More research in Homeopathy
Robert Medhurst | BNat ND DNutr DRM DBM DHom
When properly prescribed , homeopathy is a very effective method of healing . For those of us who use it in our clinical practices , this effectiveness is obvious - we don ' t need to be convinced by randomised double-blind trials , systematic reviews , or any other form of research that it ’ s capable of assisting our clients to return to a state of good health . For some people though , some of our potential clients , professional colleagues and professional critics , it requires rigorous external validation . Fortunately , there are numerous examples of the efficacy of homeopathy that can be found in the peer-reviewed scientific literature and following are some recent examples of this work .
Human Research
1 . Saha S , Tamkeen R , Saha A . An open observational trial evaluating the role of individualised homoeopathic medicines in the management of nocturnal enuresis . Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy . 2018 ; 12 ( 3 ): 149-56 . This Indian study looked at the homeopathic management of nocturnal enuresis using a prospective , single arm , pre-post comparison , nonrandomised , open-label , observational trial on 34 people of 5 – 18 years of age presenting with nocturnal enuresis at the outpatient department of The Calcutta Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital . A scoring scale was developed : scores were measured at baseline , and after the 2nd and 4th months . Compared to baseline , scores reduced significantly over 2 months and the use of the homoeopathic medicines was associated with a statistically significant reduction in symptoms .
2 . Sharma R , et al . Assessment of the effectiveness of homoeopathic remedies in improving quality of life of chronic urticaria patients in a typical clinical setting . Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy . 2018 ; 12 ( 3 ): 139-48 . The aim here was to evaluate the effectiveness of constitutional homoeopathic treatment for chronic urticaria ( CU ) patients attending the Outpatient Department of the State Homoeopathic Dispensary , Ahmadpur , Aligarh , Uttar Pradesh , India . A CU quality of life questionnaire ( CU-Q2oL ) and average Urticaria Activity Score for 7 days ( UAS7 ) questionnaires were filled out at baseline and at the 3rd , 6th , 9th and 12th months . Scores were analysed using one-way repeated measures ANOVA with SPSS version 19 . A total of 134 patients were screened ; 70 were diagnosed with CU and enrolled in the study . Their data were analysed under a modified intention-totreat approach . A significant difference was found between the baseline and 12th month CU-QoL score ( mean difference 34.14 with standard error of 1.65 , 95 % confidence interval , lower bound 29.31 , upper limit 38.94 , P < 0.001 ). A oneway repeated measures ANOVA was calculated for comparing CU-Q2oL scores ( F [ 2.45 , 169.46 ] = 260.89 , P ≤
0.000 , effect size = 0.791 ). Apis mellifica ( n = 10 ), Natrum muriaticum ( n = 9 ), Rhus toxicodendron ( n = 8 ) and Sulphur ( n = 8 ) were the most frequently used medicines .
3 . Adler UC , et al . Double-blind evaluation of homeopathy on cocaine craving : a randomized controlled pilot study . J Integrative Medicine . 2018 ; 16 ( 3 ): 178-84 . This study investigated the effectiveness and tolerability of homeopathic Q-potencies of opium and E . coca in the integrative treatment of cocaine craving in a community-based psychosocial rehabilitation setting . It used a randomised , double-blind , placebo-controlled , parallel-group trial design over 8 weeks and was conducted at the Psychosocial Attention Center for Alcohol and Other Drugs ( CAPS- AD ), Sao Carlos / SP , Brazil . A total of 54 people with an International Classification of Diseases-10 diagnosis of cocaine dependence ( F14.2 ) were enrolled in the study . The patients were randomly assigned to either of two treatment groups : psychosocial rehabilitation plus homeopathic Q-potencies of opium and E . coca ( homeopathy group ), or psychosocial rehabilitation plus indistinguishable placebo ( placebo group ). The mean percentage of cocaine-using days in the homeopathy group was 18.1 % ( standard deviation ( SD ): 22.3 %), compared to 29.8 % ( SD : 30.6 %) in the placebo group ( P < 0.01 ). An analysis of the
26 | vol31 | no1 | JATMS