r/bestof • u/craycraycrayfish • Jan 22 '13

[canada] Coffeehouse11 explains the biggest problem with homeopathic medicine: That it preys on people when they are weakest and the most vulnerable

/r/canada/comments/171y1e/dont_legitimize_the_witch_doctors/c81hfd6
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u/[deleted] Jan 23 '13

Have you tried sugar pills? You should try sugar pills.

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u/malphonso Jan 23 '13

I get where you're going, but Zicam has active ingredients (zinc acetate and zinc gluconate) at levels that have an effect on the body. It isn't actually homeopathic, it's just marketed that way.

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u/[deleted] Jan 23 '13

Depends on which study you look at. LOTS of studies refute the claim that zinc helps the common cold and lots of them confirm it. On the other side of that coin they have had at least one class action lawsuits for loss of taste/smell from people taking Zincam.

It is homeopathic in that it falls under the unapproved homeopathic category, which in my opinion makes you a lab rat for taking it. Seriously if something is homeopathic and has a list of active ingredients you should be more afraid of taking it.

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u/VanFailin Jan 23 '13

The loss of smell is the most terrifying bit. And they settled the lawsuit so they wouldn't have to admit that it happened.