Lionel Milgrom's "False" Claims

Lionel Milgrom - MARH, MRHom, BSc, MSc, PhD, CChem, FRSC - is one of the small number of homeopaths who has spoken out against what he perceives as an unjust attack on homeopathy.

(Image credit)

In contrast the histrionics of his fellow quack Steve Scrutton, Lionel's arguments (here and here) feel calm and measured.

Indeed, it is the perceived notion that somehow 'nothing can cure something' which sceptics of homeopathy currently use as their main argument... and to brand its practitioners... 'quacks', and 'evil predators' on a gullible public's fears and delusions. These accusations are made supposedly even more damning by the sceptics' persistent (and, as it turns out, false claims that... there is no evidence that homeopathy actually 'works'"

"False", eh, Lionel? Do you think you'll be able to substantiate that claim (as required by the CAP Code Sections 3.7 and 12.1)?

ASA complaint follows. It doesn't mention a number of Lionel's little opinions which have already attracted the attention of the FishBarrel crowd.

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

1. ( http://www.lionelmilgrom.com/what-is-homeopathy.html )

"For over 200 years, homoeopathy has been recognised as a safe, gentle, effective, but most of all rational system of medicine."

I'd like to challenge whether the claim that homeopathy is an "effective" and "rational system of medicine" can be substantiated.

2. ( http://www.lionelmilgrom.com/what-is-homeopathy.html )

"Today, the system Hahnemann founded is bringing health benefits to millions around the world"

I challenge whether the claim that homeopathy is "bringing health benefits to millions around the world" can be substantiated.

3. ( http://www.lionelmilgrom.com/what-is-homeopathy.html )

"Homeopathy works by assisting the body's own powers of self-healing, rather than brushing them aside or overriding them, as conventional medical treatments often do. Though not necessarily implying therapeutic superiority (timely conventional medical intervention is often vital in accident and emergency situations), homeopathy has often proved invaluable in the treatment of chronic illnesses, where the best efforts of conventional medicine have failed."

I challenge whether the claims "Homeopathy works by assisting the body's own powers of self-healing" and "homeopathy has often proved invaluable in the treatment of chronic illnesses" can be substantiated.

4. ( http://www.lionelmilgrom.com/how-does-homeopathy-work.html )

"These accusations are made supposedly even more damning by the sceptics' persistent (and, as it turns out, false) claims that, despite over 200 years of successfully treating millions of people world-wide, there is no evidence that homeopathy actually 'works'."

I challenge whether the claim that "there is no evidence that homeopathy actually works" is "false" can be substantiated.

5. ( http://www.lionelmilgrom.com/how-does-homeopathy-work.html )

"There is mounting clinical and biochemical evidence of homeopathy's efficacy (links to the work of Belon et al)."

I challenge whether the claim "There is mounting clinical and biochemical evidence of homeopathy's efficacy" can be substantiated.

I've made some screenshots of the relevant pages, which are available at:
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=WxCgmTIcEZ
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=24SdO4rjex

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