Sunday 15 May 2011

Suilven Centre's Hayfever Remedy


It's already been a day marked by
unwise decisions. Here is another prurient example.


I get occasional unsolicited emails from the quacks, often starting with the words "I might be making a big mistake bringing myself to your attention..."

Not such a big mistake at all, in fact. Most sceptics are very approachable and not at all carniverous.

One clinic who did make a mistake bringing themselves to my attention, though, are the Suilven Centre, an alternative medicine clinic in Orkney.

Actually, it's not the unsubstantiated claims which got my attention, but the theatrical marketing. Here's a screenshot of my spam filter.


Suilven's advert makes every effort to effect the appearance of a genuine comment on a serious public health issue before effortlessly turning on the sales pitch for an unrelated product.

"I would like to thank you all for the above comments on these "Tibetan Monk's [sic] rings". I received the leaflet this morning and decided to look them up and found all your comments. I suffer from rheumatic pain and also severe tinnitus and the supposed "magic ring" was meant to cure this. There is no know [sic] cure for tinnitus. For those of you who are suffering please look up your local Holistic Centre and you will find such therapies as reflexology, acupuncture and reiki. I live in Orkney and the Holistic Centre there practices [sic] all these and the therapists really care for people in such pain. Should you wish for sympathy and understanding the website is www.suilvencentre-orkney.com..."

Red rags, bulls, and all that. ASA complaint follows!

"The website makes two claims for acupuncture which I suspect are misleading.

The site uses Flash technology to conceal URL addresses, so it's not possible to supply a correct URL address. The page in question can be reached by going to www.suilvencentre-orkney.com , clicking on the "Therapies" tab, then on "For more information on the therapies listed below, click here".

An identical page is available on the hosting company's site. The address is
http://web.mac.com/nhonore/Suilven_Centre/Therapies__2.html

1. "Did you know there is more research to back up acupuncture and how it works than many of our traditional medical techniques?"

I'd like to challenge whether the claim "there is more research to back up acupuncture" is misleading, because I think it gives the impression that there is a great deal of evidence to support the efficacy of acupuncture.

From what I understand, there are only a few mildly positive clinical trials available, which deal with only a handful of conditions (such as lower back pain).

2. "[Acupuncture] is great for helping to stop hayfever..."

I'd like to challenge whether this claim can be substantiated. From what I understand, hayfever is not one of the conditions for which rigorous clinical evidence exists.

I've made some screenshots of the relevant pages, which are available at:
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=JoU4KKQM8S

I can confirm that I have no connections with the advertiser or with the alternative medicine industry in general."

Radiant Life Technology's "Supreme Court Attorney"


Radiant Life Technologies - about whom I have submitted several complaints (see here and here) - have taken the unusual step of publishing their correspondence with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).


Publishing private correspondence is not something I would usually consider, even when it's already available elsewhere.

However, it would be a pity of the letters were to suddenly disappear. On this occasion, I think there's a decent public interest argument to be made in favour of preserving a copy of them. They're reproduced here under the "Fair Use" provisions of international copyright law.

There are five letters, not all of which are dated. The first of which is a letter from the ASA, notifying the advertisers of the complaint, and asking for a swift response. (One section of the letter is reproduced here).

"Please respond to the complaint. The CAP Code requires marketers to hold documentary evidence for their claims before submitting an ad for publication. Please give us all the substantiation and information you would like us to have. It is for you to decide what to submit, but we suggest you send us evidence that coMra-Therapy is a breakthrough treatment and evidence to substantiates claims about how the therapy works. We also need your comments on whether the identified claims in the Complaint Notification could discourage seeking essential treatment for serious medical conditions. We will be happy to receive anything else you think is relevant."

The reply comes from an unnamed "Attorney at the Supreme Court". Alas, which "Supreme Court" the "Attorney" is "at" is far from certain.

Nigeria, perhaps? I don't think the "Attorney" can be referring to the British Supreme Court. After all, over here we normally refer to our lawyers as "solicitors".

"
Dear Ms xx,


My name is xx; I am the Legal Adviser of the company “Radiant Life Technologies” (RLT).


Ms xx has forwarded me your letter to her. I am responding to you on behalf of my client, RLT, and I wish to state the following:


My client has its residence in the E.U. and is bound by the laws and regulations of the E.U.. As far as I know, your organisation does not have jurisdiction over my client. Your jurisdiction has to do with the advertising space inside the sovereignty of the U.K.. My client does not have any disputes or any interest in any way whatsoever within the space of your jurisdiction.


However, there have been verbalised certain allegations against my client, allegations which cannot be left unaddressed.


The product RLT is trading has been gone through all the required by law procedures and has acquired the necessary by E.U. law certification along with the right to bear the mark “CE” on the product itself.


Furthermore, RLT has acquired a series of Quality Systems known as “ISOs”. Those Quality Systems were not mandatory but they have been acquired anyway, in order to ensure the final customer/user that the product is perfectly safe and performs as claimed. At the same time, the technology that led to the creation of the RLT product has been properly submitted and claimed as “patented technology”, according to international law.


The entire process above has been long and laborious and has been performed through my law offices and under my personal and close supervision. It is not the intention of anyone in RLT to repeat this process and to prove again what has already been established in front of the proper and relevant E.U. authorities.


As far as discouraging people from seeking medical treatment for serious conditions, my legal thesis is the following:


According to the international law, as accepted and implemented by the United Nations, one of the basic, fundamental and irrevocable human rights is each individual’s right to choose the means for its own healing.


The more serious the condition is, the more motivated the individual becomes to search and explore all the possible options offered for its own healing. Then, the decision to choose the best available option is entirely his/hers. This is known as “the principle of informed consent”.


The enactment of the above right presupposes responsible and adult individuals. This is actually the case for all human rights. How could it be possible for anyone to discourage another human being from seeking treatment for an ailment, which he/she suffers from? Such a mentality is treating the individual as a “vegetable” unworthy of its own rights.


Finally, I cannot help but to point out something that I find most alarming.


If you go here you may find one of the numerous internet blogs. This particular blog however, has published the complaint you are referring to before it even reached your office.


I would never perpetuate internet rumors as to whom or what lies behind such “blogs”. Nor do I wish to reside upon what has reached the attention of various RLT representatives concerning the owners of this blog or their motivations.


In my profession, I deal with facts. So, let’s examine some objective facts.


a) One internet blog is attacking my client. It is a blog that advertises that its sole purpose is to defame any healing method that does not follow the healing model promoted by certain pharmaceutical companies.


b) That same internet blog is publishing a complaint against my client before it even reaches you.


c) Then, your organisation and its reaction are being taken for granted and what is about to follow is actually being announced online before it takes place.


Do you see something wrong with this picture?


Having stated the above, I would like to repeat that my client has no dispute within the space of your jurisdiction.


With my regards

xx

Attorney at The Supreme Court"


It's clear the "Attorney" was upset by the contents of my complaint, but it's something of a mystery why he is seeking legal redress from the ASA. Perhaps he believes I am some kind of Double Agent?

The next letter from the "Attorney" comes after the ASA have upheld my complaint. Here, the legal threats are rather less nuanced, except this time it's the ASA themselves who are threatened with the lawsuit.

"Dear Ms xx,

I have just been informed that A.S.A. has published on its official web space, the following text, which refers to my client, "Radiant Life technologies" (hereinafter referred to as RLT):

http://www.asa.org.uk/ASA-action/Adjudications/2011/2/Radiant-Life-Technologies/TF_ADJ_49755.aspx

In reference to the above publication, I would like to state the following for the record:

1) As for the jurisdiction issues, I am referring you to my previous letter.

2) Under the legal name of my client, you have placed a U.K. address. This address is NOT an RLT residence or address, either legal or otherwise.

3) In your "Assessment" section, under "Upheld 1" you state:

"Whilst we noted the product had a CE mark, we understood that a CE mark demonstrated that a product conformed to the essential health, safety and environmental requirements set out in EU directives, but that a CE mark did not allow advertisers to make any health or medical claims on behalf of their product. In the absence of any evidence to support the efficacy claims made in the ad, we concluded that the ad was misleading."

4) The above statement is in direct violation of all E.U. legislation on the CE mark on medical devices. It defies the very essence and purpose of a CE mark.

Once a medical device acquires the CE mark, it is free to be sold to any E.U. member state without any further procedures/requirements. This is the case for the U.K. as well. All CE marked medical devices may be traded and sold freely within the sovereignty of the U.K. without any further procedures.

The reason for this is that the device efficacy has already been proven in front of an E.U. accredited Notified Body during a very long, detailed and laborious process. Only then does the device acquire the CE mark for medical devices. Therefore there is no further legal obligation to prove its efficacy, yet again, to any other authority/organisation.

5) The above statement defies plain common sense.

You acknowledge the fact that a CE marked medical device may be legally traded in the U.K.. However, according to your line of reasoning, it may not make any efficacy claims! So, according to you, for what purpose are medical devices supposed to be sold? Recreation?

6) The above statement is in direct violation of your own Code.

In order to justify your assessment, you are referring to CAP Code Clauses and more specifically to Clause 12.1. This Clause states:

"Medicinal or medical claims and indications may be made for a medicinal product that is licensed by the MHRA or EMEA, or for a CE-marked medical device. A medicinal claim is a claim that a product or its constituent(s) can be used with a view to making a medical diagnosis or can treat or prevent disease, including an injury, ailment or adverse condition, whether of body or mind, in human beings." (the underlining is mine)

Therefore, a CE marked medical device may, after all, make actual efficacy claims even according to your own Code.

This also proves the malignant intent behind ASA motives. ASA states one thing in its CAP Code, in order to be compatible with E.U. legislation, while in practice it implements the exact opposite, selectively of course.

7) As for "Upheld 2" in your "Assessment" I only have to say this:

Low intensity medical laser devices have been on the market for over half a century. In those 50 years, there are ZERO recorded side effects. This is a scientific fact proven over and over again so many times that it has become common ground.

On the other hand, you will not find ONE SINGLE chemical pharmaceutical substance without a long list of side effects, a list comprised by the very people who are placing such a substance on the market. This is also a scientific fact so well known that is common ground as well.

So, what further "proof" do you require and what, in the above common ground knowledge is exactly "unsubstantiated"?

8) As for your "complainant" I am referring to what I've already stated in my previous letter to you regarding this professional "complainant". In your prejudiced and selective approach you have chosen to ignore those allegations. However, they are there for the record.

9) I have repeatedly stated that you do not have enforcement jurisdiction on RLT.

However, you have made a publication in an official web space stating that the RLT medical devices are ineffectual, while you know perfectly well that RLT has ZERO legal obligation to prove to you the efficacy of its devices.

This causes harm to the legal interests of my client and makes ASA liable for compensation.

Therefore:

-Due to the fact that ASA is in direct violation of all relevant E.U. legislation on medical devices and CE marks

-Due to the fact that ASA defies plain common sense that needs to be implemented so that any market may function properly

-Due to the fact that ASA is in direct violation of CAP Code, which it supposedly implements

I clearly state for the record that I reserve fully all legal RLT rights against ASA and especially, but not solely:

-The RLT right to calculate and define any harm it may suffer due to your above publication and claim it in a Court of Law at any convenient, for RLT, time.

-The RLT right to inform the E.U. Commission as well as all relevant E.U. authorities of all your violations of E.U. legislation, of your devaluing of the CE mark and of your illegal claims that the efficacy of all CE Certified Medical Devices need to be re-proven to the ASA.

Regards

xx

Attorney at The Supreme Court"


One begins to wonder if the "Attorney" actually knows anything about law at all. The Consumer Protection Regulations (2008) is one piece of legislation that never seems to have landed in his in-tray.

The fourth letter is the ASA's response. It's a rather elegant rebuttal of the "Attorney"'s delusions, and I commend its author.

"Dear Mr xx

Your client: Radiant Life Technologies

Thank you for your email of 14 April.

I note that you state you have only just been informed of the adjudication which was published on the website. You will recall that we sent you a copy of our final adjudication on 3 February with an accompanying letter that explained it would be published on our website on 16 February. I have attached a copy of that email for your information.

For ease of reference, I shall respond using the numbering in your email.

Points 1 and 9:

I have already addressed this matter in my email to you of 9 December 2010 and is addressed in the adjudication.

Point 2:

Your client was asked to provide an address in our letter addressed to Ms Delmar of 29 November 2010. We did not receive a response from her or from you but we found the address listed as that of a UK representative of RLT on xx; we found that information on that website on 9 December 2010. I have attached a screen shot for your information.

Points 3 to 6:

We consider our assessment makes clear that your client is not allowed to make whatever medical claims they like just because it is a certified medical device. CE marked medical devices may make medical claims provided they hold the scientific and clinical data to substantiate them.

Point 7:

Our assessment makes clear why we considered the ad breached the Code on that point.

Point 8:

I have already addressed that point in my email of 9 December 2010.

We disagree that we have stated that RLT medical devices are ineffectual; our adjudication states that we had not seen any evidence to substantiate your client’s claims.

We have noted the further comments you have made in your letter.

Yours sincerely"

Sadly, the correspondence is brought to an in the last of the five letters, an apoplectic rant dated 14 April.

"Dear Ms xx,

Thank you, eventhough your latest mail is NOT a response to mine.

You state:

"We consider our assessment makes clear that your client is not allowed to make whatever medical claims they like just because it is a certified medical device. CE marked medical devices may make medical claims provided they hold the scientific and clinical data to substantiate them."

My client, RLT, is "allowed" to make its claims because it does actually hold the required medical/scientific data and it has submitted that data to the relevant authorities.

My client has ZERO legal obligation to prove anything to YOU.

ASA is NOT a registered authority to pass judgement on medical/scientific data required for certified medical devices. All such relevant authorities are registered, recognised and catalogued by the E.U. legislation and ASA is NOT among these authorities.

You know this perfectly well because I have quoted from your own CAP Code, which very clearly states that CE Certified medical devices may make all relevant efficacy claims, full-stop. This CAP Code statement is direct, without any provisions or requirements of any sort or in any way whatsoever.

I repeat, yet once more for the record, that RLT is a bearer of legal rights based on E.U. legislation, which in this case is compatible with the U.K. legislation as well.

Ms xx with this letter I feel the need to truly thank you, honestly and without any sense of irony.

With our latest correspondence you have established for RLT the OBJECTIVITY of the legislation violations on behalf of ASA.

I do not have to ponder anymore on your motives or labour to provide any relevant Court of Law with the necessary proof as to where you were coming from.

ASA has caused direct and multiple VIOLATIONS of all relevant E.U. and U.K. legislation on medical devices. Those violations have been specifically pointed out to you in my previous letter. You have chosen to ignore those allegations and come back to me with an unexplained persistence that it is your right to break the law. As if your ASA "Assessments" are a source of creating new laws!

You have consciously and repeatedly overextended your jurisdiction and in an illegal manner have become self appointed experts on medical devices and medical/scientific data. You have published your illegal allegations towards RLT on a web space claiming you are an authority on such decisions, while you know perfectly well that you are NOT.

All I need to do now, in order to establish my case, is define the illegal harm you have caused to the legal interests of my client.

Since you have zero enforcement authority on RLT and due to the fact that it is an RLT prerogative to choose the time and the place, I shall do so in a convenient for RLT time in front of a relevant Court of Law.

Regards

P.S. It is not my intention to perpetuate a correspondence that goes nowhere. You obviously have no intention of addressing any essential issue. Therefore, should you choose to come back with a repetition of the same, I wish to state upfront that I shall ignore your letter."


The Quantum Laser Shower-Head (part 2)


Radiant Life Technologies use "authorised representatives" to flog their
coMra Therapy products all around Europe. Earlier this year they received a well-deserved tongue-lashing from the ASAr.

My original complaint had expressed doubt that the company's Quantum Laser shower head really was "
The Greatest Breakthrough in Holistic Healing This Century".


The brains of the outfit appears to be Oliver Muller [sic], the rogue pictured above.

Oliver could not easily be accused of false modesty. For your entertainment, here is the list of conditions his company currently claims to treat.

For those readers in a hurry, I've highlighted the best bits in red.

...abscesses, adrenal dysfunction, ageing, alcoholism, oligomenorrhea, allergies, anal fissures, anal itching, "anemia" [sic], angina pectoris, animals, ankle pain, appendicitis, cardic arrhythmia, clogged arteries, inflamed arteries, arthritis in the hips, jaw and knee, poor articulation of the feet and fingers, temporomandibular joint disorder, asthma, atherosclerosis, bed-wetting, biliary dyskinesia, inflammation of the bladder, boils, bone deterioration, bone fractures, jaw fractures, "retardation of growth in children", brain disorders, blood circulation disorders, benign tumours of the breast, deficient secretion of milk from the breast, breathing difficulties, bronchitis, bruises, burns, swelling of the bursa, subacromial bursitis, lung cancer, carbuncles, cardiodynia, cardiomyopathy, cervical erosion, problems with children's digestive organs, kidney diseases, urinary tract diseases, cholecystitis, high cholesterol, colitis, inflammation of the colon, spastic colon, constipation, constrictive pericarditis, Crohn’s disease, Cushing’s syndrome, cuts, surgical wounds, blunt trauma injuries, cystitis, deep vein thrombosis, involuntary defecation, Delirium tremens, senile dementia, acute depression, dermographia, diabetes, dishormonal mastopathy, duodenitis, inflammation of the duodenum, ear infections, post-tympanoplasty problems, mild eczema, elbow pain, tennis elbow, golf elbow, encopresis, endarteritis, endometriosis, endometritis, post-operative enteroparesis, enuresis, lateral epicondylitis, medial epicondylitis, epilepsy, physical exhaustion, eye ailments, "eye ache", ugliness, face pain, fainting, inflammation of the fallopian tubes, foot pain, fibroadenomatosis, fibromyalgia, finger pain, Dupuytren’s contracture, frostbite, toenail fungus, malfunction of the gall bladder, inflammation of the gall bladder, gingivitis, gingivostomatitis, glomuleronephritis, degeneration of the gums, inflammation of the gums, hay fever, loss of hearing, heart attacks, "faulty valves" in the heart, inflammation of the heart, insufficient blood flow to the heart, irregular heartbeats, heart muscle disorder, heel spur, hemorrhoids [sic], hepatitis, hidradenitis, hip pain, hyperplasia, arterial hypertension, hypogalactia, low immunity, tissue inflammation, suppurating sores, insomnia, inflammation of the intestines, intracranial pressure, IBS, ischemia, ischialgia, kidney disease, inflammation of the kidney, knee injuries, knee pain, osteoarthritis in the knee, laryngitis, laryngotracheitis, inflammation of the larynx, lethargy, leukaemia, liver diseases, Lupus erythematosus, mastitis, Meniere’s syndrome, irregular menstruation, mental health problems, mesotympanitis, migraines, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, myocardial infarction, myocardiodystrophy, myocarditis, myositis, unaesthetic necks, "nervous disorders", neuralgia, neurological disorders, inflammation of the nose, oedema, opthalmic nerves, osteochondrosis, osteoporosis, otitis, otosclerosis, ovarian cysts, heart pain, panaritium, pancreanecrosis, inflammation of the pancreas, malfunction of the pancreas, pancreatitis, paradontosis, Parkinson’s disease, pelvic pain, periarthritis, pharyngitis, phlegmon, pleurisy, pneumonia, polymyositis, "pressure in the head", disease of the prostate gland, prostatitis, psoriasis, psychopathy, psychosis, pulpitis, pyelonephritis, Raynaud’s syndrome, restless leg syndrome, restless arm syndrome, rhinitis, salpingo-oophoritis, schizophrenia, scleroderma, scoliosis, senility, shoulder pain, dislocated shoulders, limited movement in the shoulder, "stiff or lame" shoulders, sinusitis, skin blemishes, skin disorders, rashes, spondylolithesis, "sprained muscles", "some forms of" sterility, strokes, stuttering, inflammation of the sweat gland, swelling, thalassemia major, sore throats, thyroid problems, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyrotoxicosis, thyroiditis, tonsillitis, toothache, trigeminal nerve, neuralgia, neuropathy, tuberculosis, gastric ulcers, peptic ulcers, varicose ulcers, disease of the urethra, urethritis, cysts and adhesions in the uterus, inflammation of the uterus, uteral pain and spasms, valvular disease, varicose veins, vitiligo, strained vocal chords, warts, withdrawal symptoms, Wittmaack-Ekbom’s syndrome, wrist pain...

One could be forgiven for suspecting I'm making this all up.

The charge of making stuff up, however, is one that might more fairly be levelled at the advertisers. Let's examine one of their "treatments", the one for cancer (PDF), to see what it entails.

Again, the interesting bits are highlighted in red.

"CARCINOMA (Cancer) - There is not one treatment alone for this condition. Instead the treatment is comprised of three different treatments combined into one course of treatment as follows:

TREATMENT A (EARLY MORNING): Using the Medical Terminal [a gadget sold by the advertisers]... choose 5 points of treatment depending on where the cancer is located within the body. After having chosen 5 points for irradiation proceed as follows: [apply] 5 Hz then 50 Hz, 2 min per point for each frequency...

TREATMENT B (MIDDAY): Universal 3 (Blood) - Done once per day.

TREATMENT C (EARLY EVENING): Universal 5 (Routine 2) - Done once per day.

TREATMENT D (EVENING AFTER DINNER): Repeat Treatment A

RECOMMENDED COURSE: Do the above course of treatments for 30 days. Allow a period of 2 weeks rest before doing another course of the treatments. Thereafter treat every 3 months if still necessary, until all traces of the cancer are gone."

It's high time these offences were brought to the attention of the judiciary. In the meantime, here is my second set of complaints.

ASA Complaint

"The website makes a number of health claims which I suspect are misleading.

1. ( http://www.comra-therapy.co.uk/index.php/treatments )
leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=ikynzdyaXr
leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=fJJV5tFJET
leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=i6InWP2KDf
leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=S5h9ysZM74
leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=ExmOlST4sT
leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=y7hSNSlSGq
leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=FBxBaDwlE2

"Treatments - The following lists example treatments as per the Delta User Guide. coMra-Therapy is a holistic therapy and not restricted to these ailments only."

Given the ASA Council's recent adjudication on the product (16 Feb 2011), I'd like to challenge whether the claims that coMra-Therapy can treat abscesses, adrenal dysfunction, ageing, alcoholism, oligomenorrhea, allergies, anal fissures, anal itching, "anemia" [sic], angina pectoris, animals, ankle pain, appendicitis, cardic arrhythmia, clogged and inflamed arteries, arthritis in the hips, jaw and knee, temporomandibular joint disorder, asthma, atherosclerosis, bed-wetting, biliary dyskinesia, bladder inflammation, boils, bone deterioration, bone and jaw fractures, "retardation of growth in children", brain disorders, blood circulation disorders, breast tumours, breathing difficulties, bronchitis, burns, subacromial bursitis, carbuncles, cardiodynia, cardiomyopathy, cervical erosion, digestive disorders, kidney diseases, urinary tract diseases, cholecystitis, high cholesterol, colitis, inflammation of the colon, spastic colon, constipation, constrictive pericarditis, Crohn’s disease, Cushing’s syndrome, surgical wounds, blunt trauma injuries, cystitis, DVT, involuntary defecation, Delirium tremens, senile dementia, depression, dermographia, diabetes, dishormonal mastopathy, duodenitis, inflammation of the duodenum, ear infections, eczema, elbow pain, encopresis, endarteritis, endometriosis, endometritis, post-operative enteroparesis, enuresis, lateral epicondylitis, medial epicondylitis, epilepsy, eye ailments, ugliness, fainting, inflammation of the fallopian tubes, foot pain, fibroadenomatosis, fibromyalgia, finger pain, Dupuytren’s contracture, frostbite, toenail fungus, malfunction of the gall bladder, inflammation of the gall bladder, gingivitis, gingivostomatitis, glomuleronephritis, inflammation of the gums, hay fever, loss of hearing, heart attacks, "faulty valves" in the heart, heart muscle disorder, heel spur, hemorrhoids [sic], hepatitis, hidradenitis, hip pain, hyperplasia, arterial hypertension, hypogalactia, low immunity, tissue inflammation, suppurating sores, insomnia, inflammation of the intestines, intracranial pressure, IBS, ischemia, ischialgia, kidney disease, knee injuries, osteoarthritis in the knee, laryngitis, laryngotracheitis, inflammation of the larynx, lethargy, leukaemia, liver diseases, hepatitis, Lupus erythematosus, mastitis, Meniere’s syndrome, irregular menstruation, mental health problems, mesotympanitis, migraines, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, myocardial infarction, myocardiodystrophy, myocarditis, myositis, "nervous disorders", neuralgia, neurological disorders, inflammation of the nose, oedema, opthalmic nerves, osteochondrosis, osteoporosis, otitis, otosclerosis, ovarian cysts, panaritium, pancreanecrosis, inflammation of the pancreas, malfunction of the pancreas, pancreatitis, paradontosis, Parkinson’s disease, pelvic pain, periarthritis, pharyngitis, phlegmon, pleurisy, pneumonia, polymyositis, "pressure in the head", disease of the prostate gland, prostatitis, psoriasis, psychopathy, psychosis, pulpitis, pyelonephritis, Raynaud’s syndrome, restless leg/arm syndrome, rhinitis, salpingo-oophoritis, schizophrenia, scleroderma, scoliosis, senility, dislocated shoulders, sinusitis, skin blemishes, skin disorders, rashes, spondylolithesis, "sprained muscles", sterility, strokes, stuttering, swelling, thalassemia major, sore throats, thyroid problems, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyrotoxicosis, thyroiditis, tonsillitis, toothache, trigeminal nerve, neuralgia, tuberculosis, gastric and peptic ulcers, varicose ulcers, disease of the urethra, urethritis, cysts and adhesions in the uterus, uteral pain and spasms, valvular disease, varicose veins, vitiligo, strained vocal chords, warts, withdrawal symptoms, Wittmaack-Ekbom’s syndrome, wrist pain and lung cancer are misleading.

2. ( http://www.comra-therapy.co.uk/index.php/testimonials )
leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=0A1tOUfkv4
leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=cr4kzmBywv

"Testimonials"

I'd like to challenge whether the testimonial claims of treatments for multiple sclerosis, Raynaud's Syndrome and migraines are misleading.

I have no connections with the advertiser and am not involved in legal proceedings with anyone."

Trading Standards complaint

"coMra-therapy.co.uk is advertising its products, claiming it can be used to treat a bewildering array of medical conditions including schizophrenia, hepatitis, Parkinson's disease, lung cancer and breast tumours.

If the company are unable to provide robust evidence to back up these claims, they would be operating an Unfair Commercial Practice under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations, 2008.

As you are no doubt aware, under these regulations is it not the duty of the enforcement officer to prove that claims being made are false. The regulations state that if someone is unable to provide robust evidence to support the claims they are making when asked, then they are operating an unfair commercial practice.

1. ( http://www.comra-therapy.co.uk/index.php/treatments )

"Treatments - The following lists example treatments as per the Delta User Guide. coMra-Therapy is a holistic therapy and not restricted to these ailments only."

I'd like to challenge whether the claims that coMra-Therapy can treat abscesses, adrenal dysfunction, ageing, alcoholism, oligomenorrhea, allergies, anal fissures, anal itching, "anemia" [sic], angina pectoris, animals, ankle pain, appendicitis, cardic arrhythmia, clogged arteries, inflamed arteries, arthritis in the hips, jaw and knee, poor articulation of the feet and fingers, temporomandibular joint disorder, asthma, atherosclerosis, bed-wetting, biliary dyskinesia, inflammation of the bladder, boils, bone deterioration, bone fractures, jaw fractures, "retardation of growth in children", brain disorders, blood circulation disorders, benign tumours of the breast, deficient secretion of milk from the breast, breathing difficulties, bronchitis, bruises, burns, swelling of the bursa, subacromial bursitis, lung cancer, carbuncles, cardiodynia, cardiomyopathy, cervical erosion, problems with children's digestive organs, kidney diseases, urinary tract diseases, cholecystitis, high cholesterol, colitis, inflammation of the colon, spastic colon, constipation, constrictive pericarditis, Crohn’s disease, Cushing’s syndrome, cuts, surgical wounds, blunt trauma injuries, cystitis, deep vein thrombosis, involuntary defecation, Delirium tremens, senile dementia, acute depression, dermographia, diabetes, dishormonal mastopathy, duodenitis, inflammation of the duodenum, ear infections, post-tympanoplasty problems, mild eczema, elbow pain, tennis elbow, golf elbow, encopresis, endarteritis, endometriosis, endometritis, post-operative enteroparesis, enuresis, lateral epicondylitis, medial epicondylitis, epilepsy, physical exhaustion, eye ailments, "eye ache", ugliness, face pain, fainting, inflammation of the fallopian tubes, foot pain, fibroadenomatosis, fibromyalgia, finger pain, Dupuytren’s contracture, frostbite, toenail fungus, malfunction of the gall bladder, inflammation of the gall bladder, gingivitis, gingivostomatitis, glomuleronephritis, degeneration of the gums, inflammation of the gums, hay fever, loss of hearing, heart attacks, "faulty valves" in the heart, inflammation of the heart, insufficient blood flow to the heart, irregular heartbeats, heart muscle disorder, heel spur, hemorrhoids [sic], hepatitis, hidradenitis, hip pain, hyperplasia, arterial hypertension, hypogalactia, low immunity, tissue inflammation, suppurating sores, insomnia, inflammation of the intestines, intracranial pressure, IBS, ischemia, ischialgia, kidney disease, inflammation of the kidney, knee injuries, knee pain, osteoarthritis in the knee, laryngitis, laryngotracheitis, inflammation of the larynx, lethargy, leukaemia, liver diseases, hepatitis, Lupus erythematosus, mastitis, Meniere’s syndrome, irregular menstruation, mental health problems, mesotympanitis, migraines, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, myocardial infarction, myocardiodystrophy, myocarditis, myositis, unaesthetic necks, "nervous disorders", neuralgia, neurological disorders, inflammation of the nose, oedema, opthalmic nerves, osteochondrosis, osteoporosis, otitis, otosclerosis, ovarian cysts, heart pain, panaritium, pancreanecrosis, inflammation of the pancreas, malfunction of the pancreas, pancreatitis, paradontosis, Parkinson’s disease, pelvic pain, periarthritis, pharyngitis, phlegmon, pleurisy, pneumonia, polymyositis, "pressure in the head", disease of the prostate gland, prostatitis, psoriasis, psychopathy, psychosis, pulpitis, pyelonephritis, Raynaud’s syndrome, restless leg syndrome, restless arm syndrome, rhinitis, salpingo-oophoritis, schizophrenia, scleroderma, scoliosis, senility, shoulder pain, dislocated shoulders, limited movement in the shoulder, "stiff or lame" shoulders, sinusitis, skin blemishes, skin disorders, rashes, spondylolithesis, "sprained muscles", "some forms of" sterility, strokes, stuttering, inflammation of the sweat gland, swelling, thalassemia major, sore throats, thyroid problems, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyrotoxicosis, thyroiditis, tonsillitis, toothache, trigeminal nerve, neuralgia, neuropathy, tuberculosis, gastric ulcers, peptic ulcers, varicose ulcers, disease of the urethra, urethritis, cysts and adhesions in the uterus, inflammation of the uterus, uteral pain and spasms, valvular disease, varicose veins, vitiligo, strained vocal chords, warts, withdrawal symptoms, Wittmaack-Ekbom’s syndrome and wrist pain are permissible under CPR (2008).

2. ( http://www.comra-therapy.co.uk/index.php/testimonials )

"Testimonials"

I'd like to challenge whether the testimonial claims of treatments for multiple sclerosis, Raynaud's Syndrome and migraines are permissible under CPR (2008).

I've made some screenshots of the relevant pages, which are available at:
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=ikynzdyaXr
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=fJJV5tFJET
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=i6InWP2KDf
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=S5h9ysZM74
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=ExmOlST4sT
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=y7hSNSlSGq
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=FBxBaDwlE2
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=0A1tOUfkv4
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=cr4kzmBywv
"


Thursday 12 May 2011

Sue "Play The Race Discrimination Card" Trotter


Calling all sceptics! Calling all sceptics!
The game is up.


The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) have been receiving a flood of complaints in recent months, but homeopath Sue Trotter has come up with a sure-fire counter-strategy (mirrored here and here).

It's called the "Play The Race Discrimination Card" gambit, and it is the most stupid thing I have ever read.

"Chatting with my husband last night about the complaints by the Advertising Standards Authority here in the UK agains [sic] homeopaths, we think we have come up with a plan to put an end to this nonsense. We can play the race discrimination card if we get this right. Please bear with me whilst I explain. "

Please bear with me while I explain that this is apparently
not a joke.

"If we can find some British Indians/ Pakistanis or Bangladeshi's [sic] they can complain to the ASA explaining that homeopathy is a prefered [sic] system of medicine in their countries of origin, used to treat a wide range of illnesses. The current wave of complaints against homeopaths would therefore seem to be an attack on their culture and beliefs and therefore discriminatory. (I know homeopathy is not a belief system but many think it is, so why not use that to our advantage). If we can get figures for the numbers of people using homeopathy as their primary healthcare in India and the rest of the sub-continent, even better!

They can also claim that it is akin to Christians claiming that Hindus and Muslims cannot call their beliefs a religion because it is not Christianity.

If they go on to suggest that the current wave of complaints may have been instigated by someone who has an agenda that is perhaps something other than scientific (just make a suggestion and leave it to them to work out what that agenda might be).

We would need to get a smart lawyer to draft the letter/s but if we could get the ASA to look at this as potential discrimination that may well decide to back off. If we can find someone on the ASA's complaint list who's [sic] family hail from the Indian sub-continent to complain they are being discrtiminated [sic] against, even better .... and if the ASA find in their favour but still go for those of us of European descent we can then go for a different race discrimination angle.

Got to be worth a try..... you know how twitchy we are here in the UK at the slightest sniff of racism or other discrimination!

I am not sure how to co-ordinate this so have forwarded to a couple of homeopath groups and see what people think.

Time for homeopathy to stand up for itself! with love and peace - Sue"


Well, there's nothing I can say in response to that, except - ASA complaint follows!

"The website makes a number of testimonial health claims which I suspect are misleading.


1. ( http://www.optimumbeing.co.uk/index.htm )

""As a therapist I'd strongly recommend you, you've cured my stress and panic attacks. Most importantly for me I'd been suffering with my shoulder for 7 months or more, not able to hardly move it, struggling to put clothes on. I couldn't raise my arm above shoulder level because of the pain. Now I'm plastering and painting ceilings, rendering walls above head height with no trouble at all. 100%. No pains. It's brilliant, absolutely brilliant."

A Buckingham, Oxfordshire"

2. ( http://www.optimumbeing.co.uk/index.htm )

""My daughter suffered from the age of 8 months with a severe horse allergy. I took her to see Sue when she was 6 years old and the lifelong allergy teamed with eczema and asthma all improved. It has made her life so different. She is able to enjoy her riding, rarely needs her inhaler and became a lot calmer as well"
C Norton, Oxfordshire"

3. ( http://www.optimumbeing.co.uk/services.htm )

""My son was three when he was diagnosed with glue ear. He had suffered ear infections for nearly two years before it was decided to fit grommets. The grommets were inserted and for a few weeks it was great but then he got an ear infecton around his right grommet. The infection was so bad he had puss running down his face! I was at my wits end. Our GP wanted to put him on antibiotics for at least twelve months to try and clear it up. So I took him to Sue Trotter. Sue sat with him and took a long history and then prescribed for him. Within two days the infection was well and truly healing and within a week there was no trace at all. Sue cleared up in one week a problem he had had for years! From then on she has seen nearly all my family and cured us all from small things to major surgery. I can't recommend Sue highly enough."
R Robins, Gloucestershire."

4. ( http://www.optimumbeing.co.uk/services.htm )

""I used to have very bad problems with my back. I couldn't touch my toes or put on my socks. My chiropractor told me to give up my job because every few weeks I was going there messed up. It went on for 7 or 8 years. Pain makes you feel down and depressed. After the first time I'd seen you the chiropractor said whatever you've been doing this month carry on, you're the best you've been. It's certainly changed my life. I can do things. I've no pain, I'm happy in myself and if something major happens it's alright, I'm very calm now. Nothing really bothers me. It has changed my life, I feel so much more confident, better in myself. You've certainly made me better."

M Bufton, Oxfordshire"

5. ( http://www.optimumbeing.co.uk/services.htm )

"J came to see me because he was having terrible nightmares and struggling at school. After homeopathic treatment his mother wrote "his behaviour greatly improved, getting good reports from school, doing well in exams, sleeps better with no nightmares and eating better.""

I'd like to challenge whether the testimonial claims in the five testimonials above are misleading, whether they are irresponsible, and whether the claims regarding serious medical conditions may discourage essential treatment.

6. ( http://www.optimumbeing.co.uk/services.htm )

"Homeopathy works by encouraging the body's own natural healing response. If prescribed correctly, homeopathy has the ability to help a wide range of conditions, both physical and emotional. It is a very safe form of medicine that can be used during pregnancy, for babies, and alongside other treatments and medicines."

I challenge whether the claims "Homeopathy works by encouraging the body's own natural healing response" and "If prescribed correctly, homeopathy has the ability to help a wide range of conditions" are misleading.

I've made some screenshots of the relevant pages, which are available at:
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=6HERLvSHCE
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=4kVH6yWyUK

I can confirm that I have no connections with the advertiser or with the alternative medicine industry in general."

Hermann Keppler's Optimum Bowel Functions


The College of Naturopathic Medicine can be relied upon to produce a few ASA complaints a year. This afterno
on I paid another visit to their website.


The College offers a range of diplomas and post-graduate qualifications in solidly scientific disciplines like, errrr, acupuncture, herbal medicine, homeopathy, iridology, reflexology, kinesiology and something called "Chinese Nutrition".

By the way, this is Hermann Keppler, who I think owns and runs the College. He's apparently a scientologist.


Hermann is perhaps not as familiar with his Holy Texts as he ought to be, containing as they do instructions to

"...Set A Good Example... Seek To Live With The Truth... Don't Do Anything Illegal... Be Worthy Of Trust..."

Some good examples of not setting a good example - and of not not doing anything illegal - include the claims

"Whereas much modern medicine has unwelcome side effects, herbs can provide a gentle, yet powerful, solution to a wide range of physical and emotional problems."

and

"Iris signs can be interpreted by the trained iridologist to provide indications as to the patient’s general constitution and their genetic susceptibility to particular conditions, and whether their organs and tissues are inflamed, toxic or under stress."

and - worse still -

"Colon hydrotherapy is the most powerful method available for restoring optimum bowel function, yet is at the same time both gentle and rejuvenating."

I wonder if yet another ASA complaint will set Hermann onto the path of righteousness?

"The website promotes the College's alternative medicine courses, in support of which a number of health claims are made which I suspect are misleading.

1. ( http://www.naturopathy-uk.com/courses-eu/courses-acupuncture/ )

"Acupuncture has an extraordinary ability to change people’s lives. It works by releasing blockages to the body’s “qi”... Modern research suggests that qi may be a form of bio-electricity."

I challenge whether the claim that acupuncture "has an extraordinary ability to change people's lives" is misleading, and whether the claim "Modern research suggests that qi may be a form of bio-electricity" can be substantiated.

2. ( http://www.naturopathy-uk.com/courses-eu/courses-acupuncture/ )

"Acupuncture is viewed very positively by... the British Medical Association"

I challenge whether the claim about the BMA is misleading, because it appears to be based on research published eleven years ago. I can find no mention of the BMA's current views on acupuncture anywhere.

3. ( http://www.naturopathy-uk.com/courses-eu/courses-herbal-medicine/ )

"Whereas much modern medicine has unwelcome side effects, herbs can provide a gentle, yet powerful, solution to a wide range of physical and emotional problems."

I challenge whether the claim that herbal medicines have less "unwelcome side effects" than "modern medicine" can be substantiated, given that no clinical research exists for a great many herbal medicines.

4. ( http://www.naturopathy-uk.com/courses-eu/courses-iridology/ )

"Iris signs can be interpreted by the trained iridologist to provide indications as to the patient’s general constitution and their genetic susceptibility to particular conditions, and whether their organs and tissues are inflamed, toxic or under stress."

I challenge whether the claim that trained iridologists can identify inflammation and toxicity in internal organs can be substantiated.

5. ( http://www.naturopathy-uk.com/courses-eu/courses-colon-hydrotherapy/ )

"Colon hydrotherapy is the most powerful method available for restoring optimum bowel function, yet is at the same time both gentle and rejuvenating."

I challenge whether the claim that colon hydrotherapy "is the most powerful method available for restoring optimum bowel function" can be substantiated. I challenge whether the claim that it is "both gentle and rejuvenating" is misleading and irresponsible, given the known dangers of colon hydrotherapy.

6. ( http://www.naturopathy-uk.com/courses-eu/courses-chinese-nutrition/ )

"Chinese Nutrition can be used to assist a wide range of diseases and conditions, such as digestive problems, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, diarrhoea, food allergies, weight problems, low energy, skin conditions, hormonal imbalance, and mental problems such as depression and anxiety."

I challenge whether the claim that "Chinese Nutrition can be used to assist" any of the named "diseases and conditions" can be substantiated.

7. ( http://www.naturopathy-uk.com/courses-eu/courses-reflexology/ )

"Energy, mood, circulation and immunity can also be enhanced."

I challenge whether the claim that reflexology can enhance blood circulation and the immune system can be substantiated.

8. ( http://www.naturopathy-uk.com/courses-eu/courses-herbal-everyday/ )

"How to detox yourself – Liver and Bowel herbs"

I challenge whether the claim that "Liver and Bowel herbs" can "detox" people can be substantiated.

9. ( http://www.naturopathy-uk.com/courses-eu/courses-homeopathy-everyday/ )

"You will learn how to use Homeopathy for..."

I challenge whether the claims that homeopathy can be used for injuries, bruises, burns, bites, stings, splinters, "recovery from surgery", dental work, joint sprains, fractures, "mental shock", grief, "acute infections such as ear aches, sore throats, cystitis, bronchitis, "acute digestive orders", the common cold, fevers, influenza, hay faver and "childhood diseases" can be substantiated.

I also challenge whether the claim that you can "use Homeopathy for... First-aid and travel kits" is misleading and irresponsible.

I've made some screenshots of the relevant pages, which are available at:
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=g2yyZAeBqG
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=LWZUatw2fm
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=P40xSj061X
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=omsc120BYz
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=BnPqEMvfuM
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=uYNqhnrdj6
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=rYAsTwmt5W
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=tREGzMh9TC

I can confirm that I have no connections with the advertiser or with the alternative medicine industry in general."

Criminon's Substantiation Rundown


Almost as infamous as Narconon, the Scientology front group preying on vulnerable drug addicts, are Criminon, a Scientology front group preying on vulnerable prisoners.




In the UK, Criminon offers correspondence courses for those poor souls who've fallen foul of the eleventh commandment. The courses teach moral precepts which are mostly sensible, though hardly groundbreaking:

"Do Not Murder... Do Not Steal... Be Worthy Of Trust... Flourish and Prosper..."

The costs of the operation appear to be borne by ordinary members of the public, from whom the website solicits donations.

Rehabilitating an offender costs a bargain
£75, but I wonder if any potential philanthropists have been swayed by the following, as yet unsubstantiated, claims?

"THE WAY TO HAPPINESS® Course is a proven effective tool in reforming offenders and in preventing criminal activity from beginning in the first place."

"It explains how and why one becomes addicted to drugs in the first place and then details an exact regimen – which involves the use of vitamins and exercise – for freeing a person from the grip of addiction, and all without medical substitutes."

ASA complaint follows!

"The website makes two claims for the effectiveness of its Criminon programme, a correspondence course which aims to rehabilitate offenders.

I'm challenging the claims because the website solicits donations of £75 from ordinary members of the public to fund the courses, yet I suspect the claims are misleading.

1. ( http://criminon.co.uk/changing-attitudes-to-crime.php )

"THE WAY TO HAPPINESS® Course is a proven effective tool in reforming offenders and in preventing criminal activity from beginning in the first place."

I challenge whether the claim that "THE WAY TO HAPPINESS Course is a proven effective tool in reforming offenders and in preventing criminal activity from beginning in the first place" can be substantiated.

2. ( http://criminon.co.uk/drugs.php )

"It explains how and why one becomes addicted to drugs in the first place and then details an exact regimen – which involves the use of vitamins and exercise – for freeing a person from the grip of addiction, and all without medical substitutes."

I challenge whether the claim that the Criminon programme of "vitamins and exercise" can "[free] a person from the grip of addiction" can be substantiated.

I've made some screenshots of the relevant pages, which are available at:
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=wsI0euzFj2
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=IyKyMasJHJ

I can confirm that I have no connections with the advertiser."

Narconon's Substantiation Rundown


The Church of Scientology is renowned for the bewildering array of front groups that surround it.


The most infamous one is Narconon, who happily promote a bogus therapy for drug addicts and alcoholics. Unfortunate and vulnerable victims are subjected to counselling, dangerous vitamin overdoses and countless hours in a sauna.

UPDATE, 21 Sep: The result of this complaint can be read here.


Here in the UK, Narconon operate a Residential Drug Rehab Centre near Hastings. Eager for new custom - or should I say, "raw meat" - the Centre makes some rather unwise claims:

"Effective Solutions To Drug Addiction & Alcoholism Since 1966"

"Our methods have been tried and tested over 40 years. Most people say it is the easiest withdrawal they have experienced..."

"The effectiveness of the Narconon programme is documented by several formal studies and evaluations."

Are any of these claims true? Not according to all medical journals in the entire world, a search of which reveals no rigorous supporting evidence.

ASA complaint follows!

"The website makes a number of health claims which I suspect are misleading.

1. ( http://www.drugrehab.co.uk/ )

"Effective Solutions To Drug Addiction & Alcoholism Since 1966"

I'd like to challenge whether the claim that Narconon uses "effective solutions to drug addiction & alcoholism" can be substantiated, because I understand there is no published clinical evidence supporting such claims.

2.

"Our methods have been tried and tested over 40 years. Most people say it is the easiest withdrawal they have experienced..."

I challenge whether the claims "Our methods have been tried and tested over 40 years" and "Most people say it is the easiest withdrawal they have experienced" can be substantiated with published clinical evidence.

3.

"The New Life Detoxification sauna programme - The sauna programme produces spectacular results by removing drug residues and toxins."

I challenge whether the claim can be substantiated, because I understand there is no published clinical evidence supporting the claim.

4. ( http://www.drugrehab.co.uk/narconon_programme.htm )

"The premise of the NARCONON model is that a former addict or alcoholic can achieve a new life. This goal applies (and is routinely achieved)..."

I challenge whether the claim that a "new life" for drug addicts and alcoholics is "routinely achieved" with the Narconon programme can be substantiated.

5. ( http://www.drugrehab.co.uk/narconon_detoxification.htm )

"Effective Solutions To Drug Addiction & Alcoholism Since 1966 - Narconon - New Life Detoxification sauna programme... The sauna part of the Narconon programme dramatically reduces the levels of drug residuals and toxins in the body. An exact daily regime of nutritional supplements, supervised exercise and periods of time sweating in a dry sauna are used to rid the fatty tissues of these drug residues and toxins..."

I challenge whether the claims "The sauna part of the Narconon programme dramatically reduces the levels of drug residuals and toxins in the body" and "An exact daily regime of nutritional supplements, supervised exercise and periods of time sweating in a dry sauna are used to rid the fatty tissues of these drug residues and toxins" can be substantiated.

6. ( http://www.drugrehab.co.uk/narconon_detoxification.htm )

"Completion of this portion of the programme results in greatly reduced, or eliminated, cravings for drugs. Mental alertness and clarity of thinking improve; while drug-induced depression often vanishes."

I challenge whether the claim that the Narconon programme "results in greatly reduced, or eliminated, cravings for drugs", the claim that "Mental alertness and clarity of thinking improve", and the claim that "drug-induced depression often vanishes" can be substantiated.

7. ( http://www.drugrehab.co.uk/narconon_detoxification.htm )

"The graph depicts cocaine residues being excreted in the sweat and urine of clients participating in the Narconon New Life Detoxification Programme..."

I challenge whether the graph is misleading because it does not appear to be connected to any published clinical research.

8. ( http://www.drugrehab.co.uk/narconon_drug_free_withdrawal.htm )

"Our experience has shown that a person receiving a vitamin and mineral therapy will experience a far more comfortable withdrawal from all drugs including opiates. On the Narconon Withdrawal a person regularly takes a special dose of vitamins called a drug bomb and every 6 hours is also given Cal-Mag (a drink combination of calcium and magnesium) to restore any vitamin deficiency and to relax cramping muscles. The Cal-Mag also helps a person rest during the withdrawal."

I challenge whether any of these claims can be substantiated. I'd also like to challenge whether the promotion of a course of vitamin overdoses is irresponsible, given the known dangers of vitamin overdoses.

9. ( http://www.drugrehab.co.uk/graduate_success.htm )

"The effectiveness of the Narconon programme is documented by several formal studies and evaluations."

I challenge whether "The effectiveness of the Narconon programme" has been documented by any formal studies or evaluations whatsoever.

I've made some screenshots of the relevant pages, which are available at:
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=rXTBBBQJ1E
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=LA3dm83Iio
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=BrmZdw6rAj
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=JOxA41Tqjy
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=JOxA41Tqjy
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=dAckF8E7ZJ
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=U7bg5fxLoF

I can confirm that I have no connections with the advertiser."