Content about Pseudoscience

NEW YORK — The National Advertising Division on Friday recommended that Matrixx Initiatives discontinue advertising claims that suggest its homeopathic Zicam Cold Remedy products prevent users from catching a cold.

Claims at issue were featured in an advertising campaign that depicted a “Cold Monster” and encouraged treatment with Zicam products at the “pre-cold” stage.

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Boiron owner Michèle Boiron recently published a book on homeopathy for healthcare professionals titled "Homeopathy and Pharmaceutical Care," the company announced. In April 2013, she and co-author François Roux will host lectures in Philadelphia and New York. 

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Heel on Thursday announced the launch of the Reboost cold and flu product line and new packaging for the Traumeel pain relief product line. The Reboost product line brings together four of the company’s cold, cough and flu products under a single brand that has been specifically designed to speak to the consumer in a retail environment. 

Homeopathy is hopping. Sales of many of the homeopathy brands represent some of the fastest-growing products across the OTC landscape these days, as evidenced by the number of brands escalating on the top 10 lists across several categories. Overall, sales of homeopathic medicines totaled $1.3 billion for the 52 weeks ended Dec. 22, up 8% according to SPINS, which tracks sales across both the natural channel (excluding Whole Foods) and mass retailers.

RESTON, Va. — STS Health on Thursday announced the launch of its homeopathic cold and flu symptom reliever FluNada. 

"After years of intensive research and testing, this natural spray product has been developed to offer a new era of relief from common cold and flu-like symptoms," stated Steven Schwartz, who invented the product. "Each of the active ingredients integrated into the spray was chosen based on the specific health characteristics it provides. In addition, it was important to develop a product that was 100% free of zinc."

While the term homeopathy may remain as foreign to the American consumer as allopathy, as a relative “class” within each of the respective categories where homeopathic remedies exist, more and more shoppers are placing those homeopathic products in their baskets.

LOS ANGELES — Natural skin care line Sweets For Feet added a dose of delectability to the spa industry with its fresh-baked line of moisturizing, aromatic foot creams that are made for enriching reflexology treatments.

LONG BEACH, Calif. — TJL Enterprises on Wednesday introduced Tummy Calm, a natural gas relief remedy for infants and children. The homeopathic remedy provides relief of stomach aches and the accompanying gas, bloating and cramping, the company said.

Some people swear by it. Others doubt it. What’s undeniable, however, is that homeopathic medicine sales were up 15.7% in 2011 to $173 million in natural supermarkets (excluding Whole Foods) and food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart), according to SPINSscan Natural. And with media reports of recalls, dangerous and lethal side effects, counterfeiting and contamination, the homeopathic school of medicine founded by Samuel Hahnemann in 1800 is making a comeback.


SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday issued seven warning letters to companies marketing over-the counter human chorionic gonadotropin products that are labeled as "homeopathic" for weight loss. The letters warn the companies that they are violating federal law by selling drugs that have not been approved and by making unsupported claims for the substances. There are no FDA-approved HCG drug products for weight loss.

WASHINGTON — The Drug Store News Group editor Rob Eder moderated a special Congressional briefing hosted by the American Association of Homeopathic Pharmacists on Sept. 27 for U.S. House of Representatives staffers.


Eder, who presented on current retail trends in homeopathic remedy sales, Americans’ growing interest in self-care and implications for U.S. health care, also moderated a panel discussion of experts, including AAHP president Mark Land and legal counsel Al Lorman, as well as Wayne Jonas, president and CEO of 
Samueli Institute.


NEWTON SQUARE, Pa. — Boiron is making headway introducing a whole new natural external pain reliever into the mass outlet, having earlier this year won distribution through Walgreens and Duane Reade of its arnica gel Arnicare. And Arnicare already is the natural channel’s fastest-growing homeopathic topical pain relief brand, experiencing growth of 67.5% against sales of $5.9 million for the 52 weeks ended April 17, according to Nielsen.