Homeopathic Pathogenetic Trials Produce Specific Symptoms Different from Placebo

Abstract

Introduction: Homeopathy uses information gathered from healthy volunteers taking homeopathic substances (pathogenetic trials) for clinical treatment. It is controversial whether such studies produce symptoms different from those produced by placebo. Objective: To test whether homeopathic preparations produce different symptoms than placebo in healthy volunteers. Methods: Three armed, double-blind, placebo controlled randomised experimental pathogenetic study in 25 healthy volunteers who took either one of two homeopathic remedies, Natrum muriaticum and Arsenicum album in 30CH or identical placebo. Main outcome parameter was the number of remedy-specific symptoms per group. Results: On average, 6 symptoms typical for Arsenicum album were experienced by participants taking arsenicum album, 5 symptoms typical for Natrum muriaticum by those taking natrum muriaticum, and 11 non-specific symptoms by those in the placebo group. Differences were significant overall (Kruskall Wallis test, p = 0.0002,) and significantly different from placebo (Mann-Whitney test, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Homeopathic remedies produce different symptoms than placebo.

Multiweek Resting EEG Cordance Change Patterns from Repeated Olfactory Activation with Two Constitutionally Salient Homeopathic Remedies in Healthy Young Adults

“…Nonetheless, the present data raise the possibility of adding psychophysiologic EEG measures to self-reported symptom patterns in distinguishing effects of one homeopathic remedy from another in future homeopathic pathogenetic trials. 2,28,29,32 The phenomenon of time-dependent sensitization (TDS) may also be relevant to the current observations. 34 TDS is the progressive amplification of host response by intermittent repeated exposures to an initially low-dose agent or stressor.…”

“…The findings lend additional support to the growing literature demonstrating the ability to distinguish one homeopathic remedy from another, even at doses believed to be diluted beyond Avogadro's number, in both basic science 18,19,[60][61][62] and human studies. 28,29,32 The remedy received was confounded intentionally by the subject-selection process, which was designed to mirror homeopathic practice theory, 15 by preselecting and matching potentially reactive subjects to their respective remedies. Thus, the most conservative conclusion is that people who are Sulphur types and receive Sulphur show a different pattern of changes in their cordance-related prefrontal brain activity (e.g., perfusion) over time than do people who are Pulsatilla types and receive Pulsatilla.…”

“…Olfactory administration is a less widely used, but nonetheless accepted, mode of treatment. 27 The purpose of the present study was to extend the EEG cordance method to other aspects of homeopathic remedy research (i.e., the interaction of a phase I-like drug development study design in homeopathy-known as a proving or pathogenetic trial 28,29 -with individual differences in the neurophysiology of different constitutional types over time.…”

“…In pathogenetic trial research 28,29 relatively healthy human subjects take test doses of a remedy under blinded conditions and record their observations of symptoms for a period of 1-30 days. 30 The state dependency concept in homeopathy is that a substance that can cause symptoms in a healthy person can cure them in a sick person who has a similar presenting clinical pattern.…”

Effect of Orally Administered Potentized Capsaicin and Dihydrocapsaicin in Humans: A Homeopathic Pathogenetic Trial

“…According to the law of similars [3] introduced by Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, he recommends to ‘choose a medicine which can itself produce affection similar to that sought to be cured'. As per method, in a homeopathic pathogenetic trial (HPT) [4,5] the effects of potentized homeopathic preparation on healthy human volunteers are studied and carefully recorded under placebo-controlled, randomized double-blind conditions. Finally, these findings are compared with and prescribed for the set of symptoms in diseased individuals.…”