WHO warns against homeopathy use

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8211925.stm

WHO warns against homeopathy use

Homeopathic remedies often contain few or no active ingredients

People with conditions such as HIV, TB and malaria should not rely on

homeopathic treatments, the World Health Organization has warned.

It was responding to calls from young researchers who fear the promotion of

homeopathy in the developing world could put people's lives at risk.

The group Voice of Young Science Network has written to health ministers to

set out the WHO view.

WHO TB experts said homeopathy had " no place " in treatment of the disease.

There is no objective evidence that homeopathy has any effect on these

infections

Dr Nick Beeching, Royal Liverpool University Hospital

In a letter to the WHO in June, the medics from the UK and Africa said: " We

are calling on the WHO to condemn the promotion of homeopathy for treating

TB, infant diarrhoea, influenza, malaria and HIV.

" Homeopathy does not protect people from, or treat, these diseases.

" Those of us working with the most rural and impoverished people of the

world already struggle to deliver the medical help that is needed.

" When homeopathy stands in place of effective treatment, lives are lost. "

Dr Hagan is a researcher in biomolecular science at the University of

St s and a member of Voice of Young Science Network, which is part of

the charity Sense About Science campaigning for " evidence-based " care.

He said: " We need governments around the world to recognise the dangers of

promoting homeopathy for life-threatening illnesses.

" We hope that by raising awareness of the WHO's position on homeopathy we

will be supporting those people who are taking a stand against these

potentially disastrous practices. "

'No evidence'

Dr Raviglione, director of the Stop TB department at the WHO, said:

Our evidence-based WHO TB treatment/management guidelines, as well as the

International Standards of Tuberculosis Care do not recommend use of

homeopathy. "

The doctors had also complained that homeopathy was being promoted as a

treatment for diarrhoea in children.

But a spokesman for the WHO department of child and adolescent health and

development said: " We have found no evidence to date that homeopathy would

bring any benefit.

" Homeopathy does not focus on the treatment and prevention of dehydration -

in total contradiction with the scientific basis and our recommendations for

the management of diarrhoea. "

Dr Nick Beeching, a specialist in infectious diseases at the Royal Liverpool

University Hospital, said: " Infections such as malaria, HIV and tuberculosis

all have a high mortality rate but can usually be controlled or cured by a

variety of proven treatments, for which there is ample experience and

scientific trial data.

" There is no objective evidence that homeopathy has any effect on these

infections, and I think it is irresponsible for a healthcare worker to promote

the use of homeopathy in place of proven treatment for any life-threatening

illness. "