Recent research in Homeopathy
Robert Medhurst | BNat ND DNutr DRM DBM DHom
There is an abundance of wellconducted scientific research into homeopathy that has been published in peer-reviewed journals for over 80 years . It is useful to be aware of the existence of this material and to be aware of what it has found , because for those of us who use this modality to assist our clients with the restoration of their health , it is easy to become distracted by the long history of claims in the media and elsewhere that there ' s no evidence that homeopathy has any effect . What follows are some notable recent examples of research that has been conducted in this area .
Human Research
1 . Fixsen A . Homeopathy in the Age of Antimicrobial Resistance : is it a Viable Treatment for Upper Respiratory Tract Infections ? Homeopathy . 2018 ; 107 ( 2 ): 99-114 . This was a literature review of post- 1994 clinical studies featuring the homeopathic treatment of acute upper respiratory tract infections ( URTIs ) and their complications , looking at whether homeopathy offers a viable therapeutic solution for acute URTIs and their complications , and secondly , how such homeopathic intervention might take place . A total of 9 randomised controlled trials ( RCTs ) and 8 observational / cohort studies were analysed , 7 of which were paediatric studies . Seven RCTs used combination remedies with multiple constituents . The results for homeopathic treatment were positive overall , with faster resolution , reduced use of antibiotics and possible prophylactic and
longer-term benefits , all associated with the use of these medicines .
2 . Mahesh S , et al , Case Series of Vitiligo and Homeopathy , Am J Case Rep . 2017 ; 18:1276-83 . This work analysed the results of the constitutional homeopathic treatment of 14 people suffering from vitiligo , over a period of 58 months . The mean time between the onset of the appearance of vitiligo and the first consultation at the treating clinic was 96 months . A significant reduction in symptoms was seen in all 14 cases and the authors noted that the best results were achieved in the patients who were treated in the early stages of the disease .
3 . Magi T , et al . Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Children with Cancer : A Study at a Swiss University Hospital . PLoS One . 2015 ; 10 . doi : 10.1371 / journal . pone . 0145787 . This study examined the characteristics and effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicine ( CAM ) for childhood cancer patients treated at the University Children ’ s Hospital Bern between 2002 and 2011 . Parents were asked if medical staff provided information on CAM to patients , if parents reported use of CAM to physicians , and what attitude they thought physicians had toward CAM . Data was collected from 133 patients ( response rate : 52 %). Of those , 53 % had used CAM ( mostly constitutional homeopathy ) and 25 % of patients received information about CAM from medical staff . Those diagnosed more recently were more likely to be informed about CAM options . The most frequent reason for choosing CAM was that parents thought it would improve the patient ’ s general condition . The most frequent reason for not using CAM was lack of information . Of those who used CAM , 87 % perceived positive effects .
4 . Gaertner K , et al . Additive homeopathy in cancer patients : Retrospective survival data from a homeopathic outpatient unit at the Medical University of Vienna . Complement Ther Med . 2014 ; 22 ( 2 ): 320-32 . In this work , data from cancer patients who had undergone homeopathic treatment complementary to conventional anti-cancer treatment at the Outpatient Unit for Homeopathy in Malignant Diseases , Medical University Vienna , Department of Medicine , Vienna , Austria , were collected , described and a retrospective subgroupanalysis with regard to survival time was performed . Patient inclusion criteria were at least three homeopathic consultations , fatal prognosis of disease , quantitative and qualitative description of patient characteristics , and survival time . Data was collected from 538 patients . From the 53.7 % ( n = 287 ) who had undergone at least three homeopathic consultations within four years , 18.7 % ( n = 54 ) fulfilled inclusion criteria for survival analysis . Median overall survival was compared to expert expectations of survival outcomes by specific cancer type and the use of homeopathy as associated with prolonged survival time across observed cancer entities .
222 | vol30 | no4 | JATMS