Homeopathy : Recent research findings
Robert Medhurst | BNat ND DNutr DRM DBM DHom
Here in Australia , the public acceptance of complementary healthcare modalities such as nutritional and herbal medicine is generally fairly easy . Pharmaceutical therapy is wellaccepted and because herbs and nutritional supplements can be shown to work in a similar manner to pharmaceuticals , the possibility that they ' d be clinically effective isn ' t difficult for most people to accept . For homeopathy , the situation is a little different because according to what ' s generally accepted about chemistry and pharmacology , it shouldn ' t work . The media here has been quite efficient at broadcasting the supposed lack of effectiveness of homeopathy , based largely on the idea that homeopathy is scientifically implausible . This means that for those who have no experience of it , the notion that homeopathy works is usually only acceptable where a potential user receives strong confirmation of it from a trusted source . Peer-reviewed scientific journals can act as that trusted source , and following are summaries from some recent research highlights that have appeared in these journals .
Human Studies
1 . Teixeira MZ , Podgaec S , Baracat EC . Potentized estrogen in homeopathic treatment of endometriosis-associated pelvic pain : A 24-week , randomized , double-blind , placebo-controlled study . Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol . 2017 ; 211:48-55 . This work looked at the possible efficacy and safety of homeopathically potentised oestrogen compared to placebo in the homeopathic treatment of endometriosis-associated pelvic pain ( EAPP ). Researchers enrolled 50 women aged 18-45 years old with diagnoses of deeply infiltrating endometriosis based on magnetic resonance imaging or trans-vaginal ultrasound after bowel preparation , and who scored ≥5 on a visual analogue scale ( VAS : range 0 to 10 ) for endometriosisassociated pelvic pain . Potentised oestrogen ( 12C , 18C and 24C ) or placebo administered twice daily per oral route . The primary outcome measure was change in the severity of EAPP global and partial scores ( VAS ) from baseline to week 24 , determined as the difference in the mean score of 5 modalities of chronic pelvic pain ( dysmenorrhoea , deep dyspareunia , non-cyclic pelvic pain , cyclic bowel pain and / or cyclic urinary pain ). The secondary outcome measures were mean score difference for quality of life assessed with SF-36 Health Survey Questionnaire , depression symptoms on Beck Depression Inventory ( BDI ), and anxiety symptoms on Beck Anxiety Inventory ( BAI ). An analysis of the results showed that potentised oestrogen ( 12C , 18C and 24C ) at a dose of 3 drops twice daily for 24 weeks was significantly more effective than placebo for reducing endometriosis-associated pelvic pain .
2 . Oberai P , et al . Homoeopathic management of schizophrenia : A prospective , non‐comparative , open‐label observational study . Indian J Res Homoeopathy . 2016 ; 10:108-18 . This 5 -year study was run by India ' s Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy and sought to evaluate the usefulness of homeopathic interventions in schizophrenia . Patients between 20 and 60 years of age presenting with symptoms of schizophrenia were screened for inclusion and exclusion criteria . The patients who were on anti-psychotic drugs were allowed to continue them , along with homeopathic medicine , and the dose of anti-psychotics was monitored by a psychiatrist . The homeopathic medicines were prescribed according to the presenting symptoms . Patients were followed up for 12 months . The response to treatment was assessed using Brief Psychiatric Rating Scales ( BPRS ) and data analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences SPSS Version 20.0 . The 171 enrolled patients were assessed as per the modified Intention to Treat Principle . An analysis of the results showed a statistically significant ( P = 0.0001 , P < 0.05 ) response to homeopathic treatment . Sulphur , Lycopodium , Natrum muriaticum , Pulsatilla and Phosphorus were found to be the most useful medicines in treating these schizophrenic patients .
3 . Thompson E , et al . A patient reported outcome measure in homeopathic clinical practice for long-term conditions . Homeopathy . 2016 ; 105 ( 4 ): 309-17 . This study was carried out at the Bristol Homeopathic Hospital using the Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile ( MYMOP2 ) to assess the outcomes of homeopathic treatment for chronic conditions seen in routine clinical practice . A total of 198 patients with a wide range of complaints attended 1-5 consultations with 20 homeopathic doctors . Diagnostic categories were most commonly neoplasms
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