Authors' objectives:

This bulletin aims to summarise the available evidence on the effectiveness of homeopathy.

Authors' recommendations: - Homeopathy is a system of treating patients using very low dose preparations according to the principle 'like should be cured with like'. - Increasing numbers of patients are seeking information on complementary medicines from NHS health professionals. It has been estimated that there are around 470,000 users of homeopathic remedies in England every year. - Given the large number of users, and the availability of homeopathy within the NHS, it is important to establish the effectiveness of homeopathy as a treatment. - The evidence base for homeopathy needs to be interpreted with caution. Many of the areas that have been researched are not representative of the conditions that homeopathic practitioners usually treat. Additionally, all conclusions about effectiveness should be considered together with the methodological problems of the research. - There is currently insufficient evidence of effectiveness either to recommend homeopathy as a treatment for any specific condition, or to warrant significant changes in the current provision of homeopathy.

Authors' methods: Systematic review

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/crd/ehcb.htm

Year Published: 2002

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: England

Organisation Name: University of York

Contact Address: University of York, York, Y01 5DD, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 1904 321040, Fax: +44 1904 321041,

Contact Name: crd@york.ac.uk

Contact Email: crd@york.ac.uk

Copyright: Centre for Reviews and Dissemination