Issue 83
Homoeopathy- more useful than placebo
Homoeopathy is a method for treating illness, which stimulates
the body to heal itself by using very small doses of homoeopathic medicines,
and although the principle of homoeopathy has existed for centuries it is still
widely misunderstood and much scepticism exists about its effectiveness. However,
this may begin to change, as scientific studies are finally being carried out
and are producing some very promising findings, which may lead health practitioners
and consumers alike to sit up and take notice of homoeopathic remedies.
Controversy has always surrounded homoeopathy, with critics
suggesting that any positive effects reported after taking homoeopathic remedies
are purely psychological (due to a placebo effect), and that no real health
benefits can possibly be achieved when taking such dilute concentrations. A
recent study set out to discover whether homoeopathic remedies differed from
placebo substances.
Fifty Hay Fever
sufferers were recruited from the London area and the principal allergen in
each case was identified by using skin patch tests. The participants were
then randomly split into two groups; one group received a placebo treatment
for the duration of the study and the other group received the appropriate homoeopathic
remedy. The trial found clear and significant differences between the effects
of placebo and homoeopathy. Nasal airflow was measured and found to be much
better in the group taking homoeopathic remedies.
The rate of improvement was 21% in the homoeopathy group
compared with just 2% in the placebo group. The results from this study back
up the findings of three other trials conducted in the same manner. These results
also support the conclusions of a review carried out in 1997, which concluded
that 73% of existing data supported the fact that homoeopathy is more effective
than placebo.
British Medical Journal, 2000, 321; 471-476
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