British Homoeopathic Journal最新文献

Acute low back pain is a very common condition in Western industrialised countries. In most cases analgesics or topical medications are prescribed at first encounter with the general practitioner (GP).

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the homeopathic gel Spiroflor SRL® gel (SRL) is equally effective and better tolerated than Cremor Capsici Compositus FNA (CCC) in patients with acute low back pain.

A multi-centre, randomised, double-blind, controlled clinical trial was conducted in the practices of 19 GPs in the districts of Bristol and Manchester, UK. One hundred and sixty-one subjects suffering from acute low back pain were treated for one week either with SRL or with CCC. Pain was scored on a 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS). Main efficacy parameter VAS reduction was compared between treatments. Evaluation of safety was primarily based on the number of subjects with adverse events (AEs), withdrawals due to an AE and adverse drug reactions (ADRs).

The mean difference between the VAS reduction in the SRL group and the CCC group adjusted for VAS at baseline and age was −0.6 mm (90%CI=−6.5–5.3 mm). Fewer subjects in the SRL group (11%) experienced an AE than in the CCC group (26%). The same applies to the number of subjects with an ADR (3/81=4% vs 18/74=24%) and the number of subjects withdrawn due to an ADR (0/81=0% vs 8/74=11%).

In conclusion, SRL and CCC are equally effective in the treatment of acute low back pain, however, SRL has a better safety profile. Spiroflor SRL® gel is preferable to Capsicum-based products for the topical treatment of low back pain, because of the lower risk of adverse effects.

We have attempted to reproduce differences in low resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) T2 spin–spin relaxation times between homeopathically potentised and unpotentised Nitric acid (nit-ac) solutions previously reported by Conte, et al. Using similar instrumentation and experimental protocols, we have shown that it is likely that Conte's original results are attributable to experimental artifact originating in the glassware used for the manufacture of the NMR tubes.

This invitation for co-operation is addressed to all interested groups. Its purpose is data collection for clinical verification of symptoms from homeopathic proving and collection of clinical symptoms not derived from homeopathic pathogenetic trials (provings). To date no consensus exists on this topic. The European Committee for Homoeopathy (ECH) research sub-committee has created a working group on this topic. This paper is the result of a review of papers on the topic, exchanges between members and a meeting.

The European wolf spider, Lycosa tarentula, said to have caused the historical phenomenon of ‘tarantism’, is the official medicinal source of the homeopathic remedy Tarentula hispanica. Yet, scientific evidence links the spider's venomous effects with mild necrotic and minor systemic effects that contrast with the proving symptoms of Tarentula hispanica which show a cerebral and neural component. A comparative investigation by use of toxicological, clinical findings, supported by modern and antique biological texts, as well as homeopathic materia medica, traces the source of the remedy Tarentula hispanica to the Mediterranean widow spider Latrodectus tredecimguttatus, thus warranting a re-evaluation of pharmacological preparation.

Forty-one cases of Cushing's Disease affecting both equine and canine patients were treated with an identical mixture of two homeopathically prepared remedies (ACTH 30c and Quercus robur 30c), and the clinical improvements seen in the cases assessed. Homeopathy has been described as a medicine that can only be prescribed on the basis of individual symptoms shown, fitting the remedy to the patient, not the disease. The aim of this study was to define whether a standardised approach, using homeopathically prepared remedies, was a valid system of therapy for this disease, and if so, whether results were repeatable between species. The overall success rate for the therapy was 80% and results were broadly similar between the two species, indicating that homeopathy lends itself to the treatment of Cushing's Disease, and also to both cohort studies and group medicine.

Objective: To determine the extent to which two homeopaths agree on whether symptoms reported by patients in a proving are possibly associated with Mercurius solubilis.

Design: Blinded, inter-rater reliability study.

Participants: 104 subjects in a randomised, double-blind mercury proving.

Outcome measures: 557 symptom episodes spontaneously reported by subjects were classified as ‘mercury’ or ‘not mercury’ by two homeopaths working blind to each other's conclusions and to patient allocation.

Results: Initial agreement between homeopaths was 70.2%, a kappa of 0.39, (95% CI 0.31, 0.47). Some disagreements appear to have resulted from differing interpretations of the study instructions. After suitable correction, agreement was 76.5% and kappa 0.56 (95% CI 0.49, 0.63).

Conclusions: The study homeopaths had only a moderate level degree of agreement greater than that expected by chance. The main factor seems to have been differences between data from different sources. There is an urgent need for more research on the methods of choosing homoeopathic medicines in order to improve the reliability and validity of homoeopathic diagnoses.