A Critical Overview of Homeopathy
Authors: Flvio Dantas, Peter Fisher, Hagen Rampes
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2003)

Letters21 October 2003A Critical Overview of HomeopathyFlvio Dantas, MD, PhD, Peter Fisher, FRCP, and Hagen Rampes, MBChB, MRCPsychFlvio Dantas, MD, PhDFrom Federal University of Uberlndia of So Paulo; So Paulo-SP, 04039-020, Brazil; Royal London Homeopathic Hospital; London W1W 5BP, United Kingdom; and West London Mental Health NHS Trust; Middlesex UB1 3EU, United Kingdom.Search for more papers by this author, Peter Fisher, FRCPFrom Federal University of Uberlndia of So Paulo; So Paulo-SP, 04039-020, Brazil; Royal London Homeopathic Hospital; London W1W 5BP, United Kingdom; and West London Mental Health NHS Trust; Middlesex UB1 3EU, United Kingdom.Search for more papers by this author, and Hagen Rampes, MBChB, MRCPsychFrom Federal University of Uberlndia of So Paulo; So Paulo-SP, 04039-020, Brazil; Royal London Homeopathic Hospital; London W1W 5BP, United Kingdom; and West London Mental Health NHS Trust; Middlesex UB1 3EU, United Kingdom.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-139-8-200310210-00026-w1 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Homeopathy has become increasingly popular with consumers throughout the world. It is also highly controversial. In this context, we welcome Jonas and colleagues' critical overview (1). Such an overview is not an easy task because of the different operator-dependent techniques used in homeopathic practice.We wish to point out some shortcomings in this overview. A comprehensive review of homeopathy should consider adverse effects. A systematic review done by 2 of us (2) showed that the mean incidence of adverse effects was greater with homeopathic medicines than with placebo in 11 controlled clinical trials (relative risk, 1.8) but ...References1. Jonas WB, Kaptchuk TJ, Linde K. A critical overview of homeopathy. Ann Intern Med. 2003;138:393-9. [PMID: 12614092] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Dantas F, Rampes H. 2000 Do homeopathic medicines provoke adverse effects? A systematic review. British Homeopathic Journal. 89(Suppl 1):35-8. CrossrefGoogle Scholar3. Dantas F, Fisher P. 1998 A systematic review of homeopathic pathogenetic trials (provings') published in the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1995.. In: Ernst EA, Hann EG, eds. Homeopathy A Critical Appraisal. Butterworth-Heinemann London 69-97. Google Scholar4. Stevinson C, Devaraj VS, Fountain-Barber A, Hawkins S, Ernst E. 2003 Homeopathic arnica for prevention of pain and bruising: randomized placebo-controlled trial in hand surgery. J R Soc Med. 96:60-5. [PMID: 12562974] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Federal University of Uberlndia of So Paulo; So Paulo-SP, 04039-020, Brazil; Royal London Homeopathic Hospital; London W1W 5BP, United Kingdom; and West London Mental Health NHS Trust; Middlesex UB1 3EU, United Kingdom. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoA Critical Overview of Homeopathy Wayne B. Jonas , Ted J. Kaptchuk , and Klaus Linde A Critical Overview of Homeopathy Renan M.V.R. Almeida A Critical Overview of Homeopathy Giovanni Federspil , Fabio Presotto , and Roberto Vettor Metrics Cited byA perspectiva do paciente no roteiro de anamnese: o Olhar do estudantePaediatric homoeopathy in Germany: results of the German health interview and examination survey for children and adolescents (KiGGS) 21 October 2003Volume 139, Issue 8Page: W-73KeywordsAnalgesiaClinical trialsConfidence intervalsHomeopathyPathogensProphylaxisRelative riskScientistsSystematic reviews ePublished: 21 October 2003 Issue Published: 21 October 2003 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2003 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...