Positive Health Online

Abstract

RILEY and colleagues, University of New Mexico Medical School, Albuquerque, USA, dsriley@integrativemed.org, compared the effectiveness of homeopathy in primary care with conventional medicine in primary care for three commonly encountered clinical conditions .

Background

Recent meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials in homeopathy have suggested that the effects of homeopathy are more than a placebo response.

Methodology

This international, multicentre, prospective, observational study in a real-world medical setting involved 30 clinical investigators with medical licences at six clinical sites in four countries, and enrolled 500 consecutive patients with at least one of the following three complaints: 1) upper respiratory tract complaints including allergies; 2) lower respiratory tract complaints including allergies; or 3) ear complaints ; and compared the effectiveness of homeopathic treatment with conventional medicine. The primary outcomes criterion was the response to treatment, defined as 'cured or major improvement' after 14 days of treatment. Secondary outcomes criteria were: 1) rate of recovery; 2) occurrence of adverse events; 3) patient satisfaction; and 4) length of consultation.

Results

456 patient visits were compared: 281 received homeopathy and 175 received conventional medical treatment. 82.6% in the homeopathy group showed a positive response to treatment, compared with 68% in the conventional treatment group. Improvement in less than 1 day and in 1 to 3 days was recorded in 67.3% in the homeopathy group and in 56.6% in the conventional treatment group. Adverse events were reported in 7.8% of those in the homeopathy group compared with 22.3% in the conventional treatment group. 79.0% of patients in the homeopathy group were 'very satisfied' with treatment, compared with 65.1% in the conventional treatment group. In both treatment groups, 60% of patients had consultations lasting between 5 and 15 minutes.

Conclusion

Homeopathy appeared at least at effective as conventional medical treatment in the three commonly encountered conditions studied. In addition, the incidence of reported adverse events was lower in patients treated with homeopathy.

References

Riley D et al. Homeopathy and conventional medicine: an outcomes study comparing effectiveness in a primary care setting. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 7 (2): 149-59. Apr 2001.

Comment

The above research studies indicate that homeopathic treatments impart a real, significant clinical effect in a wide range of conditions, including chemotherapy-induced stomatitis, lactation pain, upper and lower respiratory complaints including allergies and ear complaints.