Barbara Brewitt is the CEO and Chief Scientific Officer of a company called Biomed Comm, Inc. From a small office along the Queen Anne side of the ship canal the company manufactures and sells a variety of homeopathic remedies.

Homeopathy attempts to stimulate the body to heal itself. For example, instead of using conventional medicines like suppressants to stop a cough, homeopathy professes to give a remedy that will cause a cough in a healthy person. Given to an ill person homeopaths contend the remedy will speed the ill person's natural healing process.

But in a temporary cease and desist order issued Tuesday, the Department of Health said the Biomed Comm web site offers products related to the treatment of Alzheimers, autism, cancer, menopausal symptoms, and a product that claims to boost the immune systems of patients with HIV/AIDS.

The Department of Health ordered Brewitt to immediately "stop her unlicensed practice of manufacturing drugs" saying that they do not have the necessary federal approval.

They also ordered Brewitt to "stop acting as and representing herself as a medical doctor."

The Department of Health says Brewitt allegedly represented herself as a medical doctor to a Seattle-based pharmacy in to obtain a drug used in the manufacturing process. Brewitt holds a Ph.D. in biological structure but does not hold a medical degree and is not a licensed physician.

Reached Tuesday at her Seattle home Brewitt responded to the charges with an e-mail of her own.

In a statement released to KOMO 4 News, Brewitt said she "takes great exception to today's action by the Washington State Department of Health."

She also said that her company's products are "classified as homeopathic drugs and meet all regulations. There is obviously a misunderstanding on the part of the Department of Health."

Homeopathic remedies are governed by the The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act but do not go through the same strict testing and approval process as prescription drugs.

Homeopathic products, which by definition claim to stimulate the body to heal itself, are not exempt from all FDA regulations. If a homeopathic drug claims to treat a serious disease such as cancer it can be sold by prescription only not over the counter.

"All Biomed Comm, Inc. products are sold over-the-counter and substantiated by significant scientific evidence and successful clinical trials," added Brewitt in her written response. "They have been on the market for over ten years, without any adverse events reported."

While the company tries to appeal the temporary cease and desist order, the Department of Health is also trying to find other stores that bought this company's products to tell them they are not approved for sale.

For More Information:

Department of Health

Biomed Comm

National Center for Homeopathy

The Homœopathic Pharmacopœia of the United States