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Studies in homeopathy before 1991 showed homeopathy was more effective than a placebo on a 2 to 1 basis. Part II of our series will examine some more recent studies.

One of the new homeopathic studies done by a Swiss-UK review team of 110 trials show homeopathy to have the same effect as a placebo. However, this study has many issues including researcher bias.

In part II of our series, many homeopathic trials will be examined after 1991. All trials will not be included. However, the better conducted trials with evidence or no evidence will be added.

Homeopathy Studies Below:

Placebo Effect Comparison With Homeopathy

A homeopathic study with 242 patients from the age 18 to 55 examined homeopathic effect on asthmatic people allergic to house dust. This trial was double blind and placebo controlled. The study showed homeopathy to be no better than a placebo. Some differences between the homeopathic group and placebo were present. However, this was not significant amount to change the trial results.

This trial was an effort to copy a favorable homeopathic study with allergies and asthma. The authors were not sure why the copied trial was failed. The first study was much smaller than the copied trial.

Randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of 126 children; 116 completed the study. Individualized homeopathic treatments improved digestive problems in children with acute childhood diarrhea. Results are consistent with findings of a previous study.

A trial with homeopathic arnica which examined whether this remedy can ease muscle soreness among long distance runners. 519 runners were in the trial with 400 people finishing the study. The study had a placebo group and homeopathic group. The study was randomized and double blinded. The authors showed no differences between the placebo group and the homeopathic group. The authors found arnica to have no effect on muscle soreness for long distance runners.

Homeopathic medicines seem to indicate a positive effect compared to a placebo during a rheumatic syndrome study. There were six controlled clinical trials done. However, there was an inadequate amount of trials to draw a conclusion and some trial outcomes were mixed.

Oscillococcinum shows the most promise out of all the homeopathic remedies. Many large studies proved Oscillococcinum was more effective than a placebo in shortening the duration of the flu. Oscillococcinum had a negative outcome on flu prevention.

Other successful trials on a smaller scale include perennial allergic rhinitis. The trials showed increased nasal flow as compared to the placebo. This was the fourth replication of this trial. It is noted the trial size was quite small.

In conclusion, more research needs to be done but some Homeopathic remedies are showing promising results in large double blinded placebo studies. Larger studies after 1991 showed approximately a 1 to 1 ratio of successful and not successful homeopathic trials.

Better quality studies before 1991 showed approximately a 2 to 1 ratio of sucessful trials. A couple of the trials have been reproduced in several studies. Oscillococcinum was the only study that we found that was reproduced successfully several times by different researches with a large study group.