Research in Homeopathy, Comments on homeopathy research

Clinical research in homeopathy. Levels of research evidence

Clinical outcome surveys

Comments on homeopathy research

It is important that new, high quality, studies in homeopathy are conducted - especially in the most promising medical conditions (Table 2). In particular, there is a need for new research to ask questions that are properly relevant to homeopathy and to adopt trial designs that are not restricted to the placebo-controlled model.

In research terms, it is not always appropriate to make a 'like for like' comparison between homeopathy and conventional medicine. Comparisons of homeopathic medicines with placebo are not always appropriate or wise. Homeopathy usually takes an individualised approach to treatment, and two patients with the same diagnosis can be treated with very different homeopathic medicines depending on the presentation of symptoms. This makes it conceptually difficult to fit classical homeopathy into placebo-controlled trial design. It might be much more relevant to compare individualised homeopathy with standard medical care for the condition under investigation. Or it may need a very large number of patients to produce interpretable results. Interestingly, most of the positive results obtained in placebo-controlled trials (Table 2) have been reported in studies of single or complex remedies. Also, since homeopathy treats the whole person, it is not always sensible to measure clinical outcome in terms of physical determinants of health - rather, it may be more appropriate to measure a person's 'quality of life'. Clinical trials in homeopathy have seldom reflected these points well. These and other key matters are developed in a comprehensive analysis that we published in 2003.¹⁰

		Clinical research in homeopathy. Levels of research evidence
		Comprehensive meta-analyses of clinical trials in homeopathy Clinical research in homeopathy with positive findings Selected randomised clinical trials of homeopathy Comments on homeopathy research Clinical outcome surveys Comments on homeopathy research It is important that new, high quality, studies in homeopathy are conducted - especially in the most promising medical conditions (Table 2). In particular, there is a need for new research to ask questions that are properly relevant to homeopathy and to adopt trial designs that are not restricted to the placebo-controlled model. In research terms, it is not always appropriate to make a 'like for like' comparison between homeopathy and conventional medicine. Comparisons of homeopathic medicines with placebo are not always appropriate or wise. Homeopathy usually takes an individualised approach to treatment, and two patients with the same diagnosis can be treated with very different homeopathic medicines depending on the presentation of symptoms. This makes it conceptually difficult to fit classical homeopathy into placebo-controlled trial design. It might be much more relevant to compare individualised homeopathy with standard medical care for the condition under investigation. Or it may need a very large number of patients to produce interpretable results. Interestingly, most of the positive results obtained in placebo-controlled trials (Table 2) have been reported in studies of single or complex remedies. Also, since homeopathy treats the whole person, it is not always sensible to measure clinical outcome in terms of physical determinants of health - rather, it may be more appropriate to measure a person's 'quality of life'. Clinical trials in homeopathy have seldom reflected these points well. These and other key matters are developed in a comprehensive analysis that we published in 2003.¹⁰		Table of contents Homeopathy: the great debate Clinical research in homeopathy Veterinary homeopathy Issues and controversies Mechanism of action Is homeopathy safe? Is homeopathy cost effective? BHA/Faculty’s research strategy References Research discussion forum C O N T A C T U S S I T E M A P H O M E
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