Roy Steiner reports: Research shows that homeopathy is very effective in treating Hay fevers (Lancet 1986;ii: 881-886 and - - Br. Homeopathic J 1985; 74: 65-75) allergic asthmas brought on by house mites (Lancet 1994;344:1601-06) and rheumatoid arthritis: (Homeopathic therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Evaluation by Double-Blind Clinical Therapeutic Trial. R.G. Gibson et al. B.H.J. 1986 Jul; 75 (3): 148-57).

The audited outcome report results in 1992 of the Glasgow Homeopathic hospital (Britain) for 100 out-patient shows that at the end of one year- a majority of the patients revealed a sense of well-being, a definite improvement in the quality of life, a significant number revealed that there was reduction in conventional treatment.  The Royal Homeopathic Hospital reports say that in it’s Outpatient department there was a significant improvement in adults and children suffering with asthma in terms of lesser usage of broncho dilators and decrease in the frequency of visits to the doctors. Patients who took Homeopathic treatment reported decreases usage of topical steroids.  A significant number of female patients reported improvement in their gynecological problems.  A majority of patients with Rheumatoid arthritis reported a marked improvement in their standardized tests.

Reilly DT, Taylor MA. Developing Integrated Medicine.  Report of the RCCM Research Fellowship in Complementary Medicine, Glasgow University 1987-90.

Complementary Therapies in Medicine 1993;1, Suppl 1. 1-49

The above results illustrate that homeopathy in secondary care can offer therapeutic options.  In addition some GPs are now opting for homeopathy as first line in certain problems, keeping the more costly and toxic conventional treatment as second line.

Practicable examples include:
- using homeopathic colocynthis for colic in infants under 6 months of age
- complications of surgery can be reduced by using homeopathic arnica at time of procedure
- homeopathic immunotherapy is a safer alternative to desensitisation injections

Information from the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital show almost 20% of Scottish GPs have completed basic level training at their course, and research has shown that 2 years following the course 78% of attending doctors were still integrating elements of homeopathy in their NHS care.  Links with the Pain Clinic and General Medical Clinic at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary has demonstrated a similar capacity for integration at secondary and tertiary level care.

Because of it’s safety profile it can be used in pregnancy and the extremes of life without the worries of drug interaction or medical contraindications.  There is however a possibility of danger in homeopathy being misapplied, a risk not intrinsic to homeopathy.

The main cost of homeopathic care is in increased practitioner time, the cost of medication is small and the savings in orthodox drug and procedure bills has been illustrated. A recent out-patient survey at Glasgow found that one year on, 37% of patients have managed a sustained reduction in their conventional medicines.

Summary
Homeopathy has been constantly ridiculed and described as non-scientific.  Despite opposition it has existed for the last 200 years and is growing in popularity.  It was initially developed by a doctor whose scientific methodology was rigorous.  Despite the difficulties concerning the concept of serially vibrating and diluting substances to produce remedies, the positive double-blind trial results illustrate an activity in the preparations which is beyond that of placebo.  Furthermore, the more rigorous the trial the more positive the data illustrates these substances to be potent or challenges the methodology with which we currently evaluate drugs. Outcome studies have further illustrated that these preparations can be useful in clinical practice and could potentially reduce on-going drug costs.  With so much evidence in favour of Homeopathy I believe it is not scientific of professionals to remain cynical of the subject.  It is not the, "Modern Age Panacea", and if the profession could accept it’s principles much work could be done to illustrate it's strengths and weaknesses instead of efficacy against placebo.  In this way we could work forward to integrate homeopathy into daily practice and have another therapeutic arm instead of a threatening alternative system of medicine.