Why is woo sold as "mainstream?"

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27. This is my perspective:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larry-malerba/homeopathic-arnica_b_1081164.html

Clearing Up Some Misconceptions:

A bit of an odd situation has arisen because although homeopathic medicines are FDA approved and regulated, they have not been widely embraced by mainstream medicine and, as a result, there is a lack of information and many misconceptions regarding the nature and use of homeopathic products. With recent media attention (1) (2) focused on the use of Arnica for healing injuries, it is important to clarify those misconceptions and set the record straight as to how it can be properly used to maximize its benefits. In addition, there has always been a good bit of confusion in the media about herbal and homeopathic preparations in general -- and this identity problem applies to Arnica as well as many other homeopathic products.

Most of the general public is pretty well acquainted with herbal products. Also called botanicals or phytomedicines, herbal medicines are prepared from plant materials and administered in their natural form for a wide variety of ailments. Arnica has been historically used as an herbal preparation, however, the most common over-the-counter and only FDA approved and regulated form available is homeopathic Arnica montana. Sold in most natural food stores, it is important to understand that homeopathic Arnica is not an herbal product nor is it a nutritional supplement.

Homeopathic medicines are made from plant, mineral and animal substances, but it is the manner in which they are prepared that makes them unique. Homeopathic medicines are diluted to such a degree that skeptics claim the small doses are merely placebos. They argue that, in theory, it is impossible for them to have any therapeutic effect because it cannot be explained how they work. Experienced homeopathic practitioners and patients make the counter-claim that they actually work in practice. While the controversy rages on, the popularity of homeopathic medicine continues to grow.