Ok, I admit, sometimes I’m skeptical of these high-dollar, over-the-counter homeopathic remedies…fourteen dollars for a tiny vial of hope?!?  It reminds me of the old days, when they would sell mysterious tinctures that cured insomnia, ear aches, rashes and constipation, and a hundred years later, we discover that it was actually liquid cocaine. Nice.  Perfect for when little Johnny is teething.

But, that being said, I actually DO believe in the power of many natural herbs and plants to solve health problems, and if we can avoid taking a ton of prescription meds, it’s better for our bodies, right?  Well, now I’m really confused.

A new campaign out of the UK called 10:23 is asserting that homeopathic remedies are a huge hoax, and in many ways, are harmful to society. According to their website,

“Homeopathy is an unscientific and absurd pseudoscience, yet it persists today as an accepted complementary medicine.

Ask many people what they think homeopathy is, and you’ll be told “it’s herbal medicine” or “it’s all-natural”. Few realise that it’s been proven not to work; even fewer know it involves substances so dilute that there’s nothing left in them. Homeopathy takes advantage of this uncertainty to sit alongside real, proven medicines on the shelves of our major pharmacies.”

Not only are they boycotting homeopathic medicines, the 10:23 campaign is accusing them of being harmful, especially when they take the place of medicine that would actually help a patient.  Read over their ten reasons “Why You Can’t Trust Homeopathy” , watch a few videos (including “If Homeopathy Works, I’ll Drink My Own Piss”), and let me know what you think. Is this just western medicine trying to brainwash us? Is this like the whole Corn Syrup PR campaign? Or is there some truth to what they are saying?

Until then, I’ll just stick to eating an apple a day, and cross my fingers for good health. That can’t be bad for me, right?

Rachel Znerold is an artist and independent fashion designer living the good life in San Francisco, CA. www.rachelzart.com

Richard Dawkins: The Enemies of Reason

Crispian Jago: If Homeopathy Works, I’ll Drink My Own Piss