Innersound - "curing" Myalgic Encephalopathy

Earlier this year I found a flyer for Innersound, a charity who offer "Qi Energy Classes" and "Qi Treatments".

The sticking point, in my mind, was the flyer's claim that Innersound's magical energy therapies could help with

"Depression - Digestive Disorders - Insomnia - Migraine[s] - P[re]-M[enstrual] T[ension] - R[epetitive] S[train] I[njury] - Sports Injuries - and many more..."

After I submitted a complaint, Innersound told the ASA that they would withdraw this claim in their future leaflets.

Well - guess what!

(Image credit)

Innersound were one of the exhibitors at an exhibition I recently attended. On at least three occasions, I was handed a copy of an identical flyer (available here and here) - the very same one Innersound had solemnly promised to withdraw!

Actually, the word "identical" isn't quite accurate - the flyer contained some inserts that weren't there before. One of them was a photocopy of two articles from the Sunday Express and Kindred Spirit magazine.

The Kindred Spirit article contained this astonishing claim:

"While some of their clients may have been initially sceptical, Innersound Qi treatments have been scientifically shown to detox the body, reduce stress hormones and strengthen immunity. This healing therapy is said to help restore vitality and correct imbalance as well as relieving a variety of health conditions including pain, fatigue, depression, digestive disorders and high blood pressure."

Scientifically proven, eh? Well - we'll see about that. The Sunday Express article featured the story of Sue Hutchins, who suffers from Myalgic Encephalopathy (ME).

"My GP was sympathetic but didn't really know how to treat me. I tried everything - hypnotherapy, osteopathy and reiki. Some of it seemed to help, but because my health fluctuated so much it was hard to know for sure."

Luckily, Innersound thought they could help.

"[Innersound Qi treatments] are designed to detox and re-energise...I now have [I]nnersound treatment regularly. It's a cumulative process - there's a lot of energy missing so it's going to take time - but it really does seem to be curing my ME".

I've put in another complaint to the ASA (below) - let's see if Innersound can substantiate any of their bizarre claims!

"I write to complain about a flyer I picked up at the "Mind - Body - Soul" exhibition in London on 2nd October this year.

The flyer, for Innersound, promotes their "Qi Treatment" and "Qi Classes".

1. (i) In June this year, I wrote the ASA to complain about an identical flyer from the same advertisers.

(ii) The flyer claimed to "help" with serious medical conditions such as depression, migraines and RSI.

2. In August, you wrote to tell me that the advertisers had "agreed to remove the references to medical conditions from their leaflet".

3. The advertisers had a stand at the exhibition. On three separate occassions, as I passed the stand, I was handed a copy of the flyer.

4. Therefore, under Section 3.7 of the CAP Code, I again challenge whether the advertisers can substantiate their claims that "Qi Treatment...can help your...Depression...Digestive Disorders...Insomnia...Migraine[s]...P[re]-M[enstrual]-T[ension]...R[epetitive] S[train] I[njury]... Sports Injuries...and many more..."

5. (i) On this occassion, the flyers I picked up contained two inserts (not stapled to the main flyer). The identical flyer I had picked up in June did not contain these inserts.

(ii) With this complaint I have enclosed a scan of one side of the flyer, and both sides of one of the inserts.

6. (i) One of the inserts contained, on one side, a copy of an article from "Kindred Spirit" magazine. The reverse side of the same insert contained a copy of an article from the "Sunday Express" newspaper.

(ii) My complaint treats these two articles as an advert, appearing as they do inside a flyer promoting the same treatments.

7. The article from "Kindred Spirit" includes the text:

"While some of their clients may have been initially sceptical, Innersound Qi treatments have been scientifically shown to detox the body, reduce stress hormones and strengthen immunity. This healing therapy is said to help restore vitality and correct imbalance as well as relieving a variety of health conditions including pain, fatigue, depression, digestive disorders and high blood pressure."

8. Under Section 3.7, I challenge whether the advertiser can substantiate any of the following claims:

(i) "Innersound Qi treatments have been scientifically shown to detox the body, reduce stress hormones and strengthen immunity"

(ii) Innersound Qi treatments can "[relieve] "a variety of health conditions including pain, fatigue, depression, digestive disorders and high blood pressure"

9. The article from the "Sunday Express" tells the story of Sue Hutchins, who suffers from Myalgic Encephalopathy (ME).

10. The article contains the text:

"My GP was sympathetic but didn't really know how to treat me. I tried everything - hypnotherapy, osteopathy and reiki. Some of it seemed to help, but because my health fluctuated so much it was hard to know for sure."

11. The article continues:

"[Innersound Qi treatments] are designed to detox and re-energise...I now have [I]nnersound treatment regularly. It's a cumulative process - there's a lot of energy missing so it's going to take time - but it really does seem to be curing my ME".

12. (i) Under Section 3.47, I challenge whether the testimonial claim that Innersound Qi treatments can "detox" the body is likely to mislead the consumer.

(ii) Under Section 3.47, I challenge whether the claim that Innersound Qi treatments can "cure" Myalgic Encephalopathy is misleading, under Section 12.1 I challenge whether it can be substantiated, under Section 12.2 I challenge whether the claim discourages essential treatment, under Section 12.6 I challenge whether the treatments is falsely claimed to be able to cure illness.

13. I confirm I have no connections with the advertiser. I confirm I am not involved in legal proceedings with the advertiser."