Large 6 year study of 6500 patients shows positive effects for homeopathy.

[Guest guest]

Homeopathic remedies that work for 70pc of patients

by Julie Wheldon

j.wheldon

 

Daily Mail 22/11/05

 

Homeopathic remedies do improve patients' health, researchers claim.

They found 70% of those given the medications to treat symptoms for conditions

such as asthma and eczema felt better as a result.

The researchers said the findings demonstrated the value of homeopathy to the

NHS and showed that it should be made more widely available.

However, in August a study in the respected medical journal The Lancet

suggested the benefits of homeopathic remedies were all in the imagination and

they had no more effect than dummy pills.

Homeopathy, which has won the backing of Prince Charles, is a branch of

complementary medicine.

Illnesses are treated using highly diluted forms of herbs and minerals that in

higher quantities could produce the symptoms that are being tackled.

It is estimated around 10% of the UK population use homeopathic remedies,

generating over the counter sales of £32 million a year.

The research, published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary

Medicine, looked at more than 6,500 individuals treated over six years at the

Bristol Homeopathic Hospital.

They had a range of conditions including asthma, eczema, irritable bowel

syndrome, arthritis, menopausal problems and depression.

All had been referred for treatment by the GP after conventional medication

had failed to fully control their symptoms.

The doctor recorded their condition at the first appointment and at each

follow up visit, patients were asked about any improvement or worsening of their

symptoms.

The study found that, overall, 70% noted some improvement in their condition

as a result of the homeopathic remedy they were given. Children particularly

appeared to benefit.

Among under 16s with asthma, 89% reported improvements and 75% felt 'better'

or 'much better'.

Study author Dr. David Spence of the Bristol Homeopathic Hospital and chairman

of the British Homeopathic Association, said: '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.'

Sally Penrose, chief executive of the British Homeopathic Association, added:

'This study gives a powerful and convincing picture of homeopathy in the real

world, which is what matters to patients. 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.'

A homeopath takes a detailed account of a patient's medical history, symptoms

and personality to create tailor-made pills for them.

The study did not identify specific remedies that volunteers were given for

their conditions.

However, those with asthma will often be prescribed complementary remedies

such as arsenicum album, carbo vegetabilis and chamomilla to help ease anxiety,

coughs and breathing problems.

The range of homeopathic substances given to those with eczema include

calendula, petroleum and antimonium crudum which all help ease skin problems.

Other researchers cast doubt on the latest findings.

They directly contradict the study in The Lancet which concluded that

homeopathic remedies are no better than the 'dummy pills' in clinical trials.

Professor Mathias Egger of the University of Berne, who worked on The Lancet

research, pointed out flaws in the latest study.

He said there was not a 'control group' for comparison and he questioned the

way researchers recorded health improvements.

'Patients were simply asked by their homeopathic doctor whether they felt

better and it is well known that in this situation many patients will come up

with the answer the doctor wants to hear,' he said.

The Lancet study said any benefits patients report are probably due to the

time and attention they receive from their homeopath.

Many will feel better just from the psychological effect of taking a pill,

regardless of its contents.

j.wheldon

_______

 

BBC reports on Bristol Study

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/bristol/somerset/4454856.stm

_______

 

 

http://www.homeopathy-ecch.org/

 

November

21/11/2005 Large 6 year study of 6500 patients shows positive effects for

homeopathy.

 

In one of the largest studies ever carried out over 70% of the 6500 patients

involved reported significant benefits from homeopathic treatment. The results

come from a 6 year study of 6500 consecutive patients seen in the outpatient

clinic of the Bristol Homeopathic Hospital in the UK, a UK National Health

Service Hospital . The study is reported in the international peer-reviewed

Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

Patients with a wide range of conditions such as eczema, asthma, migraine,

irritable bowel syndrome, menopause, arthritis, depression and chronic fatigue

syndrome were included in the study, all patients having been referred by their

General Practitioner or a hospital specialist after unsuccessful conventional

treatment.

While the debate continues over how homeopathy's remedies work patients continue

to receive benefit from them. Such a study as this is incontrovertible evidence

that something much more than just a placebo effect is going on with homeopathy

and that for patients its results that count.

 

Homeopathic Treatment for Chronic Disease: A 6-Year, University-Hospital

Outpatient Observational Study

David S. Spence, Elizabeth A. Thompson, S.J. Barron

Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine Oct 2005, Vol. 11, No. 5:

793-798.

Available online at

http://www.liebertonline.com/toc/acm/11/5

 

20/11/2005 Homeopathy Alive and Kicking!

 

Despite predictions of the 'end of homeopathy' by the Lancet's editor in

August, based on a highly questionable piece of statistical work, homeopathy is

continuing to show the resilience it has always had to prejudice. Evidence for

this comes in the latest edition of The Journal of Alternative and Complementary

Medicine (Volume 11, Number 5, 2005,) which its editor has chosen to dedicate

almost completely to homeopathy, partly to celebrate the 250th anniversary of

Samuel Hahnemann's birthday and partly as a repost to the Lancet's attack and

the refusal of its editor to publish a number of letters and articles.

 

The Editor of the Lancet has done the reputation of his journal huge damage in

descending to the level of what can only be described as tabloid journalism. He

has allowed his own personal prejudices to damage its academic and scientific

credibility. He has added further insult to that injury in refusing to publish a

number of reasoned letters of response and at least one article contained in

this issue in JACM.

 

Readers of this news item are invited to read the the latest issue of JACM

themselves and make their own minds up. The editorial is essential reading. The

publishers of have made the whole issue available free. It can be accessed at

http://www.liebertonline.com/toc/acm/11/5

 

 

16/11/05 European Homeopathic Medicines Harmonisation Badly Needed

 

As the European Heads of (Medicines) Agencies Homeopathic Medicinal Products

Working Group (HMPWG) meets in Brighton under the UK's EU Presidency on 16

November ECCH wishes to express its extreme concern over the way that some

individual Member States of the EU are separately implementing the revised

Pharmaceutical Directives in an haphazard and uncoordinated manner with regards

to homeopathic medicinal products.

 

ECCH is particularly concerned at the way officials in some Member States are

dealing with homeopathic nosodes. Nosodes are an essential category of remedy

that all homeopathic practitioners use in their treatment of chronic disease in

patients. They have been used for the past two hundred years with no evidence

whatsoever of any risk to patients yet in some countries medicines agencies have

introduced, or are planning to introduce, regulatory requirements that will

result in the eventual non-availability of them to practitioners. As with all

homeopathic medicinal products the standard potentisation process together with

Good Manufacturing Practice renders all homeopathic medicinal products safe for

human and animal treatment.

 

In the Spring of this year the HMPWG published a consultation document POINTS TO

CONSIDER ON SAFETY OF HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINAL PRODUCTS FOR HUMAN AND VETERINARY

USE FROM BIOLOGICAL ORIGIN to which ECCH and other interested parties responded.

We are sure that this document will be under consideration at the current

meeting of the HMPWG and we call on all EU Member States Medicines Agencies to

await the outcome of these deliberations which should facilitate the continued

availability of these essential medicines through reasonable legislation.

 

In response to the situation described above ECCH has revised its own pharmacy

report at its recent Council meeting in Athens and attaches it here for

reference. The report has been sent to all EU Medicines Agencies ahead of the

above-mentioned meeting in Brighton. A pdf copy can be obtained by sending an

email to: ecch

 

 

October

25/10/2005 Homeopathy on the Pakistan Quake Frontline

Following the devastating earthquake that has hit Pakistan a project has been

established there to offer free homeopathic treatment to victims. Coordinated by

Dr Tariq Khan the member for Pakistan of the World Homeopathic Awareness

Committee(WHAC), the project is established under the WHAC banner and aims to

provide free clinics in Islamabad, Muzaffarabad and Balakot. For infomation on

how a donation can be made to support this project, or how practical or material

help can be given to it please email Dr Tariq Khan in Pakistan at the following

email address: drtariqkhan2000

 

12/10/2005 Royal London Homeopathic Hospital Reopens

Europe's largest public hospital using homeopathy and other complementary

health care therapies was officially re-opened on 12 October 2005 by HRH The

Prince of Wales. The hospital, which has stood on the same site since 1840, has

undergone a £20M programme of refurbishment and is now set to play its full role

in the growing provision of CAM therapies in the UK National Health Service.

Part of the original hospital has been taken up by the neighbouring Great Ormond

Street Childrens' Hospital and this should encourage a program of integration of

both conventional and complementary health services that will enhance the health

care of each child.

 

In his speech the Prince of Wales acknowledged the important role that the

hospital has played up until now in developing the programme of an integrated

health agenda of which he has been such a long-term advocate and he looked

forward to an even greater contribution from the hospital in its newly

refurbished form. The opening event was attended by Dr Xiaorui Zhang,

Coordinator, Traditional Medicine, World Health Organization. The Hospital's

clinical director Dr Peter Fisher said that rather than the refurbishment being

a dream come true it has set the platform for a much bigger dream that he has to

come true in the future.

 

6/10/2005 Independent Report Recommends Serious Consideration of Greater

Integration of Homeopathy and 4 other CAM Therapies into UK Health Service: The

Smallwood Report

 

Thursday 6 October saw the publication of The Role of Complementary and

Alternative Medicine in the NHS , a report led by Christopher Smallwood, former

chief economic advisor to Barclays PLC. The report was commissioned by HRH The

Prince of Wales and investigates the contribution that complementary and

alternative medicines could potentially make to the delivery of healthcare in

the UK and focuses on the 'big five'; osteopathy; chiropractic; acupuncture;

homeopathy and herbal medicine. Rather than focusing just on the actual costs to

the NHS of introducing the services the report predicts that there could be

wider economic benefits of introducing the practices into mainstream NHS

healthcare delivery.

For more information on the Smallwood Report and a downloadable PDF of the

report go to:

The Smallwood Report

 

 

 

http://www.trusthomeopathy.org/case/res_outcomesurveys.html

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=1\

2046999 & dopt=Abstract

 

forwarded by

Zeus Information Service

Alternative Views on Health

www.zeusinfoservice.com

All information, data and material contained, presented or provided herein is

for general information purposes only and is not to be construed as reflecting

the knowledge or opinion of Zeus Information Service.

Subscribe Free/Un:

info

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Music Unlimited - Access over 1 million songs. Try it free.