Overlooked Study Demonstrated Improvement From Homeopathic Treatment Can Last For Many Years

A Long Term Observational Study of 3,709 patients In Germany concluded that “Patients who seek homeopathic treatment are likely to improve considerably. These effects persist for as long as 8 years.”

The study published in 2008 showed that homeopathy in general can help individuals with multiple chronic problems and that the effect can last for many years. The study was a complex one and much was done to maintain statistical integrity.

In total 2,722 (1,903 adults, 819 children) contributed data to the 8-years follow-up. Patients in this study suffered from long-term chronic diseases (table 1). Response rates were considerable higher in female than in male adults (74.3% vs. 67.2%) but similar in female and male children (76.9% vs. 75.7%). Thus, male adults are somewhat a bit underrepresented in our sample. Age at study entry matched the data of the complete sample (table 1).

Table 1. Patient characteristics (values are absolute numbers and percent or mean ± standard deviation)
The majority of the patients were highly educated female adults, most of them fairly below the age of 60 (table 1). Adults mainly suffered from headache (tension type and migraine), allergic diseases, or skin diseases, children from atopic eczema or multiple infections. The average number of diseases at baseline was 2.8 ± 1.1 in adults and 2.3 ± 1.0 in children.

During the study mean severity of complaints improved from baseline 6.2 ± 1.7 to 2.7 ± 2.1 after 8 years in adults and from 6.1 ± 1.8 to 1.7 ± 1.9 in children (table 3, figure 1). From the generalised linear model the respective standardised mean changes (mean changes divided by standard deviations at baseline) were estimated at 1.61 for adults (CI: 1.54 to 2.68, p < 0.001) and 2.01 for children (CI: 1.89 to 2.12, p < 0.001).

1283 adults (67.4% of the study population, 48.7% of all responders) and 655 children (80.0%/61.0%) experienced a clinically relevant treatment success, defined as an improvement of complaint severity of 2 pts or more. From the logistic regression we found that this was more likely in women than in men, and in children than in adults. Patients who simultaneously used other treatments (conventional or complementary) had a smaller chance to improve relevantly, as did those suffering from allergies, allergic rhinitis, or headache. In contrast, a diagnosis of multiple infections was a positive predictor (table 6).

See the Article in Biomed Central entitled: “How healthy are chronically ill patients after eight years of homeopathic treatment? – Results from a long term observational study”

Study of 1,153 French Homeopathy Patients with Chronic Pain Shows 50% Reduced Usage of Painkillers

A long term study approved by the French National Data-Protection Commission and The French National Council of Physicians has shown that homeopathy patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain had a 50 percent reduced use of conventional pain medication, while patients with acute musculoskeletal pain had a 38 percent reduced use.

The researchers acknowledged that musculoskeletal disorders are a leading reason for medical consultation in primary care. The researchers also noted that this nationwide observational study was conducted over one year and that long-term usage of conventional pain medications are known to have numerous minor and serious side effects, as distinct from homeopathic medicines which have a long-time history of safety. Because homeopathic medicine in France is only practiced by MDs, the researchers asserted that maintaining the present reimbursement schedule for homeopathic treatment keeps health care costs down.

The researchers of this study were a diverse and prestigious group of professors of epidemiology, biostatistics, and medicine from the University of Paris, the Pasteur Institute, University of Bordeaux, University of Pierre and Marie Curie, McGill University, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

At present, homeopathic medicine is the leading natural treatment offered by physicians in Europe, where approximately 40 percent of French physicians and 20 percent of German physician prescribe homeopathic medicines regularly (Ullman, 2007). Further, approximately 30 percent of the European population has used homeopathic medicines at some time.

Learn more: Read Dana Ullmans’ article.

Pilot Study Shows Cat Allergies Lessened with Homeopathic Remedies

A randomized placebo-controlled pilot study at the Department of Homeopathy, University of Johannesburg has shown that giving specific homeopathic remedies can lessen allergies to cats. From the US National Library of Medicine:

Homeopathy. 2013 Apr;102(2):123-9. doi: 10.1016/j.homp.2013.02.007.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Cat allergy is an abnormal immune response by the body to cat dander or saliva, leading to the development of a complex of symptoms which can negatively influence health. Cat saliva 9cH and Histaminum 9cH are indicated, according to isopathic principles, for the treatment of cat allergy, however no research has been done to date.

AIM:

To determine the effect of Cat saliva 9cH and Histaminum 9cH (combined) on cat allergic adults.

METHOD:

30 Participants with a positive test result for a cat allergy skin prick test (SPT) were recruited to a double-blind, randomised, placebo controlled clinical trial. Participants took two tablets twice daily for 4 weeks, and attended a follow-up consultation at the end of weeks 2 and 4. The measurement tool used was the SPT, conducted at the beginning and at the end of the study.

RESULTS:

Cat saliva 9cH and Histaminum 9cH produced a highly statistically significant reduction in the wheal diameter of the cat allergen SPT at the end of week 4. The placebo group showed no statistically significant change.

CONCLUSION:

The homeopathic medicine reduced the sensitivity reaction of cat allergic adults to cat allergen, according to the SPT. Future studies are warranted to further investigate the effect of Cat saliva and Histaminum and their role as a potential therapeutic option for this condition.

Plant Research Shows Homeopathic Preparation Has “Highly Significant Differences” Than Control Group

A major challenge in basic research into homeopathic potentisation is to develop bioassays that yield consistent results. So a group of researchers evaluated the potential of using a seedling-biocrystallisation method. Basically you can analyze by computer the images of crystals formed on/within seedling sprouts and see if there is a difference between a group watered with a homeopathic remedy and one there is no homeopathic remedy, (or placebo).  ”Cress seedlings germinated and grew for approximately 96 h in hanging plastic bags on chromatography paper that had been soaked with either aqueous homeopathic preparations or control solutions. A watery extract was produced based on a filtrate of mashed seedlings that were crushed and extracted in the corresponding homeopathic preparation or control solution.”

Researchers in this project  were from a variety of high quality scientific establishments and labs:

Institute of Complementary Medicine KIKOM, University of Bern, Insel-Spital, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
Hiscia Institute, Kirschweg 9, 4144 Arlesheim, Switzerland
Center for Integrative Medicine, University of Witten/Herdecke, Gerhard-Kienle-Weg 4, 58313 Herdecke, Germany
Louis Bolk Institute, Hoofdstraat 24, 3972 LA Driebergen, The Netherlands
Crystal Lab, Landgoed Roepaen, Kleefseweg 9, 6595 NK Ottersum, The Netherlands
Biodynamic Research Association Denmark, Landsbyvaenget 7, Herskind, 8464 Galten, Denmark

The results were remarkable. The researchers noticed  significant effects of a homeopathic treatment with Stannum metallicum 30x compared to water on germinating cress seeds. There were over 15 independent experiments in two independent laboratories.

Conclusions:

Using computerized GLCM texture analysis of biocrystallograms, we observed significant effects of a homeopathic treatment with Stannum metallicum 30x compared to water 30x on germinating cress seed over 15 independent experiments in two independent laboratories. Showing a reproducible (regarding experimental days as well as the two laboratories) and highly significant effect of the homeopathic treatment, two variables of texture analysis (“cluster_shade” and “diagonal_moment”) seem to be of primary interest for follow-up studies.

It will be interesting to analyse the biocrystallograms of the present trial in more detail. Investigations with texture analysis in other resolution scales will provide information regarding the spatial localisation of the differences in texture. Other approaches of image analysis (e.g., fractal dimension) may add complementary information helping to further describe and understand the effects found. Interpretation of the biocrystallogram features identified will need additional investigations. Methodical improvements are needed to eliminate the processing order effect. Furthermore, a comparison of different seed lots with contrasting characteristics (e.g., size, density, age, vigour level) regarding their response towards the homeopathic treatment is necessary.

- Ecam

International Scientific Research Group on Homeopathy Meets in Florence

The twenty sixth meeting of GIRI (International Research Group on Very-­low dose and High-­Dilution Effects), met in Florence, Italy on September 20-­22, 2012. The program was organized around four main axes: physicochemical features of HD [high dilution], studies in plants and the field, clinical and veterinary evidence, and laboratory models.
Paolo Bellavite and Lucietta Betti from the Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona, Italy and the Department of Agroenvironmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Italy discuss the issues presented:

For two centuries, homeopathy and science were considered to be two opposing and conflicting fields. Now things are changing, as scientific evidence begins to support many homeopathic tenets, and the homeopathic world increasingly stimulates science to investigate previously under-­evaluated and little understood subtle phenomena. For 26 years, GIRI has been promoting a fruitful dialog for the sake of furthering true science, i.e., science free from ideological barriers and preconceptions. Novel evidences have quite often disrupted previously dismissed phenomena grew in importance within new conceptual frameworks. The unusual properties of HD, which deserve further investigation, are potentially relevant not only ␣the environmental sciences and the future of humankind as a whole.

The full editorial pdf. article can be downloaded from here.

Scientific Trial: Homeopathic Remedy Treats Menopausal Hot Flushes Successfully

A study using a homeopathic remedy with menopausal women experiencing hot flashes in 35 active gynaecologists’ practices in France has shown dramatic success. Researchers are now recommending it as a “new therapeutic option with a safe profile for hot flashes in menopausal women.” “BRN-01 [the homeopathic remedy] seemed to have a significant effect on the HFS, compared with placebo.” The study included one hundred and eight menopausal women and was multicentered, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled.

Here is the Abstract

Background: Homeopathic medicines have a place among the non-hormonal therapies for the treatment of hot flashes during the menopause.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the non-hormonal treatment BRN-01 in reducing hot flashes in menopausal women.

Study Design: This was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study carried out between June 2010 and July 2011.

Setting: The study was conducted in 35 active centers in France (gynecologists in private practice).

Patients: One hundred and eight menopausal women, >=50 years of age, were enrolled in the study. The eligibility criteria included menopause for <24 months and >=5 hot flashes per day with a significant negative effect on the women’s professional and/or personal life.
Intervention: Treatment was either BRN-01 tablets, a registered homeopathic medicine containing Actaea racemosa (4 centesimal dilutions [4CH]), Arnica montana (4CH), Glonoinum (4CH), Lachesis mutus (5CH), and Sanguinaria canadensis (4CH), or identical placebo tablets, prepared by Laboratoires Boiron according to European Pharmacopoeia standards. Oral treatment (2 to 4 tablets per day) was started on day 3 after study enrollment and was continued for 12 weeks.
Main Outcome Measure: The main outcome measure was the hot flash score (HFS) compared before, during, and after treatment. Secondary outcome criteria were the quality of life (QoL) [measured using the Hot Flash Related Daily Interference Scale (HFRDIS)], severity of symptoms (measured using the Menopause Rating Scale), evolution of the mean dosage, and compliance. All adverse events (AEs) were recorded.
Results: One hundred and one women were included in the final analysis (intent-to-treat population: BRN-01, n = 50; placebo, n = 51). The global HFS over the 12 weeks, assessed as the area under the curve (AUC) adjusted for baseline values, was significantly lower in the BRN-01 group than in the placebo group (mean +/- SD 88.2 +/- 6.5 versus 107.2 +/- 6.4; p = 0.0411). BRN-01 was well tolerated; the frequency of AEs was similar in the two treatment groups, and no serious AEs were attributable to BRN-01.
Conclusion: BRN-01 seemed to have a significant effect on the HFS, compared with placebo. According to the results of this clinical trial, BRN-01 may be considered a new therapeutic option with a safe profile for hot flashes in menopausal women who do not want or are not able to take hormone replacement therapy or other recognized treatments for this indication.
Trial registration number (EudraCT): 2009-016959-21.

Indian Homeopathic Doctors Double Over Two Decades to 246,000

In the last decade India’s registered homeopathic practitioners have doubled and the number of homeopathic hospitals and dispensaries has increased four fold. In 1980 there were 105,000 registered homeopaths and in 2010, 246,000 registered homeopaths.

According to the Times of India, the estimated number of people in India using homeopathy in 2010 was 120 million and by 2013 the number is likely to exceed 160 million.

Director general of Central Council for Research in homeopathy Dr R K Manchanda said, “Till now, the benefits of homeopathy were established through observational studies. Now we are validating homeopathy’s benefits through randomized controlled trials and fundamental research. Homeopathy is especially beneficial for arthritis, skin and respiratory diseases, gastric problems like irritable bowel syndrome and allergies. Homeopathy costs one fifth of an allopathic consultation in any government set up.”

Source: Times of India

 

German Research Centre for Environmental Health Says Large Percentage of German Children Use Homeopathy Remedies

A study by the German Research Centre for Environmental Health, Institute of Health Economics and Health Care Management in Neuherberg, Germany has determined through a study that over 24 % of German children are given homeopathic remedies. The study was published in a leading international pharmaceutical journal.

Here is the abstract of the study:

Utilization and costs of conventional and alternative pharmaceuticals in children: results from the German GINIplus and LISAplus birth cohort studies.
Italia S, Batscheider A, Heinrich J, Wenig C, Bauer CP, Koletzko S, Lehmann I, Herbarth O, von Berg A, Berdel D, Hoffmann B, Schaaf B, Wolfenstetter SB.
Source
Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Health Economics and Health Care Management, Neuherberg, Germany.
Abstract
PURPOSE:
The socioeconomic determinants for drug utilization, especially in children, have not been investigated sufficiently so far. The study’s aim was the estimation of prevalences and determinants of conventional, homeopathic and phytotherapeutic drugs and expenditures.
METHODS:
Population-based data on drug utilization of 3,642 children in two German birth cohorts (GINIplus and LISAplus, 10-year follow-up) were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. For analysis, the reported drugs (use within the last four weeks) were classified into the therapeutic categories of ‘conventional medicine’, ‘homeopathy’, ‘phytotherapy’ and ‘others’. Drug costs were estimated using pharmaceutical identification numbers.
RESULTS:
In all, 42.3% of the children reported drug use; 24.1% of the drugs were homeopathic and 11.5% were phytotherapeutic. The proportion of children who took at least one homeopathic remedy was 14.3%. Drugs prescribed by physicians were dominated by conventional medicine (76.5%), whereas in non-prescribed drugs, both homeopathy and conventional medicine accounted for 37% each. Boys (OR = 0.78) used less homeopathy than girls. Income showed only a weak influence. Education had a strong effect on the use of phytotherapy such that children of mothers with higher school education (>10 years vs. <10 years) used more phytotherapy (OR = 2.01). If out-of-pocket payments arose (n = 613), the mean was €20. On average, total drug expenditures summed up to €39 in 4 weeks for drug users if only clearly identifiable prices for drugs were considered (58% of all data).
CONCLUSIONS:
Utilization of homeopathy is common in children from the analyzed cohort. User profiles of homeopathy and phytotherapy differ from each other and should be analyzed separately. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

New Study Shows Homeopathy Has Impact On Musculoskeletal Disorders With Fewer Side Effects

A new study  that was published in a leading pharmacology journal shows that homeopathy has an impact on muscular skeletal disorders. The study was completed at the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; LA-SER Centre for Risk Research, Montreal, Canada

The study followed 1153 patients that were broken down into 3 groups- 1. those who went to a conventional doctor, 2. those who went to an MD who practiced alternative health or complimentary alternative medicine and 3. those who went to a homeopathic medical doctor. The homeopathic patients took 50 per cent less painkillers and yet experienced much benefit and of course less adverse drug effects from the conventional medications.

The conclusion of the study was “MSD patients seen by homeopathic physicians showed a similar clinical progression when less exposed to NSAID in comparison to patients seen in CM practice, with fewer NSAID-related adverse events and no loss of therapeutic opportunity.”- PubMed

Clinical Study Shows Homeopathy is Effective in Sinusitis

A multicentre observational study at the Institues and Units of the Central Counceil for Research in Homeopathy has shown that homeopathy can be effective in chronic sinusitis. The study involved 628 patients and results were confirmed on X-ray. Here is the abstract:

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to ascertain the therapeutic usefulness of homeopathic medicine in the management of chronic sinusitis (CS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Multicentre observational study at Institutes and Units of the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, India. Symptoms were assessed using the chronic sinusitis assessment score (CSAS). 17 pre-defined homeopathic medicines were shortlisted for prescription on the basis of repertorisation for the pathological symptoms of CS. Regimes and adjustment of regimes in the event of a change of symptoms were pre-defined. The follow-up period was for 6 months. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 16.

RESULTS:

628 patients suffering from CS confirmed on X-ray were enrolled from eight Institutes and Units of the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy. All 550 patients with at least one follow-up assessment were analyzed. There was a statistically significant reduction in CSAS (P = 0.0001, Friedman test) after 3 and 6 months of treatment. Radiological appearances also improved. A total of 13 out of 17 pre-defined medicines were prescribed in 550 patients, Sil. (55.2% of 210), Calc. (62.5% of 98), Lyc. (69% of 55), Phos. (66.7% of 45) and Kali iod. (65% of 40) were found to be most useful having marked improvement. 4/17 medicines were never prescribed. No complications were observed during treatment.

CONCLUSION:

Homeopathic treatment may be effective for CS patients. Controlled trials are required for further validation.

-Pubmed, April 2012