Mass "overdose" in Leicester city centre
Protesters today staged a mass "overdose" of homeopathic remedies in an attempt to prove that the medicines are worthless.
The demonstration saw 25 supporters gather outside Boots on Gallowtree Gate to swallow entire bottles of tablets.
They said the "overdose" - 42 times the recommended dosage - had absolutely no effect on them.
It was organised locally by the Leicester Skeptics in the Pub group, with other demonstrations taking place nationwide at the same time.
Campaigners have called on the high street chain to withdraw all homeopathic treatments from its shelves, which they say are "scientifically absurd".
Homeopathy is a system that uses very highly diluted substances to trigger the body to heal itself.
The demonstration, at 10.23am precisely, was co-ordinated nationally outside Boots branches in Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, London and Birmingham.
Paul Bennett, professional standards director for Boots, said the company follows advice from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain on the correct selling of complementary medicines.
3 Comments
by Hugh Parker, Birmingham
Monday, February 01 2010, 2:16PM
“I'd be interested to know if that allegation against the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain is true - do they in fact advise pharmacies to sell homeopathic sugar pills?”
by JB, Leicester
Monday, February 01 2010, 12:19PM
“Editors, "Homeopathy is a system that uses very highly diluted substances to trigger the body to heal itself." That reads as though it were a statement of fact. Perhaps you'd like to take the opportunity to prefix it with a phrase such as "homeopaths believe".”
by JB, Leiicester
Monday, February 01 2010, 12:04PM
“Editors, "Homeopathy is a system that uses very highly diluted substances to trigger the body to heal itself." That reads as though it were a statement of fact. Perhaps you'd like to take the opportunity to prefix it with a phrase such as "homeopaths believe".”