Eeg Alpha Sensitization in Individualized Homeopathic Treatment of Fibromyalgia

Abstract

Fibromyalgia (FM) patients show evidence of sensitizability in pain pathways and electroencephalographic (EEG) alterations. One proposed mechanism for the claimed effects of homeopathy, a form of complementary medicine used for FM, is time-dependent sensitization (TDS, progressive amplification) of host responses. This study examined possible sensitization-related changes in EEG relative alpha magnitude during a clinical trial of homeopathy in FM. A 4-month randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind trial of daily orally administered individualized homeopathy in physician-confirmed FM, with an additional 2-month optional crossover phase, included three laboratory sessions, at baseline, 3 and 6 months (N = 48, age 49.2 +/- 9.8 years, 94% women). Nineteen leads of EEG relative alpha magnitude at rest and during olfactory administration of treatment and control solutions were evaluated in each session. After 3 months, the active treatment group significantly increased, while the placebo group decreased, in global alpha-1 and alpha-2 during bottle sniffs over sessions. At 6 months, the subset of active patients who stayed on active continued to increase, while the active-switch subgroup reversed direction in alpha magnitude. Groups did not differ in resting alpha. Consistent with the TDS hypothesis, sniff alpha-1 and alpha-2 increases at 6 months versus baseline correlated with total amount of time on active remedy over all subjects (r = 0.45, p = .003), not with dose changes or clinical outcomes in the active group. The findings suggest initiation of TDS in relative EEG alpha magnitude by daily oral administration of active homeopathic medicines versus placebo, with laboratory elicitation by temporolimbic olfactory stimulation or sniffing.

Effects of homeopathic medicines on polysomnographic sleep of young adults with histories of coffee-related insomnia

“…Waking EEG also has shown promise in documenting the effects of individualized homeopathic remedies on patient populations [59,60]. In the present study, it is notable that the PSG but not the actigraphic measures showed remedy effects above those attributable to placebo.…”

Short-term effects of repeated olfactory administration of homeopathic Sulphur or Pulsatilla on electroencephalographic alpha power in healthy young adults

“…910 Moreover, Bell et al previously demonstrated significant differences over time in waking EEG responses to repeated olfactory administration of individually-prescribed LM potency remedies versus placebo solvent in fibromyalgia patients. 11 No studies in human subjects have as yet reported waking EEG effects of specific remedies in the centesimal dilution series, in the context of a pathogenetic trial.…”

Effects of Homeopathic Medicines on Mood of Adults with Histories of Coffee-Related Insomnia

“…The major controversies over homeopathy have focused on skeptical claims that the higher-potency homeopathic remedies could not elicit specific effects through biological mechanisms. The full scope of the relevant issues is beyond the scope of this paper, but the current study and recent evidence from basic science, animal, human psychophysiology, and clinical observational trials [14][15][16][17][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42] suggest the need to take a closer look at claims and counter-claims in this field. Homeopathy as a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has always stirred strong debates over its plausibility and validity as a therapy.…”