The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7188 p311-320
9 March 2002

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Homoeopathy ineffective for treating asthma triggered by dust-mite allergy

Homoeopathic immunotherapy is not effective in the treatment of patients with asthma, new trial results suggest. However, the relevance of the results has been questioned because the trial did not tailor treatment to individual patients.

Dr George Lewith, Southampton General Hospital, and colleagues conducted a double-blind, randomised controlled trial to evaluate the clinical efficacy of homoeopathic potencies of house dust mite (immunotherapy) on lung function and respiratory symptoms.

The trial involved 242 patients with asthma who were allergic to house dust mite, 122 of whom received homoeopathic immunotherapy, the remainder received a placebo. Concurrent treatment for asthma was unchanged throughout the 16-week study period. Outcome measures included forced expiratory volume, morning and evening peak expiratory flow, quality of life, mood, and patients' perceived asthma severity.

The researchers found that there was no significant difference between the immunotherapy and placebo groups in any outcome measures at the end of the study. However, during the study period, an alternating deterioration and improvement was seen in the homoeopathy group.

The researchers conclude that there was no evidence that homoeopathic immuno-therapy was better than placebo at treating asthma (BMJ 2002;324: 520).

In an accompanying editorial, Professor Gene Feder, professor of primary care research and development, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, and Dr Tessa Katz, general practitioner, London, say that most trials of homoeo-pathic medicines do not individualise treatment, the hallmark of homoeopathy. They believe placebo-controlled trials of homoeopathic medicines are no longer a research priority and say that there has been a call from within the homoeopathic medical community for outcome studies to evaluate individualised treatment and compare outcomes to orthodox treatment (ibid, p498).