Homeopathy and Conventional Medicine: An Outcomes Study Comparing Effectiveness in a Primary Care Setting

Abstract

Homeopathy appeared to be at least as effective as conventional medical care in the treatment of patients with the three conditions studied.

Adverse Drug Reactions for CAM and Conventional Drugs Detected in a Network of Physicians Certified to Prescribe CAM Drugs

“…Thus, the relatively low ADR frequency rate in our study, with its 5.5-year follow-up period, might not be surprising. However, the studies of Haidvogl et al (2007) and Riley et al (2001) 43,44 also showed a higher frequency in the CON group (7.6% and 22.3%, respectively) compared with the homeopathic group. In our study, the reason for the difference in frequency (0.13% for CON-associated ADRs) might be due to a global, multidisease focus of our participating physicians, diverting their attention from only 1 drug class.…”

“…In those studies, the rates of adverse effects in patients treated with homeopathy were 3.1% and 7.8%, respectively. 43,44 This result might be explained by findings of a systematic review by Thomsen et al (2007), 45 which found that studies with a short follow-up period had a higher ADR frequency than studies with a long follow-up. Thus, the relatively low ADR frequency rate in our study, with its 5.5-year follow-up period, might not be surprising.…”

Role of Homeopathy in Integrative Cancer Care

“…A meta-analysis indicated that the clinical effects of homeopathy are not purely due to the placebo effect [19]. Others have also reported specific non-placebo treatment effects [20][21][22][23]. Similar positive results were inferred from various RCTs and other studies on homeopathy [24,25].…”

“…Presence of the starting raw materials in nanoparticulate form has been unequivocally confirmed in very high dilutions such as >10 23 dilutions. Chikramane et al showed that once the bulk concentration is below a threshold level of a few ng/ml all of the nanoparticles levitate to the surface and are accommodated as a monolayer at the top where it is preserved and carried to the subsequent step, thereby forming an asymptotic concentration.…”

How Do Homeopaths Reason and Make Decisions? Integrating Theory, Practice, and Education

“…Authors, including some in the homeopathic field, 45 recognize that clinical reasoning processes are highly individualized and based on idiosyncratic knowledge as well as an empathic and therapeutic context between patient and clinician. These aspects of the therapeutic relationship, including patient enablement and relational empathy, have had some investigation [46][47][48][49] but not from the perspective of their impact on clinical reasoning processes. Homeopaths utilize a multitude of data through observation, physical examination, and complex practitioner-patient interaction, much of which could not possibly be conveyed in these cases.…”