The Society of Homeopaths welcomes the Government’s response to the Science and Technology Committee report: Evidence Check 2: Homeopathy, July 2010.

In particular, the Society is glad to see the Government place the emphasis on Primary Care Trusts to choose whether to provide homeopathy on the NHS,  taking account of local need. The Society supports patients’ right to choose homeopathy as a treatment option

Zofia Dymitr, Society Chairwoman said: “We fully endorse the government’s statement “The Department of Health wholly supports the concept of the informed patient. The Society is aware of patient demand for homeopathy, and respects patients’ capacity to make informed choices about their healthcare.”

Society of Homeopaths registered members (RSHoms) meet robust education and registration standards and agree to practice in accordance with the Society’s Code of Ethics. The Society would like to see more patients having access to homeopathy on the NHS, and can provide the evidence that homeopathy is an effective and cost effective treatment option.

The Society also welcomes the report’s acknowledgement of the long tradition homeopathy has enjoyed in Europe, and that this Government, in line with EU policy, does not wish to constrain consumer choice, or to regulate homeopathic medicines at UK level.

To read the full report click here

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_117810

A new study, just published in the International Journal of Oncology, reveals that homeopathic remedies have a beneficial effect on breast cancer cells.

The study, which was done in Houston Texas, shows that certain homeopathic remedies have preferentially elevated cytotoxic (killing) effects on breast cancer cells – compared with cells derived from normal breast epithelium.

The team of researchers commented that the homeopathic remedies appeared to have similar activity to the activity of paclitaxel (Taxol), the most commonly used chemotherapeutic drug for breast cancer, without the toxic effect on the normal cells.

The experiments were conducted in triplicate and repeated at least twice for each remedy.  The homeopathic medicines tested included:  Carcinosin, 30C; Conium maculatum, 3C; Phytolacca decandra, 200C and Thuja occidentalis, 30C. The most effective remedies were found to be Carcinosin and Phytolacca.

The researchers concluded, “the ultra-diluted natural homeopathic remedies investigated in this study offer the promise of being effective preventive and/or therapeutic agents for breast cancer and worthy of further study.”

This is the first scientific study that investigated the effect of homeopathic remedies on breast cancer cells.

Dana Ullman, one of the best known writers on homeopathy stated: “This study raises the exciting possibility of a window of therapeutic opportunity for preferentially eliminating breast cancer cells with minimal damage to the surrounding normal mammary tissue by using homeopathic remedies”.

Cytotoxic effects of ultra-diluted remedies on breast cancer cells; Int J Oncol. 2010 Feb;36(2):395-403.