Homeopathy

NEW YORK, August 21 (Praxis Press). Studies have suggested that homeopathic remedies improve symptoms in people with allergies, but controversy persists about the possible role of a placebo effect. Taylor and colleagues compared symptoms in 51 patients with perennial allergic rhinitis randomized to an oral, 30c dilution of a homeopathic preparation of their principal inhalant allergen or to a placebo. Over four weeks of treatment, nasal airflow improved up to 21% in patients taking the homeopathic preparation and up to 2% in patients taking placebo (p = 0.0001). Both treatments improved self-reported symptoms, although in three of four study centers, there was a trend toward greater subjective improvement in the homeopathic group. Patients using homeopathic preparations were more likely to experience an early aggravation of symptoms (p = 0.04). Homeopathic immunotherapy has an intrinsic therapeutic effect that exceeds the placebo effect; however, a placebo produces similar subjective improvement.