Homeopathy for chronic asthma

Abstract

Characteristics of included studies [ordered by study ID] Methods Design: parallel group Allocation concealment: by numbered pharmacy Blinding: patients and evaluators Drop-outs/withdrawals: 7/10 in Blatta and placebo groups respectively Jadad score: 1-2-1 Study schedule: six months. Participants N = 69 (34 male, 35 female). Age range: 1-12 years. Diagnosis: Asthma (?). Inclusion criteria: "at least 3 bronchospastic episodes with intervals of 3 months or less, or continuous wheeze for at least 3 months". Setting: Homeopathic (?) outpatient clinic in Sao Paulo, Brasil. Interventions Blatta officinalis C6 or indistinguishable placebo, 2 globules 3 times per day for 6 months. Outcomes Frequency, duration and intensity of bronchospastic episodes and a score combining these 3 measures. Lung function or medication used does not seem to have been documented. Notes Characterization of the patient sample insufficient: is it really asthma? Risk of bias Bias Authors' judgement Support for judgement Allocation concealment? Low risk Pharmacy generated randomisation schedule Freitas 1995 Methods Design: parallel group Allocation concealment: central, independent pharmacy. Blinding: patients and evaluators Drop-outs/withdrawals: 21 in treatment 19 in control.

Advice issued by professional homeopathic associations: a survey of websites

“…Its authors concluded that 'there is not enough evidence to reliably assess the possible role of homeopathy in asthma'. 18 No data from controlled clinical trials seem to exist for eczema. 19 In the case of infections, a Cochrane review is available of homeopathic oscillococcinum for preventing and treating influenza and influenza-like syndromes.…”

Useful remedies

“…To make a convincing case, a large, unbiased systematic review is needed. The Cochrane Collaboration has already done this for several conditions, [6][7][8][9][10] but has yet to find compelling evidence of any benefit. Usually, few or no well-conducted trials exist.…”

A Systematic Review of Controlled Trials of Homeopathy in Bronchial Asthma

“…Isopathy, also popularly known as “homeopathic immunotherapy” (HIT), is the use of homeopathic dilutions from the causative agent of the disease itself (e.g., organisms or allergens), or from a product of the disease process, to treat the condition, strategically different from individualized homeopathic prescribing in the classic sense. However, a Cochrane systematic review [8] in the previous decade concluded that there was not enough evidence to reliably assess the possible role of homeopathy in asthma because of heterogeneity in the type of homeopathy and study designs; and until stronger evidence existed, no further recommendations could be made about homeopathic treatment. Since publication of this paper, no further systematic review has been undertaken in the concerned subject.…”