A pilot study evaluating the efficacy of homoeopathy in daily practice

This longitudinal observational study examines the efficacy of classical homoeopathic treatment in daily practice. This was done in a single practice in Amsterdam over 3 years. Satisfaction was measured relative to the previous consultation. Patients were selected on diagnostic group, age and sex. Satisfaction was determined by predefined factors. Single homoeopathic medicines were given in potencies ranging from 30cK to 10MK. 3 diagnostic groups scored a statistically highly significant success compared to the predefined 40//success rate. Treatment satisfaction was higher in children than adults. The method gives the physician and colleagues insight into the incidence, indications and results of homoepathic prescribing in daily practice. Validity can be improved by including a greater number of practices and by extended statistical processing of the data

International perspectives in education

The Executive Dean of the Faculty of Homoepathy describes recent developments in the Faculty's international relationships. There are plans to establish the MFHom examination in India. The Special Committee for Education of the LMHI has organized discussions aimed at harmonizing standards of education for homoeopathic doctors throughout Europe. The present situation of homoeopahty in a number of European countries is summarized and the future plans and role of the Faculty of Homoeopathy are presented

Lessons learnt from an unsuccessful clinical trial of homoeopathy

In a randomized, double-blind study, the effects of individualized homoeopathy in patients suffering from proctocolitis were investigated. The study was controlled against conventional therapy and placebo. Individually indicated homoeopathic medicines were prescribed in the 30c, 200c or 1.000c potencies. The researches did not succeed in attracting sufficient numbers of participants to arrive at statistically significant conclusions. The total number of patients in the three combined groups was only 20, which was far below the target figure. The causes of this are discussed. Bowel habit and subjective parameters were assessed by a weekly health calendar. This calendar had not been previously validated. The conventional group scored best: eight out of ten patients completed the year of research and improved both with regard to their proctocolitis and their general well-being

Principles of homoeopathic education - Part I

This excellent training programme, also known as the "Holand Model" has been an inspiration for many other homoeopathic schools in different countries as well as for the educational committee of the Liga Medicorum Homoepathic Internationalis L.M.H.I. The program shows the possibility of using a highly didactical approach without, at any time, deviating from the basic principles of homeopathy. With a lot of work the difficulties of communicating the homoeopathic principles to an allopathically trained mind has been studied and met by this well thought out teaching model. In this way the content has not been adjusted to the didactical aims but rather the didactical tools have been adapted to optimise the communication of homoeopathic knowledge and to the studying and memorizing of it

In vitro effects of Viscum album preparations on human fibroblasts and tumor cell lines

The effects of several preparations of Iscador, a commercially obtainable extract of mistletoe, Viscum album L., on cell proliferation and cell viability was studied. Iscador Quercus was shown to inhibit cell proliferation of: human fibroblast cell lines, mouse tumour cell lines, human carcinoma tumour cell lines and a human lymphoblastic tumour cell line. Iscador Quercus, Iscador Ulnus and Iscador Malus were about equally cytostatic to mouse 3T3 fibroblasts. Iscador Pinus was somewhat less cytostatic. Iscador Quercus had a very direct cytotoxic effect on MOLT4 tumour cells as assessed by trypan blue dye exclusion. The cytostatic and cytotoxic properties of Iscador could be annulled by heating Iscador form 30 min. at 90 "graus"C. Iscador reduced the cloning efficiency of ASG experiments it can be concluded that a small percentage of CHO cells is insensitive to high concentrations of Iscador at short incubation times. The importance of these findings in relation to the cytostatic and cytotoxic compounds possibly present in Iscador is discussed