The Rise and Rise of Homeopathy
Statement from the Faculty of Homeopathy in response to
Trick or Treatment by Simon Singh & Edzard Ernst
Simon Singh and Edzard Ernst have rehashed their well-known arguments against complementary medicine in order to enhance sales of their forthcoming book “Trick or Treatment”, by damning the science and ignoring the patients. They conclude that homeopathy does not work, having selected trials on paper, but they ignore evidence from the real world – the truth is patients get better with homeopathic treatment. Homeopathy has never been so popular; currently 15% of the population of Britain trust it(1) and over 30 million Europeans use it.
There are over 100 controlled trials of homeopathy, a tiny minority of which are negative – hardly the lack of data they claim(2,3). In 2005, the largest outcome study of homeopathic treatment reported that 70% of 6,500 follow-up patients, experienced improvement in their health. Eczema, asthma, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, depression and chronic fatigue syndrome – difficult chronic problems suffered by many people – all improved.(4)
Despite the lack of funding for homeopathy research, there is a healthy research culture. The British Homeopathic Association and the Faculty of Homeopathy are taking forward a number of research initiatives in the medical and dental professions, which will help give the public and healthcare purchasers the evidence they need in order to continue accessing homeopathy for a wide range of conditions.
Dr Sara Eames, President of the Faculty of Homeopathy, said, “The health service is increasingly patient-focused, yet the evidence presented by Singh and Ernst is more about statistics than people. If you consider the evidence from outcome studies, there can be no doubt that homeopathy is a safe and effective way of helping many people. I have worked as a GP but now choose to use homeopathy to help patients, many of whom have not responded to other treatments”.
Ends/....
References:
(1) Global TGI Barometer, January 2008; Issue 33.
(2) Mathie RT. The research evidence base for homeopathy: a fresh assessment of the literature. Homeopathy 2003; 92: 84-91.
(3) The Research Evidence Base for Homeopathy. Faculty of Homeopathy, 2007.
http://www.trusthomeopathy.org/pdf/Summaryofresearchevidence.pdf
(4) Spence DS, Thompson EA, Barron SJ. Homeopathic treatment for chronic disease: a 6 year university hospital outpatient observational study. Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine 2005; 11: 793-798.
Notes:
Members of the Faculty of Homeopathy are statutorily regulated health professionals who integrate homeopathy into their practice. They have conventional medical qualifications and additional postgraduate training in homeopathy. They are required to have current registration with their statutory body – in the case of doctors, with the GMC – and to undergo the same revalidation processes as their medical colleagues. They are able to prescribe both conventional and homeopathic medicine in the best interests - and with the full, informed consent - of their patients.
Contact details:
Bob Leckridge 0141 211 1600 (mob:07725613474)
Sally Penrose 0870 444 3949 (mob;07533913589)
