Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.
Times Story
The Times recently published a number of articles on homeoprophylaxis and the anti-vaccination stance of certain homeopaths. Unfortunately, the Times has a paywall. The articles deal with a number of things but the two key ones are the anti-vaccination stance of some homeopaths and the offer of homeoprophylaxis.
Anti-vaccination
It is difficult to get a feel for how anti-vaccination homeopaths are. They do vary but there is a reluctance by some to be open about their beliefs. This is unsurprising. Things have changed and there is less tolerance of those who promote anti-vaccination propaganda. The Matt Hancock quote is an example of this. The climate is much more hostile. The World Health Organisation identified vaccine hesitancy among threats to global health.
The influence of anti-vaccination homeopaths on parents is unclear. Partly because what they say in real life, in closed Facebook groups is unknown. Some anti-vacccination homeopaths say that parents who seek them out are already anti-vaccination. That they have made their minds up already. However, some homeopaths are active in anti-vaccination groups like Arnica Group.
Arnica Group have been mentioned before. It is made up of local groups. There are also local Facebook groups. There is a lot overlap between the two but they aren't necessarily the same in terms of localities/members. In terms of the leaders/organisers of local groups and the admins/moderators of Facebook groups, analysis identified slightly than 160 individuals. Of those, 40 were homeopaths (and a considerable number offer CEASE therapy - although some have removed claims etc).
Arnica Group, whatever the protestations made is anti-vaccination. From its mission statement -
Our short term aim is to encourage and link up similar groups around the UK so that open discussion can take place about the vaccination issues and natural health alternatives. We feel that boosting immunity naturally is key and that sharing information and experiences will support our choices.And
Ultimately, we believe that the non-vaccinated child is potentially healthier than the vaccinated child. And that the parents of non-vaccinated children develop a resourceful approach to illness and health which is highly beneficial to the whole family. Our long term aim is to encourage the sharing of health records from non-vaccinated children and compare them to vaccinated children.There are no alternatives to vaccination. Many of those involved with Arnica group are not interested in "open discussion" - their aims are to spread anti-vaccination propaganda. A full examination of this is beyond the scope of this blog but even a cursory examination of the Arnica Group public Facebook page will demonstrate this.
What is homeoprophylaxis?
Homeoprophylaxis is a form of isopathy. The like cures like element of homeopathy is based on the principle that substances that cause certain (sometimes incredibly specific) symptoms in a healthy persons, will, when diluted and shaken, treat those symptoms. Isopathy goes several steps further and states that the actual substance that caused a condition will, when diluted and shaken, cure that disease. Homeoprophylaxis goes a stage further claiming that it can prevent disease.
The homeopathic remedies used in homeoprophylaxis are mostly nosodes. Nosodes are often made from diseased tissues or exudates. In some cases they are made from the actual pathogen. Because of the method of preparation, the products will not contain any of the pathogen. Some nosodes are made from inactivated pathogens (in some cases actual vaccines).
Isopathy is controversial in homeopathy. Although not absolute, there some overlap between germ theory denialism and opposition to isopathy. If pathogens do not cause disease, nosodes can not cure them.
Proponents of homeoprophylaxis vary in what diseases they claim it can prevent. Claims to prevent malaria got UK homeopaths into trouble back in 2006. In other countries, yes, some lay homeopaths do make claims re malaria and other serious tropical diseases and go off to inflict their hubris on the developing world. But in the developed world, claims tend to be made for vaccine preventable diseases are normally self-limiting and unlikely to result in serious complications. If herd immunity is in place, it is unlikely that an unvaccinated person would contract such a disease. This means that homeoprophylaxis works, etc.
Practitioners sometimes state that homeoprophylaxis is not vaccination nor an alternative to although the language used varies considerable and may be due to legal considerations.
Problem Homeopaths
Some of the homeopaths etc have turned up on this blog before because they also offer CEASE therapy. This post will concentrate on Society of Homeopaths (SoH) members. This is because of the position statements on vaccination and homeoprophylaxis. Members of other homeopathy associations etc will be discussed in a future post.
Dawn Waterhouse
Waterhouse is a member of the SoH and the Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT). Both are accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). The Times report did not pick up on FHT membership though.
Waterhouse has removed some of the claims on her website that brought her to the attention of The Times but there are still issues. Waterhouse offers workshops on Vaccination and Vaccination Alternatives which includes homeoprophylaxis. Her personal Facebook page contains a few anti-vaccination posts but it is the Arnica Group Colchester and Ipswich page that is full of anti-vaccination propaganda. To be clear, Waterhouse is control of that account and uses it to promote her own business as well. Some of the products and services she offers are dubious to say the least.
Waterhouse's reaction to The Times picking up on her offering homeoprophylaxis is odd in a number of ways. It doesn't acknowledge that she offers something that is prohibited by the SoH. It's also likely that if pressed on the matter, the FHT would outlaw it too. Some of the comments on that blog post are from US homeopaths (including Kate Birch) who offer homeoprophylaxis and who are anti-vaccination propagandists (that's another can of worms).
The SoH's reaction is similar to the response to one to the Guardian story re CEASE therapy. It seems to aimed at members and supporters of homeopathy and does admitting that there is a problem. The SoH were forced into dealing with members offering CEASE therapy by the PSA (although it is questionable whether they have - this will be discussed at a later date).
It is unknown whether the SoH have instigated formal disciplinary proceedings against Waterhouse. If they don't, or if they do and strong sanctions are not applied, there may be issued with any further accreditation by the PSA. The SoH is not acted in the interests of public safety.
Alistair Hay
Hay is an admin for Natural Health Portsmouth (UK - An Arnica Group). As this is a closed group, it is unknown what he says there. However, his own website clearly demonstrates he is anti-vaccination. To quote from this handout from a local Arnica group meeting -
I feel it’s easier for us to get the message across that we’re ‘pro-choice’ rather than ‘anti-vax’.
We are, in effect, telling others that they’ve been sold a lie. Essentially, when you’ve been told a lie as fact enough times it is believed to be true. It’s important to ask yourself the question, ‘how do you know?’ Most of the time, it’s because someone else told you. If pro-vax people honestly believe that the vaccination programme is intended to make the nation healthier, the industry is transparent with a pure motive and the multi-billion pound revenue it generates is a nice consequence then that’s up to them. The thing is, we’re not so sure. That makes us the real sceptics, by definition. The reason new antibiotics haven’t been developed over the last couple of decades is there’s no money to be made from them. Understandable really. There’s definitely a difference between the medical profession and the pharmaceutical industry.There's also this handout about HPV and cervical cancer from another meeting/workshop. It is full of misinformation and gross distortions. It mentions Christopher Exley.
Hay may be a germ theory denialist if these notes from a workshop are anything to go by.
Amanda Bate
Bate was mentioned in this post re CEASE therapy. Bate is very clearly anti-vaccination. She is a local Arnica group leader (but not an admin/moderator of a Facebook group). As well as the Facebook page relating to her homeopathy business, she has a personal one.
Arunjot Mushiana
Mushiana was mentioned in the same post as Bate. As well as being a local Arnica group leader, she is an admin for the closed Arnica Berkshire Parents Support Network Facebook group.
Evie Pace
Pace does not make mention of anti-vaccination tropes or homeoprophylaxis on her website or personal Facebook page. She is an admin for the closed Frome Arnica Group.
Hannah Burton
Burton does not make mention of anti-vaccination tropes or homeoprophylaxis on her website or personal Facebook page. She is an admin for the closed Frome Arnica Group.
Jennifer Hautman
Hautman has been mentioned several times on this blog including here. She is local Arnica group leader for North London as well as being admin for the closed Arnica North London Parent's Support Group Facebook group. There is reason to suspect that Hautman uses the closed group to promote her business, especially the DoTerra MLM.
Hautman's websites currently have issues and it is advised not to view them but suffice to say she is extremely anti-vaccination.
Karen Leadbeater
Burton does not make mention of anti-vaccination tropes or homeoprophylaxis on her website but her personal Facebook page is full of anti-vaccination propaganda. She is an admin for the closed Tamar Valley Arnica Group.
Kathy Payne
Burton does not make mention of anti-vaccination tropes or homeoprophylaxis on her website or personal Facebook page. She is leader for the Norwich local Arnica group.
Liz Bevan-Jones
Bevan-Jones was mentioned in this post. She has little in the way of online presence but she is leader for the Collier's Wood local Arnica group.
What is problematic about Bevan-Jones that along with Yvonne Stone, she is author of the ironically titled No Nonsense Vaccination Handbook. It is very likely that this book promotes homeoprophylaxis. A future post will discuss the implications of this book in more detail. It's known that Bevan-Jones and Stone have given talks about vaccination as well.
Rosanna Law
Law does not make mention of anti-vaccination tropes or homeoprophylaxis on her website but her personal Facebook page links to anti-vaccination propaganda. She is leader for the Chelswood local Arnica group.
Rosemary Jones
Jones does not make mention of anti-vaccination tropes or homeoprophylaxis on her website or personal Facebook page. She is leader for the Shrewbury local Arnica group.
Sarah Kaiper-Holmes
Kaiper-Holmes is mentioned in this post. She is leader for the Retford local Arnica group. Her websites are not currently working.
In addition to being a homeopath, she is a doula and member of Doula UK. Doula UK's policy on complentary therapies is worth reading. Doula UK does not have a policy on vaccination although it may well want to formulate one.
Silvia Giunta
Giunta is mentioned in this post. As well as being a local Arnica group leader, she is an admin for the closed Arnica Berkshire Parents Support Network Facebook group.
Sophie Knock
Knock is mentioned in this post. She is leader for the Mendips local Arnica group. Her website contains the claim (from CEASE therapy) that vaccines cause autism. Her personal Facebook page contains links to anti-vaccination propaganda.
Yvonne Stone
Stone is mentioned in this post. Stone has amended her website considerably over time although it is still highly problematic. This document on her website has not been removed and to quote -
Use homeopathic nosodes to protect your children from diseases which are epidemic. They are simple to take and enable the immune system to operate as nature intended without toxicity or unpleasant side-effects. See pages on Homeopathic Prophylaxis and Nosodes. Further information on nosodes can be found in the "No Nonsense Travel Vaccine Handbook".Oh dear.
Problems for the Society of Homeopaths
Waterhouse, Bevan-Jones and Stone represent a big problem in terms of offering/promoting homeoprohylaxis given the SoH's stated position. Weasel words aside, it is effectively a prohibition. The SoH is faced with a choice - discipline these members (possibly expelling them and if not placing them under supervision so they do not offer/promote homeoprophylaxis) or eventually lose PSA accreditation.
The situation with anti-vaccination propaganda and Arnica Group membership is more complicated. Whilst the SoH may not like the idea, it has been established in other jurisdictions that lay homeopaths, naturopaths and others are not qualified or competent to advise on vaccination issues. Members may have personal opinions on vaccination but they can not have a professional opinion - it is beyond the inherent scope of practice for lay homeopathy. Statutorily regulated professionals sometimes encounter the split between the personal and the professional - even more so when they are employed rather than self-employed. Disclaimers generally don't offer sufficient separation between the personal and professional.
It's quite clear from the above that some SoH members are very anti-vaccination and are operating way outside of any inherent scope of practice in the advice they give. Will the SoH act against them? It seems unlikely. It may cause the same problem with the PSA as homeoprohylaxis.
Some of these members' websites and social media accounts should be been scrutinised by the SoH because they offer CEASE. That anti-vaccination claims are made/linked to and have not been removed suggests that the SoH did a less that thorough job. This may cause them problems.
But is membership of Arnica Group a concern in itself? Given that a lot of the activity is hidden from public view, given the nature of some of the other members, yes. Given that some members clearly use Arnica Group membership to promote there own businesses and there is no seperation between the personal and professional, yes. Should the SoH do anything? Unclear but they certainly should investigate.
It is suggested that the SoH need to revise their positions on homeoprophylaxis and vaccination. The language needs to be unambiguous. The consequences for non-compliance must be made clear. Not just in terms of what the SoH but also in terms of the authorities potentially becoming involved.
UPDATE 12/06/2019
Some SoH members talk about homeoprohylaxis (and have a long history of doing so) but it is not always clear if they practice it. There has been a recent Guardian story about CEASE and homeoprophylaxis in the US. It will be discussed in a future post.
Ralf Jeutter is a former director of the SoH. He is podiatrist and thus also statutorily regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Jeutter responded to that story on Facebook.
Some background is required here. Historically, Jeutter has been the subject of complaints to the SoH for offering homeoprophylaxis (see this for example). The SoH dismissed them. Jeutter was a director of the SoH (appointed on 25 March 2006, resigned on 23 October 2009) during the time of the Newsnight/Sense about Science sting (July 2006) that caught out homeopaths offering homeoprophylaxis. Although it took years for SoH to reach its current position on homeoprophylaxis, it is difficult to believe that i) homeoprophylaxis was not discussed at board meetings Jeutter was present at and ii) Jeutter was not aware of the current SoH position or its previous versions.
This page from his website contains the most peculiar disclaimer -
A note of caution to those who believe that unjustified therapeutic claims are being made on this website. Please, read the following carefully:
Since homeopathy is used to address the individual’s experience of diseased states, disease names mentioned here are purely used for shorthand purposes. Homeopathy recognises that diseases differ from individual to individual even if they have been given the same label, such as ‘rheumatoid arthritis’, for example. Hahnemann himself suggested not to speak of ‘ague’, ‘nerve fever’ or ‘dropsy’, but as a kind of ague, a kind of nerve fever, a kind of dropsy. (Organon of the Medical Art, footnote to section 81) Homeopathy does not treat disease names, it addresses the experience of an individual suffering from kinds of diseases.Weasel words to say the least. It's also concerning that Jeutter talks about sharing a video about homeoprophylaxis. It would not be a good look for the SoH it turns out that homeoprophylaxis is being taught by its members, especially in "colleges" it accredits.
There would appear to be a precedent for the SoH to expel members over homeoprophylaxis.
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