The Latest Labeling News For Homeopathic Products

According To The US Government, Every Homeopathic Product Now Has To Come With A Warning Label

A new policy statement released by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has bad news for manufacturers of homeopathic drugs. Going forward, the statement demands that all over-the-counter (OTC) homeopathic products will have to be labeled in a way that indicates they don’t work.

Homeopathy is a pseudoscientific medical discipline with roots in the 18th century. The key theory behind the process is the idea that using very small amounts of a harmful substance (a pathogen) will help treat illnesses whose symptoms are similar to those of ingesting the pathogen. The pathogens used in homeopathic remedies are extremely diluted, with most homeopathic products being mixed down to the point that the solution contains trillions of molecules of water for every single molecule of the active ingredient. This mixture is sold as either a liquid or a pill (in which the solution is mixed with sugar).

Despite homeopathy’s long history, long and careful scientific research has failed to produce any evidence of its effectiveness. Modern studies have been particularly thorough and unambiguous in debunking the curative powers of homeopathic products. In fact, many scientists and medical professionals are extremely worried about the continued use of homeopathy. It can be a positive harm when patients choose a homeopathic patient in place of an effective medicine.

It seems that homeopathy’s long and contentious story might be coming to an end. The FTC’s announcement puts manufacturers of homeopathic products on notice: They will finally be required to comply with a 1972 regulation that requires firm evidence for any claims of efficacy made regarding homeopathic products. The FTC has been very lenient with the makers of useless OTC drugs for a long time, but a recent workshop on such products and the way they are marketed has inspired the commission to crack down on them.

In the future, the package on future homeopathic products will have to include a clear statement which says the product is not backed by any scientific evidence and that modern medical experts do not accept the basic tenets of homeopathy.

This isn’t an outright ban on homeopathy, but it should have a negative impact on the number of consumers who use them.

source: http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/us-government-says-all-homeopathic-products-now-have-admit-dont-work/