More News on Homeopathic research
Robert Medhurst | BNat ND DHom
Homeopathy has been used successfully for well in excess of two centuries . It has survived for this long a time because it works - we know this from personal experience and observation . But , because the means by which it works has yet to be fully described , and what it does is seemingly at odds with the currently understood principles of physics and chemistry , it is useful to conduct scientific research to objectively validate its effects . What follows are summaries from investigations from the scientific journals that assist in this validation .
Human Trials
1 . Gupta G , et al . Evidence Based Clinical Study to Assess the Usefulness of Homoeopathic Medicines in Patients of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia . Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy , 2010 , 4 , 4 , 49-56 . Indian researchers from the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy and the Homoeopathic Research Foundation , Lucknow , collaborated in this observational study which looked at the effects of predetermined homeopathic medicines for the treatment of Benign Prostatic
Hypertrophy ( BPH ). A total of 43 men previously diagnosed with BPH took part in the study . Individualised homeopathic medicines were prescribed and the International Prostate Symptom Score ( IPSS ), ultrasonography , uroflowmetry and Prostate Specific Antigen ( PSA ) were assessed before and after homoeopathic treatment . After comparing pre-and post-treatment results , the difference in mean values of IPSS , prostate weight , PSA and average flow rates were found to be statistically significant . Maximum flow rate and Post Void Residual Urine ( PVRU ) were improved but statistically not significant . Lycopodium ( n = 15 ), Pulsatilla ( n = 11 ), Sulphur ( n = 8 ) and Calcarea carb . ( n = 3 ) were found to be the most useful among 10 medicines prescribed . Overall , 93 % of patients improved clinically with evidence of positive changes in diagnostic parameters .
2 . Patel M , et al . An Approach to Acute Diarrhoeal Disorders Through Sector and Constitutional Homoeopathic Treatment in Tribal Children Attending Balwadi . Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy ,
2010 , 4 , 4 , 36-46 . This Indian study was undertaken to verify the efficacy of acute homeopathic treatment in the management of diarrhoea and to explore the role of individualised homeopathic medicine in preventing its recurrence . A total of 300 children were selected from 10 Anganwadi ( Balwadi day care centres ) from the tribal population having a known high prevalence of diarrhoea . A randomised case control , single , blinded method was used to prove the efficacy of the treatment . For this purpose , the sample was divided into three groups : acute remedy group , acute remedy followed by constitutionally prescribed homeopathy , and a placebo group as a control . Basic hygienic measures were explained to the parents , and they were followed up regularly . The results of the study showed that , compared with the controls , the acute homeopathic medicines had a definite role in altering the course of acute diarrhoea , and when the acute medicine was followed up by the constitutional medicine it had a significant impact in bringing down the frequency , shortening the duration , and decreasing the intensity of further episodes of diarrhoea . This strategy also
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