Homeopathy's Global Research Influence

In a new database of citation metrics for scientists and scientific disciplines worldwide, it is a pleasure to see the names of 16 recent or current members of Homeopathy's Editorial Advisory Board. The tabulated data include scientists who feature in the top 100,000 across all fields, according to their citations in the academic literature. The top 2% of scientists in their main scientific discipline are also included in the list, which was put together by a team at Stanford University, United States, and published in October 2020.[1] In total, 197 researchers from the field of Complementary and Alternative Medicine are recognised in the listing. The inclusion of so many of the journal's key contributors highlights the influence of homeopathy's research quality within the wider sphere of science and medicine.

The present issue's rich seam of research articles includes a novel review of patents from within the contemporary world of homeopathy: the perhaps surprisingly large total of 174 patent applications—mainly from independent depositors—that are identified by Freitas et al features a range of new homeopathic formulations, equipment, packaging, production and analytical methods.[2] We also see the publication of a randomized controlled trial of homeopathy for rhinosinusitis by Misra et al[3]; although statistically non-conclusive in itself, this preliminary study informs future research into the size of treatment effect that might be expected from some frequently prescribed homeopathic medicines.

Different approaches in using the statistical likelihood ratio method to improve the precision and reliability of homeopathic prescribing are explored in papers by Rutten et al[4] and Eizayaga et al.[5] In vitro experiments by Van Wassenhoven et al[6] and Pinto et al[7] find evidence for specific physical and biological changes due to dynamized homeopathic preparations. A veterinary contribution by Narita et al represents almost certainly the first time the journal has included a paper on penguins as the subject of a clinical case series.[8] And with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continuing to govern many people's lives, Fujino et al offer a homeopathic view of how pre-existing chronic diseases can influence the presenting symptoms of the virus.[9]

Publication History

Article published online:
10 February 2021

• References

• 1 Ioannidis JPA, Boyack KW, Baas J. Updated science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators. PLoS Biol 2020; 18: e3000918
• 2 Freitas ACL, Belchior GDS, Nemitz MC. International patent survey of products and processes concerning homeopathy. Homeopathy 2021; 110: 2-12
• 3 Misra P, Nayak C, Chattopadhyay A. et al. Individualized homeopathic medicines in chronic rhinosinusitis: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Homeopathy 2021; 110: 13-26
• 4 Rutten L, Eizayaga J, Kaur H. et al. Counting polar symptoms: How to represent results?. Homeopathy 2021; 110: 27-35
• 5 Eizayaga JE, Waisse S, Rutten L, Klein-Laansma C, Motura A. Prevalence and likelihood ratio of six objective signs among good responders to Natrum muriaticum: Multi-centre observational assessment. Homeopathy 2021; 110: 36-41
• 6 Van Wassenhoven M, Goyens M, Henry M, Cumps J, Devos P. Verification of nuclear magnetic resonance characterization of traditional homeopathically manufactured metal (Cuprum metallicum) and plant (Gelsemium sempervirens) medicines and controls. Homeopathy 2021; 110: 42-51
• 7 Pinto SAG, Nagai MYO, Alvares-Saraiva A. et al. Silicea terra and Zincum metallicum modulate the activity of macrophages challenged with BCG in vitro . Homeopathy 2021; 110: 52-61
• 8 Narita FB, Scardoeli B, Gallo Neto H, Coelho CP. Homeopathic treatment of pododermatitis in Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus). Homeopathy 2021; 110: 62-66
• 9 Fujino FMSC, Olandim AACC, Barnabé VD, Coggan JA, Benites NR. A homeopathic view of the influence of chronic diseases in the manifestation of COVID-19. Homeopathy 2021; 110: 67-69