesn't work?

Uh.. what? No they don't. He simply says they sell them because they're popular and people believe they work. He didn't say they don't or that people are rubbish or whatever.



Why is it that every time I learn about a new law that's been brought in without my noticing it, I wish I hadn't?

Half of everything Boots sell is stupid bullshit advertised on the basis of carefully worded ridiculous claims backed up with pseudo-science. Why is this even a story?

Half of everything Boots sell is stupid bullshit advertised on the basis of carefully worded ridiculous claims backed up with pseudo-science. Why is this even a story?

Half of everything Boots sell is stupid bullshit advertised on the basis of carefully worded ridiculous claims backed up with pseudo-science. Why is this even a story?

Because the NHS prescribed homeopathic medicines with public money? Because there is a Commons Committee that might shut that down? Because a prominent retailer has given that Commons Committee some significant ammmunition?

Because the NHS prescribed homeopathic medicines with public money? Because there is a Commons Committee that might shut that down? Because a prominent retailer has given that Commons Committee some significant ammmunition?

Yay, my cancer has been cured by hooboojooboo extract pills, as it's african and natural, and so must be excellent. Oh no, I was wrong

Part of me quite likes the idea of someone paying £6.50 for sugar pills. Although I'd be pretty damn livid if a doctor decided to treat me with a placebo.

Yeah. Placebos don't tend to work if you know their nature. Given my degree in biochemistry, what do you think the first thing I do when I get prescribed a new treatment is?

Apparently, Emo is treatable with listening to Placebo.

Yeah. Placebos don't tend to work if you know their nature. Given my degree in biochemistry, what do you think the first thing I do when I get prescribed a new treatment is?

Yeah. Placebos don't tend to work if you know their nature. Given my degree in biochemistry, what do you think the first thing I do when I get prescribed a new treatment is?

Yeah. Placebos don't tend to work if you know their nature. Given my degree in biochemistry, what do you think the first thing I do when I get prescribed a new treatment is?

Although I'd be pretty damn livid if a doctor decided to treat me with a placebo.

Whilst I think of it, I went looking for proper hard copies of my stuff in the library yesterday. After about 20 minutes, I realised that no girl would actually want to see them. So I skulked away and searched Westlaw for stupid terms.

Heh - I used to do that as a trainee. It's surprising how many cases you get for "vagina" and "dildo".

Does this include stuff like cod liver oil? Cos my mother found that didn't work but the miracle (and far more expensive) shark cartilage has. Oh, and echin-fucking-acea. A fortune for a tiny number of ridicuous blue pills that probably don't do fuck all and contain even less.

Does this include stuff like cod liver oil? Cos my mother found that didn't work but the miracle (and far more expensive) shark cartilage has. Oh, and echin-fucking-acea. A fortune for a tiny number of ridicuous blue pills that probably don't do fuck all and contain even less.

isn't the very definition of homeopathy that it can't ... work

Good that the guy was forced by a Commons Commission working to a legal standard of proof to give a written statement that it's likely bullshit and Boots don't really care, though.

Does this include stuff like cod liver oil? Cos my mother found that didn't work but the miracle (and far more expensive) shark cartilage has. Oh, and echin-fucking-acea. A fortune for a tiny number of ridicuous blue pills that probably don't do fuck all and contain even less.

Miss Malabar moans if I don't take Cod Liver Oil and Glucosamine tablets for my joints, which would probably explain why she's always moaning. I've always been sceptical of such things; none of the doctors or consultants I've visited have ever mentioned them.

Although I'd be pretty damn livid if a doctor decided to treat me with a placebo.

I've heard glucosamine for joint problems described as "probably about as useful as eating hair to try and cure baldness".

Placebo effect? I was fully expecting zero effect, yet got the precise opposite. Hardly scientific evidence to be sure, but hey, it worked for me. Interestingly, I haven't had a single cold since then, either.

£4 well spent...

Placebo effect? I was fully expecting zero effect, yet got the precise opposite.

Placebo effect means that cheap painkillers presented in the packaging for expensive painkillers are reported by patients to be more effective than in their own packaging, even when the patients are told the switch has been made.