From: kaminski@netcom.com (Peter Kaminski)
Newsgroups: sci.med,sci.med.nutrition
Subject: Re: Homeopathy
Date: 8 Oct 92 21:10:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: netcom.1992Oct8.211000.19588
Organization: The Information Deli - via Netcom / San Jose, California

In <BSIMON.92Oct8132715@elvis.stsci.edu> bsimon@elvis.stsci.edu
(Bernie Simon) writes:

>One that I remember was published in Lancet. Sorry, but I don't have the
>reference, but I can get it if anyone is interested. It compared the
>effectiveness of homeopathic treatment of rheumatoid arthritis against a
>placebo. 80% of those receiving homeopathic treatment reported reduced
>pain, while only 20% who took the placebo reported reduced pain.

You might be thinking of this study:

  Gibson, R. G., Shiela L. M. Gibson, A. D. MacNeill, and W. Watson.
  "Homeopathic Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Evaluation by Double-Blind
  Clinical Therapeutic Trial." _British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology_,
  (May, 1980): 453-459.

  Over 80% who received homeopathic medicines experienced improvement in
  their arthritic symptoms; only about 20% of patients receiving placebos
  had similar improvement.


>I can summarize these studies for the net if there is sufficient interest.

I'd appreciate a summary of scientifically rigorous studies (since we're
in sci.med); what I'd appreciate more is a skeptical medical type actually
looking at the studies and posting their impressions.

Here is a short list of homeopathic resources I've gathered:

Homeopathic Practitioners and Resources
---------------------------------------

For referrals to licensed health care professionals who provide homeopathic
care, call the National Center for Homeopathy at 703-548-7790.

To practice homeopathy legally in this country, one must be a licensed
health care practitioner (i.e., MD, osteopath, chiropractor, acupuncturist,
etc.).  That license, however, does not say anything about the
practitioner's abilities or affiliations as a homeopath.  There are a few
states that have homeopathic (or non-allopathic) licensing boards;
apparently there is also a board certification from one of the national
homeopathic organizations.

As with any health care professional, it is important to research your
choice of practitioner to determine his/her suitability to your case.  I
recommend at the least an interview and a request for references.  The NCH
has affiliated study groups; I've been told that contacting the local study
groups is a good way to check on the local practitioners.

The National Center for Homeopathy
801 N. Fairfax, Suite 306
Alexandria, VA  22314
703-548-7790
    Consumer information, referrals, convention, newsletter, books,
    medicine kits, affiliated study groups.

American Institute of Homeopathy
1500 Massachusetts Ave. N.W., Suite 42
Washington, DC  20005
    Conferences, journal, referrals.

Homeopathic Educational Services
2124 Kittredge St.
Berkeley, CA 94704
415-649-0294
800-359-9051
    Books, tapes, consumer information, medicine kits.

International Foundation for Homeopathy
2366 Eastlake E.
Seattle, WA  98102
206-324-8230
    Training, magazine, referrals.

Hahnemann Medical Clinic
1918 Bonita Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94704
415-849-1925
    Consultations, training.

_Everybody's Guide to Homeopathic Medicines_
by Stephen Cummings and Dana Ullman
Los Angeles: Jeremy P. Tarcher, Inc. 1984
ISBN 0-87477-324-5
    This book covers homeopathic history, principles, and practial
    methodology, home care measures and appropriate homeopathic medicines
    for a wide variety of acute conditions (with summaries of warning signs
    for conditions that require professional care), and a _materia medica_
    (a list of homeopathic medicines and the symptoms for which they are
    indicated) for the most commonly used medicines.

"Homeopathy: A Special Report"
by Richard Leviton
_Yoga Journal_ 85 (March/April 1989): 42-51
    This is a comprehensive article on the history, methodology, and the
    current and future states of homeopathy and its position as a health
    care alternative.

Disclaimer: This is not medical or homeopathic advice.

-- 
Peter Kaminski
kaminski@netcom.com