MHRA warns arthritis sufferers about buying unlicensed arthritis treatment

The MHRA issued a warning last week about that notorious herbal scam, Arthroplex. You’ve probably already seen this news on the 21st Floor, in the Nursing Times or perhaps on the Huffington Post site. Maybe you’ve seen it somewhere else – it has certainly been widely reported.

Yet strangely, this person hasn’t…

I am astonished by the fact that none of the people complaining about this product seem to have tried taking it. More fool them! I have started a one month’s trial and after five days it seems to be doing everything that is claimed for it. If, after a month’s trial it does not work I can get my money back under the guarantee. Let the critics continue to suffer from arthritis pain. I am delighted to be pain free. I understand that the delay in delivery has been caused by thousands of users placing substantial orders afterf they have tried it for a month.

If like him, you’ve somehow found my blog without having seen any of those news reports, then please allow me to share the contents of that press release…

Thyrosine Support Formula: more nonsense from Life Natural Cures

The latest leaflet from those notorious Arthroplex scammers turned up, quite aptly, among my junk mail earlier this week.

This time, they’re trying to tap into the lucrative weight loss market by convincing us all that we have underactive thyroid glands and that a seaweed supplement will be the answer to all our problems.

It’s an interesting study in pseudoscience and misguided logic.

Is Arthroplex one of the worst herbal scams ever?

UPDATE 20/06/12 Forty-nine people reported this ad to the ASA, who upheld our complaints today. It seems some of the complaints concerned an earlier edition of the leaflet – some of the quotes on the adjudication differ from my leaflet (for example, the misspelling of ‘arthritis’ as ‘arthritus’).

UPDATE 12/07/12 Press release: MHRA warns arthritis sufferers about buying unlicensed arthritis treatment
_____________________________________________________

Arthroplex leaflets, featuring a veritable smörgåsbord of misleading and unsubstantiated miracle health claims are still being slotted into various publications.

The product is unlicensed, unauthorised and often fails to arrive. It also appears to be specifically aimed at elderly and retired people suffering from chronic, painful health conditions.

Arthroplex: instant relief for the wallet

UPDATE 20/06/12 Forty-nine people reported this ad to the ASA, who upheld our complaints today. It seems some of the complaints concerned an earlier edition of the leaflet – some of the quotes on the adjudication differ from my leaflet (for example, the misspelling of ‘arthritis’ as ‘arthritus’).

Lots of people have been in touch to tell me where they have seen the ads. I have been in touch with the magazines concerned and included their responses here.

UPDATE 12/07/12 Press release: MHRA warns arthritis sufferers about buying unlicensed arthritis treatment
_____________________________________________________

You may have seen these pictures somewhere before. They featured in a recent magazine insert and have already been emailed to Ben Goldacre by an orthopaedic surgeon, who was

not currently aware of any oral medication that can reverse crippling deformity of severe hallux valgus to a normal foot in 61 days

I have one of the inserts on my desk as I type. The product in question is ‘Doctor’s Arthroplex®‘ – an apparently revolutionary, yet unlicensed product available in capsule and gel form and claimed to be recommended by health professionals. Such inserts have recently been slotted between the pages of My Weekly, the Caravan Club magazine, Saga Magazine and Sporting Shooter.

Should you wish to say ‘no more!’ to joint pain, you are advised to order online (here), ring the Sales Team on 0845 658 5010 or send credit card details or cheque to an address in the Netherlands (Arthroplex. Eurowide Fulfilment, IBRS/CCRI, Numero 13011, Breda, 4800 VE, Netherlands).

This doesn’t necessarily mean that the product will arrive.

Advertising Standards Authority unveil their Hall of Shame

Yesterday, the Advertising Standards Authority inducted the first members into their Hall of Shame.

Their Misleading Online  Advertisers page (EDIT 04/02/12 now ‘Non-compliant’ online advertisers), tantalisingly online yet empty since the digital remit was extended this March, now lists four culprits – three of whom are in the Alternative Health sector. Two of these specialise in Reiki Healing – a form of ‘energy healing’ which, though some people find pleasant and relaxing, lacks plausibility and evidence of efficacy for any condition.

The four guilty parties are Samantha Pearce, Allan Sweeney, Life Healthcare (t/a Life Natural Cures) and Vistaprint.