Commonplace Book

Joining in

October 15th, 2007

I must join in with everybody else and post this link to an article from the excellent Le Canard Noir which was pulled at the behest of the Society of Homeopaths’ lawyers.

This action was highly counterproductive, as it has led to the piece being replicated countless times, to the extent that it now shows up as one of the top results when one searches for the SoH on Google.

This canard about malaria isn’t new: I remember working in a gift shop in Rawdon during one summer holiday in about 1994. The shop stocked some essential oils, and along with them, a few relevant books including one on homeopathy. During quiet afternoons, I leafed through these and remember being very shocked at the “prophylaxis” recommendations for malaria. I think at the time I had experimented with homeopathic tablets for hay fever and considered homeopathy to be on a par with Anadin: fine for minor complaints but by no means a cure-all. I was particuarly alarmed at the suggestion in the book that a homeopathic treatment was especially suitable for young children as the “conventional” remedy was so harmful.

It’s significant that I can remember that book so vividly when I can barely remember half the books I read for my degree.

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