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Self treatment with one of three self selected, ultramolecular homeopathic medicines for the prevention of upper respiratory tract infections in children. A double-blind randomized placebo controlled trial

Self treatment with one of three self selected, ultramolecular homeopathic medicines for the prevention of upper respiratory tract infections in children. A double-blind randomized placebo controlled trial
Self treatment with one of three self selected, ultramolecular homeopathic medicines for the prevention of upper respiratory tract infections in children. A double-blind randomized placebo controlled trial
Aims: homeopathic medicines are frequently purchased over the counter (OTC). Respiratory complaints are the most frequent reason for such purchases. Children with upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) are frequent users of homeopathy. This study investigates the effect of self treatment with one of three self selected ultramolecular homeopathic medicines for the prevention of childhood URTI.

Methods: a double-blind randomized parallel group placebo controlled trial was carried out in 251 children below the age of 10 years, recruited by post from those previously diagnosed with URTI when attending a casualty department. The children were randomly assigned to receive either placebo or ultramolecular homeopathic medicines in C-30 potency (diluted 10-60) administered twice weekly for 12 weeks. Parents chose the medicine based on simplified constitutional indications for the three medicines most frequently prescribed by Norwegian homeopaths for this group of patients. The main outcome measure relates to the prevention of new episodes of URTI measured with median total symptom score over 12 weeks.

Results: There was no difference in the predefined primary outcome between the two groups (P = 0.733). Median URTI scores over 12 weeks in the homeopathic medicine group were 26.0 (95% confidence interval (CI) 16.3, 43.7) and for placebo 25.0 (95% CI 14.2, 38.4). There was no statistical difference between the two groups in median number of days with URTI symptoms or in the use of conventional medication/care.

Conclusions: In this study there was no effect over placebo for self treatment with one of three self selected, ultramolecular homeopathic medicines in preventing childhood URTI. This can be due to the lack of effect of the highly diluted homeopathic medicines or the process of selection and type of medicines.
calcarea carb, children, homeopathy, prevention, pulsatilla, randomized controlled trial, self treatment, sulphur, upper respiratory tract infection
0306-5251
447-455
Steinsbekk, Aslak
89cb5178-2dd3-4a33-87a2-dcd6f67034ba
Bentzen, Niels
fa750cbf-ddff-4627-b07d-347a3683540e
Fonnebø, Vinjar
8c3dd7a9-bcf7-4281-b56a-e98d85507c1c
Lewith, George
0fc483fa-f17b-47c5-94d9-5c15e65a7625
Steinsbekk, Aslak
89cb5178-2dd3-4a33-87a2-dcd6f67034ba
Bentzen, Niels
fa750cbf-ddff-4627-b07d-347a3683540e
Fonnebø, Vinjar
8c3dd7a9-bcf7-4281-b56a-e98d85507c1c
Lewith, George
0fc483fa-f17b-47c5-94d9-5c15e65a7625

Steinsbekk, Aslak, Bentzen, Niels, Fonnebø, Vinjar and Lewith, George (2005) Self treatment with one of three self selected, ultramolecular homeopathic medicines for the prevention of upper respiratory tract infections in children. A double-blind randomized placebo controlled trial. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 59 (4), 447-455. (doi:10.1111/j.1365-2125.2005.02336.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Aims: homeopathic medicines are frequently purchased over the counter (OTC). Respiratory complaints are the most frequent reason for such purchases. Children with upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) are frequent users of homeopathy. This study investigates the effect of self treatment with one of three self selected ultramolecular homeopathic medicines for the prevention of childhood URTI.

Methods: a double-blind randomized parallel group placebo controlled trial was carried out in 251 children below the age of 10 years, recruited by post from those previously diagnosed with URTI when attending a casualty department. The children were randomly assigned to receive either placebo or ultramolecular homeopathic medicines in C-30 potency (diluted 10-60) administered twice weekly for 12 weeks. Parents chose the medicine based on simplified constitutional indications for the three medicines most frequently prescribed by Norwegian homeopaths for this group of patients. The main outcome measure relates to the prevention of new episodes of URTI measured with median total symptom score over 12 weeks.

Results: There was no difference in the predefined primary outcome between the two groups (P = 0.733). Median URTI scores over 12 weeks in the homeopathic medicine group were 26.0 (95% confidence interval (CI) 16.3, 43.7) and for placebo 25.0 (95% CI 14.2, 38.4). There was no statistical difference between the two groups in median number of days with URTI symptoms or in the use of conventional medication/care.

Conclusions: In this study there was no effect over placebo for self treatment with one of three self selected, ultramolecular homeopathic medicines in preventing childhood URTI. This can be due to the lack of effect of the highly diluted homeopathic medicines or the process of selection and type of medicines.

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More information

Published date: 9 April 2005
Keywords: calcarea carb, children, homeopathy, prevention, pulsatilla, randomized controlled trial, self treatment, sulphur, upper respiratory tract infection

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 24520
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/24520
ISSN: 0306-5251
PURE UUID: 4b4a56d9-fd98-4ae8-961f-39a00498e673

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Date deposited: 31 Mar 2006
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 06:56

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Contributors

Author: Aslak Steinsbekk
Author: Niels Bentzen
Author: Vinjar Fonnebø
Author: George Lewith

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