Homeopathy

LAS VEGAS — Homeostasis Labs featured a line of homeopathic solutions for both adults and children at the ECRM Cough & Cold and Allergy EPPS.

Specifically in the cough-cold space, Greenwich, Conn.-based Homeostasis fields three adult cough-cold products — allergy, cough and cold, and flu, along with one pediatric product: children's Homeostasis cough and cold.

According to company officials, the brand had been successfully test marketed across one major retailer and will be fully available beginning in April.

Some people swear by it. Others doubt it. What’s undeniable, however, is that homeopathic medicine sales were up 15.7% in 2011 to $173 million in natural supermarkets (excluding Whole Foods) and food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart), according to SPINSscan Natural. And with media reports of recalls, dangerous and lethal side effects, counterfeiting and contamination, the homeopathic school of medicine founded by Samuel Hahnemann in 1800 is making a comeback.


The kids’ cough-cold space has become a significant category for homeopathic manufacturers. With the safety and efficacy of cough-cold medicines called into question several years ago, the category now is stocked with homeopathic remedies and reformulated/repackaged allopathic medicines.


The spate of well-known brand-name recalls of late has created an opportunity of sorts for suppliers of homeopathic remedies, which arguably have a higher safety profile as compared with allopathic medicines.


The most recent recall in the analgesic aisle has come just as PuraMed BioScience is expanding distribution of its LipiGesic-M product for migraines fueled by doctor education. “We found that our early adopters are actually going to be [patients] that are dissatisfied Rx users,” said Russ Mitchell, PuraMed CEO.


ATLANTA — Historical Remedies, based in St. Paul, Minn., last week launched a line of six homeopathic "stress reduction" lozenges for introduction into the food, drug and mass channel at the ECRM Vitamin, Diet & Sports Nutrition EPPS in Atlanta.

Identifying a potential checkstand opportunity, the company has merchandised the lozenges as part of a shelf-ready, point-of-purchase pop-up display.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Heel last week launched Adrisin, a homeopathic medicine for the temporary relief of allergy symptoms, including runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing and skin irritations. Adrisin is packaged as a 15-count individually wrapped tablets.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday issued seven warning letters to companies marketing over-the counter human chorionic gonadotropin products that are labeled as "homeopathic" for weight loss. The letters warn the companies that they are violating federal law by selling drugs that have not been approved and by making unsupported claims for the substances. There are no FDA-approved HCG drug products for weight loss.

One of the factors behind the success of homeopathy in mass retail is social media, both by way of Facebook and mommy bloggers.


“We’ve always relied on word-of-mouth,” noted Alissa Gould, Boiron public relations manager. The average Oscillococcinum user told nine friends. “Now social media exponentially increases that word of mouth,” Gould said. Boiron recently has launched Facebook pages across its brand portfolio.