General Discussion

HuckleB

(35,773 posts) Wed Oct 5, 2016, 12:25 PM Oct 2016

FDA Warns About Homeopathic Teething Products

https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/fda-warns-about-homeopathic-teething-products/#more-43903

"The FDA recently put out a consumer warning about homeopathic teething gels and pills. The warning states:

“The FDA recommends that consumers stop using these products and dispose of any in their possession.”

The warning is not due to the fact that homeopathic products are entirely useless. As we have discussed here often, the basic principles of homeopathy are pure pseudoscience. The practice of diluting substances so that almost no or no active ingredient remains means that most homeopathic products are just sugar pills. Further, clinical studies show that homeopathic products don’t work. There isn’t a single homeopathic product that has been shown to be effective for a single condition with rigorous clinical trials.

The FDA acknowledges this, writing in their warning:

“Homeopathic teething tablets and gels have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA for safety or efficacy. The agency is also not aware of any proven health benefit of the products, which are labeled to relieve teething symptoms in children.”

This may sound confusing, since the entire homeopathic pharmacopoeia has been pre-approved by the FDA and are sold as drugs. What they are saying is that they are not approved, “for safety or efficacy.” So they are approved, but without any guarantee that they are safe or effective.

..."

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So much for "What's the harm?"