Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Individualized Homeopathic Medicines in Atopic Dermatitis in Adults: A Replication Trial with 6 Months' Follow-up

Abstract

Background Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic relapsing and remitting inflammatory skin disease that can have a significant impact on quality of life. During the last four decades, a rising trend in AD has been observed in India. Homeopathic medicines are claimed to be beneficial in AD; however, convincing research evidence has been lacking. We compared the efficacy of individualized homeopathic medicines (IHMs) against placebos in the treatment of AD. Methods In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 6 months' duration (n = 60), adult patients were randomized to receive either IHMs (n = 30) or identical-looking placebos (n = 30). All participants received concomitant conventional care, which included the application of olive oil and maintaining local hygiene. The primary outcome measure was disease severity using the Patient-Oriented Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis (PO-SCORAD) scale; secondary outcomes were the Atopic Dermatitis Burden Scale for Adults (ADBSA) and Dermatological Life Quality Index (DLQI) – all were measured at baseline and every month, up to 6 months. Group differences were calculated on the intention-to-treat sample. Results After 6 months of intervention, inter-group differences became statistically significant on PO-SCORAD, the primary outcome (−18.1; 95% confidence interval, −24.0 to −12.2), favoring IHMs against placebos (F 1, 52 = 14.735; p <0.001; two-way repeated measures analysis of variance). Inter-group differences for the secondary outcomes favored homeopathy, but were overall statistically non-significant (ADBSA: F 1, 52 = 0.019; p = 0.891; DLQI: F 1, 52 = 0.692; p = 0.409). Conclusion IHMs performed significantly better than placebos in reducing the severity of AD in adults, though the medicines had no overall significant impact on AD burden or DLQI.

Homeopathy for Symptoms both Common and Rare

“…1 The fact that 5% of the world's population is projected to have pre-diabetes by the year 2030 prompted Dr Nilanjana Guha and colleagues to undertake a randomised controlled trial (RCT) on the topic: compared with placebo, individually prescribed homeopathic medicines showed some improvement in fasting blood sugar levels, though not in glucose tolerance, indicating that homeopathy might offer modest benefit. 2 For the animal kingdom, mastitis-metritis-agalactia (MMA) is a commonly seen syndrome in post-partum sows: in an RCT of homeopathic prophylaxis, however, Dr Kathrin Büttner et al did not detect any improvement in occurrence of MMA in sows that received a combination of two specialised complex homeopathic remedies. 3 The issue's middle pages comprise two thoroughly conducted laboratory studies: one on toxicity assessment of Ferrum phosphoricum 4 ; the other on anti-glycation properties of Syzygium jambolanum on human serum albumin.…”

Homeopathy's Position in the Context of Integrative Medicine

“…2 In the second RCT, homeopathic medicines performed significantly better than placebos in reducing the severity of atopic dermatitis in adults. 3 Two review articles also feature in the list of contents: the first of those emphasizes the important contribution that well-informed homeopathy can make in the management of menopausal symptoms in an integrative health care setting 4 ; the second review presents a set of recommendations for designing, conducting and reporting clinical observational studies in homeopathic veterinary medicine. 5 This noteworthy issue of the journal continues with a comprehensive evaluation of selected plant-derived homeopathic medicines for their action against cervical cancer in a study that used both in-vitro and impressive in-silico (computer modelling) methods 6 and with an elegant veterinary case report article on the use of homeopathy to promote ovarian follicular development in two pythons.…”