Complementary Alternative Cardiovascular Medicine

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222 Alternative Cardiovascular Medicine POSITIVE CLINICAL STUDIES There have been several well-designed randomized studies of the safety and effectiveness of homeopathy for specific symptoms/illnesses. Reilly et al. showed that homeopathic preparations (via both symptomatic and immunotherapy mechanisms) can reduce the severity and duration of allergic asthma (22)—individual study, with greater p value (increased from 0.003 to 0.0004) when results of 38 patients were combined with two other similar studies—hay fever (23), and allergic rhinitis (24). This last study found homeopathy’s nasal effects to be similar to topical steroids. Jacobs et al. published three clinical studies: two showed significant lessening of diarrhea’s effects in children compared to placebo (25,26). The other examined acute otitis media, and these results showed significant lessening in symptoms and (nonsignificant) lessening of treatment failures (27). A Harvard study in 1999 showed improvement in mild traumatic brain injury (28). A German study showed homeopathy’s equivalence to beta-histine in treating vertigo (29). Vickers’ meta-analysis of seven studies showed that the remedy oscillococcinum reduced the duration of influenza symptoms but not prevention (30)—although the overall quality of the studies was criticized. NEGATIVE CLINICAL STUDIES A common complaint of most authors of homeopathy meta-analyses is methodological flaws (31). For example, the Cochrane review of asthma studies, which contradicts Reilly, concluded that design flaws precluded comment on efficacy (32). Better design with larger studies unencumbered by belief systems are urgently needed (33). At this point, there are several well-designed studies that show no effect with homeopathy on specific conditions. These include: The use of arnica in surgery (meta-analysis of eight studies) (34) and postoperative hematomas (35). Migraine headaches were not helped with homeopathy in three different studies (36–38). Two meta-analyses of overall effects compared to placebo that conclude that the quality of the homeopathic studies cannot support its superiority over placebo (20,21). One issue that splits mainstream medicine and the homeopathic community alike is which remedies to use in homeopathic studies. Traditionally in homeopathy, each individual receives a remedy that is highly
Chapter 14 / Homeopathy and CVD 223 specific for his or her problem. At its core, homeopathy is not meant to fit the more reductionist Western bioscience model of one size fits (most) all. There are some general remedies that may work for most people, but this more often limits the effectiveness of the treatment according to homeopathic experience. Some published studies have used the same remedy for each study participant. Others individualized the treatments to each participant according to classical homeopathic principals— making the study more specifically about the homeopathic approach than a single remedy. An analogy of these different study designs would be asking, “Do antibiotics help cure infection?” and, perhaps, “If so, are there some that seem more reliably to do so?” rather than “Will erythromycin cure a particular type of bronchitis?” The issue of which research design is preferred for each study is still hotly contested and in need of clarification. RESEARCH CONCLUSION There are numerous quality studies in homeopathy to show its efficacy and safety for several conditions; however, methodological flaws still plague the field. Use in Cardiology The use of homeopathic remedies in CVDs is complex. There are no published controlled studies of homeopathy in cardiologic conditions. There are numerous anecdotal cases and guidelines presented in homeopathic journals (39) and reference books (40). Guidelines for prescribing are based on the historical provings and their presentation in Kent’s repertory (and more recent textual updates). The use of homeopathic remedies in cardiology follows the general practice of homeopathy: take a careful detailed history and repertorize the symptoms and constitutional typing to determine a remedy that would help support a change in the patient’s physical, mental, and emotional state. The cardiology-related symptoms that are given prominence in Kent’s repertory under “Chest” include (11) chest pain, congestion, constriction, fluttering, and palpitations, as well as sections of other associated symptoms, such as claudication, dizziness, dyspnea, and so on. Prescribing requires a trained practitioner with experience. Under chest pain alone, there are more than 1600 entries for general and specific symptoms and possible remedies. There are nearly 200 entries for palpitations and fluttering, with more than 110 possible remedy choices, depending on the constellation of personality, habits, environment, and symptoms unique to each person.
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Complementary and Alternative Cardi
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CONTEMPORARY CARDIOLOGY CHRISTOPHER
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© 2004 Humana Press Inc. 999 River
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vi Preface physician or other healt
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viii Contents 10 Massage Therapy an
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x Contributors ERIN L. OLIVO, PhD
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Chapter 1 / CAM and CVD 1 1 Complem
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Chapter 1 / CAM and CVD 3 patients
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Chapter 1 / CAM and CVD 5 The crite
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Chapter 1 / CAM and CVD 7 disease c
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Chapter 1 / CAM and CVD 9 analyses,
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12 Alternative Cardiovascular Medic
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Chapter 3 / Botanical Medicine and
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Chapter 5 / Vitamin Therapy and CVD
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Table 2 Type and Quantity of Dietar
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Table 2 (Continued) Type and Quanti
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Chapter 11 / Acupuncture and CVD 16
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Chapter 16 / A Guide for Physicians
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Index 279 INDEX A N-Acetylcysteine
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Index 281 taurine studies, 106 Conj
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Index 283 Homeopathic medicine, see
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Index 285 funding of studies, 148 g
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Contemporary Cardiology COMPLEMENTA
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Complementary Alternative Cardiovascular Medicine

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