Homeopathy research

Clinical research

		Meta-analyses: a global analysis of clinical trials
		Clinical trials with conclusive results

Conducting clinical trials in homeopathy requires the utmost rigour, because in addition to the usual rules of good practice for clinical trials, in certain studies there are sometimes difficulties unique to the individualised approach of homeopathic practice.

There have been numerous clinical trials enabling us to assess how effective homeopathy is in treating humans, often with positive results.

During this research, homeopathic research has been compared to placebos. Significant positive results have been obtained, for both customised or "standard" homeopathic treatments.

The results of trials carried out on "standard" homeopathic treatments

These placebo-controlled experiments were carried out:

• either by pre-selecting patients, which made it possible to include only those patients who required the same homeopathic treatment,
• or by administering the same homeopathic treatment to all the patients regardless of their individual profiles.

Fibromyalgia
A study⁶, carried out in the USA in 2002/2003 on 62 patients shows that personalised homeopathic treatment is effective in treating fibromyalgia, especially as regards pain management. During this study, the personalised homeopathic treatment was compared with a placebo of strictly identical appearance (double-blind trial). The patients taking the homeopathic treatment showed significantly greater pain relief at sensitive points and a reduced tendency to depression compared to the patients taking the placebo. The authors believe that this study, "by using a wide selection of medicines, has demonstrated that personalised homeopathy performs significantly better than the placebo for patients suffering from fibromyalgia".

Allergies
In a study⁷ on the allergic rhinitis, the intensity of the symptoms was reduced and the need for anti-histamines was less important with patients from the group treated with a dilution of pollens than with the group treated with placebo. A later study⁸ confirmed these results and specified that the patients treated with homeopathy had an increased air inhalation rate and a better overall condition. In a study⁹ on subjects suffering from serious asthma, those being treated with homeopathy here also presented considerably less intense symptoms.

Influenza-like condition
Several studies¹⁰ on people presenting the first signs of influenza have proved the efficacy of Oscillococcinum against the influenza-like condition. The temperature is lower, symptoms are relieved, the number of patients cured is higher and recovery occurs sooner.

The pain of lactogenesis
The pain of lactogenesis in women who do not wish to breastfeed is conventionally suppressed using bromocriptine, an allopathic medicine that has side effects disproportionate to the temporary discomfort to be treated. A clinical trial¹¹ showed that the pain, mammary tension and spontaneous milk flow were less important with homeopathy. This study was reproduced by a second team with similar results.

Prevention of acute radiodermatitis (painful inflammation of the skin)
A two-year studye¹²(July 1999 to June 2001) conducted in France on 254 patients showed that calendula ointment is effective in preventing acute radiodermatitis (painful inflammation of the skin) after radiotherapy for breast cancer. This study was published by an international scientific journal, the Journal of Clinical Oncology. During this study, calendula ointment was compared to trolamine, the treatment most frequently used for this indication.
In the patients treated with calendula ointment, it was observed that:
• the incidence of acute dermatitis was significantly lower (41% for calendula, 63% for trolamine)
• - there was a decrease in pain levels and better compliance with treatment by radiotherapy.
The authors of the study believe that "calendula is very effective in preventing acute radiodermatitis of second degree or higher, and should be offered to patients following postoperative radiotherapy for breast cancer".

Treatment of arsenic trioxide poisoning (arsenic contamination)
Groundwater arsenic contamination poisons millions of people throughout the world. A study carried out in India¹³ showed that the homeopathic medicine Arsenicum Album 30 CH can attenuate the degree of arsenic poisoning in humans. A second study¹⁴ magnified the results of the previous study, showing that given in large quantities Arsenicum Album effectively treats patients who have been naturally poisoned by arsenic trioxide.

When trials take case-based treatment into account

In the following studies, homeopathic medicines have been chosen by prescribers in order to customise the treatment that they have given to the patients.

Acute diarrhoea
Three studies carried out, in Nicaragua¹⁵ then in Nepal¹⁶, on children suffering from acute diarrhoea have highlighted a reduction in the duration and intensity of the diarrhoea, after having administered them with homeopathic medicines best adapted to their case.

Hyperactivity in children
Children suffering from attention deficit disorder were treated with homeopathic medicine during a study conducted in Switzerland. The authors of this study¹⁷ (randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial) concluded that the results “show homeopathy’s effectiveness in treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder” by a significant difference compared to the placebo group.

The conclusions of these studies, chosen among hundreds already carried out, are only a preview of the status of homeopathic research. The results of the trials already conducted must be confirmed by other similar studies, and many new experiments will still be started in order to continue confirming the relevance of homeopathic treatments.

More : Clinical trials p. 16-39 (extract from the book "La recherche en homéopathie", coordination Doctor Philippe Belon, 2004)

		Meta-analyses: a global analysis of clinical trials
		Clinical trials with conclusive results