SHAME OF THE VIRUS SNAKE OIL CRACKPOTS
Cranks at the Society of Homeopaths are seeing the coronavirus outbreak as a chance to drum up trade.
Its website states: “Homeopathic options can form one part of your approach to the current Covid-19 outbreak, but should always be used alongside other measures.”
In particular, the fruitloops recommend stuff called Gelsemium 30c and Bryonia
30c, because they “are commonly used for flu-like symptoms and have a longestablished, traditional usage over many years”.
It’s worth looking at those numbers after the product names.
A homeopathic product that has the number 1C means that one unit of the active ingredient has been diluted with 100 units of water or a similar harmless substance.
2C means that one unit of the already diluted solution has been diluted with another 100 units of liquid, so there’s now only one active unit per 10,000 of water.
3C repeats the process, so there’s one active unit per million units of water.
By the time we get to 30c there is effectively no active ingredient whatsoever in a dose, you’re just drinking massively over-priced water.
It may well have “long-established, traditional usage” but don’t let that fool you into thinking it does any good.
Another purveyor of alternative guff is London-based Lynne McTaggart.
“She is consistently voted one of the world’s top 100 spiritual leaders,” crows her own website. Under the headline “A cheap cure for the coronavirus”, she says that vitamin C is the answer, adding: “We don’t need an expensive and no doubt rushed vaccine right now.”
Advice that hopefully will be ignored.
The College of Naturopathic Medicine has stuck its oar in with “Homeopathic remedies for immune system”.
Its website claims that one product, “is brilliant for both for the prevention and treatment of flu in the winter months, especially for the susceptible elderly.
“It’s best prescribed either by the homeopathy pharmacy or your homeopath”. Immediately underneath is a button to click to book an appointment.
How tasteful of them to try to monetise the crisis. Among those appalled is The Good Thinking Society, a charity that promotes rational thinking and says: “We are pro-science and pro-evidence, which means we are anti-woo and anti-quack.”
The society’s project director Michael Marshall tweeted: “Too many alternative medicine practitioners are seeing coronavirus as an opportunity rather than a catastrophe.”
He added: “Regarding coronavirus, if you’re asking the question ‘Can homeopathy help’ and your answer is anything other than ‘No’, you’re adding to the confusion and noise at an absolutely crucial time. “There is zero role for homeopathy when it comes to Covid-19.”
This is adding to the confusion and noise at an absolutely crucial time
Among the many scam inboxes there’s emails flooding schools will be one reading: “As to free school entitled closing, if you’re details and send your bank meals. Please you’re supported.” we’ll make sure from your local These are not Do not reply, education authority.