Where Does Homeopathy Fit in Pharmacy Practice?

Abstract

Homeopathy has been the cause of much debate in the scientific literature with respect to the plausibility and efficacy of homeopathic preparations and practice. Nonetheless, many consumers, pharmacists, physicians, and other health care providers continue to use or practice homeopathic medicine and advocate its safety and efficacy. As drug experts, pharmacists are expected to be able to counsel their patients on how to safely and effectively use medications, which technically includes homeopathic products. Yet many pharmacists feel that the homeopathic system of medicine is based on unscientific theories that lack supporting evidence. Since consumers continue to use homeopathic products, it is necessary for pharmacists to have a basic knowledge of homeopathy and to be able to counsel patients about its general use, the current state of the evidence and its use in conjunction with other medications.

A comparative pilot study of the professional ethical thinking of Quebec pharmacy residents and French pharmacy interns

“…There were no significant differences between Quebec pharmacy residents and French pharmacy interns for 29 out of 43 items (67%). However, there were significant statistical differences between both groups for 14 statements (3,7,13,19,20,26,30,35,36,39,40,41,42, 43) out of 43 (33%) as reported in Table 2. The differences were related to the following themes: economic aspects (four statements), pharmaceutical care aspects, code of ethics aspects, evaluation aspects, clinical research aspects (two statements each) and training and education aspects, dispensing medications aspects (one statement each).…”

“…There is also higher popular support for homeopathic remedies in France than in Canada. Natural health products and homeopathic remedies illustrate a potential ethical conflict for pharmacists, as their accessibility can be determined either by third party payers that count on evidence-based literature or by patient self-determination and beliefs in so-called non-medical treatment [35,36]. Quebec residents showed stronger support for freedom of choice for patients and pharmacists based on their beliefs (e.g., ''Pharmacists must be allowed to refuse to give emergency oral contraceptives if this practice goes against their personal or religious values'' is supported by 28% of Quebec residents vs. 6% of French interns).…”

Homeopathic Treatments for Depression

“…When satisfactory studies were separated from the array of low-quality studies, the results were, to many people's surprise, positive and spoke to the greater effectiveness of homeopathy compared to placebo [7,8]. A similar meta-analytic review was conducted in 1997 by Linde and this time a conclusion had been reached that homeopathic treatment outcomes were not placebo effects; the authors acknowledged though that the quality of studies reviewed was dubious [8].…”

Informing the homeopathic practice for Turkish pharmacists: reviewing the example of Portuguese community pharmacies

“…Homeopathic training is important to put pharmacists in a better position to provide comprehensive and unbiased advice about therapy options and to safeguard patient health. 37 While educating and informing patients about medicines is a pivotal role, it seems to be important to have specialist pharmacists to reinforce professional identity in the use of all medicines, 38,39 even if homeopathic products do not give rise to great safety issues.…”