The reports advises people to avoid homeopathic treatments (Picture: filmfoto)

You know that airy fairy, New Age friend who swears by alternative healing and homeopathy?

You might want to wave this under her nose.

Because science has proven, once and for all, that it’s all a load of rubbish.

A damning report by Australia’s top body for medical research concluded homeopathy doesn’t treat any health condition at all.


In fact it has no more effectiveness than a sugar pill.

Homeopaths think that a tiny dose of a sickness-making substance, diluted in water or alcohol, triggers the body into getting better.

But the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has reviewed 225 research papers on homeopathy and concluded it was ineffective and potentially dangerous at it stopped people from receiving legitimate medical treatments.



The report said: ‘There are no health conditions for which there is reliable evidence that homeopathy is effective.

‘People who choose homeopathy may put their health at risk if they reject or delay treatments for which there is good evidence for safety and effectiveness.’

Professor Paul Glasziou, chairmain of the NHMRC Homeopathy Working Committee, said he hoped the report would encourage pharmacists to stop stocking homeopathic treatments and health insurers giving rebates on them.

He told The Guardian: ‘There will be a tail of people who won’t respond to this report, and who will say it’s all a conspiracy of the establishment.

‘But we hope there will be a lot of reasonable people out there who will reconsider selling, using or subsiding these substances.’

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