U.S. Over-The- Counter Yearly Sales of Homeopathic and Herbal Remedies Reaches $6.4 BILLION

In 2012, over-the-counter sales of homeopathic and herbal remedies have reached $6.4 billion in the United States alone. PR Newswire reports:

Today 30% of respondents who suffered an ailment within the past year claim to have used a homeopathic or herbal remedy to treat it. And there is further good news for the homeopathic and herbal remedies sector too, as Mintel forecasts sales to increase to $7.5 billion by 2017 as more Americans become proactive about their health and further growth is fueled by availability of these products in mass retailers.

Recalls of traditional [pharmaceutical] OTC remedies, a holistic approach to health, and more availability in traditional retailers all helped to fuel growth in this market. The sector is primed for continued success as US consumers increasingly seek products that are natural and organic, particularly as it relates to healthcare. This is especially true for families with small children as many OTC medications [pharmaceutical] are unsafe for children under the age of two.

“Those who trust homeopathic medications are more likely to eat a healthier diet. Additionally, they are more likely to eat natural and organic foods and are willing to invest in these products. Those who trust homeopathic medicines are also more likely to be preventative about their healthcare. They visit the doctor regularly and take vitamins to prevent illness”.

MINTEL/PR NEWSWIRE

As a result of this success, pharmaceutical companies are funding organizations to attack homeopathy and herbal suppliers and practitioners. Organizations such as Sense about Science in England and another organization in the United States and Canada called “Centre for Inquiry” are primarily funded by pharmaceutical companies’ interests.

Homeopathy continues to grow because of its profound effectiveness with no side effects. Homeopathy has an over 200 year history of safety and efficacy. It is widely used all over the world and its growing numbers attests to its wonderful effectiveness.

Homeopathic Nosodes – A Breakthrough in the Treatment of Chronic Disease

The majority of senior and experienced homeopaths are against, (some strongly against) the use of homeopathic remedies instead of childhood vaccination.

But in the treatment of chronic disease, nosodes or homeopathic remedies made from disease products are considered to be an important part of homeopathic treatment of chronic diseases.

It goes back to the founder of homeopathy’s assertion and breakthrough research, that the energetic lingering of infections, even when the acute infectious symptoms no longer remain, can cause chronic disease syndromes. He called these chronic syndromes related to a past infection, a “miasm.” These chronic syndromes may be experienced both by the person who had the past infection and also, by offspring.

Homeopathy throughout the years has developed specific techniques and protocols for identifying these syndromes relative to a specific infection in the past history and family history and effectively treating them. Nosodes, or remedies made from the disease source itself, along with other homeopathic remedies can be used to clear the lingering energetic effect. Remember, these homeopathic remedies have nothing of the original substance remaining in them, rather they are an energetic imprint of them.

Samuel Hahnemann who is the founder of homeopathy originally elucidated three major “miasms. ” Later, with the advent of modern microbiology, many chronic disease miasms have been identified relative to a past infectious disease a patient or  parent may have had.  Homeopathy continues one of the few therapies that has built an enormous clinical understanding of these factors and not only that, a very effective way of dealing with it. Homeopathy has a 200 year record of safety and efficacy with the use of these nosodes and  a therapeutic choice for millions worldwide..

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.