Psoriasis + Homeopathy
Homeopathic treatment of patients with psoriasis: A prospective observational study with 2 years follow-up.
Witt CM, Lüdtke R, Willich SN. A prospective multicentre observational study was done to evaluate details and effects of homeopathic treatment in patients with psoriasis in usual medical care. Primary care patients were evaluated over 2 years using standardized questionnaires, recording diagnosis and complaints severity, health-related quality of life (QoL), medical history, consultations, all treatments, and use of other health services. Fortyfive physicians treated 82 adults, 51.2% women, aged 41.6 ± 12.2 (mean ± SD) years. Patients had psoriasis for 14.7 ± 11.9 years; 96.3% had been treated before. Initial case taking took 127 ± 47 min. The 7.4 ± 7.4 subsequent consultations (duration: 19.4 ± 10.5 min) cumulated to 169.0 ± 138.8 min. Patients received 6.0 ± 4.9 homeopathic prescriptions. Diagnoses and complaints severity improved markedly with large effect sizes (Cohen’s d= 1.02–2.09). In addition, QoL improved (SF-36 physical component score d = 0.26, mental component score d = 0.49), while conventional treatment and health service use were considerably reduced. Authors conclude that under classical homeopathic treatment, patients with psoriasis improved in symptoms and QoL. Comments: Homeopathy is practiced in many regions of the world including India, especially in highincome countries where it ranks the most popular among traditional, complementary, or alternative medicines. According to its ‘rule of similarity’, patients are treated with a remedy that in a healthy proband has caused similar symptoms. A diagnosis can be treated with different remedies in different patients (‘individualization’), depending on varying side symptoms. Homeopathic drugs (‘remedies’) are produced by alternating steps of diluting and agitating a starting substance; the resulting ‘potencies’ quickly reach dilutions beyond Avogadro’s number. Such ‘high potencies’ are often prescribed; their effects constitute a subject of scientific controversy. Meta-analyses of placebo-controlled studies have shown inconsistent results. Hence to establish data on use and effects of homeopathy under conditions of usual care, authors investigated 3981 patients in a prospective observational study. This above paper presents the subgroup of 82 adults consulting a homeopathic physician because of psoriasis. Assessments of disease severity and health-related QoL consistently showed substantial improvements, although the disease was long-standing, chronic and conventionally pretreated. Similarly, all accompanying diseases (almost all chronic) were markedly ameliorated. The major improvements were seen within the first 3 months of homeopathic treatment, after 12 months ratings were less than half of baseline and continued to improve. Accordingly, QoL increased, and uses of health care services or conventional medication decreased markedly. Source : Current best evidence from dermatology literature viaJ Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2009; 23 (5): 538-543. Link to Source |
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