Traumeel

Traumeel is a homeopathic product sold by Heel for use on inflammation from injury. It is based on the pseudoscience of homotoxicology and while it provides substantial income for Heel it does nothing for the people who buy it and use it. The ingredients for Traumeel make you glad that they dilute most of them to the point of non-existence.[1] It includes: Arnica montana (arnica), Calendula officinalis, Hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel), Achillea millefolium (milfoil), Atropa belladonna (deadly nightshade), Aconitum naphellus (monk's-hood), "Mercurius solubilis Hahnemanni" (mercury), "Hepar sulfuris" (calcium sulfide), Chamomilla recutita (chamomile), Symphytum officinale (comfrey), Bellis perennis (daisy), Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea purpurea, Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort).[1] This dilution level makes it almost entirely harmless (although this is often quoted as a positive thing for homeopathic medicines), so when Alexa Ray Joel attempted to overdose on the stuff, no one was surprised that she survived physically unharmed.[2]

Against allopathy
Alternative medicine
Clinically unproven
v - t - e

Effectiveness

Traumeel emerged as the primary cash cow of Heel after the FDA just about shut them down for pushing their quack products on people with terminal and chronic illness. Heel likes to point to Traumeel as a success because of the "randomized controlled trials" that show it is an effective cure for inflammation and injury. However, the literature that shows its efficacy is fraught with problems and points to continued fraudulent activities by Heel.

Independent researchers who have sought to test Traumeel were told by Heel that the only way they will offer any level of support is if they get prior review of the data before publication and have a right to refuse publication of data they don't like.[3] The few published studies by Heel that supposedly show an effect use extremely small sample sizes, and often don't even include statistical analysis of the data to see if the positive "trends" are actually statistically significant. The studies are all sponsored by Heel and published in journals closely linked to Heel and these journals have little to no impact in the peer-review community at large.

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References
  1. Traumeel: Product Monograph
  2. Alexa Ray Joel’s Suicide Attempt With Traumeel – Harmless Says Dr. Lewis Nelson
  3. Ernst, E., & Schmidt, K. (2004). Homotoxicology—a review of randomised clinical trials. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 60(5), 299-306.
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