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Narrative Review

Evidence-based human homeopathy and veterinary homeopathy, and their potential to help overcome the problem of antibiotic resistance – an overview

You can find the full article at the following link:

https://sat.gstsvs.ch/fileadmin//datapool_upload/IgJournal/Artikel/SAT_10_2020_Weiermayer_EN_03.pdf

Short Summary

Prof Michael Frass, Dr Thomas Peinbauer, Dr Liesbeth Ellinger and Dr Petra Weiermayer, two human physicians and two veterinarians, have written a narrative review in the spirit of „One Health“ entitled „Evidence-based human homeopathy and veterinary homeopathy, and their potential to help overcome the problem of antibiotic resistance – an overview „, which has been published in the Swiss Archives of Veterinary Medicine. 1

The authors clarify the factual situation, which shows evidence for the effectiveness of human and veterinary homeopathy in general, and in homeopathic treatment of infections in particular.  On the basis of evidence, they criticize the approach taken in the second Australian NHMRC (National Health and Medical Research Council) Report and the EASAC (European Academies Science Advisory Council) Statement.2, 3 

This review serves, among other things, as a foundation for a cooperation with universities in Austria, Germany and Switzerland regarding research projects to evaluate the potential of homeopathy and phytotherapy for the reduction of antibiotics. In view of the demands of the European Green Deal (Farm2Fork Strategy) and the EU Organic Regulation 2018/848:

  1. to reduce the use of antibiotics by 50% throughout the EU by 20304
  2. to increase the number of organic farms in the EU from 8% to 25% by 20304
  3. to give preference to homeopathy and phytotherapy in organic farms before conventional medicines including antibiotics are used5

the application of these complementary medical disciplines in the sense of integrative veterinary medicine, i.e. to combine conventional and complementary medical therapy procedures („best practices“), is proactive and innovative.

The conclusion of the narrative review clearly discusses the legal and scientific foundations of homeopathy. Evidence level 1a studies are reviewed regarding external evidence on the general use of human and veterinary homeopathy, and, when focusing on external evidence on the use of homeopathy in infections, some evidence level 1a, 1b, 2c studies are described in more detail.  They conclude: 

„The current national laws (Switzerland, Austria, Germany) and EU legislation guarantee the quality and safety of homeopathic medicinal products as well as the safety of homeopathic therapies carried out lege artis.6 – 14

Evidence for the effectiveness of human and veterinary homeopathy in general, and in particular in the treatment of infections, is sufficiently proven for further research in this field. Five of the six meta-analyses on different indications up to 2014 (see Table 2) concluded that the effectiveness of homeopathic therapy differs from placebo.15 – 19 Only the systematic review with meta-analysis of 2005 as well as the second Australian NHMRC Report and the EASAC Statement, where more than 90% of the studies were excluded from the analysis in each case, did not show any effectiveness of homeopathy beyond placebo.20, 2, 3 A review in 2013 already confirmed that more than 90% of all studies must be excluded in order to conclude that homeopathy is not effective.21  Individualized homeopathy especially demonstrates effects at all quality levels according to Cochrane criteria, even in the methodologically high-quality studies. Obviously non-scientific interests consequently led to misinformation about homeopathy.22

In addition to studies on the proof of effectiveness of homeopathy for infections, data from health care research, so-called Real World Data, show the potential for a significant reduction in the use of antibiotics through homeopathic treatments (see Table 3). Not least because of the global threat posed by the problem of antibiotic resistance, further methodologically high-quality studies are urgently needed in human homeopathy just as in veterinary homeopathy.

Implementation of studies at university facilities is a prerequisite for quality assurance, which can only be achieved by integrating complementary medicine including homeopathy at the universities. This absolutely necessary consequence and demand in the interest of the patients is already asserted by the American Consensus Guideline for university continuing education in integrative veterinary medicine and is legally anchored in Switzerland according to the Medical Professions Act for teaching and research at the university. 23, 24“1

References

  1. Weiermayer, P., Frass, M., Peinbauer, T., Ellinger, L. (2020): Evidence-based human homeopathy and veterinary homeopathy, and their potential to help overcome the problem of antibiotic resistance – an overview. 162(10): 597-615.
  2. NHMRC Information Paper, Evidence on the effectiveness of homeopathy for treating health conditions. Australian Government National Health and Medical Research Coun­cil. 2015. Canberra, Australia. https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/sites/default/files/images/nhmrc-information-paper-effectiveness-of-homeopathy.pdf (last accessed 20.10.2021).
  3. European Academies Science Advisory Council. Homeo­pathic products and practices: assessing the evidence and ensuring consistency in regulating medical claims in the EU, 2017. Halle, Germany. https://easac.eu/fileadmin/PD­F_s/reports_statements/EASAC_Homeopathy_Statement.jpg (last accessed 20.10.2021).
  4. European Green Deal. Organic farming – action plan for the development of EU organic production. EU Commission. Brüssel, Belgien. https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12555-Action-plan-for-the-development-of-EU-organic-production (last accessed 20.10.2021)
  5. Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Council Regu­lation (EC) No 834/2007. Brussels, Belgium. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32018R0848 (last accessed 20.10.2021).
  6. Bundesgesetz über Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte (Heilmittelgesetz, HMG), Änderung vom 18.3.2016. Bern, Switzerland. https://www.admin.ch/opc/de/federal-gazette/2016/1953.pdf (last accessed 20.10.2021).
  7. Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, homöopathische Arzneimittel. Berlin, Germany. https://www.bfarm.de/DE/Aktuelles/Schwerpunktthemen/Homoeopathische-Arzneimittel/_artikel.html (last accessed 20.10.2021).
  8. Bundesrecht konsolidiert: Gesamte Rechtsvorschrift für Arzneimittelgesetz, Version of 20.10.2021. Vienna, Austria. https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfra­ge=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10010441 (last accessed 20.10.2021).
  9. Bundesrecht konsolidiert: Gesamte Rechtsvorschrift für Tierarzneimittelkontrollgesetz, version of 20.10.2021. Vienna, Au https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10010441 (last accessed 20.10.2021).
  10. Directive 2001/83/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 November 2001 on the Community Code relating to Medicinal Products for Human Use. Brussels, Belgium. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/regulatory-procedural-guideline/directive-2001/83/ec-european-parliament-council-6-november-2001-community-code-relating-medicinal-products-human-use_en.pdf (last accessed 20.10.2021).
  11. Gesetz über den Verkehr mit Arzneimitteln (Arzneimittel­gesetz – AMG). Berlin, Germany. https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/amg_1976/index.html (last accessed 20.10.2021).
  12. Council Directive 92/73/EEC of 22 September 1992 wi­dening the scope of Directives 65/65/EEC and 75/319/EEC on the approximation of provisions laid down by Law, Re­gulation or Administrative Action relating to medicinal products and laying down additional provisions on homeopathic medicinal products. Brussels, Belgium. Repealed by Directive 2001/83/EC. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32001L0083 (last accessed 20.10.2021).
  13. Verordnung des Schweizerischen Heilmittelinstituts über die vereinfachte Zulassung und das Meldeverfahren von Komplementär- und Phytoarzneimitteln (Komplementär-und Phytoarzneimittelverordnung, KPAV) of 7.9.2018. Bern, Switzerland. https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/oc/2018/591/de (last accessed 20.10.2021).
  14. Regulation (EU) 2019/6 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on veterinary medicinal products and repealing Directive 2001/82/EC. Brussels, Belgium. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32019R0006&qid=1632312542577 (last accessed 20.10.2021).
  15. Kleijnen, J., Knipschild, P., Ter Riet, G. (1991): Clinical trials of homeopathy. BMJ 302(6772): 316-23.
  16. Linde, K., Clausius, N., Ramirez, G., Melchart, D., Eitel, F., Hedges, L.V., Jonas, W.B. (1997): Are the clinical effects of homeopathy placebo effects? A meta-analysis of pla­cebo-controlled trials. Lancet 350(9081): 834–843.
  17. Linde, K., Scholz, M., Ramirez, G., Clausius, N., Melchart, D., Jonas, W.B. (1999): Impact of study quality on outcome in placebo-controlled trials of homeopathy. J Clin Epide­miol 52(7): 631–636.
  18. Cucherat, M., Haugh, M.C., Gooch, M., Boissel, J.P. (2000): Evidence of clinical efficacy of homeopathy. A meta-ana­lysis of clinical trials. HMRAG. Homeopathic Medicines Research Advisory Group. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 56(1): 27–33.
  19. Mathie, R.T., Lloyd, S.M., Legg, L.A., Clausen, J., Moss, S., Davidson, J.R.T., Ford, I. (2014a): Randomised placebo-controlled trials of individualised homeopathic treatment: systematic review and meta-analysis. Syst Rev 3: 142.
  20. Shang, A., Huwiler-Müntener, K., Nartey, L., Jüni, P., Dörig, S., Sterne, J.A.C., Pewsner, D., Egger, M. (2005): Are the clinical effects of homeopathy placebo effects? Comparative study of placebo-controlled trials of homeopathy and allopathy. Lancet 366(9487): 726–32.
  21. Hahn, R.G. (2013): Homeopathy: meta-Analysis of pooled clinical data. Forsch Komplement 20(5): 376–81.
  22. Matthiessen, P. (2018): Homöopathie und intellektuelle Redlichkeit – Eine Stellungnahme. Dtsch Zeitschrift für Onkol 50: 172–7.
  23. Memon, M.A., Shmalberg, J., Adair, H.S.3rd, Allweiler, S., Bryan, J.N., Cantwell, S., Carr, E., Chrisman, C., Egger, C.M., Greene, S., Haussler, K.K., Hershey, B., Holyoak, G.R., Johnson, M., Le Jeune, S., Looney, A., McConnico, R.S., Medina, C., Morton, A.J., Munsterman, A., Nie, G.J., Park, N., Parsons-Doherty, M., Perdrizet, J.A., Peyton, J.L., Raditic, D., Ramirez, H.P., Saik, J., Robertson, S., Sleeper, M., Van Dyke, J., Wakshlag, J. (2016): Integrative veterinary medical education and consensus guidelines for an integrative veterinary medicine curriculum within veterinary colleges. Open Vet J. 6(1): 44–56.
  24. Bundesgesetz über die universitären Medizinalberufe (Medizinalberufegesetz, MedBG), Version of 23.6.2003, status on 1.2.2020. Bern, Schweiz. https://www.fedlex.ad­min.ch/eli/cc/2007/537/de (last accessed 20.10.2021).