Misinformation, Social Media, and Homeopathy

Social media has proved beneficial in connecting people in ways never thought possible. Through this connection, our access to information has increased exponentially. However, we must be conscious of the information we source in a digital world. How much faith should we put in what we read online? Through social media, individuals can share their thoughts, views, and experiences with limited consequences for inaccuracies. Regarding health information, there is limited control over the sharing of health information on social media, and due to the nature of social media platforms, health misinformation can quickly spread like wildfire (Suarez-Lledo, V., & Alvarez-Galvez, 2021). The alternative practice of homeopathy is no exception to this concern. The following images reveal two popular Instagram accounts promoting homeopathy: one with 270,000 followers and the other with 76,000 followers.

Note: from Mayer, 2018.

Note: from Hoglund, 2024.

Homeopathy is a health philosophy and practice (Health Canada, 2022) that is an alternative to traditional Western medicine. Homeopathy is based on the belief that “like cures like”; a disease and consequential symptoms can only be cured by a substance that produces similar symptoms. Homeopathy also believes that a substance becomes more potent (thus increasing its effectiveness) by a series of dilutions. Health Canada acknowledges these substances are generally low-risk and regulates homeopathy remedies as natural health products. Health Canada reviews the products to ensure they meet the claims described in homeopathy reference books (such as Material Medica). In most of Canada (with the exception of Ontario), the practice of hemopathy is unregulated.

In addition to remedies, homeopathy utilizes nosodes, which alternative medicine practitioners promote as an alternative to vaccines (Health Canada, 2022). Nosodes are products made from diseased human or animal bodily fluids or tissues that undergo a series of dilutions to create the end product (Immunize Canada, 2018). Individuals practicing homeopathy claim nosodes build immunity and prevent serious infections from diseases such as pertussis, tetanus, diphtheria, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, meningitis, and human papillomavirus. However, the homeopathic practice has no reputable scientific evidence to support such claims. There are no alternatives to vaccines (Health Canada, 2022; Immunize Canada, 2018). Furthermore, children who receive nosodes as an alternative to routine childhood vaccinations are at risk of serious illness, complications, and potential fatalities (Health Canada, 2022).

In my experience, many local social media mom groups support homeopathic options for many childhood concerns, such as teething and fevers. This, of course, makes me question the prevalence of homeopathic practices in Canada and concerns from the scientific community.

According to a recent survey, 10.3 million Canadians used homeopathy in 2022 (Harris Interactive 2022, as cited in IHR Magazine, 2023). Accurate metrics for homeopathy usage are obsolete and difficult to source, but homeopathy supporters often reference the Harris Interactive survey. The scientific community has critiqued Homeopathy for various reasons. These critiques can be summarized as follows: homeopathy conflicts with scientific principles and modern medicine; it lacks a scientific basis; the philosophy of homeopathy is illogical; it lacks empirical clinical evidence; and homeopathic practice is questionable ethically for being dangerous, deceptive, for profit, and a placebo (Schultz et al., 2023).

In Canada, specific labelling has been mandated on all homeopathic products. This includes a statement that the product is not based on scientific evidence and, instead, is based on traditional homeopathic practices (Health Canada, 2022). Health Canada requires Nosode products to include the following labels:

• “This product is neither a vaccine nor an alternative to vaccination.

• This product has not been proven to prevent infection.

• Health Canada does not recommend its use in children and advises that your child receive all routine vaccinations” (Health Canada, 2019, para 3).

  
  

Is this labelling enough? Is Health Canada’s stance that homeopathic substances are generally low-risk adequately convey the safety and efficacy of homeopathic substances? Does this labelling adequately convey the safety and efficacy of homeopathic nosodes? Or should more be done to ensure all Canadians have access and knowledge to safe and evidence-based health treatments for their home? In the case of respiratory infections, a Cochrane Systematic review reveals no benefit of homeopathic treatments or prevention compared to placebo for acute respiratory tract infections (Hawke et al., 2022). In the case of routine childhood vaccinations, a randomized control trial revealed no antibody response to homeopathic nosodes and instead concluded that the nosode response was a placebo (Loeb et al., 2018).

Applying the Ottawa Charter of Health Promotion strategy of building healthy public policy (World Health Organization, 1986), Canada needs to evaluate the need for broader health promotion initiatives via legislation restricting the promotion of the homeopathy practice. Options include the censorship of health misinformation by homeopathic practitioners on social media, and the restriction of homeopathic products sales in pharmacies across Canada. Only with broader health promotion initiatives will we see Canada diminish the spread of health misinformation while providing Canadians with clinically proven options.

References

Harris Interactive. (2022, December). Survey Homeopathy: Awareness and usage in Canada—on a representative national sample (1,050 people).

Hawke, K., King, D., van Driel, M. L., & McGuire, T. (2022). Homeopathic medicinal products for preventing and treating acute respiratory tract infections in children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 12, 1-69. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD005974.pub6

Health Canada. (2022, July). Information on Homeopathy products. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/natural-non-prescription/regulation/information-homeopathic-products.html#a1

Health Canada. (2019). Homeopathic remedies are not a suitable substitute for vaccines. Government of Canada. https://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2019/69260a-eng.php?utm_source=link.cep.health&utm_medium=urlshortener&utm_campaign=covid-vaccine

Hoglund, J. [@the.enlightened.homeopath]. (2024, July 20). Comment "HP" and I'll send you the link to register for this free event [Instagram]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/C9pJMUzx0xh/?img_index=1

IHR Magazine. (2023, June 21). Survey on homeopathy awareness and usage in Canda: 10.3 million Canadians used homeopathy in 2022. https://ihrmagazine.com/survey-on-homeopathy-awareness-and-usage-in-canada-10-3-million-canadians-used-homeopathy-in-2022/

Immunize Canada. (2018). READ. LEARN. UNDERSTAND. False claims about homeopathic nosodes. https://immunize.ca/sites/default/files/Resource%20and%20Product%20Uploads%20(PDFs)/Products%20and%20Resources/Nosodes/homeopathic_nosodes_questions_e.pdf

Loeb, M., Russell, M. L., Neupane, B., Thanabalan, V., Singh, P., Newton, J., & Pullenayegum, E. (2018). A randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial comparing antibody responses to homeopathic and conventional vaccines in university students. Vaccine, 36(48), 7423–7429. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.08.082

Mayer, A. [@drgreenmom]. (2018, January 18). Hey Friends!! I'm Dr. Ashley Mayer, practicing family physician and mother of two awesome kiddos, age 11 and 4...[Instagram]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/C2RBbYTNndj/?img_index=1

Schulz, V. M., Ücker, A., Scherr, C., Tournier, A., Jäger, T., & Baumgartner, S. (2023). Systematic review of conceptual criticism of homeopathy. Heliyon, 9(11), e21287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21287

Suarez-Lledo, V., & Alvarez-Galvez, J. (2021). Prevalence of health misinformation on social media: Systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(1), e17187. https://www.jmir.org/2021/1/e17187/ 

World Health Organization. (1986). Ottawa charter for health promotion, 1986 (No. WHO/EURO: 1986-4044-43803-61677). World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe.  https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/documents/services/health-promotion/population-health/ottawa-charter-health-promotion-international-conference-on-health-promotion/charter.pdf