Research in Homeopathy, Clinical research in homeopathy with positive findings

Clinical research in homeopathy. Levels of research evidence

Clinical outcome surveys

Clinical research in homeopathy with positive findings

Scrutiny of the original research literature itself reveals a hierarchy of evidence supporting the effectiveness of homeopathic treatment for a wide variety of specific medical conditions. Table 2 shows the conditions for which there is favourable evidence for homeopathy in published research in humans, where comparison has been with placebo or with another medication, or where clinical outcomes have been recorded following homeopathy in routine practice. The available research can be classified in five categories:

Specific conditions where focused meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials (RCTs) concludes there is research evidence for treatment effects due to homeopathy.
Conditions for which there are at least two RCTs that show a positive effect of homeopathy.
Conditions where there are single RCTs that report therapeutic benefits of homeopathy.
Conditions for which positive effects of homeopathy have been observed in non-controlled clinical studies.
Conditions for which positive effects of homeopathy have been observed only in clinical outcome surveys at two or more of the UK's Homeopathic Hospitals.

This approach does not seek to mask the existence of 'inconclusive' trials (i.e. those that report no difference between homeopathy and any other treatment or placebo) or any 'negative' trials (homeopathy found to be less effective than placebo). We have published a comprehensive analysis of all the published clinical trials in homeopathy (including those that are inconclusive or negative) in the Faculty of Homeopathy's journal Homeopathy.¹⁰ Rather, the aim in this website is to highlight those medical conditions for which homeopathy has been objectively shown, in at least some research, to be an effective therapy. This approach to classification has some similarities to the one recently adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in a report on the research evidence base for acupuncture.¹¹

		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 Clinical research in homeopathy with positive findings Scrutiny of the original research literature itself reveals a hierarchy of evidence supporting the effectiveness of homeopathic treatment for a wide variety of specific medical conditions. Table 2 shows the conditions for which there is favourable evidence for homeopathy in published research in humans, where comparison has been with placebo or with another medication, or where clinical outcomes have been recorded following homeopathy in routine practice. The available research can be classified in five categories: Specific conditions where focused meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials (RCTs) concludes there is research evidence for treatment effects due to homeopathy. Conditions for which there are at least two RCTs that show a positive effect of homeopathy. Conditions where there are single RCTs that report therapeutic benefits of homeopathy. Conditions for which positive effects of homeopathy have been observed in non-controlled clinical studies. Conditions for which positive effects of homeopathy have been observed only in clinical outcome surveys at two or more of the UK's Homeopathic Hospitals. This approach does not seek to mask the existence of 'inconclusive' trials (i.e. those that report no difference between homeopathy and any other treatment or placebo) or any 'negative' trials (homeopathy found to be less effective than placebo). We have published a comprehensive analysis of all the published clinical trials in homeopathy (including those that are inconclusive or negative) in the Faculty of Homeopathy's journal Homeopathy.¹⁰ Rather, the aim in this website is to highlight those medical conditions for which homeopathy has been objectively shown, in at least some research, to be an effective therapy. This approach to classification has some similarities to the one recently adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in a report on the research evidence base for acupuncture.¹¹		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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