A systematic review of the quality of homeopathic pathogenetic trials published from 1945 to 1995

Dantas, Flávio; Fisher, Peter; Walach, Harald; Wieland, F; Rastogi, D.P.; Teixeira, Hélio; Koster, Dick; Jansen, Jean Pierre; Eizayaga, José; Alvarez, Maria Eugenia Pulido; Marim, M.; Belon, Philippe; Weckx, Luc Louis Maurice

doi:10.1016/j.homp.2006.11.005

Cited by 68 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Methodological Quality Index (MQI) [4] is based on key components of methodological quality including internal and external validity items. It includes aspects, such as randomization, inclusion and exclusion criteria, blinding, and criteria for selection of pathogenetic effects, with values ranging from 1 to 4 for each component, giving a range from 4 to 16.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The pathogenetic effect is defined as any change in clinical events and laboratory findings during a HPT and is recorded in the final report [4]. The overall incidence of pathogenetic effects and the incidence of pathogenetic effects per volunteer were calculated as follows:…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to the law of similars [3] introduced by Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, he recommends to ‘choose a medicine which can itself produce affection similar to that sought to be cured'. As per method, in a homeopathic pathogenetic trial (HPT) [4,5] the effects of potentized homeopathic preparation on healthy human volunteers are studied and carefully recorded under placebo-controlled, randomized double-blind conditions. Finally, these findings are compared with and prescribed for the set of symptoms in diseased individuals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of Orally Administered Potentized Capsaicin and Dihydrocapsaicin in Humans: A Homeopathic Pathogenetic Trial

Shah

2014

Complement Med Res

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Background: A homeopathic pathogenetic trial is a procedure to examine the disease-producing effect of any substance on humans. Capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin are known as pain-producing agents. According to the homeopathic law of similars, any substance having the capacity to produce certain symptoms should also be able to treat them in return, when administered in small (potentized) dose. Methods: In a doubleblind, randomized placebo-controlled homeopathic pathogenetic trial with 22 volunteers, 15 received a combination of capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin as a single remedy in 30c potency, while 7 received placebo. The volunteers' symptoms during 5 weeks were carefully noted as per protocol. The participants signed an informed consent, the study was approved by the ethics committee, and laboratory investigations were documented and safety measures adopted. Results: A preparation of orally administered ultra-high diluted capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin unveiled qualitatively and quantitatively distinct symptoms, comparable with effects of the crude substance. Compared to placebo, the homeopathic preparation produced significant symptoms in healthy human volunteers. These findings can subsequently be used therapeutically. Conclusion: The administration of potentized capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin combination produced symptoms of pain (and others) in healthy volunteers. This preparation can be applied therapeutically following a basic homeopathic principle. Further research to confirm the assumptions is warranted.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of Orally Administered Potentized Capsaicin and Dihydrocapsaicin in Humans: A Homeopathic Pathogenetic Trial

Shah

2014

Complement Med Res

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“…Reviews indicate that the vast majority of PTs are largely inadequate from a methodological point of view. 76, § However, it should be noted that, for homeopathy to work as a therapeutic system, usual methodological principles, such as blinding or quantitative analysis, are considered to be less relevant because the circular epistemology is said to correct for bias. Modern PTs that serve more of an apologetic and scrutinizing purpose are only partially useful from a homeopathic clinical point of view.…”

Section: Pathogenetic Trialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research on Homeopathy: State of the Art

Walach

Jonas²,

Ives³

et al. 2005

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

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In this paper, we review research on homeopathy from four perspectives, focusing on reviews and some landmark studies. These perspectives are laboratory studies, clinical trials, observational studies, and theoretical work. In laboratory models, numerous effects and anomalies have been reported. However, no single model has been sufficiently widely replicated. Instead, researchers have focused on ever-new models and experiments, leaving the picture of scattered anomalies without coherence. Basic research, trying to elucidate a purported difference between homeopathic remedies and control solutions has also produced some encouraging results, but again, series of independent replications are missing. While there are nearly 200 reports on clinical trials, few series have been conducted for single conditions. Some of these series document clinically useful effects and differences against placebo and some series do not. Observational research into uncontrolled homeopathic practice documents consistently strong therapeutic effects and sustained satisfaction in patients. We suggest that this scattered picture has to do with the fourth line of research: lack of a good theory. Some of the extant theoretical models are reviewed, including placebo, water structure, silica contamination, energy models, and entanglement models. It emerges that local models, suggesting some change in structure in the solvent, are far from convincing. The nonlocal models proposed would predict that it is impossible to nail down homeopathic effects with direct experimental testing and this places homeopathy in a scientific dilemma. We close with some suggestions for potentially fruitful research.

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“…A systematic review of 156 HDPs conducted between 1945 and 1995 [5] found a low methodological quality of HDPs, and concluded that many symptoms collected during a HDP could be attributable to design flaws instead of the HMP. Improvement of HDP methodology and reporting were recommended to improve assessment of causal relations between the HDP procedure and the symptoms collected.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Minimum Protocol for Randomised Homeopathic Drug Proving as Basis for Further Research

et al. 2014

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Background: In order to further improve the methodology and quality of data collection in homeopathic drug provings (HDP), there is a need for a minimum standardised HDP protocol. The objective of the present study was to test the feasibility of this type of protocol. Materials and Methods: The study protocol embraced a multi-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 2 parallel groups. It was approved by an ethics review committee. During the pre-approval phase, discordances between the regulatory and homeopathic requirements for the protocol were checked and solutions found. The study medication was Potentilla anserina. 6 participants received verum and 4 placebo. The resulting symptom list will be published elsewhere. The procedure was accepted by all participants. Results: Three important issues were addressed: the requirement to keep all participants blinded; the adverse events reporting to regulatory authorities; and the necessity of a placebo control group. Other issues that need further investigations were identified, e.g. sample size, observation period and dosage regimen. Conclusions: A minimum protocol of a HDP is feasible. All important design elements of HDP could be solved in discussions with the respective regulatory authorities, and participating homeopaths accepted the procedure.

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A systematic review of the quality of homeopathic pathogenetic trials published from 1945 to 1995

Abstract: References to all included RCTs are available on-line at.

Cited by 68 publications

References 28 publications

Effect of Orally Administered Potentized Capsaicin and Dihydrocapsaicin in Humans: A Homeopathic Pathogenetic Trial

Effect of Orally Administered Potentized Capsaicin and Dihydrocapsaicin in Humans: A Homeopathic Pathogenetic Trial

Research on Homeopathy: State of the Art

A Minimum Protocol for Randomised Homeopathic Drug Proving as Basis for Further Research

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