Evidence For Homeopathy: Scientific Research

If you’ve ever been told that there is no research into homeopathy, you may be surprised by the amount of published research that exists, and below I’ve highlighted a selection of interesting studies that have reported positive findings for homeopathic treatment.

A large international study across 8 countries involving more than 1,500 patients found that homeopathy was non-inferior to conventional treatment for ear infections and upper respiratory tract infections. Findings also showed that the onset of improvement within the first 7 days was significantly faster in the homeopathy group in both children and adults. A French study found that patients who chose to consult GPs certified in homeopathy used fewer antibiotics and antipyretic/anti-inflammatory drugs for upper respiratory tract infections than those seen by GPs prescribing conventional medications.

Several studies (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) have investigated homeopathic treatment for acute otitis media (middle ear infections) in children. These studies have reported findings including earlier symptom improvement, reduced use of antibiotics or other medications, and differences in recurrence or treatment outcomes compared with placebo or conventional care.

A controlled clinical trial of 256 patients reported lower frequency and severity of recurrent tonsillitis, as well as reduced antibiotic use, among patients receiving a specific homeopathic treatment alongside standard care compared with standard treatment alone.

This double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in The Lancet found that patients given potentised homeopathic preparations of allergens (e.g. grass pollen) experienced significant improvement in hay fever symptoms. This study of 430 patients reported improvements following an integrated homeopathic treatment approach, including reductions in allergic symptoms and conventional drug use and improvements in quality of life. Another study of 123 patients with a history of allergic rhinitis found that participants receiving the homeopathic preparation reported a substantial improvement of symptoms and a clear increase in quality of life. Smaller studies, such as this one and  this one report similar findings.

A 2005 German cohort study of more than 3,900 patients reported significant and lasting improvements in symptom severity and quality of life among patients receiving homeopathic treatment over two years, particularly for conditions such as headaches, skin complaints and respiratory issues  (read the study summary here). Another UK study conducted at the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital followed 6,500 patients with chronic conditions. Over 70% reported clinical improvement, including those with eczema, asthma, IBS, arthritis, and menopausal symptoms. Read the summary here.

A randomised controlled trial (RCT) published in Rheumatology found that patients with fibromyalgia who received individualised homeopathic treatment had significant improvements in tender point pain and overall health scores.

A meta-analysis of four clinical trials comparing the homeopathic medicinal product Vertigoheel with conventional treatments for vertigo reported comparable outcomes for the frequency, duration and intensity of vertigo episodes.

This study of 110 patients found that older individuals who consulted homeopathic GPs for mental health, anxiety, and depressive disorders reported less psychotropic drug use and were more likely to experience clinical improvement than those receiving conventional care.

Here in Australia, homeopathy is considered an alternative form of medicine, but in countries across the world, homeopathy is more widely accepted and at times used alongside conventional medicine. A health technology assessment commissioned as part of Switzerland's Complementary Medicine Evaluation Programme reviewed clinical and other evidence relating to homeopathy. The authors concluded that clinical evidence supported the effectiveness of homeopathy and that appropriately practised classical homeopathy had few adverse effects. Switzerland is one of a number of countries in which homeopathy is recognised within the public healthcare system. Read more about the Swiss health technology assessment here.

These studies provide examples of published clinical research that has reported positive outcomes associated with homeopathic treatment.

REFERENCES:

Bell IR, Lewis DA 2nd, Brooks AJ, Schwartz GE, Lewis SE, Walsh BT, Baldwin CM. Improved clinical status in fibromyalgia patients treated with individualized homeopathic remedies versus placebo. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2004 May;43(5):577-82. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keh111. Epub 2004 Jan 20. PMID: 14734789.

Bornhöft, G., & Matthiessen, P. (Eds.). (2011). Homeopathy in healthcare: effectiveness, appropriateness, safety, costs. Springer Science & Business Media.

Danno, K., Duru, G., & Vetel, J. M. (2018). Management of anxiety and depressive disorders in patients≥ 65 years of age by homeopath general practitioners versus conventional general practitioners, with overview of the EPI3-LASER study results. Homeopathy, 107(02), 081-089.

Ferreri, R., Bernardini, S., Pulcri, R., Cracolici, F., Rinaldi, M., & Porciani, C. (2016). Improved quality of life and reduction of conventional drugs in allergic patients treated with homeopathy. Homeopathy Research Institute, 1(31), 1-2.

Frei H, Thurneysen A. Homeopathy in acute otitis media in children: treatment effect or spontaneous resolution? Br Homeopath J. 2001 Oct;90(4):180-2. doi: 10.1054/homp.1999.0505. PMID: 11680801.

Friese KH, Kruse S, Ludtke R, Moeller H. The homoeopathic treatment of otitis media in children–comparisons with conventional therapy. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1997 Jul;35(7):296-301

Grimaldi-Bensouda L, Bégaud B, Rossignol M, et al. Management of upper respiratory tract infections by different medical practices, including homeopathy, and consumption of antibiotics in primary care: the EPI3 cohort study in France 2007-2008. Plos one. 2014 ;9(3):e89990. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0089990. PMID: 24646513; PMCID: PMC3960096.

Haidvogl, M., Riley, D.S., Heger, M. et al. Homeopathic and conventional treatment for acute respiratory and ear complaints: A comparative study on outcome in the primary care setting. BMC Complement Altern Med 7, 7 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-7-7

Jacobs J, Springer DA, Crothers D. Homeopathic treatment of acute otitis media in children: a preliminary randomized placebo-controlled trial. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2001 Feb;20(2):177-83.

Palm, J., Kishchuk, V. V., Ulied, A., Fernández, J. P., De Jaegere, S., Jong, M. C., ... & TocTo Research Group. (2017). Effectiveness of an add-on treatment with the homeopathic medication SilAtro-5-90 in recurrent tonsillitis: An international, pragmatic, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 28, 181-191.

Pandey V. Hay fever & homeopathy: a case series evaluation. Homeopathy. 2016 May;105(2):202-8. doi: 10.1016/j.homp.2016.01.002. Epub 2016 Feb 23. PMID: 27211328.

Rajalakshmi, M. A., & BHMS, M. PUBLICATION IN HOMEOPATHY FOR EVERYONE 17 NOVEMBER 2018.

Reilly DT, Taylor MA, McSharry C, Aitchison T. Is homoeopathy a placebo response? Controlled trial of homoeopathic potency, with pollen in hayfever as model. Lancet. 1986 Oct 18;2(8512):881-6. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(86)90410-1. PMID: 2876326.

Schneider et al. Treatment of vertigo with a homeopathic complex remedy compared with usual treatments – a meta-analysis of clinical trials. Arzneim.-Forschung, 2005; 55(1): 23-29 | PubMed

Sinha, M. N., Siddiqui, V. A., Nayak, C., Singh, V., Dixit, R., Dewan, D., & Mishra, A. (2012). Randomized controlled pilot study to compare Homeopathy and Conventional therapy in Acute Otitis Media. Homeopathy, 101(01), 5-12.

Thompson, E. A., Mathie, R. T., Baitson, E. S., Barron, S. J., Berkovitz, S. R., Brands, M., Fisher, P., Kirby, T. M., Leckridge, R. W., Mercer, S. W., Nielsen, H. J., Ratsey, D. H. K., Reilly, D., Roniger, H., & Whitmarsh, T. E. (2008). Towards standard setting for patient-reported outcomes in the NHS homeopathic hospitals. Homeopathy, 97(3), 114–121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.homp.2008.06.005

Taylor MA, Reilly D, Llewellyn-Jones RH, McSharry C, Aitchison TC. Randomised controlled trial of homoeopathy versus placebo in perennial allergic rhinitis with overview of four trial series. BMJ. 2000 Aug 19-26;321(7259):471-6. doi: 10.1136/bmj.321.7259.471. Erratum in: BMJ 2000 Sep 23;321(7263):733. PMID: 10948025; PMCID: PMC27460.

Trompetter I, Lebert J, Weiß G. Homeopathic complex remedy in the treatment of allergic rhinitis: results of a prospective, multicenter observational study. Forsch Komplementmed. 2015;22(1):18-23. doi: 10.1159/000375244. Epub 2015 Feb 9. PMID: 25824400.

Witt, C.M., Lüdtke, R., Baur, R. et al. Homeopathic medical practice: Long-term results of a cohort study with 3981 patients. BMC Public Health 5, 115 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-5-115