Homeopathy National Knowledge Week, 11-15 June 2007
Dr Bob Leckridge, Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital
There are a number of systematic reviews of the use of homeopathy in the treatment of allergic, ENT and respiratory conditions.1-7 Each review is of only a small number of individual trials, and within this small number there is considerable variation both in research methodology and in homeopathic treatment methodologies (classical, low potency, complex and isopathic prescribing). The field is also affected by conflicting results and lack of confirmatory studies.
Despite this background there have been trials strongly suggestive of benefit in allergic oculorhinitis treated with Galphimia Glauca showing statistically significant effects of remedy over placebo8, and for complex homeopathic medicines (containing several different homeopathic medicines) for sinusitis9 and rhinoconjunctivitis10 and otitis treated classically. There is also evidence that an homeopathic complex is equally effective as standard treatment for vertigo.7 Additonally, there is less strong evidence of benefit in the treatment of asthma and allergic disorders with classical homeopathy.3,6 The use of isopathic treatment (ie treatment of the same with the same, eg homeopathic dilutions of pollen for hayfever) of allergic disorders has been shown over a series of four RCTs to be statistically superior to placebo.11
The overall conclusion at this point must be that there is insufficient evidence to judge whether or not homeopathy is useful in the treatment of allergic, ENT and respiratory conditions, and that more RCTs and observational studies of the whole homeopathic "package of care" are required.
However, the evidence base so far includes clear evidence of superior effects of homeopathy over placebo in these conditions and of trends in favour of homeopathy over placebo. Finally, the real world study of the use of homeopathy “in the field” in the treatment of recurrent acute rhinopharyngitis12 shows that including homeopathy produces superior medical effectiveness, less complications of the disease, a reduced number of consultations, improved quality of life and reduction in amount of parental leave from work.
References
1. Bellavite P, Ortolani R, Pontarollo F, Piasere V, Benato G, Conforti A. Immunology and homeopathy. 4. Clinical studies-part 2. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: eCAM. 2006, 3(4):397-409. [Full text]
2. Bellavite P, Ortolani R, Pontarollo F, Piasere V, Benato G, Conforti A. Immunology and homeopathy. 4. Clinical studies-part 1. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: eCAM. 2006, 3(3):293-301. [Full text]
3. Bornhoft G, Wolf U, Ammon K, Righetti M, Maxion-Bergemann S, Baumgartner S, et al. Effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of homeopathy in general practice - summarized health technology assessment. Forschende Komplementärmedizin. 2006, 13 Suppl 2:19-29. [PubMed abstract]
4. Karkos PD, Leong SC, Arya AK, Papouliakos SM, Apostolidou MT, Issing WJ. 'Complementary ENT': a systematic review of commonly used supplements. Journal of Laryngology and Otology. 2006 Nov 24;1-4. [PubMed abstract]
5. McCarney RW, Linde K, Lasserson TJ. Homeopathy for chronic asthma. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews: Reviews 2004 Issue 1 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd Chichester, UK DOI : 10 1002 /14651858 CD000353 pub2 2004. [Full text]
6. Passalacqua G, Bousquet PJ, Carlsen KH, Kemp J, Lockey RF, Niggemann B, et al. ARIA update: I--Systematic review of complementary and alternative medicine for rhinitis and asthma. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2006, 117(5):1054-62. [PubMed abstract]
7. Schneider B, Klein P, Weiser M. Treatment of vertigo with a homeopathic complex remedy compared with usual treatments: a meta-analysis of clinical trials. Arzneimittel-Forschung. 2005, 55(1):23-9. [PubMed abstract] [ENT & Audiology Specialist Library]
8. Wiesenauer M, Gaus W. Double-blind trial comparing the effectiveness of the homeopathic preparation Galphimia potentiation D6, Galphimia dilution 10(-6) and placebo on pollinosis. Arzneimittel-Forschung. 1985;35(11):1745-7. [PubMed abstract]
9. Weiser M, Clasen BP. Controlled double-blind study of a homoeopathic sinusitis medication. Biol Ther. 1994, 13:4–11.
10. Sprenger F. The therapy of rhinitis. Biol Ther. 1989, 7:60–3.
11. Taylor MA, Reilly D, Llewellyn-Jones RH, McSharry C, Aitchison TC. Randomised controlled trial of homoeopathy versus placebo in perennial allergic rhinitis with overview of four trial series. BMJ. 2000 Aug 19-26;321(7259):471-6. Erratum in: BMJ 2000 Sep 23;321(7263):733. [Full text]
12. Trichard M, Chaufferin G, Nicoloyannis N. Pharmacoeconomic comparison between homeopathic and antibiotic treatment strategies in recurrent acute rhinopharyngitis in children. Homeopathy. 2005, 94(1):3-9. [PubMed abstract] [NHS EED structured abstract]
