AIH Guide to Homeopathic Research

HOMEOPATHIC RESEARCH

Scientific Framework Homeopathy 2015, a joint publication of the Liga Medicorum Homeopathica Internationalis (LMHI) and the European Committee for Homeopathy. The aim of this document is to consider all important aspects of the scientific framework of homeopathic practice including the level of scientific evidence, ethical questions, and evaluation of daily practice.

BASIC SCIENCE RESEARCH

Measurable Physical Effects of Homeopathic Medicines

The acceptance of homeopathy as a system of medicine has been hindered by the assumption that homeopathic medicines cannot possibly have any effect because of their ultra-high dilutions. Using state-of-the-art research techniques, the basic science research studies in this section demonstrate that homeopathic medicines contain measurable properties. The final article by Iris Bell, MD, PhD, summarizes the latest scientific research and provides a contemporary understanding of the nature of homeopathic medicines.

Chikramane PS, Suresh AK, Bellare JR, and Kane SG. Extreme homeopathic dilutions retain starting materials: A nanoparticulate perspective. Homeopathy 2010;99:231-242.
Elia V, Napoli E, and Germano R. The ‘Memory of Water’: an almost deciphered enigma. Dissipative structures in extremely dilute aqueous solutions. Homeopathy 2007:96:163–169.
Rao ML, Roy R, Bell I. Characterization of the structure of ultra dilute sols with remarkable biological properties. Materials Letters 2008;62:1487–1490.
Rao ML, Roy R, Bell IR, Hoover R. The defining role of structure (including epitaxy) in the plausibility of homeopathy. Homeopathy 2007;96(3):175-82.
Rey L. Thermoluminescence of ultra-high dilutions of lithium chloride and sodium chloride. Physica A 2003;323:67-74.
Bell, IR. Homeopathy as systemic adaptational nanomedicine: The nanoparticle-cross-adaptation-sensitization model. American Journal of Homeopathic Medicine 2012;105(3):116-130.

Measurable Biological Effects of Homeopathic Medicines

The demonstration of measurable physical properties of homeopathic medicines does not imply that homeopathic medicines can have biological activity. The following studies substantiate our claims that homeopathic medicines do have biological effects.

Banerjee P. Comparative efficacy of two dilutions of Arsenicum album to ameliorate toxicity by repeated sublethal injections of arsenious trioxide in mice. Pathobiology 2008;75:156.

Belon P, Cumps J, Ennis M, Mannaioni PF, Roberfroid M, Sainte-Laudy J, Wiegant FAC. Histamine dilutions modulate basophil activation. Inflamm Res 2004;53:181–188.
Brack A., et al. Effect of ultra-high dilutions of 3,5-dichlorophenol on luminescence of the bacterium Vibrio fischeri. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1621:253-260.
Davenas E., et al., Effect on mouse peritoneal macrophages of orally-administered, very high dilutions of Silica. European Journal of Pharmacology;135:313-319.
Doutremepuich C., et al. Aspirin at ultra-low dosage in healthy volunteers: effects on bleeding time, platelet aggregation, and coagulation. Hemostasis 20;99-105.

RESPONSES TO CRITICS

Debates with Critics of Homepathic Medicine

Despite the many significant findings in homeopathic research, critics of homeopathic medicine continue to assert that homeopathic medicines do not have measurable physical effects, cannot have biological effects, and cannot be clinically effective. The following are transcripts of debates between Canadian homeopathic physician Andre Saine, ND, and two critics.

A Saine vs J Schwarcz. Homeopathy: Mere Placebo or Great Medicine? McGill University, November 27, 2012.
A Saine vs S Novella. Homeopathy: Great Medicine or Dangerous Pseudoscience? University of Connecticut Medical Center. March 22, 2013.

Responses to our Critics

In defense of homeopatic medicine at a Joint American Homeopathic Conference, Dr. Fisher presented a review of the scientific literature, indicating that homeopathic treatment is effective.

Although homeopathic medicine has been attacked by the mainstream medical system since its beginning more than 200 years ago, a critic recently argued that it is unethical for anyone to practice homepathic medicine and he urged that no government funds be allocated for homeopathic research. In his response to this article, Dr. Richard Moskowitz presented a humanistic argument based on his personal experiences as a homeopathic physician.

In response to a critique by Dr. E. Ernst, Dr. Irene Sebastian demonstrated the biased and misleading nature of his interpretation of one scientific study.

Fisher P. Scientific research on homeopathic medicine . Presentation (transcribed and edited by B. Merizalde), 2006 Joint American Homeopatic Conference.
Moskowitz R. For homeopathy: A practicing physician's perspective. American Journal of Homeopathic Medicine 2011;104(3):125-130.
Sebastian I. A critique of Ernst's critique and request for replication of an Arnica study. American Journal of Homeopathic Medicine 2012;105(4):150-152.

Those of us within the homeopathic medicine community often hear the criticism that there is no research in support of homeopathic medicine. There are in fact thousands of homeopathic research studies. The following studies have been selected to demonstrate the different types of homeopathic research and some of the important research findings in support of homeopathic medicine.

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Methodological Issues for Homeopathic Clinical Research

Homeopathic research, and the criticisms of homeopathic research, cannot be understood if the philosophical assumptions of homeopathic medicine are not understood. These philosophical assumptions necessitate a different set of criteria for assessing the validity of homeopathic research. In the following article, the authors recommend a method for assessing the model validity of homeopathic RCTs that is consistent with the basic tenets of homeopathic medicine.

Mathie RT, Roniger H, Van Wassenhoven M, Frye J, Jacobs J, Oberbaum M, Bordet MF, Nayak C, Chaufferin G, Ives JA, Dantas F, Fisher P. Method for appraising model validity of randomised controlled trials of homeopathic treatment: multi-rater concordance study. BMC Med Res Methodol 2012;12:49.

RCTs using Individualized Homeopathic Medicines

Homeopathic medicines treat persons, not diseases -- that is, the prescription for an individual with a disease is based on the expression of the disease in that particular person, rather than on the disease diagnosis per se. Thus, not every person in an RCT will receive the same homeopathic medicine. This principle of homeopathic medicine increases the complexity of any RCT on the efficacy of homeopathic medicines. The following studies were designed with respect for homeopathic principles and yielded statistically significant positive results.

Chapman EH, Weintraub RJ, Milburn MA, Pirozzi TO, Woo E. Homeopathic Treatment of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. J Head Trauma Rehabil 1999;14(6):521–542.
Bell IR, Lewis II DA, Brooks AJ, Schwartz GE, Lewis SE, Walsh BT, and Baldwin CM. Improved clinical status in fibromyalgia patients treated with individualized homeopathic remedies versus placebo. Rheumatology 2004;43:577–582.
Jacobs J, Jonas WB, Jiménez-Pérez M, Crothers D. Homeopathy for childhood diarrhea: combined results and metaanalysis from three randomized, controlled clinical trials.
Pediatr Infect Dis J 2003;22(3):229-34.

RCTs using Non-Individualized Homeopathic Medicines

Frass M, Dielacher C, Linkesch M, Endler C, Muchitsch I, Schuster E, Kaye A. Influence of potassium dichromate on tracheal secretions in critically ill patients. Chest 2005;127;936-941.

Longitudinal Research

Witt CM, Lüdtke R, Baur R and Willich SN. Homeopathic medical practice: Long-term results of a cohort study with 3981 patients. BMC Public Health 2005;5:115-122. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-5-115
Witt CM, Lüdtke R, Mengler N, and Willich SN. How healthy are chronically ill patients after eight years of homeopathic treatment? – Results from a long term observational study. BMC Public Health 2008;8:413-421. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-8-413

Use of Homeopathic Medicines for Prophylaxis

Homeopathic medicines can also be used as prophylactic treatment against epidemic diseases.

Bracho G, Varela E, Fernandez R, Ordaz B, Marzoa N, Menendez J, Garcia L, Gilling E, Leyva R, Rufin R, de la Torre R, Solis RL, Batista N, Borrero R, Campa C. Large-scale application of highly-diluted bacteria for Leptospirosis epidemic control. Homeopathy 2010;99(3):156-66. doi: 10.1016/j.homp.2010.05.009.

Effects of Homeopathic Medicines vs Placebos

Despite the findings of statistically significant positive results in well-controlled studies, some critics of homeopathic medicine assert that positive findings are due to a placebo effect. The following study demonstrates that effects of homeopathic medicines differ from the effects of placebos.

Möllinger H, Schneider R, Walach H. Homeopathic pathogenetic trials produce specific symptoms different from placebo. Forsch Komplementmed 2009;16:105–110.

Veterinary Homeopathic Research

Further evidence that the positive findings in homeopathic research are not due to the placebo effect is that veterinary homeopathic research also yields statistically significant clinical results. Several important studies are:

Aboutboul R. Snake remedies and eosinophilic granuloma complex in cats. Homeopathy 2006; 95(1):15-9.
Alecu A, Alecu M, Mârcuş G, Brezeanu R, Cojocaru A. Effect of the homeopathic remedies Arnica montana and Staphisagria on the time of healing of surgical wounds. Int J High Dilution Res 2007;6(20):19-21.

Agrohomeopathy

Research on the homeopathic treatment of diseased plants also yields statistically significant results, emphasizing again that it is unlikely that the positive results of homeopathic treatment are due to the placebo effect.

Betti L., et al. Effect of high dilutions of Arsenicum album on wheat seedlings from seeds poisoned with the same substance. British Homeopathic Journal 1997;86:86-89.

American Institute of Homeopathy

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