Pharmacovigilance and Homoeopathy: A Review

Abstract

Background and objective: Pharmacovigilance in conventional system of medicine is operational for more than sixty years. Homoeopathy, being the second largest way of treatment, is widely practiced all over the world. Hence pharmacovigilance in Homoeopathy is indispensable especially in wake of malpractices like use of drugs violating its principles, increasing incidences of misleading and objectionable advertisements etc. Through this review we shall explore the status of pharmacovigilance in Homoeopathy. Methods: An intense literature search was made on the web pages, databases, journals, bibliographic resources regarding practice of pharmacovigilance in Homoeopathy. Available Publications till May 2020 along with literatures of Homoeopathy were analysed. Results: Data of adverse drug reaction (ADR) arising out of homoeopathic drugs are negligible in the literatures. In India Homoeopathy is patronised by the Government under AYUSH systems. Recently, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India, has taken an initiative of Pharmacovigilance of Ayurveda, Sidha, Unani & Homoeopathy (ASU&H) drugs for reporting and taking measures against ADR of ASU&H drugs and objectionable advertisements in print and electronic media. Some European countries have also started pharmacovigilance of herbal and traditional medicine. Homoeopathy remained careful regarding adverse drug reaction since beginning which is evident from its literatures having full of criticisms to adverse drug events/reactions (ADE/ADR) with examples. Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1842), The Father of homoeopathy, devoted his whole life in providing a least harmful, gentle and simple system of therapeutic. Conclusion: Although the data of ADRs in Homoeopathy is negligible but in view of increasing incidence of malpractices and misleading advertisements in Homoeopathy, system of pharmacovigilance with full participation of whole homoeopathic fraternity is the need of the hour for enhancing its validity and market value.