Homeopathy 2006; 95(01): 9-14
DOI: 10.1016/j.homp.2005.11.013
Original Paper
Copyright © The Faculty of Homeopathy 2005

Responses to homeopathic treatment in National Health Service general practice

T. Robinson

Subject Editor:
Further Information

Publication History

Received10 May 2005
revised06 October 2005

accepted03 November 2005

Publication Date:
20 December 2017 (online)

Abstract

Objective: To assess homeopathic consultations in NHS general practice over a 12-month study period; to analyse the conditions treated homeopathically and assess the responses to homeopathy prescribed in a standard 10 min GP consultation.

Methods: Data on each homeopathic consultation over 12 months were recorded: including patient details; condition/diagnosis; response score; prescribed medicine; prescribing strategy; medical speciality category. Clinical response was scored using a modified version of the Glasgow Homoeopathic Hospital Outcome Scale.

Results: Over the 12-month study period, a total of 5331 consultations were conducted within the general practice; 489 (9%) of these consultations were homeopathic. A wide variety of conditions were treated homeopathically, 78% of patients had a positive clinical response, 19% no response, 3% negative response. Analysis of the prescribing strategies demonstrated that 73% of the homeopathic prescriptions were issued using the ‘problem-based’ strategy. The remainder were ‘patient-based’ (19%), ‘context-based’ (4%) and ‘combined’ (4%) strategies.

Conclusions: This study illustrates the varied and successful application of homeopathy within the general practice setting. Response scores reveal the beneficial effects of homeopathic treatment. This study supports the use of homeopathy within NHS general practice, delivered in a 10 min consultation.