Use Of Homeopathic Medicines Research Articles

Comparison of effectiveness of frequently and infrequently used homeopathic medicines

Patients treated with homeopathy may respond to infrequently used or even 'new' medicines. But does the introduction of an unlimited number of (new) medicines improve homeopathy? Do new medicines solve old problems? 1. Consensus meetings to evaluate best cases. 2. Patient outcome study in 10 Dutch practices. Good cases are scarce for many medicines, random variance is an important source of uncertainty. 50 Medicines are responsible for 72% of all successful prescriptions. There is no difference in effectiveness of frequently and less frequently used medicines. Confirmation bias is found for a few well-known symptom-medicine combinations. 'New' and infrequently medicines are as effective as 'old' frequently used medicines. Improving the use of frequently used medicines is more effective in improving results than seldom used medicines. Large numbers are required and old mistakes should be avoided developing new medicines. A research agenda for improving the use of homeopathic medicines is imperative.

An outbreak of cutaneous infection due to Mycobacterium abscessus associated to mesotherapy

Introduction In February 2009 an outbreak of subcutaneous abscesses due to Mycobacterium abscessus was detected in Spain which affected healthy women who had undergone mesotherapy procedures in an aesthetic clinic. Methods Epidemiological research, health inspection and microbiological studies were conducted. The patients were given antibiotic treatment (according to susceptibility testing) with clarithromycin, and in some cases, combined with amikacin. Results Seventeen out of 77 patients treated in the clinic were affected. The products used for the injections were homeopathic drugs in multi-dose vials. The environmental samples were negative. The sterile injection equipment and the clinical procedures were evaluated as correct. The storage conditions for the drugs were also correct, and all the samples tested negative for Mycobacteria. However Paenibacillus provencensis was isolated from samples of unused multi-dose vials and the withdrawal of the product from distribution was ordered. Deficiencies were detected in the sterile products process of at the homeopathic drug factory, so the production line was suspended. Conclusions The results of environmental investigation suggest the most likely cause of the outbreak could have been the contamination of the products in the factory, although there was no laboratory confirmation. The widespread use of homeopathic products in invasive procedures requires extreme control during the manufacturing, handling and packaging process. It is important to consider mesotherapy and parenteral use of homeopathic medicines as potential sources of infection and therefore the same precautions in the procedures and quality assurance of products should be applied as with any other drug or medical activity.

A multicentre observational study to ascertain the role of homoeopathic therapy in Urolithiasis

Study was aimed to ascertain the role of homoeopathic medicines in Urolithiasis. A prospective, multicentre observational study was conducted by Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) from October 2005 to January 2010 to find the usefulness of homoeopathic medicines in cases of Urolithiasis. 901 cases were screened, out of which 311 cases were enrolled and 220 cases were analyzed in this study. The symptoms pertaining to urolithiasis were assessed before and after treatment. Pain, Dysuria and Haematuria were graded from 0-3 as per severity of complaints. Calculi were graded as per Number, Size and Position of calculi. The difference between the scores was assessed by using ′Wilcoxon sign rank test′ in SPSS software (ver. 16). Out of 220 cases, there was expulsion of calculi in 106 cases (single calculus in 76 cases, multiple calculi in 30 cases) and in 114 cases, calculi remained but the symptom score reduced, indicating improvement in the case. The symptom score at baseline and after treatment was analysed and found statistically significant (P<0.005). The medicines found most useful were Lycopodium clavatum in 40.9% (n=90) cases; Sulphur in 12.3% (n=27) cases; Pulsatilla nigricans in 8.2% (n=18) cases; Nux vomica in 6.2% (n=14) cases and Cantharis vesicatoria in 5.9% (n=13) cases. Treatment with homoeopathic medicines showed positive response in dissolution/expulsion of calculi. Further validation of these results is needed by conducting randomized clinical trial.

Evidence based clinical study on the effect of homoeopathic medicines in cases of ovarian cysts

Background and Objectives: Patients with persistent ovarian cyst for more than 6 months which do not respond to hormone therapy usually, require surgical treatment. Surgery should be avoided as much as possible in unmarried and childless women where future reproductive functions are of prime concern. There are a few claims by homoeopathic physicians to have treated cases of ovarian cysts with homoeopathic medicines. Such claims, however, have neither been scientifically documented nor published. To give scientific support to such sporadic claims, a clinical study was carried out to evaluate the usefulness of homoeopathic medicines for treatment of patients suffering from ovarian cyst. Methods: A total of 73 patients suffering from ovarian cysts were enrolled, as per inclusion criteria out of which 48 completed the study according to protocol. Medicines selected on the basis of principles of homoeopathy were prescribed and changes in the size of ovarian cysts were assessed at the end of 1 year on the basis of pre and post treatment ultrasonography reports and hormonal tests. Results: After comparing pre and post treatment ultrasonography reports, the difference in mean values of maximum dimension of ovarian cyst was found to be statistically significant (p value < 0.05). Cyst was totally resolved in 8 (16.67%) patients, 10 (20.83%) patients had reduction in the size of the cysts, 21 (43.75%) patients remained status quo while 9 (18.75%) did not improve. Natrum muriaticum (n=7), Pulsatilla (n= 3), Sepia (n=3) and Calcarea carbonicum (n= 2) were found to be most useful homoeopathic medicines. Conclusion: The preliminary results obtained from this observational study are encouraging. The study indicates the positive role of Homoeopathic therapy in the management of ovarian cysts. Such study with bigger sample size through randomized controlled trial is needed for further validation.

Evidence based clinical study to assess the usefulness of homoeopathic medicines in patients of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Conclusion: Results obtained from the study are encouraging with findings that 93.0% of patients improved clinically with an evidence of positive changes in diagnostic parameters. However, such study with randomized control trial is needed to further validate the usefulness of the homoeopathic medicines.

L’homéopathie, une chance pour les symptômes inexpliqués et les patients heartsink

For practitioners exasperated by exasperating, even despairing, patients presenting unexplained symptoms (heartsink) and in view of allopathic medicine's failure to deal with sometimes simple clinical cases, the author suggests the use of homeopathic medicine for healing. Although the formation of Balint groups helps the practitioner to gain some distance from the patient and prevents him from becoming exasperated, the search for the similimum channels the homeopathic doctor, who is certain of finding a medical response. The work of Ferenczi, a student of Freud and the master of Balint, helps to increase this certainty.

Immunology and Homeopathy. 3. Experimental Studies on Animal Models

A search of the literature and the experiments carried out by the authors of this review show that there are a number of animal models where the effect of homeopathic dilutions or the principles of homeopathic medicine have been tested. The results relate to the immunostimulation by ultralow doses of antigens, the immunological models of the ‘simile’, the regulation of acute or chronic inflammatory processes and the use of homeopathic medicines in farming. The models utilized by different research groups are extremely etherogeneous and differ as the test medicines, the dilutions and the outcomes are concerned. Some experimental lines, particularly those utilizing mice models of immunomodulation and anti-inflammatory effects of homeopathic complex formulations, give support to a real effect of homeopathic high dilutions in animals, but often these data are of preliminary nature and have not been independently replicated. The evidence emerging from animal models is supporting the traditional ‘simile’ rule, according to which ultralow doses of compounds, that in high doses are pathogenic, may have paradoxically a protective or curative effect. Despite a few encouraging observational studies, the effectiveness of the homeopathic prevention or therapy of infections in veterinary medicine is not sufficiently supported by randomized and controlled trials.

Harm in homeopathy: Aggravations, adverse drug events or medication errors?

Background The assessment of harm arising from the use of homeopathic medicine is much discussed, but there is little published data on the subject. Aim To study prospectively adverse drug events related to homeopathic medicines. Setting The data were gathered between 1 June 2003 and 30 June 2004 during follow-up visits consecutively carried out at the Homeopathic Clinic, Campo di Marte Hospital, Azienda USL 2, Lucca (Italy). They refer to effects following the administration of a homeopathic medicine, prescribed according to the classical homeopathic method. Methods Reports collected by a homeopathic doctor (not the prescribing doctor) on the nature and intensity of the effect, dose and frequency of administration, time relationship between the drug use and the adverse events, challenge, unchallange possible concomitant factors, causality (improbable, unlikely, possible, probable, certain). Results Out of 335 homeopathic consecutive follow-up visits between 1 June 2003 and 30 June 2004, nine adverse reactions were reported (2.68%) including one case of allergy to lactose, excipient of the granules. Conclusions Adverse events to homeopathic drugs exist and are distinguishable from homeopathic aggravations, but are rare and not severe.

Use of homeopathic medicine in acute tympanites in a Blue Bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus)

Use of homeopathic medicine in acute tympanites in a Blue Bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus)

Homeopathic medicine in the city of Oaxaca, Mexico: patients' perspectives and observations.

This article looks at the growth and use of homeopathic medicine in the city of Oaxaca, Mexico. Based on interviews with 174 male and female patients from half of the homeopathic clinics in the city, this research examined attitudes toward disease causation and how one stays healthy. Findings suggest that women are better at monitoring and trying to improve their health than are their male counterparts. Although homeopathy enjoys a strong and almost devoted following, women seem to be more convinced of the overall efficacy of homeopathic medicine than do men.