Biovea, dealers in illegal unlicensed medicines

Thanks to the efforts of a friend of mine, an illegal unlicensed medicine is fast disappearing from the shelves.

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Human chorionic gonadotropin has featured in these pages several times before as a useless and dangerous treatment for weight loss.

It's illegal both in the US and the UK, a fact which doesn't seem to discourage people from trying to flog it on dodgy websites.

A good example is Biovea, a company registered to a mailbox in Kensington. The company are wise to keep their location under wraps, given the scale of the crimes they're committing.

In the case of medicines, it's always worth complaining to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), who have recently been aroused from their regulatory slumber.

You can read my MHRA complaint below and marvel at the power of FishBarrel, the Chrome plugin with which I completed complaints to three separate regulators in about seven minutes.

"Biovea is advertising an unlicensed medicine, homeopathic hCG, on its website http://www.biovea.co.uk. I understand that dealing in these products is an offence in the UK.

I've summarised the claims the company is making for these products below.

1. ( http://www.biovea.co.uk/(S(me5r2z45rtrrfg3ldwa2xm45))/product_detail.aspx?PID=2236&CID=0&OS=204 )

"With this 26 day kit we provide you with more than enough Homeopathic hCG and all the essential supplements you will need for a 26 day cycle using an hCG diet! We are making it easy for you to lose up to 1 pound a day!"

2. ( http://www.biovea.co.uk/(S(me5r2z45rtrrfg3ldwa2xm45))/product_detail.aspx?PID=2236&CID=0&OS=204 )

"The HCG 26 Day Complete Diet Pack Includes:

• HOMEOPATHIC HCG DROPS (2 oz) 60ml
• HCG DIET SUPPORT 60 Capsules"

3. ( http://www.biovea.co.uk/(S(me5r2z45rtrrfg3ldwa2xm45))/product_detail.aspx?PID=2236&CID=0&OS=204 )

"When the hypothalamus is stimulated the body is able to release abnormal fat, which allows the body to rid itself of massive amounts of this type of fat very quickly. Dr. Simeons HCG diet protocol outlines a very low calorie diet (VLCD), in combination with HCG, which helps to stimulate the hypothalamus."

4. ( http://www.biovea.co.uk/(S(me5r2z45rtrrfg3ldwa2xm45))/product_detail.aspx?PID=2236&CID=0&OS=204 )

"When a person successfully completes the HCG protocol diet plan the hypothalamus is able to reset and function properly."

5. ( http://www.biovea.co.uk/(S(me5r2z45rtrrfg3ldwa2xm45))/product_detail.aspx?PID=2236&CID=0&OS=204 )

"Dr. Simeons through his research concluded that an abnormal operating hypothalamus is a leading cause of obesity."

6. ( http://www.biovea.co.uk/(S(me5r2z45rtrrfg3ldwa2xm45))/product_detail.aspx?PID=2236&CID=0&OS=204 )

"Why Choose Homeopathic HCG Drops Over Injections?

Same Results! Participants that have tried both the full strength hormone injections and these homeopathic drops and have reported the same results if not better from the homeopathic drops."

7. ( http://www.biovea.co.uk/(S(me5r2z45rtrrfg3ldwa2xm45))/product_detail.aspx?PID=2236&CID=0&OS=204 )

"People who have successfully completed Dr. Simeons diet program have reported experiencing following benefits:

• No Loss of Muscle Mass: rejuvenated structural fat
• Fat Deposits: reduced overall (pot belly and double chins gone)
• Energy: increased without feeling nervous or jittery
• Thyroid Gland: normalized
• Overall Body: reshaped overall body
• Hormones: balanced out put
• Sleep: improved restful sleep at night
• Adrenaline Glands: rebuilt
• Appetite: normalized
• Cholesterol: normalized levels
• Focus: clearer thought process
• Singing Voice: improved
• Mood: less irritability, spirits lifted
• Anti-Ageing: tightened skin, more youthful energy and appearance"

I've made some screenshots of the relevant pages, which are available at:
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=OqzD74OJF4
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=sAPP7ob7A2
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=GB5WRULmlU

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

Marco Lagusz, unluckiest fish in the barrel

It's not easy to make a living as a quack - most "complementary therapists" never even become full-time professionals.

Such an unfortunate is Marco Lagusz, a "Reiki Master Teacher of the Usui system of natural healing" from Bedford.

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Marco boasts that his magical finger therapy can create all kinds of miracles, the most impressive of which are

"Detoxifying the body... Overcoming addictions and breaking bad habits... Reducing depression... Improving sleeping disorders... Destroying energy blockages that can cause any illnesses and diseases... "

Can Marco substantiate all of these health claims? He'll win a Nobel Prize if he can, but he's committing an offence if he can't. I'd rather like to know, either way.

By the way, the two complaints below - the first to the Advertising Standards Authority, the second to Trading Standards - took a grand total of exactly thirty-seven seconds to write, thanks to this marvellous little Chrome Plugin.

(ASA complaint)

"The website makes a number of health claims for the advertiser's Reiki service.

1. ( http://www.temple-of-light.co.uk/whatcanreikihelpwith.htm )

"REIKI CAN HELP WITH... Here is a small example of what Reiki can help with: Accelerating your body's natural ability to heal itself... Relieving pain and reduces the side effects of medication... Detoxifying the body... Overcoming addictions and breaking bad habits... Reducing depression... Improving sleeping disorders... Destroying energy blockages that can cause any illnesses and diseases... Assist[ing] with post operative recovery... Assist[ing] with Back problems... Respiratory problems... PMT... Sinus problems..."

I'd like to challenge whether the advertiser can substantiate any of these claims.

2. ( http://www.temple-of-light.co.uk/testimonialsreviews.htm )

"CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
In my experience, Reiki is a profoundly peaceful, relaxing experience that leaves you both tranquil and yet invigorated at the same time.

For years, despite the nightly use of herbal remedies or over the counter sleep medication, I had not slept - habitually finding myself awake at 01.00 am and remaining so until the alarm.

It was suggested I try Reiki, so in June this year (2008) I contacted Marco and booked a course of 4 X one hourly treatments.

Even after just the first treatment I noted a significant change for the better. Now it is only on the rarest of occasions that I do not sleep soundly throughout the night.

Deb F. Bedfordshire"

I haven't heard of any clinical evidence that Reiki is a better treatment for chronic insomnia than 'over the counter sleep medication' [sic], so I'd like to challenge whether this testimonial is misleading.

I've made some screenshots of the relevant pages, which are available at:
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=vwJYI2OSqH
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=Gvyjg6NglW

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

(TS complaint)

"Marco Lagusz makes a number of health claims of health claims on website http://www.temple-of-light.co.uk , which I don't believe can be substantiated with clinical evidence.

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.temple-of-light.co.uk/whatcanreikihelpwith.htm )

"REIKI CAN HELP WITH... Here is a small example of what Reiki can help with: Accelerating your body's natural ability to heal itself... Relieving pain and reduces the side effects of medication... Detoxifying the body... Overcoming addictions and breaking bad habits... Reducing depression... Improving sleeping disorders... Destroying energy blockages that can cause any illnesses and diseases... Assist[ing] with post operative recovery... Assist[ing] with Back problems... Respiratory problems...
PMT... Sinus problems..."

I'd like to challenge whether the advertiser can substantiate any of these claims.

I've made some screenshots of the relevant pages, which are available at:
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=vwJYI2OSqH

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