Classical Homeopathic Treatment of Chronic Headaches

Abstract

We conducted a randomized, placebo‐cor rolled, double‐blind clinical trial in order to determine the efficacy of classical homeopathic therapy in patients with chronic headaches. After 6 weeks of baseline observation, patients received either the prescribed individualized homeopathic medication or an indistinguishable placebo for 12 weeks. Outcome parameters were headache frequency, duration, and intensity, measured daily by diary. Use of medication for acure headache was also monitored. Of the 98 patients in the sample, 37 were randomized to receive placebo, 6l received individualized homeopathic remedies. Groups were comparable at the beginning of the treatment. The median age was 48.5 years; 76% suffered from migraine, 51% from tension‐type headaches, and 94% were previously treated for headache. The median headache frequency was 3 days a week. Headaches were present for 23 years (median). In both groups, patients showed an improvement of one headache day less per month. The use of medication for acute headache was reduced. The headache frequency of 11 patients was reduced by more than 40%. Thirty‐nine patients either did not improve or experienced aggravations. There was no significant difference in any parameter between homeopathy and placebo.

Homeopathic Treatment of Chronic Headache (ICD-9: 784.0) – a Prospective Observational Study with 2-Year Follow-Up

“…In contrast, the only randomised Witt/Lüdtke/Willich controlled trial [11] that included non-migraine headaches (98 patients, any type of chronic headache except post-traumatic, treated for 12 weeks) saw no difference from placebo. Its patients were older than our patients (median verum group = 51 years, median placebo group = 46 years; our study: median = 37.5 years) and had suffered from migraine and/or headache for much longer (mean = 29 years, median = 23 years; our study: median = 14.5 years).…”

“…To date, only studies on migraine or studies including any type of cephalalgia have been reported [10][11][12][13][14], only the earliest work [10] (60 patients, chronic migraine, last assessment after 4 months) found superiority in the verum group (in frequency, intensity, duration, spontaneous resolution). Neither Walach [11,12] (98 patients, any type of chronic headache except post-traumatic, treatment duration 12 weeks) nor Whitmarsh [13] (64 patients, migraine, treatment duration 3 months) nor Straumsheim [14] (64 patients, migraine, treatment duration 4 months) found any significant effect beyond placebo.…”

Randomisierte, kontrollierte Parallelgruppenstudie zur Untersuchung der Wirksamkeit der manuellen Lymphdrainage und klassischen Massage zur Prophylaxe der Migräne mit und ohne Aura

“…Die bisher durchgeführten prospektiven Placebo-kontrollierten Studien ergaben keinen Hinweis auf eine Wirksamkeit der Homöopathie (Walach et al 1997, Whitmarsh et al 1997, Ernst 1999, Straumscheim et al 2000.…”

A critical review of the possible benefits associated with homeopathic medicine

“…Many good quality studies of the last 12 years have yielded negative results, for instance, concerning systematic reviews and meta-analyses [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] ; infections of the upper respiratory tract and allergic rhinitis 12,13 ; post-operative ileus 14 ; asthma 15 ; warts [16][17][18] ; pain relief and muscle soreness [19][20][21][22][23] ; treatment of adenoid vegetation 24 ; chronic headache [25][26][27][28] ; ear inflammation 29,30 ; eczema 31 ; arthritis 32,33 ; bruising 34,35 ; anxiety 36 ; "provings" (see below) with belladonna, arnica, Pulsatilla and mercury [37][38][39][40][41] and "aggravations" ("good" worsening of symptoms, said by homeopaths to precede patient recovery) 42 . Detailed comments on many of these studies are published 2,5,43 .…”