The Research Evidence Base for Homeopathy Systematic reviews of randomised controlled (RCTs) of homeopathy • Four of five comprehensive reviews of RCTs in homeopathy have reached positive
conclusions.1,2,3,4 Based on a smaller selection of trials, a fifth review came to a negativeconclusion.5
• Positive conclusions have been reported in six of 14 reviews of RCTs in specific medical
• conditions (the other eight are largely inconclusive):• childhood diarrhoea6• influenza treatment 7• post-operative ileus8• rheumatic diseases9• seasonal allergic rhinitis.10,11
RCTs of homeopathy – the original peer-reviewed research literature • Up to the end of 2005, 119 RCTs have been published: 57 positive; 6 negative; 56 not
statistically conclusive. In addition to the above five conditions, there is positive evidence fromtwo or more RCTs in each of the following five:
• fibromyalgia12,13• migraine14,15• osteoarthritis16,17• otitis media in children18,19• vertigo.20,21
• There is evidence from single RCTs (not refuted by others) in favour of homeopathy for a
number of other conditions: allergic asthma,22 ankle sprain,23 attention deficit hyperactivitydisorder,24 bronchitis,25 chronic fatigue syndrome,26 premenstrual syndrome.27
Cost effectiveness of homeopathy Integration of homeopathy with conventional treatment is associated with better clinical outcomes for similar or lower costs.28,29,30 Clinical observational studies • 70.7% of 6,544 follow-up patients, treated at Bristol Homeopathic Hospital for a wide range of
chronic medical complaints, reported positive health changes.31
• Many patients attending the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital were able to reduce or stop
conventional medication following homeopathic treatment.32
Basic Science • Laboratory research has obtained evidence that water may retain information about
homeopathically-prepared solutes.33,34,35
• Further laboratory studies have shown that homeopathic dilutions can exert biological
References
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20 Weiser M, Strösser W, Klein P (1998). Homeopathic vs.
homeopathy. British Medical Journal, 302: 316–23.
conventional treatment of vertigo: a randomized double-blindcontrolled clinical study. Archives of Otolaryngology –
Linde K, Clausius N, Ramirez G, et al (1997). Are the clinical
Head and Neck Surgery, 124: 879–85.
effects of homoeopathy placebo effects? A meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials. Lancet, 350: 834–43.
21 Issing W, Klein P, Weiser M (2005). The homeopathic preparation
Vertigoheel versus Ginkgo biloba in the treatment of vertigo in
Linde K, Scholz M, Ramirez G, et al (1999). Impact of study
an elderly population: a double-blinded, randomized, controlled
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Cucherat M, Haugh MC, Gooch M, Boissel JP (2000). Evidence
22 Reilly D, Taylor MA, Beattie NGM, et al (1994). Is evidence for
of clinical efficacy of homeopathy – A meta-analysis of clinical
homeopathy reproducible? Lancet, 344: 1601–6.
trials. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 56: 27–33.
23 Zell J, Connert WD, Mau J, Feuerstake G (1988). Treatment of
Shang A, Huwiler-Muntener K, Nartey L, et al (2005). Are the
acute sprains of the ankle. Controlled double-blind trial to test
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the effectiveness of a homeopathic ointment. Fortschritte der
study of placebo-controlled trials of homoeopathy and allopathy. Medizin, 106: 96–100. Lancet, 366: 726–32.
24 Frei H, Everts R, von Ammon K, et al (2005). Homeopathic
Jacobs J, Jonas WB, Jimenez-Perez M, Crothers D (2003).
treatment of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder:
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a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled crossover trial.
metaanalysis from three randomized, controlled clinical trials. European Journal of Pediatrics, 164: 758–67. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 22: 229–34.
25 Diefenbach M, Schilken J, Steiner G, Becker HJ (1997).
Vickers A, Smith C (2004). Homoeopathic Oscillococcinum for
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preventing and treating influenza and influenza-like syndromes
a clinical study in 258 patients. Zeitschrift für Allgemeinmedizin,
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26 Weatherley-Jones E, Nicholl JP, Thomas KJ, et al (2004).
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Jonas WB, Linde K, Ramirez G (2000). Homeopathy and
27 Yakir M, Kreitler S, Brzezinski A, et al (2001). Effects of
rheumatic disease – Complementary and Alternative Therapies
homeopathic treatment in women with premenstrual syndrome:
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a pilot study. British Homeopathic Journal, 90: 148–53. America, 26: 117–23.
28 Witt C, Keil T, Selim D, et al (2005). Outcome and costs of
10 Wiesenauer M, Lüdtke R (1996). A meta-analysis of the
homeopathic and conventional treatment strategies: a
homeopathic treatment of pollinosis with Galphimia glauca.
comparative cohort study in patients with chronic disorders. Forschende Komplementärmedizin und KlassischeComplementary Therapies in Medicine, 13: 79–86. Naturheilkunde, 3: 230–6.
29 Witt CM, Lüdtke R, Baur R, Willich SN (2005). Homeopathic
11 Taylor MA, Reilly D, Llewellyn-Jones RH, et al (2000).
medical practice: long-term results of a cohort study with
Randomised controlled trials of homoeopathy versus placebo
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in perennial allergic rhinitis with overview of four trial series. British Medical Journal, 321: 471–6.
30 Trichard M, Chaufferin G Nicoloyannis N (2005).
Pharmacoeconomic comparison between homeopathic and
12 Fisher P (1986). An experimental double-blind clinical trial
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31 Spence D, Thompson E, Barron S (2005). Homeopathic
13 Bell I, Lewis D, Brooks A, et al (2004). Improved clinical status
treatment for chronic disease: a 6-year university hospital based
in fibromyalgia patients treated with individualized homeopathic
outpatient observational study. Journal of Alternative and
remedies versus placebo. Rheumatology, 43: 577–82. Complementary Medicine, 5: 793–8.
14 Brigo B, Serpelloni G (1991). Homoeopathic treatment of
32 Sharples F, van Haselen R, Fisher P (2003). NHS patients’
migraines: a randomized double-blind study of sixty cases
perspective on complementary medicine. Complementary
(homoeopathic remedy versus placebo). Berlin Journal onTherapies in Medicine, 11: 243–8. Research in Homeopathy, 1: 98–106.
33 Rey L (2003). Thermoluminescence of ultra-high dilutions
15 Straumsheim P, Borchgrevink C, Mowinckel P, et al (2000).
of lithium chloride and sodium chloride, Physica (A),
Homeopathic treatment of migraine: a double blind, placebo
323: 67–74.
controlled trial of 68 patients. British Homeopathic Journal, 89: 4–7.
34 Bell IR, Lewis DA, Brooks AJ, et al (2003). Gas discharge
visualisation evaluation of ultramolecular doses of homeopathic
16 Shealy CN, Thomlinson RP, Cox RH, Borgmeyer RN (1998).
medicines under blinded, controlled conditions. Journal of
Osteoarthritic pain: a comparison of homeopathy and
Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 9: 25–38.
acetaminophen. American Journal of Pain Management, 8: 89–91.
35 Elia V, Niccoli M (1999). Thermodynamics of extremely diluted
aqueous solutions. Annals of the New York Academy of
17 van Haselen RA, Fisher PAG (2000). A randomized controlled
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trial comparing topical piroxicam gel with a homeopathic gel in osteoarthritis of the knee. Rheumatology, 39: 714–9.
36 Linde K, Jonas WB, Melchart D, et al (1994). Critical review and
meta-analysis of serial agitated dilutions in experimental toxicol-
18 Harrison H, Fixsen A, Vickers A (1999). A randomized
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comparison of homoeopathic and standard care for thetreatment of glue ear in children. Complementary Therapies in
37 Belon P, Cumps J, Ennis M, et al (2004). Histamine dilutions
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19 Jacobs J, Springer D, Crothers D (2001). Homeopathic treatment
38 Zausner C, Lassnig H, Endler PC, et al (2002). Influence of a
of acute otitis media in children: a preliminary randomized
homoeopathically prepared thyroxine dilution on the
placebo-controlled trial. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal,
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controlled trial. Perfusion (Nürnberg), 17: 268–76.
Transport of Excepted Lithium Batteries by TNT Express Why Dangerous Lithium batteries (or cells) which are used to power a very large variety of electronic devices, are considered as Dangerous Goods due to the fact that they can overheat and ignite under certain conditions. The 52st/2011 edition of the IATA DGR: Section II of the relevant Packing What are the applicable T
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA - TROOP 805 Kiwanis Service Project – Saturday, March 1, 2014 Helping the Kiwanis, our troop sponsor, with putting on a breakfast for counselors for the annual middle school Youth 2 Youth conference 6:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m., Saturday, March 1, 2014. Logistics: Scouts should be dropped off and picked up at Dougherty Valley HS Uniforms: Wear Class A uniforms
The Research Evidence Base for Homeopathy