§ Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the homeopathic remedy Aristolochia was refused a licence at a dilution of 1 part in 1 million.
§ Mr. WhitneyThere is clear evidence that Aristolochia can cause cancer in animals, even in high dilutions of one part in a million. The Medicines Commission carefully considered the available evidence and concluded that the potential risks of Aristolochia were such that dilutions of one part in a million posed a significant safety hazard. This safety hazard had to be set against the lack of proven evidence of benefit for these products. For these reasons the Department decided that Medicines Act product licences should be refused for all strengths except those of a very much higher dilution.