Research /References on the Validity of Homeopathy

There is sufficient evidence that the homeopathic medicine and holistic treatment, whether combined or alongside using conventional medicine, can reduce the frequency of recurrent infections, as shown in trials about acute otitis media or recurrent upper respiratory tract approached with homeopathy medicine.

  1. Trichard et al compared homeopathy to antibiotics in 499 children with recurrent nasopharyngitis in a prospective study over 6 months and found a reduction not only in the number of recurrent infections in the group which received homeopathy but also in a number of side effects
  2. A different pilot observational study evaluated the addition of homeopathy in recurrent upper respiratory tract infections in children below age 5 years N = 30 patients)
  3. Primary outcome measures were the number of URIs in the 6 months prior to interventional treatment vs number of URIs after the beginning of homeopathic care. The findings showed a significant benefit from homeopathy. Studies in adults with URIs report similar outcomes
  4. Another randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study, conducted by Chand KS et al5, demonstrated the superiority of homeopathy combined with antibiotics when compared to antibiotics plus placebo in multi drug resistant-tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients. There was an improvement in all the outcome measures as per intention to treat (ITT) and per protocol (PP) analyses. ITT analyses revealed larger weight gain, reduction in ESR and increase in hemoglobin in those given homeopathy + antibiotics. Furthermore, the cure rate was 11.4% more as compared to placebo group.
    Frass et al publicised a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study with parallel assignment, in the journal CHEST6 in 2005, where 25 patients who received additionally Kalium bichromicum 30CH were compared to an equally large group controlled with placebo. As it revealed, the amount of tracheal secretions was reduced significantly (p < 0.0001); extubation could be performed significantly earlier (p < 0.0001) and length of stay was significantly shorter in the homeopathic group.
  5. A randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study assessed the long-term outcome in 70 critically ill patients suffering from severe sepsis. 35 patients additionally received individualised homeopathic treatment, whereas 35 patients received placebo. On day 180, survival was statistically significantly higher with verum homeopathy (75.8% vs 50.0%, P 1⁄4 0.043), and furthermore no adverse effects were observed7.

References:

  1. Iris R. Bell, Nancy N. Boyer, Homeopathic Medications as Clinical Alternatives for symptomatic Care of Acute Otitis Media and Upper Respiratory Infections in Children. GAHMJ. Vol 2, Number 1, Jan 2013. 2013 Jan;2(1):32-43. doi: 10.7453/gahmj.2013.2.1.007 [PubMed: 24381823]
  2. Trichard M, Chaufferin, G., Nicoloyannis, N. Pharmacoeconomic comparison between homeopathic and antibiotic treatment strategies in recurrent acute rhinopharyngitis in children. Homeopathy. 2005;94(1):3-9.
  3. Ramchandani NM. Homoeopathic treatment of upper respiratory tract infections in children: evaluation of thirty case series. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2010;16(2):101-8.
  4. Schmiedel V, Klein P. A complex homeopathic preparation for the symptomatic treatment of upper respiratory infections associated with the common cold: An observational study. Explore (NY). 2006;2(2):109-14.
  5. Chand KS et al. Homeopathic treatment in addition to standard care in multi drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis: a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled clinical trial. Homeopathy. 2014 Apr;103(2):97-107. [PubMed: 24685414]
  6. Frass M, Dielacher C, Influence of potassium dichromate on tracheal secretions in critically ill patients. Chest. 2005 Mar;127(3):936-41. [PubMed: 15764779]
  7. Frass M, Linkesch M., Adjunctive homeopathic treatment in patients with severe sepsis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in an intensive care unit. 2005., Homeopathy. 2011 Jan-Apr;100(1-2):95-100. [PubMed: 21459302]
  8. Michalsen A, Uehleke B, Stange R. Safety and compliance of a complex homeopathic drug (Contramutan N Saft) in the treatment of acute respiratory tract infections: A large observational (non-interventional) study in children and adults focussing on homeopathy specific adverse reactions versus adverse drug reactions. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2015 Jul;72(2):179-84. [PubMed: 25882307]
  9. Jong MC, Ilyenko L, A Comparative Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial on the Effectiveness, Safety, and Tolerability of a Homeopathic Medicinal Product in Children with Sleep Disorders and Restlessness. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016;2016:9539030. [PubMed: 27242915]
  10. Jong MC, Buskin SL, Effectiveness, safety and tolerability of a complex homeopathic medicinal product in the prevention of recurrent acute upper respiratory tract infections in children: a multicenter, open, comparative, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Multidiscip Respir Med. 2016 May 16;11:19. [PubMed: 27186371]