Homeopathy 2008; 97(03): 152-155
DOI: 10.1016/j.homp.2008.04.003
Debate
Copyright © The Faculty of Homeopathy 2008

‘Homeopathy’: Untangling the debate

Clare Relton
1   University of Sheffield, UK
,
Alicia O'Cathain
1   University of Sheffield, UK
,
Kate J. Thomas
2   University of Leeds, UK
› Author Affiliations

Subject Editor:
Further Information

Publication History

Received01 June 2007
revised07 March 2008

accepted17 April 2008

Publication Date:
16 December 2017 (online)

There are active public campaigns both for and against homeopathy, and its continuing availability in the NHS is debated in the medical, scientific and popular press. However, there is a lack of clarity in key terms used in the debate, and in how the evidence base of homeopathy is described and interpreted.

The term ‘homeopathy’ is used with several different meanings including: the therapeutic system, homeopathic medicine, treatment by a homeopath, and the principles of ‘homeopathy’. Conclusions drawn from one of these aspects are often inappropriately applied to another aspect. In interpreting the homeopathy evidence it is important to understand that the existing clinical experimental (randomised controlled trial) evidence base provides evidence as to the efficacy of homeopathic medicines, but not the effectiveness of treatment by a homeopath. The observational evidence base provides evidence as to the effectiveness of treatment by a homeopath. We make four recommendations to promote clarity in the reporting, design and interpretation of homeopathy research.

 
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