Homeopathy

MODALITY: HOMEOPATHY

Legislative Risks

Legislation on homeopathic medicines is now harmonised across the EU. Homeopathic remedies are now officially a category of drug, and are controlled by the very same Directive as pharmacological drugs (licensed medicinal products), viz: 

Human Medicinal Products Directive
    European Commission summary
    ANH summary

For homeopaths who are not also licensed doctors, there is a real threat that in time, those practitioners who are not state-registered, will be forced to stop practicing. In countries like France, where homeopathy is very popular, it is primarily practiced by medical doctors. In countries like Germany and the UK, most practising homeopaths are fully trained and qualified—but are not medical doctors.

For more information on homeopathy legislation around the world, please click on this link.

Scientific Risks

One of the major contributions that the ANH is making to help protect the future of homeopathy is in the area of demonstrating the lack of suitability of the 'gold standard', randomised controlled trial (RCT) approach as used to evaluate pharmacological susbtances i.e. drugs. 

One of the most vociferous critics of homeopathy has been Professor Edzard Ernst, Professor of Complementary Medicine, Peninsular Medical School, Exeter University, who has previously claimed that, during his earlier life, he has both been a practitioner of and recipient of homeopathy.

Prof Ernst's attacks on homeopathy have become increasingly vociferous, since he joined a 'doctor's campaign against alternative therapies, led by oncologist Professor Michael Baum. Read open letter in The Times newspaper, 22 May 2006.

Prof Ernst continues his tirade against homeopathy in his 2008 book, Trick or Treatment: Alternative Medicine on Trial, co-authored with Simon Singh (2008, Random House/Norton, 352 pp). The book was reviewed by the prestigious Nature journal in June 2008, not altogether favourably.

To find out why Prof Ernst is unfounded in his opinions on the subject, read the ANH exposé.

Read article by Louise Mclean LCCH MHMA, Editor, Zeus Information Service, "The Truth About Homeopathy—Dispelling the MYTHS that Surround it!" issued 26th May, 2008.

Download Alex Tournier's powerpoint presentation from the Research in Homeopathy conference on 18 June 2008. This talk includes presentation of results collated by Dr Peter Fisher, Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital, London, also homeopath to the Queen, presented at the 63rd Liga Medicorum Homoeopathica Internationalis (LMHI) Congress organised in Belgium.

Peter Fisher provided the following summary of human trials on homeopathy:

134 Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) have been published, with the following outcomes:

• 59 (44%) positive
• 67 (50%) neutral (small effect)
• 8   (6%)   negative

23 systematic reviews have been published, with the following outcomes:

• 10 positive
• 8   non-conclusive
• 5   little or no evidence

Media Risks

Homeopathy has been the subject of some very unbalanced press recently, but no where more so than in the UK and Europe.  Moves seem to be afoot to mimic the marginalisation of homeopathy, as both a viable and reliable therapeutic modality, as has already been seen in some countries—the USA for instance.

Below is a short but painful reminder of some of recent media blows:

UK anti-comp med campaign given another stab by Prof Ernst

A Kind of Magic?

NHS homoeopathy in sharp decline

'Homeopathy putting lives at risk with claims'

The Ernst & Singh £10,000 Homeopathic Challenge (click this title to see the offer)

The challenge is as follows, in Ernst's and Singh's own words:

"We challenge homeopaths to demonstrate that homeopathy is effective by showing that the Cochrane Collaboration has published a review that is strongly and conclusively positive about high dilution homeopathic remedies for any human condition.

Or, we challenge homeopaths to have such a review published within 12 months of the first publication of extracts from Trick or Treatment? (8 April, 2009)." 

This is a cynical stunt! Firstly there is no Cochrane Review that is positive—nor is there ever likely to be given the hatred that most Cochrane-valued scientists and doctors have of homeopathy. The second option for the challenge is nigh on impossible to achieve as it would take longer than 12 months to successfully get a Cochrane Review, together with the necessary supporting randomised controlled trials, through approved and published!  

So—Mssrs Ernst and Singh will not have to part with their cash—and they know this! 

See news item for information on the Scientific Research in Homeopathy conference, University of Westminster, London, 18 June 2008. 

Professional Bodies / Useful Organisations/ further information

Please email us at info@anhcampaign.org if you know of other organisations (especially outside the UK) that can be added to the following list.

Homeopathy Research Institute (HRI)

Zeus Information Services [Link to homeopathy pages]

European Council for Classical Homeopathy

European Coalition on Homeopathic and Anthroposophic Medicinal Products (ECHAMP)

Alliance of Registered Homeopaths (ARH)
 
British Homeopathic Association / Faculty of Homeopathy     

Homeopathic Medical Association (HMA)

Society of Homeopaths

American Institute of Homeopathy