Page 7 - Winter 17

of homeopathy in meetings and journals relating to medicine in general.
Hahn pays much attention to the study by Klaus, which included a large number (89) of clinical trials that can be used in a meta-analysis. Overall, they indicate a statistical benefit for homeopathy compared to placebo (2,45). Further, if only the studies of the highest quality are retained (26), homeopathy remains superior but the benefit is reduced (1.66). Finally, when the author examines several sub-groups, homeopathy remains
superior to placebo.
This study and its results are of great practical value and have attracted other teams
(who do not agree with the opinion of the author) to criticise the Klaus study and the methods used. These teams try to show the lack of effectiveness of homeopathy by using the ‘method of exclusion’. This method becomes debatable and does not seem to avoid the ‘emotional effect’. In fact, these studies only manage to prove the absence of efficacy by using a mere 5-10% of the studies based on ‘virtual data’. (I do not understand what this ‘virtual data’ means.) Further, because these critical studies use a mixture of pathologies this weakens their arguments even further.
A point, which Hahn explains very well, is the difference between ‘evidence’ and ‘recommendations’. The first step of any good research is to analyse real data without any concern of its possible consequences or conclusions it may bring. If this separation is not respected, the ‘emotional effect’ cannot be avoided. In his review, Hahn showed very clearly, how this happened in the review studies on the efficacy of homeopathy he examined.
Conclusion
This article was of great interest to me. It points to a problem that can have social consequences and holds lessons for us all: the importance to clearly separate the evidence on one side and the practical/social consequences on the other side. With regards to the efficacy of homeopathy it will often be difficult to avoid the emotional due to the practical consequences for medicine and its social aspects (i.e. its cost). In general, one has to always avoid ‘emotions’ when doing research ...
One of the reasons for the scepticism of homeopathy is the absence of reasonable scientific arguments capable of explaining the benefits of homeopathy. This is understandable but in medicine there are examples of real data, which cannot be explained, they may be explained in the future. The importance is to gather good and solid data. Did Churchill not say that the facts are more important than the Lord Mayor?
What is important is to establish the facts based on randomised (double blind) studies with sufficient patients. It is also necessary to concentrate on studies with regards to specific diseases rather than mixing a number of pathologies. It is important to do this work while avoiding all possible emotions and a-priori.
The conclusions of this study are interesting and useful for all the countries of the EU. All the medical commissions should be inspired by them.
(1) http://www.karger.com/Article/Pdf/355916
(2) http://www.icru.org/content/uncategorised/andre-wambersie
Prof A Wambesie is still active in the department of Radiotherapy and Radioprotection of the Hospital St Luc, UCL, Brussels, Belgium.
Proof of the effectiveness of homeopathy in animals
In organic agriculture, the use of homeopathic remedies in Europe is explicitly recommended: they should be preferred over conventional medicine, according to the corresponding EU organic regulations of the European Commission. While farmers experience daily success with homeopathy, more research is warranted to confirm these results. In this context, the International Association for Veterinary Homeopathy (IAVH) commented on the review by Doehring and Sundrum, published in Veterinary Record (1) in December 2016, in terms of objective reporting.
Scientific studies and, last but not least, a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials provide, though limited, evidence for the effectiveness of veterinary homeopathy versus placebo (4,6,11). Further studies of high quality are required – as in many areas of medicine. There are also studies on the mode of action of homeopathy (2,8,9,13,14) as well as a YouTube video of Bell, 2016, containing a solid summary (3).
In a randomised, placebo controlled, double-blind study (4) for the homeopathic treatment of diarrhoea in piglets caused by the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli), it was already shown in 2010 that the homeopathically treated group had significantly fewer
continued on p6
International Conference for Innovative Veterinary Medicine
From the 24 to the 26 November, EduPet Education organised the International Conference for Innovative Veterinary Medicine in the Van der Valk Hotel in Veenendaal-Netherlands. This was a three-day international congress for veterinarians, who dare to look beyond conventional veterinary medicine for the care of pets, horses and farm animals.
During this three-day congress experienced speakers from nine different countries presented innovative treatment methods, which offer more opportunities to treat animals.
A distinction was made between professionals from the pet industry and professionals from the horse and farm animals industry. Topics such as acupuncture, homeopathy, organic acids and Eastern and Western herbal methods were discussed.
During the pre-conference, Dr. Barbara Fougere from Australia gave a seminar on phytotherapy and herbal medicine. Dr.Fougere, known already worldwide, imposed new treatment options for the most common indications, such as gastrointestinal symptoms, joint pain, urinary problems, as well as skin -, kidney- and liver problems. Surprisingly, there is a lot of scientific research that has been done in the field of phytotherapy, in pets as well as in farm animals and horses.
Holistic veterinarian Dr. Linda Boggie spoke on how to use acupuncture to change the behaviour of companion animals. Common problems in these animals are anxiety, aggression, hyperactivity and fear of being alone. Where owners of fearful or even aggressive dogs tend to castrate the animal, Dr. Boggie believes that this is often not the right solution. “In Chinese medicine, we look at several approaches to illness and health: nutrition, herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage and exercise. All the parts are connected with each other. If there is an imbalance in the behaviour of the dog, this almost always has to do with the kidneys, the liver, the heart, or a combination thereof. The acupuncturist tries to find this imbalance and resolve it with needles and herbs.”
Speakers from many different countries, like Dr. Ben Sagiv from Israel, Dr. Lise Hansen from Denmark, Dr. Tim Couzens from England, Dr. Atjo Westerhuis from the Netherlands and Dr. Markus Kasper from Austria gave their knowledge in a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
Book the date for next year, this very special event is for vets, who like to look beyond one’s own nose! Put it in your diary: 23, 24 and 25 November 2017.
5