P
Peter Moran
Guest
Here is an example of a trial of homeopathic medicine where the homeopaths were given the
opportunity to individualise treatment, as some homeopaths claim is necessary to their "art".
Thorax 2003;58:317-321
Individualised homeopathy as an adjunct in the treatment of childhood asthma: a randomised
placebo controlled trial
A White, P Slade, C Hunt, A Hart and E Ernst
Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, Exeter
EX2 4NT, UK
Background: Homeopathy is frequently used to treat asthma in children. In the common classical form
of homeopathy, prescriptions are individualised for each patient. There has been no rigorous
investigation into this form of treatment for asthma.
Methods: In a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial the effects of individualised
homeopathic remedies were compared with placebo medication in 96 children with mild to moderate
asthma as an adjunct to conventional treatment. The main outcome measure was the active quality of
living subscale of the Childhood Asthma Questionnaire administered at baseline and follow up at 12
months. Other outcome measures included other subscales of the same questionnaire, peak flow rates,
use of medication, symptom scores, days off school,
asthma events, global assessment of change, and adverse reactions.
Results: There were no clinically relevant or statistically significant changes in the active
quality of life score. Other subscales, notably those measuring severity, indicated relative
improvements but the sizes of the effects were small. There were no differences between the groups
for other measures.
Conclusions: This study provides no evidence that adjunctive homeopathic remedies, as prescribed by
experienced homeopathic practitioners, are superior to placebo in improving the quality of life of
children with mild to moderate asthma in addition to conventional treatment in primary care.
opportunity to individualise treatment, as some homeopaths claim is necessary to their "art".
Thorax 2003;58:317-321
Individualised homeopathy as an adjunct in the treatment of childhood asthma: a randomised
placebo controlled trial
A White, P Slade, C Hunt, A Hart and E Ernst
Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, Exeter
EX2 4NT, UK
Background: Homeopathy is frequently used to treat asthma in children. In the common classical form
of homeopathy, prescriptions are individualised for each patient. There has been no rigorous
investigation into this form of treatment for asthma.
Methods: In a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial the effects of individualised
homeopathic remedies were compared with placebo medication in 96 children with mild to moderate
asthma as an adjunct to conventional treatment. The main outcome measure was the active quality of
living subscale of the Childhood Asthma Questionnaire administered at baseline and follow up at 12
months. Other outcome measures included other subscales of the same questionnaire, peak flow rates,
use of medication, symptom scores, days off school,
asthma events, global assessment of change, and adverse reactions.
Results: There were no clinically relevant or statistically significant changes in the active
quality of life score. Other subscales, notably those measuring severity, indicated relative
improvements but the sizes of the effects were small. There were no differences between the groups
for other measures.
Conclusions: This study provides no evidence that adjunctive homeopathic remedies, as prescribed by
experienced homeopathic practitioners, are superior to placebo in improving the quality of life of
children with mild to moderate asthma in addition to conventional treatment in primary care.