Aims of homeopathy research, 1994 and 2015

‘20 years after’ – almost one generation after its first appearance, Endler and Schulte are updating their book on Ultra High Dilution (UHD)[ ¹ ] ^, [ ² ] in an actualized and renewed form. So 20 years later: where does homeopathy stand, and where does homeopathic research stand?

After a great boom of homeopathy towards the end of the 20th century in many western countries, Latin America and India, there has been a certain stagnation, even a countermovement in the last 5–10 years, at least in some regions of Europe. The reasons for this development are probably multiple and regionally different. On the one hand homeopathy appears to be efficient in a broad spectrum of medical problems in primary care and not seldom leads to brilliant individual cures. Polls show its popularity: in a vote in 2009 the Swiss people voted in favour of a constitutional article for complementary medicine. On the other hand there are forces working against homeopathy as well: attacks and critical reports in media, restricted access to universities, research and finances, the organized ‘skeptics’ movement in Europe. And there are, of course, unsuccessful treatments, disappointed patients. Homeopathy as a healing method polarizes and remains a controversial issue.

• References

• 1 Endler P.C., Schulte J. (eds). Ultra High Dilution: Physiology and Physics. 1994. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic; pp 187-202.
• 2 Righetti M. Characteristics and selected results of research on homoeopathy. In: Endler PC and Schulte J (eds) Ultra High Dilution: Physiology and Physics. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic, pp 223–228.
• 3 Kleijnen J., Knipschild P., ter Riet G. Clinical trials of homoeopathy. Br Med J 1991; Feb 9 302 6772 316-323.