More Research into Homeopathy
Robert Medhurst | BNat ND DNutr DRM DBM DHom
Most people like to see some sort of validation of a product or service before they ' ll embrace it , particularly where that product or service has had a significant amount of negative , if not hostile , treatment by the media , as has certainly been the case throughout history with homeopathy . For potential new users of this healing modality , it may be of benefit to know that there is a large body of objective evidence for the practice of homeopathy , and some recent examples of this follow .
Human Studies
1 . Ferreri R , et al . The Clinical Experience in the Centre of Integrated Medicine , Pitigliano Hospital Using Magistral Homeopathic Formulations : Results in Outpatients Affected by Chronic Diseases and Considerations on the Chronic Care Model Integrated with Homeopathic Approach . Homeopathy , 2016 , 105 , 14 . An Italian team recorded the outcomes of the treatment of people suffering from chronic ailments using homeopathically-prepared combination products . Data from 1,600 people were collected and assessed using the Edmonton scale , SF12 , and family and work performance evaluations . Broadly , the results were as follows . For recurrent respiratory syndromes , an average 85 % reduction in the use of conventional therapies ( antibiotics , anti-asthmatics , and corticosteroids ) was seen . In people suffering from rheumatic disorders , reductions in pain were noted as well as a reduction in the use of conventional medicines . For those presenting with tinnitus an average reduction in symptoms of 45 % was observed . Allergy sufferers experienced a 75-100 % reduction in conventional medicine use and those presenting with chronic pain conditions
( headache , migraine etc ) reported reductions in pain ranging from 45-84 %.
2 . van Heerden HJ , Razlog R , Pellow J . Pilot Study on the Homeopathic Treatment of Binge Eating in Males . Altern Ther in Health and Med , 2016 , April , 22 , Suppl 1:8-13 . This work from the University of Johannesburg in South Africa sought to measure the efficacy of individualised homeopathic treatment for binge eating in adult males . A 3-week baseline period was used which was followed by a 6-week treatment period . Assessment was carried out using a selfassessment calendar ( SAC ), recording the frequency and intensity of binging using the Binge Eating Scale ( BES ), a psychometric evaluation of severity , and case analysis evaluating changes with time . Ten males who were diagnosed as binge eaters were prescribed individualised homeopathic treatment . The study found a statistically significant improvement with regard to the BES and the SAC , with a large effect size , indicating that a decrease occurred in the severity and frequency of binging behaviour during the study period .
3 . van Haselen R , et al . The Effectiveness and Safety of a Homeopathic Medicinal Product in Pediatric Upper Respiratory Tract Infections with Fever : A Randomized Controlled Trial . Global Pediatric Health , 2016 , 3 , 1 – 11 . The authors of this study investigated the clinical effectiveness of a homeopathic add-on therapy in a paediatric subpopulation with upper respiratory tract infections ( URTI ' s ). Patients received either on-demand symptomatic standard treatment ( ST-group ) or the same ST plus a homeopathic medication ( Influcid ; IFCgroup ) for 7 days . Outcome assessment was based on symptom and fever resolution and the Wisconsin Upper Respiratory
Symptom Survey – 21 ( WURSS-21 ). A total of 261 children (< 12 years ) ( 130 IFC-group ; 131 ST group ) were recruited in Germany and the Ukraine . An analysis of the results of this research found that the IFC-group used less symptomatic medication , their symptoms resolved significantly earlier , they had higher proportions of fever-free children from day 3 onwards , and the WURSS-assessed global disease severity was significantly less during the entire URTI episode than the ST group .
4 . Grimaldi-Bensouda L , et al . Homeopathic Medical Practice for Anxiety and Depression in Primary Care : The EPI3 Cohort Study . BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine , 2016 , 16 , 125 . This French study compared the use of conventional psychotropic drugs among people seeking care for anxiety and depression disorders ( ADDs ) from general practitioners ( GPs ) who strictly prescribed conventional medicines ( GP-CM ), regularly prescribed homeopathy in a mixed practice ( GP- Mx ), or were certified homeopathic GPs ( GP-Ho ). Assessment was via the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale ( HADS ), and assessments were carried out at baseline , and at 1,3 and 12 months . A total of 710 people who met the inclusion criteria participated in the study . The authors concluded that patients with ADD who chose to consult GPs prescribing homeopathy reported less use of psychotropic drugs , and were marginally more likely to experience clinical improvement , than patients managed with conventional care .
5 . Beghi GM , Morselli-Labate AM . Does Homeopathic Medicine Have a Preventive Effect on Respiratory Tract Infections ? A Real Life Observational
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