In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 40 people with asthma severe enough to require corticosteroid treatment, use of an injected homeopathic remedy consisting of Asclepias vincetoxicum and Sulphur significantly improved symptoms. 1 See also the discussion of allergic asthma in the article on allergies .
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 44 people with generalized anxiety disorder , found that use of constitutional homeopathy did not significantly improve symptoms. 2
In a double-blind study of 62 children with attention deficit disorder , use of constitutional homeopathic remedies proved more effective than placebo. 5 However, a similar study of 43 children, again using constitutional remedies, failed to find statistically significant benefits. 6
A six-monthy double blind study failed to find constitutional homeopathy convincingly more effective than placebo for treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome . 7 However, homeopathic consultation itself proved to have a dramatically beneficial effect, regardless of whether participants were subsequently given placebo or the actual prescribed homeopathic treatment.
In a small double-blind, placebo-controlled study, oral use of a low dilution homeopathic remedy containing potassium bromide, sodium bromide, nickel sulfate, and sodium chloride significantly improved symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis (including dandruff). 3
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the potential benefits of homeopathic thyroid hormone (30c) in weight loss . 4 A total of 208 people were enrolled in the study. All study participants were undergoing a fast, and had reached a plateau where they were no longer rapidly losing weight. Use of homeopathic thyroid significantly enhanced the rate of weight loss.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted in Honduras failed to find a combination homeopathic remedy more effective than placebo for treatment of dengue fever. 8
References
1. Matusiewicz R The homoeopathic treatment of corticosteroid-dependen asthma. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Biomedical Therapy . 1997;15:117 122.
2. Bonne O, Shemer Y, Gorali Y, et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of classical homeopathy in generalized anxiety disorder. J Clin Psychiatry . 2003;64:282 287.
3. Smith SA et al. Effective treatment of seborrheic dermatitis using a low dose, oral homeopathic medication consisting of potassium bromide, sodium bromide, nickel sulfate, and sodium chloride in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Alternative Medicine Review . 2002;7:59 67.
4. Schmidt JM, Ostermayr B. Does a homeopathic ultramolecular dilution of Thyroidinum 30cH affect the rate of body weight reduction in fasting patients? A randomised placebo-controlled double-blind clinical trial. Homeopathy . 2002;91:197 206.
5. Frei H, Everts R, von Ammon K et al. Homeopathic treatment of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled crossover trial. Eur J Pediatr . 2005 Jul 27 [Epub ahead of print].
6. Jacobs J, Williams AL, Girard C et al. Homeopathy for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a pilot randomized-controlled trial. J Altern Complement Med. 2005;11:799-806.
7. Weatherley-Jones E, Nicholl JP, Thomas KJ et al. A randomised, controlled, triple-blind trial of the efficacy of homeopathic treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome. J Psychosom Res . 2004;56:189-197.
8. Jacobs J, Fernandez E, Merizalde B, et al. The use of homeopathic combination remedy for dengue fever symptoms: a pilot RCT in Honduras. Homeopathy . 2007;96:22-6.
Last reviewed April 2009 by EBSCO CAM Medical Review Board
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