The development of homeopathy is based in empirical enquiry. Samuel Hahnemann (1755 -1843), who first developed of homeopathy as a coherent system of medicine, developed its principles from his observations of natural phenomena and then proceeded to test them repeatedly throughout his life. Two hundred and fifty years later that scientific approach is rigorously maintained.
Basic Research
Recent advances in fundamental research are increasingly clarifying an explanation for the mechanism of action of the diluted and succussed medicines used by homeopaths. In vitro techniques not previously available to scientists have enabled laboratory research to reveal the verifiable effects of high dilution medicines. The explanation of the mechanism of action currently appears to lie between the fields of nano-technology and electromagnetism.
Clinical Research
Hundreds of clinical trials have been carried out into homeopathic treatment. The results of these trials vary from positive to negative. Some high quality Random Controlled Trials (RCTs) have produced significant positive results showing homeopathic treatment having an effect that is not explicable by mere placebo effect. The most recent and most rigorous investigation yet into clinical trials summarises the situation as ‘Medicines prescribed in individualised homeopathy may have small, specific treatment effects. Findings are consistent with sub-group data available in a previous ‘global’ systematic review. The low or unclear overall quality of the evidence prompts caution in interpreting the findings. New high-quality RCT research is necessary to enable more decisive interpretation.’
https://systematicreviewsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/2046-4053-3-142
The Homeopathy Research Institute
HRI is an innovative international charity created to address the need for high quality scientific research in homeopathy. It provides a resource of high quality research information, of expertise in research and facilitates new high quality research.
Visit http://hri-research.org for more information.