Saturday Quack - Watch Out For the Homeopathic Zicam!

We must thank ConsumerReports.org for drawing our attention to the existence of two forms of Zicam® - a popular over-the-counter allergy relief product. The “intense sinus relief” Zicam contains oxymetazoline, an effective nasal decongestant approved by the FDA. The “allergy relief” Zicam, however, is homeopathic – that is to say it contains virtually nothing but water. (Homeopathy takes a substance that might otherwise cause symptoms or harm and dilutes it and dilutes it until the substance is just about undetectable.) The substances mentioned in the “allergy relief” Zicam literature include histamine and sulphur, but they have been dilute so as to be virtually absent.

So, next time you have nasal allergies and go to the store looking for Zicam, watch out. The packages look quite alike. You may just pick the product that obviously won’t work (except as a placebo).

The most comprehensive analysis of homeopathy, covering 110 placebo-controlled homeopathy trials and reported in the Lancet, found that any benefit from homeopathic remedies was “compatible with” the placebo effect. It’s a wonder that homeopathy still draws supporters after 150 years of unfavorable findings . . . Caveat emptor!