Homeopathic Medicines Work No Better Than Placebo

"There is no good quality evidence to show that homeopathic remedies work better than a placebo," reveals a review by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Australia. The NHMRC report reviewed hundreds of published studies testing the effectiveness of homeopathic treatments for a total of 55 health conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, influenza-like illness, hot flashes, rhinosinusitis, ankle sprain, oral dryness, psychophysiological-onset insomnia, stress, dermatological reactions to radiotherapy, warts, osteoarthritis of the knee, chronic low back pain and upper respiratory tract infection.

Researchers found no reliable evidence that any of them really work. The report also stated that the studies on homeopathic remedies were typically poorly-designed and scientifically flawed, and their findings inconclusive at best. Homeopathy was found to be no more effective than a placebo in 13 health conditions. For 29 health conditions, there was just one study that compared homeopathy with placebo and it was determined to be poorly designed. Studies on 14 health conditions found some benefit from homeopathy, but the NHMRC review determined that the original studies were so flawed that the findings could not be trusted.

The researchers are concerned that without any such scientific proof many patients are being misled into wasting their money and worse, forgoing more effective treatment options.

Source-Medindia