Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Filter by Categories
Book Review
Case Report
Case Series
Editorial
JISH Reviewers List
Letter to the Editor
Media and news
Obituary
Original Article
Pilot Research Projects/Observational Studies
Policy Paper on Homoeopathic Education
Policy Paper on Homoeopathic Education/Research/Clinical Training
Proceedings of Scientific Conferences and Research Meets
Review Article
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Filter by Categories
Book Review
Case Report
Case Series
Editorial
JISH Reviewers List
Letter to the Editor
Media and news
Obituary
Original Article
Pilot Research Projects/Observational Studies
Policy Paper on Homoeopathic Education
Policy Paper on Homoeopathic Education/Research/Clinical Training
Proceedings of Scientific Conferences and Research Meets
Review Article
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Filter by Categories
Book Review
Case Report
Case Series
Editorial
JISH Reviewers List
Letter to the Editor
Media and news
Obituary
Original Article
Pilot Research Projects/Observational Studies
Policy Paper on Homoeopathic Education
Policy Paper on Homoeopathic Education/Research/Clinical Training
Proceedings of Scientific Conferences and Research Meets
Review Article
View/Download PDF

Translate this page into:

Editorial
5 (
1
); 1-2
doi:
10.25259/JISH_16_2022

Research in Homoeopathy: Building a base using quality evidence

Department of Repertory, Dr M. L. Dhawale Memorial Homoeopathic Institute, Palghar, Maharashtra, India.

*Corresponding author: Dr. Nikunj J. Jani, Department of Repertory, Dr M. L. Dhawale Memorial Homoeopathic Institute, Palghar, Maharashtra, India. drnikunj@gmail.com

Licence
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-Share Alike 4.0 License, which allows others to remix, transform, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as the author is credited and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms.

How to cite this article: Jani NJ. Research in Homoeopathy: Building a base using quality evidence. J Intgr Stand Homoeopathy 2022;5:1-2.

With over 200 million users worldwide, homoeopathy is the second most preferred system of treatment.[1] The growing popularity of homoeopathy necessitates building scientific evidence. We have an increasing database of scientific evidence demonstrating the efficacy of homoeopathy. Clinical trials, systematic reviews and meta-analyses are being published in peer-reviewed indexed journals.[2-4] The boundaries for the application of homoeopathy are now being expanded into hitherto unexplored areas such as veterinary sciences, agriculture, clinical psychiatry, geriatrics, acute emergencies[5] and biomolecular research.[6]

Despite its growing popularity, homoeopathy continues to face criticism for its role in healthcare, with demands for better quality evidence for its safety and efficacy. There are multiple reasons for this: The current research data may not be sufficiently robust, as there is a strong reluctance and at times aversion by practitioners to engage in evidence-based practice. Our postgraduate homoeopathic students are also unfortunately not involved in genuine research activities. Homoeopathic educational institutions need to incubate research and promote innovative practices, our undergraduate curriculum does not have any module to introduce research while the latest research in our science does not even figure in the curriculum. The need of the hour is to sensitise homoeopathic students and practitioners who are doing good clinical work toward publishing their cases in sufficient numbers to create an impact. These are vital links in creating an evidence base that will foster research values in our profession.

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are the gold standard for establishing the efficacy of any intervention, as they reduce bias and confounding factors that could influence the prognosis.[7] However, RCTs in homoeopathy have their limitations, including inadequate sample sizes and poor recording/reporting. Another significant reason is that homoeopathy is essentially an individualised therapy, where treatment is based primarily on the individual’s characteristics of the disease, the physician is, therefore, a strong confounding element that is virtually impossible to eliminate. Hence, it takes considerable effort to ensure a minimal level of standardisation in the training of the clinician-researcher. Thus, sound observational studies and pragmatic trials need to be encouraged. The data generated from these studies must be showcased as they bring out the benefits accruing to the patients after homoeopathic treatment. All homoeopathic educational institutions must encourage their faculty and students to publish observational studies. This will ensure a good amount of evidence-based data.

Case reports need to be presented as per the HOM CASE (Homoeopathic Clinical Case Reports) guidelines and with appropriate scales of assessment along with homoeopathic remedy response evaluation of the follow-ups.[8]

In this issue, we bring you well-documented and research-based papers. We have an original paper by Nazeema and Kumar demonstrating the scope of homoeopathy in treating cases of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis with low Vitamin D levels that assess the relationship between Vitamin D and antithyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) levels.[9]

We also have an interesting case series demonstrating the usefulness of homoeopathic medicine in the treatment of warts[10] and evidence-based case reports demonstrating the efficacy of homoeopathy in irritant contact dermatitis[11] and urolithiasis.[12]

If we must make progress as a science, we have to make research our lead player. I am reminded of the words of the song ‘Guitar Man,’ performed by the legendary American soft rock band ‘Bread.’ The lines are:

‘Who draws the crowd and plays so loud

……it’s the guitar man

Who’s gonna steal the show

You know……it’s the guitar man’[13]

Research must be the guitar man of homoeopathy; always in the front, always drawing the crowd and their cheers. Building a quality evidence base and promoting homoeopathic research among the profession is the need of the hour.

A recent devastating loss to homoeopathy and the Institute of Clinical Research was the death of Dr Kershasp N. Kasad. He was a master clinician, a prolific author and a great, sensitive and gentle human being. We pay homage to this legend of homoeopathy in the obituary note.

References

  1. , , , , . Prevalence of homeopathy use by the general population worldwide: A systematic review. Homeopathy. 2017;106:69-78.
    [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. , , . Clinical trials of homoeopathy. Br Med J. 1991;302:316-23.
    [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. , , , . A randomized control study for evaluating the efficacy of individualized homoeopathic medicine as an adjuvant therapy in mild to moderate cases of COVID-19. J Intgr Stand Homoeopathy. 2021;4:40-8.
    [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
  4. , , , , , , et al. Are the clinical effects of homoeopathy placebo effects? A meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials. Lancet. 1997;350:834-43.
    [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
  5. . Advancing the frontiers of homoeopathy. J Intgr Stand Homoeopathy. 2021;4:65-6.
    [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
  6. . Homeopathy, hormesis, nanoparticles and nanostructures. Homeopathy. 2015;104:67-8.
    [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. , , , , , . Randomized controlled trials a matter of design. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treatment. 2016;12:1341-9.
    [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. . Homeopathic clinical case reports: Development of a supplement (HOM-CASE) to the CARE clinical case reporting guideline. Complement Ther Med. 2016;25:78-85.
    [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. , . The Scope of Ultra-diluted Medicines in Cases of Vitamin D Deficient Hashimoto Thyroiditis. J Intgr Stand Homoeopathy. 2022;5:3-8.
    [Google Scholar]
  10. , , , . Four Cases of Warts Treated by Individualized Homoeopathic Medicine a Clinical Case Study. J Intgr Stand Homoeopathy. 2022;5:9-18.
    [Google Scholar]
  11. , . Irritant Contact Dermatitis Treated with Constitutional Homoeopathic Medicine a Case Report. J Intgr Stand Homoeopathy. 2022;5:24-9.
    [Google Scholar]
  12. , , . Treatment of Urolithiasis with a Homoeopathic Constitutional Remedy: A Case Report. J Intgr Stand Homoeopathy. 2022;5:19-23.
    [Google Scholar]
  13. . The Guitar Man. Available from: https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/bread/theguitarman.html [Last accessed on 2022 Mar 15]
    [Google Scholar]

Fulltext Views
9,097

PDF downloads
47
View/Download PDF
Download Citations
BibTeX
RIS
Show Sections