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This article is part of our Home Remedy Handbook, a comprehensive guide exploring various home remedies, ranging from questionable to medically endorsed. Discover more here.
Due to a provision in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938, certain products labeled as 'drugs' in pharmacies are essentially just water with no medicinal value. This is not an exaggeration. Unlike supplements, which are legally classified as non-drugs, or foods with dubious health claims, these products are sold as remedies. For instance, you can purchase a 'natural' children's cold and cough treatment, only to find it contains little more than water—assuming it’s even that.
These products often feature a Drug Facts label and claim to 'temporarily alleviate common cold symptoms in children.' However, they contain no actual medication. Instead of modern pharmaceuticals or therapeutic doses of herbal ingredients, homeopathic remedies consist of water, alcohol, or sugar infused with the 'essence' of substances that, in their pure form, would worsen your symptoms.
Homeopathy, my friends, is not just absurd—it’s among the most outrageous pseudoscience you’ll encounter today.
What exactly is homeopathy, and why does it defy logic?
Travel back to 1796 with me. Samuel Hahnemann, a German doctor, was disillusioned with the medical practices of his era, which included bloodletting and balancing bodily 'humors.' These methods often caused more harm than good, so Hahnemann sought alternatives. Unfortunately, his solution was equally ineffective.
Keep in mind, this was long before the discovery of germs, the importance of sterile operating rooms, the existence of vitamins, or the understanding of how herbal remedies functioned (when they worked at all). Scientific clinical trials, as we know them today, were not yet part of medical practice.
One day, Hahnemann consumed cinchona bark, a South American tree bark now recognized as a precursor to modern pharmaceuticals. It’s the source of quinine, the key ingredient in tonic water. Today, we know a compound in the bark kills the malaria parasite. Back then, however, people only knew it cured recurring fevers, without understanding why.
Hahnemann wasn’t suffering from malaria. He reportedly documented the effects of a mild cinchona overdose, which included symptoms like weakness, trembling, and fever. These mirrored malaria symptoms, inspiring his 'law of similars,' the foundation of homeopathy.
This so-called law suggests treating an illness by using a substance that induces similar symptoms in healthy individuals. To avoid worsening the patient’s condition, the substance is separated from its healing properties, which are then transferred into water, creating what is essentially magical water.
How homeopathy claims to function (and no, this isn’t a joke)
First, identify a substance that mimics the symptoms of the ailment. For instance, coffee, which causes restlessness and insomnia, is used in homeopathy to treat hyperactivity or sleeplessness. Similarly, onion, known for causing watery eyes and a runny nose, is used in remedies aimed at alleviating those very symptoms.
Onion is a common ingredient in homeopathic cold remedies for children. 'Allium cepa 6X HPUS' indicates that an onion preparation was diluted in water at a 1:10 ratio six times. This results in a final dilution of one part onion to one million parts water, assuming the math is correct.
To clarify, it’s not just about diluting onion water. The process involves 'succussion,' a specific shaking method believed to transfer the onion’s essence into the water.
Modern homeopaths—yes, they still exist—are firm believers in water’s memory. Their primary challenge is convincing mainstream scientists of this concept’s validity.
Since the water retains the onion’s 'memory,' the presence of actual onion in the final product is irrelevant—though statistically, some traces likely remain. A 6X dilution is considered mild in homeopathy; stronger remedies require even greater dilution.
This isn’t hidden knowledge. The American Association of Homeopathic Pharmacists openly states that many homeopathic products contain no detectable active ingredients. Their FAQ addresses concerns about overdosing, stating:
Due to the highly diluted nature of homeopathic medicines, overdosing is not a concern. In dilutions exceeding 8X or 4C, any toxic effects of the original substance vanish, making the remedy safe for over-the-counter use.
Yes, 'over-the-counter' means these products are available at local pharmacies or major retail stores. Alongside conventional cold and pain medications, you’ll find homeopathic remedies from brands like Hyland’s and Boiron.
However, they can still pose risks
Homeopaths often emphasize that extreme dilution ensures safety. Yet, many homeopathic remedies aren’t diluted to such extremes. For instance, 6X dilutions, like in our earlier example, still contain measurable amounts of the original substance. If the substance were toxic, this could be concerning.
Additionally, some products labeled as 'homeopathic' contain significant amounts of active ingredients. For example, arnica gel is sometimes sold at a '1X' dilution. Sambucol offers elderberry products, some as supplements (with substantial elderberry content) and others as homeopathic (with minimal or no elderberry).
The difference lies in reading the labels: Supplement Facts versus homeopathic Drug Facts. While both products claim similar benefits on their packaging, homeopathic principles suggest they can’t treat the same condition. If homeopathic elderberry cures a cold, non-homeopathic elderberry should, in theory, cause cold symptoms. However, FDA regulations don’t enforce consistency in marketing claims across medical theories.
Critics of homeopathy oversimplify by calling these remedies 'just water,' as they often contain more than that. Similarly, assuming homeopathic medicines are safe solely because they’re diluted is misleading.
In reality, some homeopathic products have been linked to fatalities. In 2016, the FDA investigated teething tablets tied to the deaths of 10 infants and over 400 adverse reactions, including seizures. The tablets contained belladonna (deadly nightshade), often in higher amounts than labeled. The FDA warned against their use, and the company recalled them in 2017, repeating a similar recall from 2010 for the same issue.
Another example involves homeopathic nasal gels and swabs containing zinc, which caused permanent loss of smell in some users. The FDA issued warnings, noting that despite the homeopathic label, the products contained zinc, and no evidence supported their safety or efficacy. These products had a 2X dilution, meaning 0.1% zinc content.
How is any of this legally permissible?
Technically, it’s not entirely legal. But the FDA isn’t making significant efforts to enforce stricter regulations.
Homeopathic 'drugs' were granted an exception under the 1938 law that established the FDA’s regulatory scope. Since then, the FDA has grappled with the dual definition of drugs: those proven effective or those grandfathered in as homeopathic remedies.
Homeopathic remedies bypass clinical trials, relying instead on 'provings,' where healthy volunteers take raw ingredients and report symptoms. Homeopathic theory dismisses the need for clinical trials. This isn’t limited to over-the-counter products; homeopathy schools and private practitioners create personalized remedies based on individual temperaments. (Homeopathy focuses on symptom matching, with the cause of illness deemed irrelevant.)
Over time, the FDA has acknowledged that drugs must be both safe and effective, which homeopathic products often are not. A standout moment was when the Federal Trade Commission sent the FDA a strongly worded letter, reminding them that false advertising is illegal.
In 2022, the FDA finally decided it could remove unsafe or ineffective products from the market. However, instead of outright banning homeopathic remedies, the agency chose to focus enforcement on the most hazardous items. This means many questionable products remain on shelves indefinitely.
How can I steer clear of these products while shopping?
Firstly, exercise caution with products that appear overly promising. Many medications suitable for adults and older children are inappropriate for infants or toddlers. For instance, cough medicine is not recommended for children under four. Homeopathy brands have seized this opportunity, knowing parents seek remedies for their young ones. Unfamiliar with homeopathy, many assume these products are legitimate upon reading the packaging.
To decipher the label, start by identifying whether it is a Drug Facts label. Some items in pharmacies are supplements, which might have benefits but are not classified as medicine. If it is a Drug Facts label, watch for specific indicators:
Dilutions indicated by a combination of numbers and letters, such as 6X or 20C
The abbreviation HPUS beside an ingredient, referencing the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States (a government-endorsed repository of dubious claims)
Ingredients with typically two-part Latin names, like “natrum muriaticum” (which translates to sea salt)
Certain homeopathic items may feature a disclaimer stating, “Claims based on traditional homeopathic practice, not supported by medical evidence.”
The Latin names often conceal the true nature of ingredients. These can range from plant extracts and chemical elements to everyday substances like onions or salt. Occasionally, they include obscure components, such as “Hepar Sulph Calc” found in a cold remedy, which consists of finely ground oyster shell inner layers cooked with sulfur—a unique formulation attributed to Hahnemann.
To leave you with one final baffling fact for the day, let’s discuss oscillococcinum, a widely available homeopathic product found in most local pharmacies. Its primary ingredient is often labeled as Anas barbariae, referring to the Muscovy duck. (Interestingly, the Muscovy duck’s scientific name is now Cairina moschata, making this label a Latinized version of its common name rather than its official classification.)
The rationale behind selling this product for “flu-like symptoms” stems from an astonishingly imaginative and long-debunked theory about the flu’s origin. While we now know influenza is caused by a virus, this was unknown in 1920 when viruses had yet to be identified. Scientists at the time, aware of bacteria, scrutinized blood and tissue samples from ill patients under microscopes, searching for the elusive germ that explained diseases. As McGill University’s Office of Science and Society explains:
[Dr. Joseph] Roy, deeply intrigued by the flu, aimed to uncover its cause by studying victims’ blood under a microscope. He reported observing tiny, fast-moving microbes that oscillated rapidly. Dubbing them “oscillococci,” he claimed they were present in patients with various illnesses, including cancer, tuberculosis, and gonorrhea. Roy believed this “universal germ” was the root of many diseases. He concluded that a homeopathic remedy derived from these oscillococci could cure such conditions.
Yes, a microbe that vibrates and supposedly causes all illnesses. Create a homeopathic version of it, and voilà—problem solved! But how is this preparation made? Roy claimed to have identified the same oscillating microbes in duck livers. (To this day, no one knows what he actually saw, as duck livers contain no such microbes—feel free to check.) The process involves extracting material from duck organs, diluting it extensively, infusing the resulting solution into sugar pills, and selling them for $27.49 at Target. (A real price I verified. Honestly, I wish I were joking.)
So, what actually helps with mild flu cases manageable at home? Hydration. Rest. Perhaps some saline solution to clear nasal congestion. In other words: simple, practical home care.
