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Homeopathic medicines make up a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States. Despite being included in the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has never enforced the requirement that the homeopathic industry demonstrate safety or efficacy of its products prior to putting them on the market. Although drug regulation falls within the purview of the FDA, labeling the products is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
In 2015 both the FDA and FTC announced workshops to review how over the counter (OTC) homeopathic products are marketed. Both agencies have the authority to increase the regulation and labeling requirements for these products. The reviews generated thousands of public comments, and the FTC is the first to release their decision in a Staff Report and an Enforcement Policy Statement.
In summary, there is no basis under the FTC Act to treat OTC homeopathic drugs differently than other health products. Accordingly, unqualified disease claims made for homeopathic drugs must be substantiated by competent and reliable scientific evidence. Nevertheless, truthful, nonmisleading, effective disclosure of the basis for an efficacy claim may be possible. The approach outlined in this Policy Statement is therefore consistent with the First Amendment, and neither limits consumer access to OTC homeopathic products nor conflicts with the FDA's regulatory scheme. It would allow a marketer to include an indication for use that is not supported by scientific evidence so long as the marketer effectively communicates the limited basis for the claim in the manner discussed above.
Essentially, any homeopathic product that isn't backed up by competent and reliable scientific evidence must communicate on its label that:
- there is no scientific evidence that the product works
- the product's claims are based only on theories of homeopathy from the 1700s that are not accepted by most modern medical experts.
Though largely seen as a win for consumer awareness, Slate notes the potential for this to backfire by noting that those who seek out homeopathic medicine will only have their resolve strengthened by seeing a statement pointing out that the contents of the bottle they are holding are not endorsed by the scientific community.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 27 2016, @01:32PM
Though largely seen as a win for consumer awareness, Slate notes the potential for this to backfire by noting that those who seek out homeopathic medicine will only have their resolve strengthened by seeing a statement pointing out that the contents of the bottle they are holding are not endorsed by the scientific community.
Sometimes you just can't fix stupid.
(Score: 2) by wonkey_monkey on Sunday November 27 2016, @03:53PM
Evolution will take care of the rest.
systemd is Roko's Basilisk
(Score: 2) by AnonymousCowardNoMore on Sunday November 27 2016, @06:36PM
Unfortunately disease influences intelligence. So homeopathy does not reduce stupidity—it increases it. This is the exact same reason why Social Darwinism is rubbish: Starving the poor makes them dumb more than the other way around.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 27 2016, @10:50PM
Devolution is a thing.
(Score: 1) by ilsa on Tuesday November 29 2016, @09:56PM
Evolution will take care of the rest.
Not until we take the warning labels off of everything.
(Score: 3, Funny) by krishnoid on Sunday November 27 2016, @10:29PM
Sure you can. Change "not endorsed by the scientific community" to "endorsed by Wall Street investment bankers, radical Islamic terrorists, cheap Chinese labor, and illegal immigrants" and you're set.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 27 2016, @10:53PM
cheap Chinese labor
Anti-Chinese sentiment is why Walmart is in such dire straits.
(Score: 2) by krishnoid on Sunday November 27 2016, @11:28PM
Actually, I guess that's not fixing stupid, it's just ... calculatingly navigating around it using fancy footwork? I'm pretty sure there's a word for that. I guess it could create or solidify more stupid in the process.
You know, maybe we can call that progress for now and just revisit it in six months.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Monday November 28 2016, @12:46PM
Sometimes the placebo effect fixes stupid better than science can.
One big plus for Homeopathy, negative side effects are almost entirely in the user's head.
🌻🌻 [google.com]