Charles under fire for ‘preaching homeopathy’
PRINCE Charles and Boots the chemist have been criticised again for promoting alternative medicine.
A new book says Charles’s backing is ‘ immoral’ while Boots is ‘contemptible’ for ‘ripping off’ customers by selling homeopathic remedies.
The accusations are made in More Harm Than Good?, due to be published next month.
Co-authors Edzard Ernst, a wellknown sceptic of alternative medicine and former professor at Exeter University, and bioethicist Dr Kevin Smith accuse the prince of ‘ publicly preaching’ about homeopathy as one of his ‘favourite anti-science superstitions’.
They say he should not advocate the treatments, which often use heavily diluted forms of plants and minerals. ‘ To knowledgeable rational observers, this spectacle is straightforwardly absurd, but because the heir to (and soon occupant of) the British throne is in a highly influential position, his pontifications do a disservice to the truth,’ they say.
They add that his previous support for ‘unproven cancer treatments’ was ‘foolish and immoral’. Edzard Ernst, the world’s first professor of complementary medicine, was once invited to Highgrove by Charles. But the relationship soured when he became sceptical about homeopathy. He has accused the prince of ‘exploiting a gullible public’ for selling a homeopathic ‘tincture’ through his Duchy Originals brand.
Boots is attacked for stocking homeopathic remedies next to medicines, despite evidence that most do not work.
Dr Smith, of Abertay University, Dundee, said: ‘Boots is ripping people off and violating the ethics of merchantability – that a product must do what it is claimed to do. By definition, and by any measure, homeopathic preparations cannot deliver what they promise.’
Last night Clarence House said the book misrepresented Prince Charles’s position, adding: ‘He believes safe and effective complementary medicine is an essential part of any healthcare system as long as approaches are integrated with conventional treatments.’
Boots said: ‘We aim to offer the products we know our customers want, but with the opportunity to make an informed decision on the options available.’