The Society of Homeopaths, A Practical Joke Taken Too Far

One of the most engaging practical jokers on the internet has to be The Society of Homeopaths, who have found some ingenious ways to troll both sceptics and their own members simultaneously.

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Visitors to the Society's shiny new website are deluged with little jokes on the same intellectual level as a whoopee cushion. Let's start with this one, a cunning ruse to persuade its members to pay for the Society's own marketing costs.

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The set of six laminated posters pictured above, with the Society's logo featuring prominently, will set you back £20.

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Worse still are these stickers featuring heart-warming messages for kids including "HOMEOPATHY IS COOL!", "REMEMBER TO SEE YOUR HOMEOPATH!" and - this is my favourite one - "BEAT YOUR BUGS WITH HOMEOPATHY!"

That's right, kids. Homeopathy can treat bacterial infections. Cool, eh?

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The really interesting thing, though, concerns not the bizarre claims but the web shopping service itself. According to the "About The Society" page,

"The Society of Homeopaths has two further companies in its group: HETRA Ltd and TradCo Ltd... TradCo is The Society’s Trading Company, offering a wide range of affordable homeopathic and practice-support merchandise to homeopaths and the public alike."

The "Shop" page chimes in with

"Through our web shop you can purchase many items in relation to homeopathy. If you would like to purchase an item please contact us on 01604 817890... Brighten up your practice with TradCo! TradCo is The Society’s Trading Company, offering specially designed affordable merchandise for the busy homeopath... "

These claims are interesting because, according to Companies House, "TradCo Ltd" was dissolved in 2008.

Despite this minor inconvenience, the company still seem to be trading. The practical difficulties of running an imaginary company have doubtlessly been eased by the generous loan of two phone lines and a member of staff from, errr, The Society of Homeopaths (who own the website, the two advertised numbers and who employ the advertised "Julie").

ASA complaint follows!

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

1. ( http://www.homeopathy-soh.org/about-the-society/ )

"The Society of Homeopaths has two further companies in its group: HETRA Ltd and TradCo Ltd... TradCo is The Society’s Trading Company, offering a wide range of affordable homeopathic and practice-support merchandise to homeopaths and the public alike."

2. ( http://www.homeopathy-soh.org/shop/ )

"Through our web shop you can purchase many items in relation to homeopathy. If you would like to purchase an item please contact us on 01604 817890... Brighten up your practice with TradCo! TradCo is The Society’s Trading Company, offering specially designed affordable merchandise for the busy homeopath... Available by mail order, all the items in the product range are designed to assist practitioners in the promotion of homeopathy, in both the clinic and the local community... To add to your convenience, orders may now be placed on line for a fast, efficient service. If you have any queries about the TradCo Shop or wish to place an order by telephone, please contact Julie on 0845 450 6611 or download the current catalogue."

I challenge whether these descriptions of "TradCo Ltd", "The Society's Trading Company", "the TradCo Shop" and "our web shop" are misleading, because the only TradCo Ltd recorded at Companies House was dissolved in 2008, because (by way of contrast) the other subsidiary company mentioned, HETRA Ltd, is still trading, because the two phone numbers advertised belong to the Society of Homeopaths, not to TradCo, and because "Julie" refers to Julie Rowland, who is not an employee of TradCo but the Society's finance manager.

3. ( http://www.homeopathy-soh.org/shop/patient-leaflets/ )

"Offers reassurance and general guidance to patients explaining how homeopathy can assist with the menopause as a natural alternative to Hormone Replacement Therapy."

I challenge whether this advert for patient leaflets, for which the Society charges its members, exaggerates the value, accuracy, scientific validity or practical usefulness of homeopathy.

4.

"Homeopathic medicine has so much to offer when it comes to the treatment of individual men’s health... It goes a necessary part of the way to begin to address the health of those men who wrestle with depression, low self esteem, anger issues, erectile dysfunction, anxiety or any of the myriad symptoms they experience."

I challenge whether this advert for patient leaflets, for which the Society charges its members, exaggerate the value, accuracy, scientific validity or practical usefulness of homeopathy in treating depression and erectile dysfunction.

5. ( http://www.homeopathy-soh.org/shop/posters/ )

"New eye-catching set of six A3 posters to fully complement the patient leaflet range. Incorporates space for you to personalise with your patient details. A good backdrop for health shows and local talks... Set of Six Posters Price: £16 (inc. VAT)"

I challenge whether this advert for posters, for which the Society charges its members, exaggerates the value, accuracy, scientific validity or practical usefulness of homeopathy in the claims "Homeopathy for Stress, Anxiety and Depression - Homeopathy is a safe and effecitve system of medicine...", "Homeopathy in pregnancy and childbirth - Homoepathy is ideal for women during pregnancy as it is a gentle yet effective system of medicine...", "Homeopathy simply explained - Homeopathy is an effection system of healing..." and "Homeopathy and the menopause - Research has shown that menopausal hot flushes, mood swings, headaches and fatigue are successfully helped by homeopathy..."

6. ( http://www.homeopathy-soh.org/shop/stickers/ )

"Children love stickers... A bright and colourful range of eye-catching children’s stickers and balloons are a must for the coolest homeopath in town!Minimum Order Value... Minimum value of £10 applies to all orders."

The advert contains the text, visible on one of the stickers, "BEAT YOUR BUGS WITH HOMEOPATHY". I challenge whether the claim that homeopathy can "beat" bacteria is misleading, whether it can be substantiated, and whether it is irresponsible in a promotion for products likely to appeal to children.

I've made some screenshots of the relevant pages, which are available at:
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=G0dWeXy30N
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=20MIuA72bh
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=NQ6Yw9jqmp
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=kgik1V1ndb
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=SF4gCtNRNW
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=yrbMEtcivt

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