A number of scientific research studies have been carried out to investigate,

a)     how well homeopathic treatment can help with insomnia, and

b)    whether homeopathic medicines influence sleeping patterns.

For example, a recently published double-blind randomised controlled trial (RCT) compared individualised homeopathic treatment of chronic primary insomnia with giving patients a placebo.¹ In this study the group receiving homeopathic treatment had a statistically significant improvement in their sleep during the four weeks after treatment began – a result which was not seen in the placebo group. An important strength of this study is that the intervention given truly reflected usual homeopathic practice (something which is relatively unusual in homeopathy research studies).

A limitation of the study is that it involved a small number of participants (30 people); a larger scale study is now needed to follow-up on these promising results to find out whether individualised homeopathic treatment is indeed a viable treatment option for this condition, as the study suggests.

A month-long placebo-controlled study carried out at the University of Arizona, found that the homeopathic medicines Nux vomica 30c and Coffea cruda 30c were able to alter the sleep patterns of college students with a history of coffee induced insomnia.² Results were obtained using polysomnography i.e. sensors placed on the patient to record physiological changes during sleep, such as electrical brain activity, eye and jaw movement and airflow.

Participants were pre-screened to ensure that the key homeopathic principle of ‘like cures like’ was followed i.e. only those whose symptoms suggested that they would be susceptible to either Nux-vomica or Coffea cruda were included in the trial, and each participant received the appropriate matching medicine.

The findings of this US study are similar to those reported in multiple placebo-controlled laboratory experiments on animals involving the same remedies (all in 30c strength); Coffea cruda and Nux vomica have been shown to have measurable effects on the sleep patterns of healthy rats^3,4,5 and Nux vomica can effect alcohol-induced sleep time in mice.^6,7

Other research studies have also found that secondary insomnia, associated with other fibromyalgia,⁸ menopause^9,10 and ADHD,¹¹ can also improve after homeopathic treatment.

References

1. Naudé DF, Couchman IMS, Maharaj A. Chronic primary insomnia: Efficacy of homeopathic simillimum. Homeopathy 2010; 99: 63-68
2. Bell IR, Howerter A, Jackson N, et al. Effects of homeopathic medicines on polysomnographic sleep of young adults with histories of coffee-related insomnia.  Sleep Med, 2010; Jul 27
3. Ruiz-Vega G, Perez-Ordaz L, Proa-Flores P, Aguilar-Diaz Y. An evaluation of Coffea cruda effect on rats. Br Homoeopathic J , 2000; 89:122–6
4. Ruiz-Vega G, Perez-Ordaz L, Leon-Hueramo O, Cruz-Vazquez E, Sanchez-Diaz N. Comparative effect of Coffea cruda potencies on rats. Homeopathy, 2002; 91:80–4
5. Ruiz-Vega G, Perez-Ordaz L, Cortes-Galvan L, Juarez-G FM. A kinetic approachto caffeine–Coffea cruda interaction. Homeopathy, 2003; 92: 19–29
6. Sukul A, Sinhabau SP, Sukul NC. Reduction of alcohol induced sleep time in albino mice by potentized Nux vomica prepared with 90% ethanol. Br Homoeopathic J, 1999; 88:58–61
7. Sukul NC, Ghosh S, Sinhababu SP, Sukul A. Strychnos nux-vomica extract and its ultra-high dilution reduce voluntary ethanol intake in rats. J Altern Complement Med, 2001; 7:187–93
8. Fisher P, Greenwood A, Huskisson EC et al. Effect of homoeopathic treatment on fibrositis (primary fibromyalgia). British Medical Journal, 1989, 299: 365–366
9. Bordet MF, Colas A, Marijnen P, Masson JL, Trichard M. Treating hot flushes in menopausal women with homeopathic treatment – Results of an observational study. Homeopathy, 2008, 97: 10-15

10.  Pellow J. Homoeopathic simillimum treatment of secondary insomnia in peri- and postmenopausal women. Johannesburg: Technikon Witwatersrand, 2002

11.  Strauss LC. The efficacy of a homeopathic preparation in the management of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Source Biomed Ther, 2000; 18(2):197-201

There is plenty of anecdotal evidence for the support of  homeopathic treatment to be found on the web. 

 Here are two such trailers for those of you that may be interested:

Both these reveal remarkable pieces of homeopathic practice, with two families discovering the power of homeopathy.

They are both well worth watching.  

Karen

At this time, the evidence to support the use of homeopathic prophylactics, that is, using homeopathic remedies as a preventative treatment, is largely anecdotal and therefore the use of this method is speculative.

The Society recommends that members of the public follow the advice given by their GP and/or relevant Department of Health guidelines concerning protection against disease whilst travelling.

The Society is making this statement in response to a BBC Newsnight programme (January 4^th) which contained inaccurate information about homeopathy and falsely suggested that Society of Homeopaths’ members routinely prescribe homeopathic medicines as a prevention for serious tropical diseases, as an alternative to conventional drugs.

The Society would also like to add that, contrary to statements made on the programme, there is a growing body of scientific research evidence which shows that homeopathy is effective beyond placebo in the treatment of patients suffering from a variety of conditions.¹ 

While there is some evidence to suggest that homeopathic medicines may be effective in preventing serious disease (e.g. a recent study in Cuba which suggests that homeoprophylaxis may be a ‘feasible tool’ for controlling epidemics of Leptospirosis)², the amount of evidence available is currently insufficient to justify the practice of homeoprophylaxis for malaria and other tropical disease.

With the devastating impact that serious tropical diseases have worldwide, and the side-effects associated with available drug treatments, The Society believes further research is essential.

In the programme, a brief hidden camera clip of a Society of Homeopaths member talking to a patient about the prevention of malaria was used. As a responsible professional body, the Society of Homeopaths will investigate any formal complaint made against a registered member, in accordance with its professional conduct procedures.

References:

1. British Homeopathic Association. The Research Evidence Base for Homeopathy. www.britishhomeopathic.org/export/sites/bha_site/research/evidencesummary.pdf [accessed, Dec 2010]

2. Bracho G et al. Large-scale application of highly-diluted bacteria for Leptospirosis epidemic control. Homeopathy, 2010; 99: 156-166

For further details please telephone 01664 434710

I often get calls asking if homeopathy is available on the NHS.  The situation is complicated:

If a Primary Care Trust (PCT ) agrees  to fund homeopathic treatment then your GP has the authority to refer you to a Homeopath.  The referral  is most likely to be to a Doctor Homeopath in one of the four NHS Homeopathic Hospitals.  The waiting lists for these tend to be long.

 ‘Patient voice’ suggests that patients might ask for a referral  to  another recommended Homeopath, namely those Registered with the Society of Homeopaths.   If this request is not granted then you have the right to appeal.   Sadly in most cases treatment needs to be paid for privately.  For a list of Private Health Insurance Companies that cover homeopathy and recognise members Registered by the Society of Homeopaths ,  please see the link below:

http://www.homeopathy-soh.org/about-homeopathy/funding-your-treatment.aspx

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

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.