In 2013, mainly in response to a campaign led by the Nightingale Collaboration, the British Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) concluded that there is there was no evidence of sufficiently high quality to claim that any homeopathic product is effective against any medical condition. The ASA’s policies are now embodied in a booklet called Guidance for Advertisers of Homeopathic Services, which states:
| Claims to avoid
In the simplest terms, you should avoid using efficacy claims, whether implied or direct, that aren’t supported by robust evidence. If you are stating or implying that you, your service or a product can be effective in doing something, you need to ensure that you have the evidence to prove the claim. If you are making claims for a homeopathic product, or for a treatment based on a specific product, or combination of products, you may only make such claims as are permitted by the product licence(s). You will need to consult the MHRA for advice on this point. To date, the ASA has have not seen persuasive evidence to support claims that homeopathy can treat, cure or relieve specific conditions or symptoms. We understand this position is in line with other authoritative reviews of evidence. We therefore advise homeopathy marketers to avoid making specific claims of efficacy for treatments where robust evidence is not held to substantiate them Even if a specific product is not cited, marketers of homeopathy services should not state or imply that conditions or symptoms can be relieved or cured by homeopathy. This means marketing of homeopathy services should not use words such as ‘cure’ or ‘treat’, nor list medical conditions because the ASA has a long-standing position that, by doing so, readers are likely to infer that the conditions or symptoms listed can be alleviated. We advise that these claims are not used either directly or indirectly, including through the use of imagery. |
The UK Medicines and and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (referred to above as MHRA), permits registered products to make claims “limited to the relief or treatment of minor symptoms or minor conditions. i.e symptoms or conditions which can ordinarily and with reasonable safety be relieved or treated without the supervision or intervention of a doctor.” It does not permit claims for “serious conditions.”
Since 2012, the ASA has upheld at least 13 complaints against 12 advertisers of homeopathic products and/or treatment services. The list below describes most of the claims that were challenged. The links go to the full ASA adjudications.
- Boots UK Ltd (10/15/14): Claim that Boots Alternative Hayfever Relief tablets could “protect from . . . the distressing symptoms of hay fever”
- British Institute for Allergy and Environmental Therapy (3/9/11): Claims for hay fever products
- Comfort Click Ltd (7/4/12): Claim that Wartrol Genital Warts Relief will clear genital warts in 2-4 weeks
- Dr. Batras’ Positive Health Clinic (UK) Ltd (4/27/11): Dr. Batra’s credentials; psoriasis treatment claims
- Happy Homeopathy (6/11/14): Claims for “hormonal packages” called Hormonal Harmony and Don’t Sweat It – Menopausal Relief
- Homeopathy: Medicine for the 21st Century (7/3/13): Claims that homeopathy (a) has a history of success in chronic illness, (b) has reduced the need for conventional medicine, (c) has protected against epidemic Leptosporosis, (d) is supported by more positive than negative randomized controlled trials, and (e) can produce dramatic benefits.
- International Bodyworks (4/24/13): NHL HPUS Blend Essential Formula Fast Weight Loss Diet Drops and the Simeons and Cura Romana 500-Calorie Diets could cause weight loss of a pound a day
- Islington Homeopathic Clinic (2/26/14): Claim that homeopathy “has been an integral part of the UK’s National Health Service since 1948
- Roger Meacock, trading as Natural Healing Solutions, in association with Health-Disk.com (4/19/17): Claims that its products are effective and advice about the diagniosis and treatment of conditions for which medical supervision is necessary
- Slenderiiz UK (6/11/14): Weight loss claims for Slenderiix and Xceler8
- Society of Homeopaths (7/3/13): Claims that homeopathy was effective against allergies and upper respiratory tract infections, ankle sprain, bronchitis, childhood diarrhea, chronic fatigue, depression, ear infections, fibromyalgia, hay fever, influenza, osteoarthritis, premenstrual syndrome, rheumatic diseases, sinusitis, and vertigo
- Steve Scrutton Homeopathy (8/8/12): Claims that products could treat arthritis and influenza
- Steve Scrutton Homeopathy (9/18/13): Claims that products could treat depression
This page was reviased on April 21, 2021.
