Ukip are outflanking us on herbal medicine, says homeopathy MP At a time when 70 per cent of the adult population have employed complementary medicine, often when they have not found relief through conventional medicine, it is tiresome to see UKIP again out-positioning our party at a time when we can ill afford to lose votes. Homeopathy teaches that patients can be cured with highly diluted samples of the substances that, in large doses, would cause their symptoms. Sir Mark Walport, the Chief Scientific Advisor to the Government, said last month the practice is "nonsense" with no medical benefit beyond a possible placebo effect. Jeremy Hunt is known to be a supporter of homeopathy but insisted his decisions as health would be "driven by evidence." Last night Mr Tredinnick said he had not received a reply from Mr Hunt. He said GPs should be allowed to prescribe herbal medicines as more people are worried about the oversuse of antibiotics. It's a very useful treatment. I've used it for many years because it is effective. We are out of line with Europe, Asia and the United States. It is absurd to say it all a placebo - it is practiced all over the world," said Mr Tredinnick. He added: "The criticism is frankly absurd as the treatment has quite wide usage outside this country. It is people with a vested interest opposing it, who feel it might threaten their professional standing.