Northampton Electronic Collection of Theses and Research

Homeopathic pathogenetic trials produce specific symptoms different from placebo

Mollinger, H., Schneider, R. and Walach, H. (2009) Homeopathic pathogenetic trials produce specific symptoms different from placebo. Forschende Komplementarmedizin / Research in Complementary Medicine. 16(2), pp. 105-110.

Item Type: Article
Abstract: Introduction: Homeopathy uses information gathered from healthy volunteers taking homeopathic substances (pathogenetic trials) for clinical treatment. It is controversial whether such studies produce symptoms different from those produced by placebo. Objective: To test whether homeopathic preparations produce different symptoms than placebo in healthy volunteers. Methods: Three armed, double-blind, placebo controlled randomised experimental pathogenetic study in 25 healthy volunteers who took either one of two homeopathic remedies, Natrum muriaticum and Arsenicum album in 30CH or identical placebo. Main outcome parameter was the number of remedy-specific symptoms per group. Results: On average, 6 symptoms typical for Arsenicum album were experienced by participants taking arsenicum album, 5 symptoms typical for Natrum muriaticum by those taking natrum muriaticum, and 11 non-specific symptoms by those in the placebo group. Differences were significant overall (Kruskall Wallis test, p = 0.0002,) and significantly different from placebo (Mann-Whitney test, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Homeopathic remedies produce different symptoms than placebo.
Uncontrolled Keywords: Homeopathy, complementary and alternative medicines
Subjects: R Medicine > R Medicine (General) > R733 Alternative medicine
R Medicine > RX Homeopathy
Creators: Mollinger, H, Schneider, R and Walach, Harald
Publisher: Karger
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Centre > Centre for the Study of Anomalous Psychological Processes
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Health & Society > Psychology
Faculties > Faculty of Health & Society > Psychology
Research Centres > Centre for Psychology and Social Sciences
Date: 2009
Date Type: Publication
Page Range: pp. 105-110
Journal or Publication Title: Forschende Komplementarmedizin / Research in Complementary Medicine
Volume: 16
Number: 2
Language: German
Status: Published / Disseminated
Refereed: Yes
URI: http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/2051

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