Nobel Prize winning virologist Dr Luc Montagnier, has voiced support for homeopathy in Science magazine (December 2010)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dana-ullman/luc-montagnier-homeopathy-taken-seriously_b_814619.html
Homeopathy
In my clinic I see patients with ear infections, hayfever, eczema, stress, depression, infertility, pregnancy nausea, migraines, food intolerances and child behavioural issues and many other conditions.
I've included at the bottom of this page a list of ailments that research (including randomised controlled trials) has shown have been helped with homeopathy. These range from allergies and post-operative bowel issues through to chronic fatigue, PMT and rheumatism.
Registered homeopaths complete at least 4 years professional study in NZ and then undergo an assessment process including case submissions and a panel interview in order to be registered with the NZ Council of Homeopaths. Annual registration requires adherance to the Council's requirements, including ongoing training.
Hippocrates
Around 400BC, Hippocrates (the ‘father of medicine’ and after whom the ‘Hippocratic Oath is named) wrote that cures could be made by opposite or by similars. In our society we are familiar with cure by opposites - (the medical system treats pain with a pain-killer, inflammation with an anti-inflammatory, bugs with antibiotics etc).
Hippocrates’ idea of cure by similars is less well known, and involves giving as a remedy a substance that would cause that condition or symptoms. (For example we would consider giving a remedy made from coffee for someone who has racing thoughts and insomnia, and a remedy made from onion for someone with burning weeping eyes and running nose etc.) This is the basic idea behind homeopathy – what will cause, will cure.
Hahnemann
A German doctor named Samuel Hahnemann developed homeopathy as a medical system in the 1790s. He also developed ‘potentisation’ whereby the remedies are diluted to the point where there is often none of the original substance remains, and succussed (or shaken).
If you had a cup of coffee and mixed one drop of your coffee with 99 drops of water, this would be what we call a 1C potency of 'coffea'. If you then took one drop of this new diluted 'coffea' and mixed it with 99 drops of water, you would get what homeopaths call a 2C. Once you have done this 12 times (to get a 12C) you reach 'Avogadro's number' where scientists agree there is nothing of the original molecule left. Once you get to a 15C the original substance is more dilute than one drop in all the oceans in the world. And yet homeopathic pharmacists keep going; it is common for homeopaths to prescribe a 30C, 200C potencies and even some as high as a 10,000C.
This all sounds pretty weird but a) Nobel prize winning physicists have said there is something going on with the high dilutions in homeopathy, that these dilutions are not 'nothing' and b) just because something is weird is not on its own enough to rule it out. See 'Science and Homeopathy' - http://www.vanessayoung.co.nz/homeopathy-and-science/
Remedies
Homeopathic pharmacies make remedies from natural products from the plant, mineral and animal Kingdoms. There are thousands of possible Homeopathic remedies.
Research references to conditions helped with homeopathy
From Mathie, R. The Research Evidence Base for Homeopathy. British Homeopathic Association, 2009. www.britishhomeopathic.org
Allergies and upper respiratory tract infections
Evidence: Systematic review
Bornhoft G, Wolf U, Ammon K, et al. Effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of homeopathy in general practice – summarized health technology assessment. Forsch Komplementarmed 2006; 13 (2): 19-29
Ankle sprain
Evidence: One un-refuted RCT
Zell J, Connert WD, Mau J, Feuerstake G. Treatment of acute sprains of the ankle. Controlled double-blind trial to test the effectiveness of a homeopathic ointment. Fortschr Med 1988; 106: 96-100
Bowel inactivity after surgery (post-operative ileus)
Evidence: Systematic review
Barnes J, Resch K-L, Ernst E. Homeopathy for postoperative ileus? A meta-analysis. J Clin Gastroenterol 1997; 25: 628-33
Bronchitis
Evidence: One un-refuted RCT
Diefenbach M, Schilken J, Steiner G, Becker HJ. Homeopathic therapy in respiratory tract diseases. Evaluation of a clinical study in 258 patients. Z Allgemeinmed 1997; 73: 308-14
Childhood diarrhoea
Evidence: Systematic review
Jacobs J, Jonas WB, Jimenez-Perez M, Crothers D. Homeopathy for childhood diarrhea: combined results and metaanalysis from three randomized, controlled clinical trials. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2003; 22: 229-34
Chronic Fatigue
Evidence: One un-refuted RCT
Weatherley-Jones E, Nicholl JP, Thomas KJ, et al. A randomized, controlled, triple-blind trial of the efficacy of homeopathic treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome. J Psychosom Res 2004; 56: 189-97
Ear infections (acute otitis media)
Evidence: One un-refuted RCT
Jacobs J, Springer DA, Crothers D. Homeopathic treatment of acute otitis media in children: a preliminary randomized placebo-controlled trial. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2001; 20: 177-83
Fibromyalgia
Evidence: Two or more RCTs
Fisher P. An experimental double-blind clinical trial method in homoeopathy. Use of a limited range of remedies to treat fibrositis. BrHomeopath J 1986; 75: 142-7
Bell I, Lewis D, Brooks A, et al. Improved clinical status in fibromyalgia patients treated with individualized homeopathic remedies versus placebo. Rheumatology 2004; 43: 577-82
Relton C, Smith C, Raw J, Walters C, Adebajo AO, Thomas KJ. Healthcare provided by a homeopath as an adjunct to usual care for Fibromyalgia (FMS): results of a pilot Randomised Controlled Trial. Homeopathy, 2009; 98: 77-82.
Hay fever (seasonal allergic rhinitis)
Evidence: Systematic reviews
Wiesenauer M, Ludtke R. A meta-analysis of the homeopathic treatment of pollinosis with Galphimia glauca. Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd 1996; 3: 230-6
Taylor MA, Reilly D, Llewellyn-Jones RH, et al. Randomised controlled trials of homoeopathy versus placebo in perennial allergic rhinitis with overview of four trial series. Br Med J 2000; 321: 471-6
Bellavite P, Ortolani R, Pontarollo F, et al. Immunology and homeopathy. 4. Clinical studies – Part 2. eCAM 2006; 3: 397-409.
Influenza treatment
Evidence: Systematic review
Vickers A, Smith C. Homoeopathic Oscillococcinum for preventing and treating influenza and influenza-like syndromes (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane Library. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 2006
Osteoarthritis
Evidence: Two or more RCTs
Shealy CN, Thomlinson RP, Cox RH, Borgmeyer RN. Osteoarthritic pain: a comparison of homeopathy and acetaminophen. Am J Pain Manage 1998; 8: 89-91
van Haselen RA, Fisher PAG. A randomized controlled trial comparing topical piroxicam gel with a homeopathic gel in osteoarthritis of the knee. Rheumatology 2000; 39: 714-9.
Brien S, Lachance L, Prescott P, McDermott C, Lewith G. Homeopathy has clinical benefits in rheumatoid arthritis patients that are attributable to the consultation process but not the homeopathic remedy: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Rheumatology 2010;49:doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keq234.
Premenstrual syndrome
Evidence: One un-refuted RCT
Yakir M, Kreitler S, Brzezinski A, et al. Effects of homeopathic treatment in women with premenstrual syndrome: a pilot study. Br Homeopath J 2001; 90: 148-53
Rheumatic diseases
Evidence: Systematic review
Jonas WB, Linde K, Ramirez G. Homeopathy and rheumatic disease – Complementary and alternative therapies for rheumatic diseases II. Rheum Dis Clin North Am 2000; 26: 117-23
Sinusitis
Evidence: Two or more RCTs
Friese K-H, Zabalotnyi DI. Homeopathy in acute rhinosinusitis. A double-blind, placebo controlled study shows the effectiveness and tolerability of a homeopathic combination remedy. HNO 2007; 55: 271-7
Zabolotnyi DI, Kneis KC, Richardson A, et al. Efficacy of a complex homeopathic medication (Sinfrontal) in patients with acute maxillary sinusitis: a prospective, randomized, doubleblind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial. Explore (NY) 2007; 3: 98-109
Vertigo
Evidence: Systematic review
Schneider B, Klein P, Weiser M. Treatment of vertigo with a homeopathic complex remedy compared with usual treatments: a meta-analysis of clinical trials. Arzneimittelforschung 2005; 55: 23-9