Everybody has a natural healing
ability within them. Conventional medicine (Allopathy) treats
only the symptoms and gives only temporary relief by suppressing the
symptoms. Disgusted with this form of treatment, a German Medical
Doctor, Dr. Samuel Christian Friedrich Hahnemann, stopped Allopathic
medication and after some research, started a new medical system, which
he named Homoeopathy (most people now spell it Homeopathy). Homeopathy
stimulates the natural healing processes of the body with the help of
very minute quantities (i.e. in sub-atomic particles) of a remedy to
bring about a natural remission of disease. Homeopathy is concerned only with a
sub-physiological response, after which the body reacts and heals itself (even in diseases
which are psychiatric, like Schizophrenia).
Note:
Homeopathy does not produce any side effects what so ever!
Homeopathic treatment is best taken
from a Qualified Homeopathic Doctor because people who
medicate themselves on their own or take treatment from a person who
isn't Qualified, can go into a state of 'Drug Proving', i.e. they start
showing the symptoms that drug produces when taken in milligram doses
(remember Homeopathic remedies are not herbal, but sub-atomic,
electromagnetic remedies), worse they may become immune to treatment by
other Qualified Doctors (including Allopaths/Conventional Doctors).
Homeopathy uses dilute sub-atomic particles which stimulate the natural
healing processes of the body (to bring about a spontaneous remission
of disease/s). Homeopathic remedies are electro-magnetic (dynamic) -
their preparations involve shock succussion, whereby the atomic
structure is disturbed. The rationale of Homeopathy is that life is
fundamentally a bio-electric phenomenon, with various groups of cells
vibrating in sync with each other; disease is essentially a
bio-electric disturbance (viruses/bacteria can attack an individual
only if there is such a disturbance) - Homeopathic remedies act on the
same plane as disease, bringing about a bio-electric stability
(health). One may ask why such minute doses of medication are used -
Homeopathy is not concerned with a physiological response, but in
mainly stimulating the natural healing processes of the body to bring
about a remission of disease. I have been practising Homeopathy for the
past 11 years & have cured all sorts of 'Incurable'
diseases/conditions.
Homeopathy has cured a whole lot of conditions completely and
permanently, without surgery, like:
More over, if one interviews the Patients' of a Homoeopathic Doctor,
one would get to know how effective it is (everybody is satisfied -
obviously the ones not satisfied wouldn't be coming). What about
animals? I have cured (of things like tumours, kidney failures, ear
infections, skin diseases, prolapsed uterus, inadequate milk production
after the birth of a calf/pup/kitten etc.) a whole lot of animals - if
it was "faith" producing the cure (as some people allege), how can
animals get cured? Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales (U.K.) has a
whole farm dedicated to the Homeopathic treatment of animals, where no
'G.M. (Genetically Modified)' foods are allowed. Experiments have been
conducted & it is seen that even when alcohol (or water for
that matter) - the base used for potentising (a method of vigorously
shaking the base while diluting it) Homeopathic dilutions - dilutes the
medicinal substance so much as to leave almost nothing of it in the
base, the base (alcohol/water) retains an impression/memory of the
original substance it was diluting. In another experiment, it was seen
that these dilutions can degranulate Human basophils (which means they
do have an effect), the results of which were published as a scientific
paper, in the most well-known Scientific magazine 'Nature'(1988,
Vol.333, June 30th) , with the title, 'Human basophil degranulation
triggered by very dilute antiserum against IgE' (both by Prof.Jacques
Benveniste et al).
The Lancet, earlier, has published 2 articles to show that Homeopathy
works (the articles were titled, 'Is homoeopathy a placebo response?
Controlled trial of homoeopathic potency, with pollen in hayfever as
model', 1986, II:881-886 & 'Is evidence for homoeopathy
reproducible', 1994, 344:1601-1606).
There are lots of other articles that prove the efficacy of
Homoeopathy:-
Evidence profile for the efficacy of
Homeopathy ? A new paradigm for medical sciences: "The Body Information
Theory":-
? First question addressed: The activity of very highly
diluted preparations. Homeopathic practitioners will argue that the use
of preparations that are diluted beyond Avogadro's number (i.e.
potencies greater than C10) happens in only 25% of the prescribed
homeopathic medications. Nevertheless, for some people this question is
the most important obstacle to the acceptance of Homeopathy. The
experimental model that is cheapest, most reproducible and also the
most easily researched is probably the "acetylcholine-induced
contraction of the rat ileum". It is a well recognized scientific model
(Chang FY, Lee SD, et al. Rat gastrointestinal motor responses mediated
via activation of neurokinin receptors. J.Gastroenterol Hepatol 1999;
14: 39-45). This model has been devised for the verification of very
high dilutions of Belladonna by A. Cristea, a Romanian researcher;
results have already been published (Bastide M (ed). Signals and
Images. Kluwer Academic Publishers 1997: 161-170).
Professor Wolfgang S??, Institute of Pharmacy at the University of
Leipzig, has used this model to test the transfer of the activity of a
homeopathic remedy (in this case Atropinum sulphuricum D60) from the
original liquid form to the homeopathic tablet. As usual, several
controls were performed. Alpha-lactose monohydrate tablets impregnated
with the highly diluted Atropinum had systematically efficacy, on the
contrary with anhydrous alpha-lactose tablets no effect can be
ascertained. Thus, the quality of homeopathic tablets can be tested
before daily use in pharmacy (constant reproducibility). This very
simple model therefore has the potential to remove doubts about the
activity of very highly diluted homeopathic remedies (Schmidt F, S??
WG, Nieber K. In-vitro Testung von hom?opathischen Verd?nnungen. Biol.
Med./Heft 1/February 2004;32-37). B/ It has taken much more time for
another model to be accepted by the scientific community.
The first publications appeared in 1991 but it is only in 2004, after
an international cooperation, that the results have finally been
accepted in a high-standard peer-reviewed journal, Inflammation
Research. This model is different from the Benveniste model; he used
the same control but not the same activator. Professors Marcel
Roberfroid and Jean Cumps of the Institute of Pharmacy at the
University of Louvain, who respectively coordinated the European
multi-centre (4 centres) trial and performed the statistical analysis,
explained the protocols and discussed the results. The work
demonstrates a significant inhibition of human basophil degranulation,
as measured by alcian blue staining, by high dilutions of histamine
(10-30 ? 10-38 M). This multi-centre research has subsequently been
confirmed in three laboratories by applying flow cytometry analysis and
in one laboratory by measuring histamine release. Even if, at present,
the molecular theory cannot explain these findings, the facts remain
indisputable as recognized by the editor of Inflammation Research.
(Belon P, Cumps J, Ennis M, Mannaioni PF, Roberfroid M, Sainte- Laudy
J, Wiegant FAC. Histamine dilutions modulate basophil activation.
Inflamm. Res. 2004; 53: 181-188.) C/ Research on high dilutions has
existed since the 1950s, but the number and quality of publications has
increased in the last decade.
Reviews and meta-analyses have even been performed but often ignored or
even denied (see COST B4 supplement report EUR 19110 ISBN
92-828-7434-6). This research is not encouraged and even deemed
inadvisable by academic authorities. Professor Jean Cambar, Dean of the
Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Bordeaux, described the most
important models that have been published previously in international
journals, confirming the effects of very highly diluted homeopathic
preparations. The efficacy of very high homeopathic dilutions of human
or animal natural molecules (also called endogen molecules) has been
published several times in prestigious journals. Examples include the
following: Int J Immunotherapy 1987; 3: 191-200 (Thymulin in mice.
Bastide M); Int J Immunopharm 1990; 6: 211-214 (alpha/beta interferon,
Carriere V); J Vet Human Toxicol 1995; 37(3): 259-260 (Thyroxine,
Endler PC); Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 1996; 9: 43-51 (Bursin,
Youbicier-Simo BL). During this meeting Dimitris Zienkiewicz,
immunologist at the University of Edinburgh, presented preliminary
findings assessing, by immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry, the
alteration in activation and function of dendritic cells that comes
about as a result of their treatment with homeopathic dilutions of a
bacterium. Dendritic cells play an instrumental role in both activation
and regulation of the immune system. Systematic changes in the profile
of cytokines IL-10, IL-11 and IL-12 cannot be explained by the
molecular theory.
Efficacy of very high homeopathic dilutions using pharmacological
models has also been published in peer-reviewed journals. Examples
include the following: Thrombosis. Res. 1994; 76: 225-229
(Acetylsalicylic acid in a vessel model. Doutremepuich C); Haemostasis
1990; 20: 99-105 (Acetylsalicylic acid in healthy volunteers.
Doutremepuich C); Thrombosis. Res. 1987; 48: 501-504 (Acetylsalicylic
acid in healthy volunteers, Doutremepuich C). The longest-used model,
published frequently all over the world, is the toxicological model
(Arsenic, Phosphorus, Mercury, Cadmium, Cisplatina, Glutamate, Cuprum
sulphate, etc). It can be applied to vegetable, animal, cell culture
material or even clinical studies. This model is still used and indeed
is the theme for a collaboration between the Universities of Bern and
Bologna, testing homeopathic arsenic trioxide treatments by plant-based
bioassays. The working variables are the germinated seeds or the stem
length on the seventh day. At least 6 recent experiments by this team
are published (Dr Lucietta Betti. DISTA-Department of Agro
environmental Science and Technology, University of Bologna.).
Experiments are well conducted, in controlled conditions, with a
sufficient number of plants, animals or cells, and with a fair
statistical treatment.
The facts are indisputable, statistically significant and reproducible,
even if they cannot be explained using the molecular paradigm.
? Second question addressed: The content of very highly
diluted homeopathic preparations. Professor Jean Cambar introduced the
theme by asking what are the contributions of the different
spectroscopies (Raman, Ultraviolet, X-ray or Magnetic Nuclear
Resonance) in revealing the structure of water and solvents in high
dilutions? What is the real relevance of Avogadro?s number in
evaluating the precise pattern of molecules? Can a dilution work
without any molecule? One of the most innovative perspectives in this
last decade was the demonstration that high dilutions have as much
activity and effectiveness in an organized structured solvent without
any solute molecule as they do when molecules are present (even only
some molecules). Professor Louis Rey, Doctor of Sciences, Lausanne, a
specialist in low temperature thermoluminescence, has published on this
topic in the international journals Nature (1988; 391: 418) and
C.R.Physique (2000; 1: 107-110). He presented the latest results of the
experiments he carried out together with Dr. Philippe Belon on the
thermoluminescence of ultra-high dilutions of lithium chloride and
sodium chloride. Ultra-high dilutions of lithium chloride and sodium
chloride (10-30 g cm-3) were irradiated by X- and gamma-rays at 77K,
then progressively re-warmed to room temperature. During that phase,
their thermoluminescence was studied and it was found that, despite
their dilution beyond the Avogadro number, the emitted light was
specific of the original salts dissolved initially. Much to the
authors? surprise, the experimental results showed, without ambiguity,
the specificity of the contained information. The findings proved to be
reproducible in the course of many different identical experiments. As
a working hypothesis, the researchers propose that this phenomenon
results from a marked structural change in the hydrogen bond network
initiated at the onset by the presence of the dissolved ions and
maintained in the course of the dilution process, and probably due to
the successive vigorous mechanical stirrings. (Physica 2003; A323:
67-74). Professor Guadalupe Ruiz-Vega, Universidad Michoacana de San
Nicol?s de Hidalgo, Morelia, Mexico, presented her most recent
publications in the field of thermodynamics. She was able to
demonstrate the biological effect of two ultra-low dose compounds.
(Publication in process.) The use of modern techniques in the hands of
specialists is the best way to show sceptics that the experimental
facts are well grounded and confirmed by reproducible experiments. Even
in ultra-molecular homeopathic dilutions, specific information of the
prime dissolved substance still remains in the preparation and can be
detected experimentally.
? Third question addressed:
The theoretical framework in which the effects of homeopathic diluted
preparations can be explained. Two members of G.I.R.I. (Groupe
International de Recherche sur l?Infinit?simal; see www.giriweb.com),
Professor Madeleine Bastide (University of Montpellier) and Agn?s
Lagache (Professor of Philosophy, Paris) have been working on this
topic for 16 years. A new paradigm for medical science is needed to
explain these facts and to allow more precise research models in the
future. A working group of 7 members applied this new paradigm to the
analysis of experimental results. "When the observed fact does not
correspond to a famous theory, the fact has to be accepted and the
theory rejected"; "A theory must be modified to be adapted to nature
and not nature to adapt itself to the theory". Claude Bernard
(Introduction - la Medecine Experimentale). Prof. Bastide explained
that Homeopathy and research models are based on the observation of
"symptoms". Asymptomatic pathologies exist that provoke "biological
scars" as a proof of the self-treated organism without showing the
illness symptoms (Charles Nicolle, Nobel Prize 1929, Life and Death of
Illness). Symptoms and biological modifications are not the same and
concern different levels in the body. The symptom may be an ex-pression
of the body when it cannot find any answer whatever the situation
(infection, stress, strong emotion?). Example: Rubella in a normal
subject: no apparent sickness. Rubella in immuno-deficient subject:
symptoms, apparent sickness. For the allopathic research approach, the
symptoms are pathognomonic, specific to the illness; they are used to
diagnose the pathology. When the diagnosis of the pathology is
performed, the treatment is chosen accordingly; classical therapy may
be also targeted against symptoms. For the homeopathic research
approach, considered symptoms are idiosyncratic; specific to the
patient. They are the personal ex-pression of the sickness by the
patient. They are used to choose the specific remedy according to the
similarity of the symptoms observed by "proving" in a healthy subject.
The living body is in a lasting and irreversible learning process; it
communicates at every level with its environment. It is able to receive
and treat semantic and corporeal information; it is not an inert
object. The paradigm of corporeal signifiers (Bastide M., Lagache A.
Revue Intern. Syst?mique 1995; 9: 237-249 and Altern Ther Health Med.
1997; 3: 35-9). Three principles define Homeopathy, based on clinical
and experimental analysis: the similia and whole person principles, and
the use of very high dilutions. The effects of high dilutions cannot be
explained by a simple molecule-receptor interaction (mechanistic
paradigm), the "well established theory" of modern science. Prof.
Bastide & Lagache propose an epistemological approach to
Homeopathy based on body information processes received and interpreted
by the living organism; this follows the rules of information exchange.
Exchange of objects between a giver and a receiver is very simple: one
loses, the other gains, and the sum is constant. On the other hand,
information is not an object but the trace of an object - mediation
between object and receiver is required for a signal to be transmitted.
For example, take the story of Robinson Crusoe: Crusoe sees Friday?s
footprint in the sand but not the foot itself. For him, this footprint
means ?there is another man on this island?. Friday's foot is the
originator (matrix) of the information; the footprint is information
but is not an object; the sand is the carrier of the information (the
mediator). When the carrier disappears, the information disappears too.
The information is understood only by the receiver and the
understanding of the information depends on its context ? he knows that
he is alone on the island. Prof. Bastide & Lagache therefore
suggest that in Homeopathy, the originator of the information is the
starting material of the remedy; succussed dilutions of the starting
material in a solvent are mediators. High dilutions contain only
information from that material and no molecules remain. This mediation
results from the succussed solvent being in a specific state, implying
perhaps electro-magnetic processes. The receiver (the whole living
body) receives and processes the information in the remedy according to
its state, whether healthy ("proving") or sick (therapy). The bases of
this paradigm are verified by the systematic experimental results
obtained as described in the first parts of the conference. This new
paradigm is needed to explain the experimental facts and to understand
the failure of research models that do not fit it.
? The final question addressed: The clinical effects of
homeopathic preparations. An experimental design is only relevant if it
takes into account the observed phenomenon within its specific
framework and if the subject addressed can be isolated of all external
influences. Considering human medicine, the psychological factors are
responsible for nonspecific effects and the medication effects are
called specific effects. Whatever the research model, taking into
account the homeopathic approach, the idiosyncratic symptoms (specific
to the patient) must be considered excluding pathognomonic symptoms. A/
Professor Leoni Bonamin, Paulista University (Sao Paulo) and president
of G.I.R.I., reviewed studies in veterinary Homeopathy. Such studies
are relevant for Homeopathy because it is easier to isolate the effects
of the treatment: the placebo effect is almost nil and there are fewer
ethical considerations. Moreover, studies in well-defined herds and
features can include a very homogeneous sample from a large number of
animals. Nevertheless, the rules for well-designed studies must still
consider the particularities of homeopathic research as regards the
Similia principle (considering idiosyncratic symptoms). Veterinary
studies are very important for organic farming regulation. In Europe,
only homeopathic treatments are authorized for biological farming. The
use of Homeopathy is aimed at avoiding chemical residues in the food
chain. More institutional support is certainly needed. In recent
studies, the use of homeopathic complexes has been tested with very
good results using parallel placebo groups, blinded design, homogeneity
of samples with sufficient animals, and a protocol that is easy to
manage in the farming context. Filliat C. Particularit? de
l?utilisation de l?hom?opathie en production avicole. Annals of the
"Entretiens Internationaux de Monaco 2002", 5-6 October 2002.
http://www.giriweb.com. The use of homeopathic complex reduced the
incidence of haematomas in turkeys during transportation by about 30%.
Riaucourt A. L?Exemple de la Fili?re Porcine. Annals of the "Entretiens
Internationaux de Monaco 2002", 5-6 October, 2002.
http://www.giriweb.com. The use of a complex (with endogenous and
exogenous substances) to improve oestrus manifestation in female pigs
induced a reduction of the repetitions of inseminations and semen loss.
Veterinary studies are also useful for questioning homeopathic study
design. Using the model of psychogenic dermatosis in dogs and cats
(Torro, et al. In press), six months of treatment with the simillimum
shows 70% success. One year after finishing the treatment there was no
recurrence. The entire study duration is six years. The very long
efficacy of the homeopathic treatment is a reason for questioning
cross-over design. Because veterinary pathogenetic studies are very
rare, veterinarians often need to do extrapolations from human
pathogenesis and their Materia medica is based on classical studies
performed in humans. Research protocols in experimental animals. For
example, the effects of nosode (isopathic homeopathic remedy) versus
allopathy and similar homeopathic remedy using as model the
experimental urinary infection of rats (Gon?alves et al. O uso da
homeopatia no tratamento da infec??o urin?ria em ratas. Anais do VIII
SINAPIH; 20-22 May, 2004: p.25-26. http//climed.epm.br/sinapih/index).
This study compares nosode from individual or collective samples. It is
a blinded study; the presence of E. coli in gall bladder of rats is
evaluated after 12-16 days of treatment: Untreated control, 100% of
bacteria colonies (no spontaneous healing), second control is the
vehicle (alcohol 5%) 94%, comparison group treated with Antibiotic
(levokinolone) 33%*, treated group with nosode from a pool of urines
(30D) 73%*, treated group with a self-nosode (30D) 39%*, and treated
with a similar homeopathic remedy Phosphorus 30CH (the incorporation of
rats in this group happens observing their individual behavior) 22%* (*
Fisher test, p=0.05). With such studies it is possible to evaluate some
homeopathic parameters such as the criteria for the choice of the best
homeopathic dilution. The general rule is to use high potencies for
chronic / mental disturbances and low potencies for acute / organic
disturbances. The antidepressive effect of Hypericum perforatum in rats
was better in 200CH than in 30CH: tested by the Porsolt forced swimming
method (Goulart et al. Avalia??o dos efeitos de Hypericum perforatum
(Hp) dinamizado homeopaticamente em comportamento de ratos. Anais do
VIII SINAPIH, 20-22 May 2004: p.14. http//climed.epm.br/sinapih/index);
this was a blinded, well designed study.
Experimental animal studies have limited application to veterinary or
to human Homeopathy. Veterinary studies minimize placebo effects and
confirm the efficacy of homeopathic treatments. Experiments in
laboratory animals help improving research design in Homeopathy. B/
Last, but not least, the human studies were considered. B.1) A second
G.I.R.I. working group was dedicated to clinical research, and
particularly considered the issues of individuality and complexity.
Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) gives first priority to "Therapeutic
Effects Testing" (TET), starting from the work of basic scientists in
laboratories up to clinical researchers doing Randomized Clinical
Trials (RCTs), and finally reviews or meta-analyses of several RCTs.
The achieved level of TET determines the level of EBM for a medicinal
product. "Clinical Use Testing" (CUT), starting with case reports,
epidemiological outcomes and cost-benefit studies, is only interesting
for public health authorities and patients but it is never sufficient
to reach EBM. No real bridge exists between these two approaches.
Evidence Based Homeopathy (EBH) starts and ends with the individualized
patient. It can be represented as the arch of Homeopathy: at one side
there is the examination of the patient, and at the other side the
therapeutic instrument. In order to understand the patient, we must
consider his totality in time and space to be able to understand his
basic vulnerability, latent or manifest. This totality must be
qualitatively modalized with chronological assessment to get the
Minimal Syndrome of Maximal Value. The therapeutic instrument can be
self-healing (no syndrome, no medication), or management of life-style
or nutrition in order to avoid obstacles to cure. A homeopathic remedy
can be considered after study of its physico-chemical characteristics,
its toxicology, its usual therapeutic use: this is the first step, the
hypothesis.
The second step is the probability by a first "proving" (blinded
protocol) on healthy volunteers; third is the confirmation by further
"provings"; fourth is the corroboration by physio-pathological study;
and last is the clinical verification in daily practice. For the
remedies we must have the same qualitative assessment as for the
patients. But the keystone of the whole homeopathic process, without
which the arch will crumble, is the Law of Similars. Research in
Homeopathy must be concentrated on qualitative "proving" on healthy
volunteers and clinical verification in daily practice. Therefore after
many years of studies, our first priority must be systematic clinical
files collection (CLIFICOL project). The Bayesian statistic, a
statistical approach (likelihood ratio), can help establishing a
scientific base for our symptoms? repertories. This approach was
presented by Dr Lex Rutten from The Netherlands. Can one get over the
gap that exists between EBM and EBH? B.2) Dr Harald Walach, University
of Freiburg, presented an overview of the already published papers.
Homeopathy is certainly popular (used by 90% of the population of
Glasgow, U.K., 70% of the population in Germany, 50% of the population
in France, 50% of the population in India etc.) and is historically
successful, both individually (by Fieldmarshall Radetzky, Paganini,
etc.) and generally (in cholera and other epidemics all over Europe).
Homeopathy remained effective in the face of adversaries and is growing
despite (or because of?) modern medical technology. Looking only at the
latest publications and using validated Quality of Life questionnaires
(between 2000 and 2004), 6915 patients presented clinically significant
improvement (approximately 70% of cases; more in children). Homeopathy
reduced costs and allowed a better improvement in work-days lost
compared with conventional practice. For specific diagnoses such as
bronchial asthma (89% improvement; even better after 2 years), cancer
patients in palliative care (improvement of quality of life, fatigue
and anxiety but not pain), hyperactive children (after 3 months, 75%
improvement versus 65% for conventional treatment), URTI (67.3%
improvement with Homeopathy, 56% with conventional treatment; side
effects 7.8% Homeopathy versus 22% conventional), Homeopathy is at
least as effective as conventional therapies, but costs are lower and
the safety of Homeopathy is greater.
On the other hand, an "efficacy paradox" can be acknowledged. Using the
hierarchy of evidence, for conventional medicine the RCT is of the
highest value ? the best rigour and internal validity ? but it has a
low applicability score, a low external validity and its conclusions
are generalized with great difficulty. On the contrary the
applicability of case series is great, showing a high external validity
and its conclusions generalized easily. RCT implicitly tests the
placebo hypothesis; the question is only: "Is the homeopathic therapy
different from placebo?" It presupposes a local-causal model of
homeopathy, that the physical presence and "information" of a remedy is
decisive (without considering the "receiver" health status), and that a
"true" effect would be detectable through replication. It is apparent
that discrepancies exist regarding Homeopathy in daily practice and the
RCT approach. Nevertheless RCTs have been performed and meta-analyses
of these studies have concluded that there is clear evidence of
efficacy in favour of homeopathic treatments that cannot be attributed
only to a placebo effect (Linde K, Clausius N, Ramirez G, Melchart D,
Eitel F, Hedges LV, Jonas WB. Lancet 1997; 350: 834-43 and Dean M.E.
Hans Walz Preisschrift, Essen:KVC Verlag, 2004.) For some specific
diagnoses, the same level of evidence has been reached: rheumatoid
arthritis (6 studies); childhood diarrhoea (3 studies); postoperative
ileus (8 studies); hayfever, asthma (4 studies). For migraine, results
of RCTs are disappointing. In children, using comparison groups,
significant results are obtained for recurrent infections,
postoperative agitation, adenoids, otitis media, and stomatitis in
patients with cancer (complication of the conventional treatment).
There are promising pilots studies on low back pain, premenstrual
syndrome and chronic fatigue.
The problems with RCTs are:
- they are difficult to replicate (true also for conventional
treatment: only 48% of all SSRI studies are significant);
- they are invasive and expensive, inducing lack of interest due to a
lack of funding;
- blinded RCTs answer only the placebo question;
- they make unwarranted presuppositions.
Conclusions: Clear
indications exist about clinical effectiveness of Homeopathy;
Homeopathy is effective in uncontrolled practice or versus comparison
groups; enough indications exist that "placebo" is an insufficient
explanation for the effects of Homeopathy. Homeopathy can be similar or
better in effectiveness than conventional treatment and, where it has
been studied, it is cheaper in the long run. Many interesting questions
not even asked should be prioritized, such as the potential of
Homeopathy to avoid invasive procedures in children and, in primary
care settings, the long-term effect of Homeopathy in preventing chronic
complications. B.3) Future projects were discussed. Surveys on
homeopathic practice have already been published. Dr Galen Ives
(Priority Research, Sheffield) made some recommendations for future
projects. Questionnaire design should be driven by requirements for
data analysis, and professional advice sought before starting, in
particular thinking carefully about measurement scales (subjective data
not expressed in numbers but crossing a box), and assuming all
respondents lack prior experience in such recording. The question of
timescales is a sensitive one therefore it would be better to include
only new patients. If the aim is to look at the daily practice, a large
demographic data is needed. The question about why the patients chosen
Homeopathy must be addressed. A comparison group is not a common
requirement in such studies. The aims of the study must be kept clearly
in mind.
Example: analysis of
effectiveness versus conventional medicine (CM); cost-effectiveness
versus CM. It would be recommended to use inclusion criteria (such as
state of health) and sub-groups (as example acute cases). The study of
patient?s satisfaction is not the same as looking at treatment
efficiency. Efficiency can best be checked through Quality of Life
studies, in this case at least 2 successive questionnaires are needed
with a greater risk of drop out. . Dr Kivellos Spiros (Athens)
introduced a severity scale that aims to embody the laws of classical
Homeopathy in clinical study protocols. He proposed a classification of
"level of health", starting on level 1 (healthy) down to level 12
(irreversible internal injuries). The homeopathic prognosis can be
estimated using such a scale and group classification has been
elaborated.
Conclusions from this colloquium:
- There is evidence that highly
dilute homeopathic dilutions have biological activity.
- The presence of a "footprint" of
the original substance can be detected in the high diluted homeopathic
preparations.
- Explaining the observed
phenomenon a new paradigm for medical sciences exists.
- Veterinary studies confirm the
clinical efficacy of Homeopathy.
- Human studies reveal clinically
significant improvement in 70% of patients (more in children); the
homeopathic effects cannot be attributed only to a placebo effect and
for some indications the efficacy of Homeopathy has reached a high
level of statistical significance.
- Future studies are needed that
investigate the preventive effects of Homeopathy in children and
chronic diseases.
Funding of research into Homeopathy
must be considered as vital. Finally, the participants wrote the
following press release: At the invitation of the European Committee
for Homeopathy, which represents 33 homeopathic doctors & associations
in 24 European countries, joining the XVIII symposium of GIRI, ten
internationally renowned university professors in the field of research
met in Brussels for a 3 day meeting starting on Friday November 12th
2004. The results of the research discussed by these university
professors are all in accord with one another - namely, that there is
clear evidence for the effectiveness of homeopathic medications.
For more proof/evidence, please
visit 'http://www.guna.it/eng/ricerca/indice.htm' & download
the 'book (in .pdf format)', "Homeopathy: The scientific proofs of
efficacy".
Please also see (again in .pdf format),
"http://www.feg.unesp.br/~ojs/index.php/ijhdr/article/view/286/354"
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