Lancet Publishes Major Review of Research on the Efficacy of Homeopathic Medicine

[Guest guest]

Lancet Publishes Major Review of Research

on Homeopathic Medicine

 

The Lancet published the most significant and comprehensive review of

homeopathic research ever published in its September 20, 1997 issue. This

article was a meta-analysis of 89 blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled

clinical trials. The authors conclude that the clinical effects of homeopathic

medicines are not simply the results of placebo.

 

The researchers uncovered 186 studies, 119 of which were double-blind and/or

randomized placebo-control trials, and 89 of which met pre-defined criteria for

inclusion into a pooled meta-analysis. The researchers found that by pooling the

89 trials together that homeopathic medicines had a 2.45 times greater effect

than placebo.

 

The Lancet concurrently published two critiques of the homeopathic research. One

critique by Jan Vanderbroucke, MD, a Dutch professor, acknowledged, " The

meta-analysis is completely state of the art. " And yet, despite its results, he

asserts that homeopathic medicines " cannot possibly produce any effect. "

 

Because homeopathic medicines are often so small in dose that physicians and

scientists commonly assert that they cannot work, an increasing number of

controlled trials and an ever increasing public interest in homeopathy is

proving them wrong.

 

The authors of the research include Klaus Linde, MD, German professor and author

of the famed review of research on the herb, St. Johns wort, for depression, and

Wayne Jonas, MD, head of the NIH Office of Alternative Medicine.

 

Dana Ullman, MPH, a leading spokesperson for homeopathy and author of numerous

books, including The Consumer's Guide to Homeopathy, stated, " This research

places homeopathy squarely in the arena of legitimate medical science.

Homeopathy is effective, but we now need to know simply how effective it is. "

 

Ever since homeopathy's introduction in America in 1825, it has been derided by

skeptics who assumed that the medicines were simply placebos. Homeopathy and

homeopaths were attacked even though homeopathy became popular in the 19th

century in the US and Europe, primarily as the result of the significant effects

the medicines seemed to have in treating the various infectious disease

epidemics that raged during that time, including cholera, scarlet fever, yellow

fever, and typhoid.

 

Dana Ullman, MPH, asserts, " It is unlikely that a placebo would be effective in

treating these often fatal infectious diseases. Skeptics of homeopathy have

commonly sought various ways to deny the facts of history and to ignore the

evidence from controlled clinical trials. Despite the attacks against

homeopathy, it has not only persisted but grown, especially in Europe where it

is presently the leading alternative therapy. Whether one points to the 200

years of clinical experience or new scientific data, conventional physicians and

scientists will have to learn to accept homeopathy as a legitimate medical

system. "

 

Ullman readily admits, " Even though we may not know precisely how homeopathic

medicines work, this has never stopped physicians from using medicines or

treatments that have been shown to be effective. "

 

A new survey of primary care physicians who are members of the AMA revealed that

an astonishing 49% of them expressed interest in training in homeopathy (British

Homeopathic Journal, July, 1997). This survey was conducted by researchers at

the University of Maryland. They had earlier surveyed Maryland family practice

doctors and discovered that 69% expressed interest in homeopathic training

(Journal of the American Board of Family Practice, 1995, 8, 361-6).

 

A major reference book on homeopathic research is Homeopathy: A Frontier in

Medical Science (North Atlantic, 1995) authored by a professor of pathology, P.

Bellavite, MD, and A. Signorini, MD.

 

 

 

Correspondence:

Homeopathic Educational Services

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Berkeley, California 94704

 

 

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Web site: http://www.homeopathic.com

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