Homeopathy, American TV, and Junk Science/Junk Journalism
Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2004 8:15 pm
Friends,
homeopathy that aired on January 30th. The 8-minute segment did not portray
homeopathy well. Although there were several positive things said and shown
about homeopathy, the segment also had various errors of fact and poorly
conducted science.
segment on homeopathy can now view it at .
To see this TV segment on your computer, you will need to have the program,
QuickTime, but this is a free program that most computers have, and if you
don't have it, you can download it for free at www.quicktime.com.
this TV segment at my website www.homeopathic.com/articles/media. You will
learn what Stossel got right about homeopathy, what he got wrong about it,
and what was missing from this segment, and you will read solid evidence
that the "study" that ABC News conducted was simply "junk science"...and
this created "junk journalism."
to repeat a previously conducted laboratory trial that successfully showed
biological activity from homeopathic doses. More specifically, it was a
trial that had been conducted numerous times in the past (the last time it
was conducted, four different universities and laboratories replicated this
trial with extremely significant results...to the scientists out there, the
results were P=0.0001 -- this is extremely impressive results!).
ABC News consulted with Dr. Madeleine Ennis (a professor of clinical
biochemistry at the Queen's University of Belfast who had previously
conducted this trial) in order to make certain that the protocol was
correct. Once this agreement was in place, I was interviewed by Stossel.
When the experimenter finally got around to consulting with Ennis, he was
informed of several extremely serious problems with his protocol that
destined it to show a negative results (I provide the details about these
problems at my website). He refused to change his study (because this
experimenter is not a PhD scientist but is what might be considered a
medical technician, it is particularly surprising that he would have this
attitude...and it is even more shock that ABC News would accept it as
valid).
and I'm pleased to say that we just received a grant of $5,000 to help in
this effort. However, this $5,000 is conditional on us raising the other
$5,000. We can and will effectively use whatever contributions you can
give...and they are tax-deductible when they are made out to
The Foundation for Homeopathic Education and Research
2036 Blake St.
Berkeley, CA. 94704
chooses to cover this drama will provide a positive story about homeopathy.
I say this with confidence simply because it is highly unlikely that any
media that wishes to convey an anti-homeopathy story would want to talk
about this junk science study. Also, please know that we do not plan to
simply be on the defensive. Please plan to proactively inform the media of
the hundreds (that's right!) of clinical and laboratory studies that have
successfully shown biological active and clinical efficacy of homeopathic
medicines (many of these studies are mentioned at my website), and we will
highlight the other fascinating facts and impressive list of quotes from
famous people in the past 200 years who have advocated for homeopathy (an
impressive list is at my website!).
is "Citizens for Health" (www.citizens.org), and they have expressed an
interested in supporting our efforts. They also plan to help us get the word
out and to try to get a retraction from John Stossel.
20/20 this year. If you are as concerned as we are with John Stossel
becoming the main anchor of 20/20, please support our efforts. Please send
your tax-deductible donation to the Foundation for Homeopathic Education and
Research.
Dana Ullman, MPH
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
homeopathy that aired on January 30th. The 8-minute segment did not portray
homeopathy well. Although there were several positive things said and shown
about homeopathy, the segment also had various errors of fact and poorly
conducted science.
segment on homeopathy can now view it at .
To see this TV segment on your computer, you will need to have the program,
QuickTime, but this is a free program that most computers have, and if you
don't have it, you can download it for free at www.quicktime.com.
this TV segment at my website www.homeopathic.com/articles/media. You will
learn what Stossel got right about homeopathy, what he got wrong about it,
and what was missing from this segment, and you will read solid evidence
that the "study" that ABC News conducted was simply "junk science"...and
this created "junk journalism."
to repeat a previously conducted laboratory trial that successfully showed
biological activity from homeopathic doses. More specifically, it was a
trial that had been conducted numerous times in the past (the last time it
was conducted, four different universities and laboratories replicated this
trial with extremely significant results...to the scientists out there, the
results were P=0.0001 -- this is extremely impressive results!).
ABC News consulted with Dr. Madeleine Ennis (a professor of clinical
biochemistry at the Queen's University of Belfast who had previously
conducted this trial) in order to make certain that the protocol was
correct. Once this agreement was in place, I was interviewed by Stossel.
When the experimenter finally got around to consulting with Ennis, he was
informed of several extremely serious problems with his protocol that
destined it to show a negative results (I provide the details about these
problems at my website). He refused to change his study (because this
experimenter is not a PhD scientist but is what might be considered a
medical technician, it is particularly surprising that he would have this
attitude...and it is even more shock that ABC News would accept it as
valid).
and I'm pleased to say that we just received a grant of $5,000 to help in
this effort. However, this $5,000 is conditional on us raising the other
$5,000. We can and will effectively use whatever contributions you can
give...and they are tax-deductible when they are made out to
The Foundation for Homeopathic Education and Research
2036 Blake St.
Berkeley, CA. 94704
chooses to cover this drama will provide a positive story about homeopathy.
I say this with confidence simply because it is highly unlikely that any
media that wishes to convey an anti-homeopathy story would want to talk
about this junk science study. Also, please know that we do not plan to
simply be on the defensive. Please plan to proactively inform the media of
the hundreds (that's right!) of clinical and laboratory studies that have
successfully shown biological active and clinical efficacy of homeopathic
medicines (many of these studies are mentioned at my website), and we will
highlight the other fascinating facts and impressive list of quotes from
famous people in the past 200 years who have advocated for homeopathy (an
impressive list is at my website!).
is "Citizens for Health" (www.citizens.org), and they have expressed an
interested in supporting our efforts. They also plan to help us get the word
out and to try to get a retraction from John Stossel.
20/20 this year. If you are as concerned as we are with John Stossel
becoming the main anchor of 20/20, please support our efforts. Please send
your tax-deductible donation to the Foundation for Homeopathic Education and
Research.
Dana Ullman, MPH
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]