Efficacy of homeopathic arnica: a systematic review of placebo-controlled clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of homeopathic remedies has remained controversial. The homeopathic remedy most frequently studied in placebo-controlled clinical trials is Arnica montana. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the clinical efficacy of homeopathic arnica. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Computerized literature searches were performed to retrieve all placebo-controlled studies on the subject. The following databases were searched: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CISCOM, and the Cochrane Library. Data were extracted in a predefined, standardized fashion independently by both authors. There were no restrictions on the language of publications. RESULTS: Eight trials fulfilled all inclusion criteria. Most related to conditions associated with tissue trauma. Most of these studies were burdened with severe methodological flaws. On balance, they do not suggest that homeopathic arnica is more efficacious than placebo. CONCLUSION: The claim that homeopathic arnica is efficacious beyond a placebo effect is not supported by rigorous clinical trials.

Effect of Traumeel S, a homeopathic formulation, on blood-induced inflammation in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the activity of Traumeel S (TRS), a homeopathic formulation containing Arnica montana and other plant extracts and minerals on an animal model of traumatic inflammation. DESIGN: TRS and individual components thereof were administered locally to rats 1 h before hind-paw injection with 0.1 ml of homologous blood and the development of oedema was measured over five hours. In each experiment, a control group was treated with saline. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Paw volume of each rat was measured before oedema and 1, 3, and 5 h after oedema induction. Serum levels of IL-6 were determined at hour 5. RESULTS: The decrease of paw oedema, associated with the process of healing, was more rapid in rats treated with TRS (P < 0.05 after 3 h and P < 0.01 after 5 h). Similar effects were also induced by separate injection of most, but not all, TRS ingredients. The efficacy of complete mixture of TRS was higher than the combination of a selection of active components. TRS also reduced oedema development when administered after the oedema induction. The therapeutic effect of TRS was associated with a significant decrease of systemic interleukin-6 production. CONCLUSION: TRS seems to act by speeding up the healing process instead of blocking the development of oedema from the beginning. Moreover, its effect cannot be considered as the 'sum' of its active components and probably a synergistic interaction occurs to determine the final effect.

Homeopathic Arnica in postoperative haematomas: a double-blind study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether homeopathic Arnica can reduce postoperative haematomas in venous surgery. DESIGN: Randomized, prospective, multicentric, double-blind placebo-controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS: 130 consecutive patients undergoing saphenous stripping (204 legs), hospitalized in a clinic. INTERVENTIONS: A homeopathic medicine (Arnica CH5) and an indistinguishable placebo, administered sublingually by a nurse the night before and immediately after the operation. OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical evaluation of haematomas 6 days postoperatively. RESULTS: Groups were well matched (sex, age, history of bleeding or thrombosis, drug intake, previous intake of homeopathic drugs, type of operation and anaesthesia, operator). One drop-out has been replaced. No statistically significant difference in postoperative haematomas was found between the Arnica and placebo groups (p = 0.342). Subanalysis of all other items did not reveal any statistical difference either. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, with this dosage, we did not observe any preventive effect of homeopathic Arnica CH5 on poststripping haematomas.

A homeopatia no tratamento da hemorragia vitrea pos-traumatica / The homeopathy in the treatment of post traumatic vitreous hemorrhage

O autor descreve o caso de um paciente com hemorragia vitrea pos-traumatica, que nao obteve melhora com a terapeutica convencional ate o segundo mes de evolucao, e que apresentou resposta favoravel rapida e evolutiva apos inicio de terapeutica homeopatica. A evolucao foi documentada atraves de exames oftalmologicos e ultra-sonograficos(AU)

Protocolo pos-operatorio homeopatico em pan-histerectomia de cadelas e gatas / Homeopathic pos-surgical protocol of the ovariohisterectomia in canine and feline

A cirurgia mais comumente realizada na pratica clinica cirurgica veterinaria de pequenos animais e a pan-histerectomia e neste estudo foi avaliado o emprego de Arnica montana e Calendula officinalis durante o pos-operatorio visando demonstrar a sua aplicabilidade clinica na rotina do Servico de Obstetricia do Hospital Veterinario da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro. A utilizacao dos referidos medicamentos homeopaticos mostraram-se eficazes se constituindo numa conduta de facil utilizacao e de baixo custo de aquisicao. (AU)

Cost-effectiveness of homoeopathic treatment in a dental practice

Dentists who accept social security patients in Germany today are bound by a large number of rules and regulations which impose severe limits on their free choice of treatment, cost-effectiveness being a prime consideration. The treatment of acute conditions predominates in a modern compulsory insurance practice. The author analysed his own case record and the statistics provided by the KZV (association of dental practitioners for patients with compulsory insurance) for the period from 1983 to 1990 to establish the effect of introducing consistent use of homoeopathic treatment from the end fo 1984 on the frequency with which certain standard treatments were required. The results were compared with the average figures of other dentists and a computation made of potential economic advantages at a national level

Asphyxia of the new-born

Neonatology is characterised by waitingand acute interventions. In case of asphyxia of the newborn there is no time for repertorisation, -we need our remedies to be ready in our brain and in our pocket. Friedrich Graf gives us a differential of the commoly used medicines in that state

Materia medica clinica de los medicamentos con accion selectiva en traumatismos y heridas / Clinical materia medica of drugs with selective action in traumas an injuries

El proposito de este trabajo es acceder a una guia util y practica de los medicamentos que se utilizan con mas frecuencia para traumatismos y heridas

Anorexia infantil / Infantile anorexia

En esta publicacion se desarrolla especificamente el gran tema de la anorexia infantil. Se establecen en el las causas mas comunes que pueden determinar su aparicion, asi como la sintomatologia con la que habitualmente se expresa. Concluye el articulo con la lista de medicamentos mas comunmente utilizados dentro de nuestro arsenal teraperutico para tratarla con exito

Posibilidades de accion del pediatra homeopata frente al lactante amenazado de muerte subita inexplicable / Possibilities homeopathic pediatric action in infant

Este articulo aborda otras possibilidades etiologicas de la muerte subita inexplicable (MSI) del lactante y considera diferentes maneras de prevenir este sindrome. Tenemos en cuenta las modificaciones de la alimentacion, los traumas psiquicos sufridos durante el embarazo, los efectos de la contaminacion general y medica, la forma de parir asi como los principales remedios homeopaticos correspondientes a la amenaza de la MSI. La mayoria de los remedios homeopaticos de la MSI son remedios del terror (frigth, complaints from: K49) y algunos de la colera. (AU)

Medicamentos homeopaticos usados em ortopedia em dois casos clinicos / Homeopathic medecines used in two clinical cases of orthopedics

Os autores tratam da acao homeopatica propiciadora de uma melhor e, as vezes, surpreendente ajuda para a reparacao ossea, muscular e de vasos sanguineos traumatisados. Tratam, assim, de dois casos com evolucao muito boa, sem qualquer sequela, de politraumatismo com fratura de C2 e C3, sem lesao medular. As bases para o entendimento medico, da reparacao natural e da aao homeopatica sao aqui discutidas.(AU)

An experimental double-blind clinical trial method in homoeopathy

A small number of double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of homoeopathic treatment in rheumatological conditions have been carried out. These have used differing methodologies, leading to varying results. This paper describes a novel approach in the treatment of fibrositis, a syndrome which lacks a pathological definition, but is defined solely in terms of its symptomatology. 24 patients were prescribed for 3 months, according to indication, one of three homoeopathic remedies (Arnica, Bryonia, Rhus tox.), each patient remaining on the same remedy throughout. They were followed monthly on the following parameters: pain, number of tender spots and sleep. An "indication score" was allotted to each prescription. The results were analyzed by non-parametric statistical methods, showing that homoeopathy produced a statistically significant improvement, but only when the prescribed remedy was well indicated

Homoeopathy as a practical alternative to traditional obstetric methods

A clinical trial was carried out to determine the efficacy of predelivery homoeopathic and "traditional" prophylaxis of uterine inertia and post partum haemorrhage. Under our observation, there were 206 pregnant women characterized by high risk of uterine contractile function disturbances. The 1st group of pregnant women (n=102) received only homoeopathy. The 2nd group (n=104) received conventional medical preparations including oestrogenic hormones. We studied a use of homoeopathic drug complex possessing "relatively narrow range of influence". Clinical examination, foetal cardiomonitoring and ultrasound scanning were carried out in each case. The normal methods were used to treat uterine inertia, foetal distress and post partum haemorrhage. In our opinion homoeopathy can be an effective method for prophylaxis of disturbances of uterine contractile function in delivery and at the postnatal stage for pregnant women at high risk of complications

Materia médica clínica de los medicamentos con acción selectiva en traumatismos y heridas / Clinical materia medica of the medicaments most used for traumatisms and wounds

El propósito de este trabajo es acceder a una guía útil y práctica de los medicamentos que se utilizan con más frecuencia para traumatismos y heridas

El uso del ARNICA homeopatizado en el destete de los terneros / The use of homeopathized Arnica in the weaning of the bovine

Se describe el uso del Arnica homeopatizado en el destete de la especie bovina representada por las dos sub-especies (taurus e indicus)

Psora e historia biopatográfica / Psora and biopathographical history

En este trabajo se analiza la importancia del síntoma mental de la historia biopatográfica, como noxa desencadenante para despertar la Psora latente y hacerla manifiesta. Reconocer el valor de la jerarquización clásica, como manifestación orientadora de las connotaciones miasmáticas del paciente. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar de qué manera aplicar el tema de las miasmas para utilizarlo con provecho en la práctica diaria

Les hautes dilutions dans les etats aigus / High potencies in acute diseases

A partir de sept observations, l'auteur justifie l'emploi des hautes dilutions dans les etats aigus, precise les regles d'application et cite les principaux medicaments qui lui ont paru, dans sa pratique, etre d'une reguliere fidelite, utilises en dilutions elevees

Homoeopathy in the treatment of haemophilia

Six patients with haemophilia were treated with homoeopathic medicines. A rational attempt has been made to improve their general health, cope with side effects of Factor VIII, cut down the bleeding episodes and reduce the amount of Factor VIII needed. This has necessitated a search of the homoeopathic literature (British Homoeopathic Journal) and a study of the repertories and materia medicas. Each patient treated has had aspects of his health improved, and the overall impression is that less Factor VIII was needed