A Pilot, Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Individualized Homeopathy for Symptoms of Estrogen Withdrawal in Breast-Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Improvements were seen for symptom scores over the study period. However, presuming these improvements were caused by the individualized homeopathic approach, the study failed to show clearly that the specific effect of the remedy added further to the nonspecific effects of the consultation. Future trial design must ensure adequate power to account for the nonspecific impact of such complex individualized interventions while pragmatic designs may more readily answer questions of clinical and cost effectiveness.

Methodological quality of patient-reported outcome research was low in complementary and alternative medicine in oncology

“…Six studies involved alternative medical systems [18][19][20][21][22][23], 14 involved mind body interventions [24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38], 15 dealt with biologically based therapies [39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53], seven involved manipulative and body-based methods [54][55][56][57][58][59][60], and two energy therapies [61,62]. A large number of scrutinized studies (overall 495) were not included in the final selection as they were not randomized, did not use a PRO measure or the intervention was not among the list of CAM to be included.…”

EMAS position statement: Non-hormonal management of menopausal vasomotor symptoms

“…A randomized control trial assessing the use of individualized oral homeopathic medicine has failed to show significant differences between the groups, though significant improvements were noticed in both groups, perhaps due to the effect of the consultation alone [51].…”

Complementary Therapies in Breast Cancer Patients

“…The scientific evidence on homeopathy is not sufficient, and further trials are necessary. In the hands of a responsible physician, homeopathy can, however, constitute an important complementary method in single cases, in the frame of a holistic tumor therapy approach, also in view of the good safety profile and of the few studies that indicate a high degree of patient satisfaction under homeopathic treatment [41,42].…”