Homeopathy: Curative, Concurrent and Supportive Cancer Treatment Potential

Abstract

Background: Homeopathy is used by 12 to 24% of European cancer patients, representing 40.4% of patients at European integrative cancer centers. In 2011, a Swiss literature review on homeopathy led to homeopathic treatment coverage in the Swiss national health insurance program. Homeopathy for curative pediatric cancer treatment is limited to 7.4% in the Netherlands, but, 76.5% of German parents will use homeopathy as part of their children’s cancer treatment. The purpose of this paper is to determine what is needed for homeopathy to play a larger role in curative, concurrent, and supportive cancer treatment. Methods: PubMed searches in September 2016 and January 2017 were performed with search terms “adverse effects, breast cancer, cancer, cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, homeopathy, ovarian cancer, prevention, treatment”. Curative, concurrent, and supportive homeopathic cancer treatments material was taken from these searches. Findings: At least five homeopathic formulations are immunologic adjuvants, activating natural killer cell destruction of cancer and virally infected cells. Ultramolecular Carcinosin, Phytolacca decandra, Conium, Thuja and Klimaktoplan® are appropriate for in vivo breast cancer trials. Lycopodium clavatum 5C and 15C are ready for in vivo cervical cancer trials. Sulphur 30C, may be considered for non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma treatment trials. Conventional cancer treatment associated anxiety, asthenia, depression, dermatitis, folliculitis, hot flushes, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, and stomatitis, respond to numerous homeopathic treatments including hetero-isotherapy. Conclusion & Significance: In vitro studies and retrospective case series indicate that homeopathy could provide curative cancer treatment for an array of cancers: Breast, cervix, gallbladder, liver, lung, oral, pancreas, periampullary, skin, and stomach. Appropriately designed randomized controlled trials (RCT) based on reproducible homeopathic treatments and clinical protocols, with intent-to-treat analysis will have increased validity. If these RCT have positive outcomes homeopathy will secure a position in curative, concurrent, and supportive cancer treatment.