Is evidence for homoeopathy reproducible?

• Published in: The Lancet (British edition) Vol. 344; no. 8937; pp. 1601 - 1606
• Main Authors: Reilly, D.T, Taylor, M.A, Campbell, J.H, Carter, R, Stevenson, R.D, Beattie, Ngm, McSharry, C, Aitchison, Tc
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier Ltd 10.12.1994; Lancet; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Allergens - immunology; Allergens - therapeutic use; Allergies; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Asthma; Asthma - physiopathology; Asthma - therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Clinical Protocols; Double blind studies; Double-Blind Method; False Positive Reactions; Female; Homeopathy; Humans; Immunity (Disease); Immunopathology; Immunotherapy; Immunotherapy (general aspects); Male; Medical research; Medical sciences; Mites - immunology; Respiratory function; Respiratory Mechanics; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal - therapy; Systematic review; Treatment Outcome; Human; Allergy; Immunopathology; Lung function; Treatment; Respiratory disease; Immunotherapy; Asthma; Homeopathy
• ISSN: 0140-6736; 1474-547X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(94)90407-3

Summary We tested, under independent conditions, the reproducibility of evidence from two previous trials that homoeopathy differs from placebo. The test model was again homoeopathic immunotherapy. 28 patients with allergic asthma, most of them sensitive to house-dust mite, were randomly allocated to receive either oral homoeopathic immunotherapy to their principal allergen or identical placebo. The test treatments were given as a complement to their unaltered conventional care. A daily visual analogue scale of overall symptom intensity was the outcome measure. A difference in visual analogue score in favour of homoeopathic immunotherapy appeared within one week of starting treatment and persisted for up to 8 weeks (p=0·003). There were similar trends in respiratory function and bronchial reactivity tests. A meta-analysis of all three trials strengthened the evidence that homoeopathy does more than placebo (p=0·0004). Is the reproducibility of evidence in favour of homoeopathy proof of its activity or proof of the clinical trial's capacity to produce false-positive results?