Over 6,500 consecutive patients took part in the study, published in the latest issue of the international, peer-reviewed Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine¹. A wide range of chronic diseases were treated including eczema, asthma, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, menopause, arthritis, depression and chronic fatigue syndrome. The most marked improvements were seen in children – 89% of under 16s with asthma reported improvement and 75% felt ‘better’ or ‘much better’, as did 68% of eczema patients under 16.

Dr David Spence, Clinical Director and Consultant Physician at Bristol Homeopathic Hospital and Chairman of the British Homeopathic Association, a co-author of the study, says: “These results clearly demonstrate the value of homeopathy in the NHS. This is a very large number of patients with conditions that are difficult to treat successfully with conventional medicine. “One of the criticisms levelled at homeopathy is that it only works because of the length of the consultation. But in fact the appointment times at Bristol Homeopathic Hospital are very similar to those for other specialties at United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust such as rheumatology, neurology and respiratory medicine and are substantially less than for psychiatry.”

All the patients were referred by their GP or hospital specialist and many had tried conventional treatment first without success. Commenting on the study, the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Dr Kim Jobst said: “These are response rates with which any orthodox NHS medical health provider or pharmaceutical company would be justly pleased.”

The study, which is the largest consecutive homeopathic clinical series ever reported, echoes findings from Tunbridge Wells Homeopathic Hospital in 2000, where 74% of 1372 patients reported a positive result from homeopathic treatment, and similarly at Liverpool Department of Homeopathic Medicine in 2001, where 76% of 1100 patients reported an improvement of their condition.²

Sally Penrose, Chief Executive of the British Homeopathic Association and Faculty of Homeopathy said: “This study gives a powerful and convincing picture of homeopathy in the real world, which is what matters to patients, and is an important addition to the debate about the rightful place of homeopathy in the NHS. Modern medicine often has little to offer people with chronic diseases and, although homeopathy has been part of the NHS since 1948, there are still too many people being denied access to treatment that could help them. What we want to see is more patients being given the opportunity to benefit from homeopathy when appropriate.”

¹ Homeopathic Treatment for Chronic Disease: A 6-Year, University-Hospital Outpatient Observational Study. Dr D S Spence, Dr E A Thompson and S J Barron. J. Altern. Complement. Med. 2005; 11#5: 793-798 and www.liebertpub.com/acm

² Both papers published in British Homeopathic Journal

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Notes to editors

Homeopathy on the NHS

Homeopathy has been practised by doctors in the UK since the early 1840s and is the only complementary therapy to have been included in the NHS since its inception over 50 years ago. Bristol Homeopathic Hospital, like the other NHS homeopathic hospitals in London, Tunbridge Wells, Liverpool and Glasgow, is staffed by doctors who have trained and qualified in homeopathy.

The Faculty of Homeopathy

The Faculty of Homeopathy was incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1950 to provide education and training in homeopathy for statutorily regulated healthcare professionals. The Faculty’s membership includes doctors, vets, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, podiatrists and a number of other healthcare professionals who integrate homeopathy into their practice.

The British Homeopathic Association

The British Homeopathic Association (BHA) is a registered charity, which aims to ensure high-quality homeopathy is an integral part of general and specialist health care. The BHA works towards this goal by providing information to the public, promoting access to treatment and supporting the homeopathic education of health care professionals and research. A list of health care professionals qualified in homeopathy can be obtained by calling 0870 444 3950 or by visiting www.trusthomeopathy.org

Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

In addition to the observational study at Bristol Homeopathic Hospital, this issue of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine includes new clinical and basic science research papers as well as hypothesis and editorial material in a special issue dedicated to homeopathy. All articles are available free online from: www.liebertpub.com/acm

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For further information, case studies of patients treated at Bristol Homeopathic Hospital or to interview the report’s authors Dr David Spence or Dr Elizabeth Thompson, both members of the Faculty of Homeopathy, please contact:

· Sarah Buckingham, BHA and Faculty of Homeopathy, on 0870 444 3957 or (out of hours) 07986 429933 or email: sbuckingham@trusthomeopathy.org

· Elinor Adams, United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust (which runs Bristol Homeopathic Hospital) on 0117 928 3751 or pager 07699 732409 or email: elinor.adams@ubht.swest.nhs.uk

To interview Dr Kim Jobst, Editor of the Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine please contact: 07980 565252