Scientific proving of ultra high dilutions on humans.
Homeopathy
; 104(4): 322-7, 2015 Oct.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26678737
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Homeopathic drug provings or pathogenetic trials (HPTs) are the pillar of homeopathy. This review summarizes the authors' findings and interpretations derived from a series of homeopathic drug proving between 1994 and 2015. It gives an overview over a series of attempts to use modern scientific experimental methodology to answer the question, whether such HPTs produce symptoms in healthy volunteers that can be distinguished from placebo symptoms.METHODS:
Various experimental models were used repeated crossover trials with categorical data collection, and a single-case, randomised study. Final models use diligent qualitative data-collection in experienced volunteers. In those, raters decide whether symptoms are typical for a remedy delivered or not. The design is triple-blind and placebo-controlled.RESULT:
While previous attempts were inconclusive, this new model allowed to separate placebo symptoms from verum symptoms repeatedly in a series of two definitive studies following promising pilot studies. Results were statistically significant. Also, some signs of the purported non-local signature of homeopathic effects were visible, and the consequences for future methodology is discussed.CONCLUSION:
Provided some cautionary notes are taken into account, HPTs can be used to separate out true specific symptoms from placebo symptoms. By the same token this is a road to experimental proof that homeopathic remedies are not just placebos. However, this needs to be taken forward by independent groups.Key words
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Materia Medica
/
Homeopathy
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Homeopathy
Year:
2015
Type:
Article