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9 August 2010
Large scale Cuban study indicates homeopathy's prophylactic capacity to prevent Leptospirosis
In a large population study carried out in Cuba homeopathic prophylaxis has been shown to substantially reduce the normally widespread epidemic of Leptospirosis that occurs after the rainy season there. In areas where the prophylaxis was not applied the normal levels of contagion and infection occurred. The abstract and full details of the study are available through:
UK Govt. Maintains Patient Access to Homeopathy in the NHS
In its formal response to the UK Parliament House of Commons Science and TechnologyCommittee report on homeopathy, the UK Government has responded by underlining the principle that patients should be able to make informed choices about their treatment and GPs have the right of therapeutic plurality on their patients' behalf.
At the end of a deeply faulted enquiry process, the UK House of Commons Science and Technology Committee recommended in March that homeopathy should no longer be available on the NHS, provided in facilities such as the outpatient clinics of the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital.
The Committee's report said the absence of evidence of homeopathy’s efficacy meant it should not be available on the NHS. Promoted under headlines such as 'MPs recommend the stopping of homeopathy', the report was the result of a hasty enquiry process initiated and driven through by one sceptic MP, carried out by less than 10 MPs and finally signed off by only 3 MPs, two of whom did not even participate in the enquiry process. The sceptic MP lost his seat in the May UK Parliamentary elections.
In its response to the Report, the Government said: ‘We believe in patients being able to make informed choices about their treatments, and in a clinician being able to prescribe the treatment they feel most appropriate in particular circumstances, within the regulatory and guidance frameworks by which they are bound.’
It added: ‘Our continued position on the use of homeopathy within the NHS is that the local NHS and clinicians, rather than Whitehall, are best placed to make decisions on what treatment is appropriate for their patients - including complementary or alternative treatments such as homeopathy - and provide accordingly for those treatments.'
A copy of the Government's response can be obtained at:
In an EU-funded research project, researchers found results indicating that homeopathy might protect cows against potential udder infection. Over 100 cows from 13 Swiss organic dairy farms received either homeopathic remedies, internal teat seal or no treatment. Results showed a nine-fold chance of protection of cows with higher levels of leucocytes that received homeopathic remedies, compared to control. Cows treated with internal teat seal were only marginally better compared to control.
The potential risk of development of antibiotic resistant micro-organisms, the risk of chemical drugs ending up in the food chain and increasing consumer demand has forced farmers and veterinarians to look for alternatives to antibiotics. Alternatives to antibiotics include internal and external teat sealing, but results indicate only temporary effects or these approaches. Homeopathy is one preferred method of treating mastitis in organic farming. Farmers rely on homeopathy as it is easily administered, inexpensive and does not require withholding of milk after treatment.
In this trial milk samples were taken before and after treatment, and 102 cows were randomly allocated to three different treatment groups: teat sealing (Orbeseal®), homeopathy and control (no treatment). Homeopathic remedies were administered in the 6x potency over a 10 day period, and were selected after consideration of the predominant cow type in each of the 13 herds. One out of eight remedies were prescribed for each heard (Merc, Lach, Sulph, Calc, Calc-p, Puls, Sep, Sil). In addition, Silica 6x was given to all cows at the end of the treatment cycle. The choice of a herd-specific homeopathic remedy was based on the observation that individuals within a herd show similar behaviour, disease profiles and constitutional traits, as well as being subject to similar environmental conditions. The authors do however speculate on whether a more individualised approach could have led to greater effects.
The total number of cows included in this trial is somewhat low to draw firm conclusions, but further research is warranted as homeopathic treatment might be an effective alternative to teat sealing, it is an environmental friendly alternative to antibiotics, and may play a significant role in veterinary medicine.
Reference:
Klocke P, Ivemeyer S, Butler G, Maeschli A, Heil F. A randomized controlled trial to compare the use of homeopathy and internal Teat Sealers for the prevention of mastitis in organically farmed dairy cows during the dry period and 100 days post-calving. Homeopathy 2010, 99: 90-98.
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