From: bsimon@elvis.stsci.edu (Bernie Simon)
Subject: Re: Homeopathy
Organization: None. This saves me from writing a disclaimer.
	<BSIMON.92Oct8132715@elvis.stsci.edu> <1992Oct9.000315.6415@spdcc.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 12:48:17 GMT

I'd like to amplify and correct the remarks I've made on clinical
tests of homeopathy. My apologies for my faulty memory. The following
is quoted from the preface of _Everybody's Guide to Homeopathic
Medicines_ (1). IMHO this is the best book describing the home
treatment of illnesses with homeopathic medicine.

"Research on Homeopathic medicines has appeared in various prestigious
medical journals, including _The Lancet, British Medical Journal,
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, Human Toxicology, The
European Journal of Pharmacology, Phebology_, and _The International
Journal of Immunology_.

"One study compared hayfever patients given a homeopathic preparation
of twelve mixed pollens with those given a placebo. The study showed
that those given the homeopathic medicine had six times fewer symptoms
than those given the placebo (2).

"Another study investigated the use of a homeopathic medicine in
treating influenza. The study utilized _Oscillococcinum_ -- the most
popular cold and flu remedy in France -- and, surprisingly enough, a
homeopathic medicine. This trial, conducted by 149 French physicians
in the treatment of 487 patients, showed that almost twice as many
patients given _Oscillococcinum_ were over the flu within forty-eight
hours as opposed to patients given a placebo (3). This study was
conducted so well that even _Lancet_ remarked on its quality (4).

"An equally rigorous study on the homeopathic treatment of a
rheumatological condition called 'fibrositis' was published in the
_British Medical Journal_ (5). This was a double-blind,
placebo-controlled study with a cross-over design. (Meaning that
neither physician or patient knew who received the medicine and who
received the placebo, and that halfway through the experiment, those
who began with the placebo received the homeopathic medicine, and vice
versa.) This study clearly showed that homeopathic medicine reduced
pain. 

"Finally, a recently published study on the treatment of varicose
veins showed that a combination of eight homeopathic medicines
significantly improved symptoms of cramps, itching, and leg heaviness.
More impressively, the blood circulation in the leg improved by 44%,
while those who took the placebo deteriorated by 18% (6)."

(1) Cummings, Stephen and Ullman, Dana. _Everybody's Guide to
Homeopathic Medicines_. Los Angeles: Jeremy P. Tharcher, Inc, 1991.

(2) D.T. Reilly, M.A. Taylor, C.McSharry et al., "Is Homeopathy a
Placebo Response? Controlled Trial of Homeopathic Potency with Pollen
in Hayfever as Model," _Lancet_ (1986):881-886.

(3) J.P. Ferley, D.Zimirou, D. D'Adhemar, et al., "A Controlled
Evaluation of a Homeopathic Preparation in the Treatment of
Influenza-like Syndromes," _British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology_,
27(1989):329-35. 

(4) "Quadruple Blind," _Lancet_, (1989):91.

(5) P.Fischer, A.Greenwood, E.C.Huskisson, et al., "Effect of
Homeopathic Treatment on Fibrositis (Primary Fibromyalgia)," _British
Medical Journal_ 299(1989):365-366.

(6) E.Ernst, T.Saradeth, and K.L>Resch, "Complementary Treatment of
Varicose Veins: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Trial,"
_Phlebology_ (1990): 157-163.

--
Bernie Simon	(bsimon@stsci.edu)		similia similibus curantur