Homeopathy & Eczema
There is an article in today's Mail on Sunday that is little more than a celebrity fronted advertisement for a homeopathy clinic. In this case Nadia Sawalha, an actress and TV presenter, and a homeopath, Rachel Packer. Incidentally the Mail provide a link to her website that does not work, but her bio can be found here
http://www.lodgehouse.info/rachel_packer.html
and the article here
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1282474/EastEnders-actress-Nadia-Sa...Nadia Sawalha appears to suffer from outbreaks of eczema, she has my sympathy. However, I disagree with her solution. Nadia describes homeopathy as 'little short of a miracle' with respect to her belief that it cured her eczema. She is sadly mistaken, a pill that continues little but lactose cannot possible cure eczema, however a placebo may help with the discomfort caused until it subsides in time, as it tends to do so.In fact the choice of eczema as a target for homeopathy is a little strange. You might think that at worst eczema causes discomfort, but it can kill. Last year Thomas Sams, a homeopath and lecturer, and his wife were convicted in Australia for the manslaughter of their daughter after refusing conventional treatment and focusing on homeopathy.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/28/homeopathy-baby-death-couple-jailedThis prompted the Society of Homeopaths (SoH), of which Rachel Packer, is a member to issue a statement*, making clear that:
http://www.homeopathy-soh.org/whats-new/press-releases.aspx"The Society’s Code of Ethics & Practice (sections 22 & 27) states that cases of a serious nature should be advised to stay in contact with their GP, that patients should be advised where another form of treatment may be more immediate and effective and that any symptoms suggesting an underlying condition should be referred for medical investigation and diagnosis. "Rachel Packer's own website suggests that she may not follow this rule.Some patients use Homoeopathy alongside orthodox medicine whilst others choose it as the primary source of healthcare for themselves and their families. Some patients use Homoeopathy alongside orthodox medicine whilst others choose it as the primary source of healthcare for themselves and their families. "Any homeopath who treats a patient in the knowledge that that patient is only using homeopathy and does not see a doctor is clearly in breach of the above statement by the SoH.The article states that:
Nadia says her daughters Maddie, now seven, and Kiki, two, have never seen a GP and not had any childhood vaccinations. Rather, they consult the homeopath every few weeks. Does Nadia realise that her homeopath is in breach of the professional obligations laid out by their professional Society and is putting her health and that of her children at risk?Perhaps the Mail on Sunday should have made this clear, perhaps too they should have also linked to the NHS advice on eczema:http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/eczema-%28atopic%29/Pages/Introduction.aspxInstead they have allowed the promotion of somebody who breaches their professional ethics and promoted advice for a condition that, if used at the expense of conventional treatment, may kill.
*my comment on that statement can be found here
http://gimpyblog.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/society-of-homeopaths-exploit-death...
http://www.lodgehouse.info/rachel_packer.html
and the article here
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1282474/EastEnders-actress-Nadia-Sa...Nadia Sawalha appears to suffer from outbreaks of eczema, she has my sympathy. However, I disagree with her solution. Nadia describes homeopathy as 'little short of a miracle' with respect to her belief that it cured her eczema. She is sadly mistaken, a pill that continues little but lactose cannot possible cure eczema, however a placebo may help with the discomfort caused until it subsides in time, as it tends to do so.In fact the choice of eczema as a target for homeopathy is a little strange. You might think that at worst eczema causes discomfort, but it can kill. Last year Thomas Sams, a homeopath and lecturer, and his wife were convicted in Australia for the manslaughter of their daughter after refusing conventional treatment and focusing on homeopathy.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/28/homeopathy-baby-death-couple-jailedThis prompted the Society of Homeopaths (SoH), of which Rachel Packer, is a member to issue a statement*, making clear that:
http://www.homeopathy-soh.org/whats-new/press-releases.aspx"The Society’s Code of Ethics & Practice (sections 22 & 27) states that cases of a serious nature should be advised to stay in contact with their GP, that patients should be advised where another form of treatment may be more immediate and effective and that any symptoms suggesting an underlying condition should be referred for medical investigation and diagnosis. "Rachel Packer's own website suggests that she may not follow this rule.Some patients use Homoeopathy alongside orthodox medicine whilst others choose it as the primary source of healthcare for themselves and their families. Some patients use Homoeopathy alongside orthodox medicine whilst others choose it as the primary source of healthcare for themselves and their families. "Any homeopath who treats a patient in the knowledge that that patient is only using homeopathy and does not see a doctor is clearly in breach of the above statement by the SoH.The article states that:
Nadia says her daughters Maddie, now seven, and Kiki, two, have never seen a GP and not had any childhood vaccinations. Rather, they consult the homeopath every few weeks. Does Nadia realise that her homeopath is in breach of the professional obligations laid out by their professional Society and is putting her health and that of her children at risk?Perhaps the Mail on Sunday should have made this clear, perhaps too they should have also linked to the NHS advice on eczema:http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/eczema-%28atopic%29/Pages/Introduction.aspxInstead they have allowed the promotion of somebody who breaches their professional ethics and promoted advice for a condition that, if used at the expense of conventional treatment, may kill.
*my comment on that statement can be found here
http://gimpyblog.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/society-of-homeopaths-exploit-death...
