Homeopathy protest sees 'mass overdose' outside Boots in Leicester

By sward simon ward

Protesters downed entire bottles of homeopathic remedies in a "mass overdose" – and said they felt absolutely no effect.

In Saturday's demonstration, 25 people gathered outside Boots' Gallowtree Gate store in Leicester and took 42 times the recommended doses.

The campaigners have called on the high street chain to withdraw all homeopathic treatments, which they claim are "scientifically absurd".

Homeopathy claims to use highly-diluted substances to trigger the body to heal itself.

The demonstrators had each bought a bottle of homeopathic tablets from Boots mixed to a 30c dilution.

The tablets – costing £4.99 a bottle – are said to contain small traces of compounds such as arsenic, argentum nitricum and belladonna.

Critics said that, at such a dilution, the chances of finding a single molecule of the active ingredient were incredibly small.

The protest was organised by the Leicester branch of Skeptics in the Pub.

Others demonstrated – all at 10.23am – outside Boots branches in Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, London and Birmingham.

Blake Hutchings, 28, who downed a bottle of pills said to contain argentum nitricum, said: "It works out at being nothing more than a lot of money for not a lot of sugar."

Alistair Grant, 48, from Whitwick took 84 tablets said to contain arsenic.

He said: "There's nothing in it. If people believe a homeopathic remedy will cure a headache, they may start using it for more serious conditions which require proper medication."

A 70-year-old protester from Enderby, who did not wish to be named, said: "I took medical advice as I have a number of conditions but I was never remotely concerned it would have any effect. If people want to spend their money on these remedies that's fine but I am appalled the NHS does."

The Society of Homeopaths said treatments were "person-specific'' and based on taking a series of doses, so it did not expect any reaction in the protesters, unless someone already had symptoms matched to their remedy.

On its website, Boots advises customers: "30c pillules are a homeopathic medicinal product without approved therapeutic indications".

Paul Bennett, professional standards director from Boots, said the company followed advice from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain on the selling of complementary medicines.

He said: "Homeopathy is recognised by the NHS and many health professionals.

"Many people believe in the benefits of complementary medicines and we aim to offer the products our customers want."

"We would," he added, "support the call for scientific research and evidence-gathering on the efficacy of homeopathic medicines."

Read Simon Perry's Skeptic column in tomorrow's Mercury.