Overview of the current state of the research in Homeopathy

Overview of the current state of the research in Homeopathy

اسلاید 1: www.tabaye.ir

اسلاید 2: Overview of the current state of the research in HomeopathyDr Alexander TournierBSc Cantab PhD LCHE RSHom

اسلاید 3: AimsTo show that science and homeopathy are indeed compatibleTo present evidence coming from different fields of scienceTo present Homeopathy Research Institute

اسلاید 4: Definition of ‘Science’“Any system of knowledge that is concerned with the physical world and its phenomena and that entails unbiased observations and systematic experimentation. ”Encyclopaedia Britannica

اسلاید 5: Scientific discovery processObservationExperimentationTheoriesUnderstandingScience ofHomeopathy

اسلاید 6: Unscientific argumentation“Homeopathy does not work … … because it cannot work”is not scientific, as it is not grounded in observation

اسلاید 7: Science of homeopathyHahnemann built homeopathy following a rigorous scientific approach:Experimentation Provings Clinical experienceTheories and conceptsLaw of similarsPrinciple of dilutionConcept of the vital force

اسلاید 8: Different scientific approachesPharmaceutical modelScreeningMechanismTrials of efficacyEffectiveness in practiseSafetyCAM modelPracticeSafetyEffectivenessEfficacy of componentsMechanism of actionAdapted from Fonnebo etal BMC Med Res Meth 2007 11(7) 7

اسلاید 9: Homeopathy: a new scienceAdhami H.R. , S.Shamloo D., Mesgarpour B., H.Tehrani S.A.“The trend of homeopathic articles indexed in pubmed and ISI” LMHI 2008Number of scientific publications over the last 20 year

اسلاید 10: Scientific evidence in HomeopathyMaterials sciencesMolecular and cellular systemsAnimal studiesHuman studies

اسلاید 11: Evidence from Material SciencesNMR evidence (5/5 Hi-Qt* pub) Low temp thermoluminescenceRaman and UV-Vis SpectroscopyDielectric strengthReview: C Witt etal J Alt Comp Med 2003 9:1, 113-32*Quality assessed using SAPEH scores, high-quality > 6

اسلاید 12: Molecular and cellular systemsEnzymatic reactions (7/9 Hi-Qt* pub)Cultured cells (5/9 Hi-Qt pub) Basophil degranulation (8/11 Hi-Qt pub)*Quality assessed using SAPEH scores, high-quality > 6C Witt etal Comp Ther Med, 2007 15 128-38

اسلاید 13: Animal systemsOne review in 1998 (no access)One review in immunology in 2006 Immunostimulation (16 pub)Immunoregulation, inflammatory processes (20 pub)No systematic review in this area despite wide use and high number of experimentsEffect of thyroxin on frog development 

اسلاید 14: Human trials134 RCT have been published59 (44%) positive 67 (50%)neutral (small effect) 8 (6%) negative23 systematic reviews10 positive 8 non-conclusive 5 little or no evidenceP. Fisher ‘Research in Homoeopathy: Who needs it’ LMHI 2008

اسلاید 15: Only one review up to 1995 More recent trials are of higher qualityNeed a review of the recent provingsNeed more trialsHuman provings or Human pathogenetic trials

اسلاید 16: Human provings A successful exampleAdapted from H. Möllinger ‘Homeopathic Drug Provings between historical and scientific demand’ LMHI 2008 Associated p = 0.0002

اسلاید 17: Meta-analyses*Included in UK DARE (Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects)

اسلاید 18: Conclusions based on comparison of 8 homeopathy vs. 6 conventional medicine trials, not 110 vs. 110Criteria for selection of 8 high-quality trials were not given and no references were givenDoes not conform with QUOROM guidelines for systematic reviewsNot classified as a systematic review by UK DARE (Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects)Shang etal 2005 Meta-analysis

اسلاید 19: Levels of evidenceLevel I meta-analyses and/or systematic reviewsLevel IIa multiple controlled, randomised experimentsLevel IIb some controlled, randomised experimentsLevel IIIa studies with multiple cohortsLevel IIIb some cohort studiesLevel IV opinion of expertsFrom Michel van Wassenhoven LMHI 2008

اسلاید 20: Levels of evidenceMaterial sciencesIIa+ (one systematic review)Molecular and cellular IIa+ (one systematic review)Animals IIIa / IIb

اسلاید 21: Levels of evidence for human trialsMichel van Wassenhofen, ECH publication LMHI 2008

اسلاید 22: Problems with RCTsDBRCT are currently the gold standard of medical researchHowever, they are not well adapted to research in complementary medicineNot in line with standard practiceComparative trials

اسلاید 23: ConclusionsA lot of scientific evidence existsHowever, a lot of it is still of low qualityNeed more studies, esp. animal studiesMany questions remain Still need a lot of research

اسلاید 24: Homeopathy Research InstituteAims:To perform and promote high-quality scientific research in homeopathyTo collate, clarify and disseminate the existing scientific evidence in homeopathy

اسلاید 25: Homeopathy Research InstituteScientific committee Dr Alexander Tournier PhD Clare Relton MSc Dr Robert Mathie PhD Dr Elizabeth Thompson BAOxon MBBS MRCP FFHom Prof. Kate Thomas Dr Lionel Milgrom PhD Dr Mike Emmans Dean PhD Dr Nagin Lad PhD Dr Natasa Peric-Concha PhD Dr Patti Bayliss MBChB FRCGP

اسلاید 26: Homeopathy Research InstituteCurrent projectsCurated database of research articlesNational survey of homeopathy practiceScientific expertise for new research projectsHomeopathy use in breast cancer patientsMembership scheme

اسلاید 27: Thank youFor more information:alextournier@homeoinst.orgwww.homeopathyresearchinstitute.org