Clinical Research in Classical Homeopathy – KIKOM 2008

Principal investigators: Dres. med. André Thurneysen, Klaus von Ammon, Martin Frei-Erb

Introduction
Classical homeopathy is primarily a physician’s method with potentised single remedies, proved in healthy volunteers, individually prescribed according to the law of similars, and founded by Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843). The effects of ultra-molecular potencies are challenged by conventional clinicians due to lack of physical or chemical verification.

Aim
The primary aim of our clinical research is to implement homeopathy in academic medicine ( in research, teaching and clinical practice) as well as to gain public approval. Development of appropriate study designs is essential combining both, conventional and homeopathic principles of cure and investigation (Frei H et al. 2007). Further research is done to enhance homeopathic effectiveness by drug-provings, case-taking (Thurneysen 1998), recording, optimising of prescription and therapeutic procedures, and Materia Medica comparison (Frei H et al. 2006).

Methods
For medical students and post-doctoral students, interdisciplinary research facilities were established, publication possibilities offered, and academic degrees possible. Further developments should include independent doctoral theses and PhD degrees.

Homeopathy in the Swiss national health system (NHS)
Implementation of classical homeopathy at the University of Berne was first reported in 1994 (Thurneysen A 1994) and accounted for 10 years later (von Ammon K, Thurneysen A 2005). Integration of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) was investigated and performed by Christoph Kaiser in a district hospital (Bauma, Canton of Zurich) in 1997 (Kaiser C 1997). The question of certified CAM physicians' role in Swiss NHS and politics was addressed in a master thesis (Institute for Management in Health Service, Bern; Leis G 2002) and preliminarily answered in 2005ff. (Mattmann P 2005, Melchart D et al. 2005, von Ammon K 2005, Bornhöft G, Matthiessen PF 2006; in collaboration with Swiss Association of Homeopathic Physicians, Bern; Institute of Evaluative Research in Orthopedics, University of Bern; University Witten-Herdecke, Germany). Homeopathy in obstetrics was examined by Gabriela Wicky-Frey in a doctoral thesis (Wicky-Frey 2003). Risk-benefit ratio of homeopathy in general practice was estimated in 2003 (Joost K et al 2008), and ethical considerations were published in 2007 (Marian F 2007, in collaboration with the University of Northampton, UK).

Clinical studies
In collaboration with a paediatrician in private practice an observational study with acute middle ear infection in children was published in 1998 demonstrating clinical and cost-effectiveness (Frei H, Thurneysen A 2001a).
With the question of different somatic, psychological and personal characteristics of wasp allergic women, Martina Frei received her medical degree in 1999 (Frei M 1999).
Addressing conventional and homeopathic therapy in children with ADD/ADHD, a clinical study conducted in collaboration with a private practice was published in 2001 (Frei H, Thurneysen 2001b). A subsequent prospective interdisciplinary observational study with inclusion of a randomized clinical trial (RCT), conducted in 2003-2005, demonstrated 85% clinical success with 63% amelioration in 87 children. In 62 of the children participating in the RCT, a statistically significant difference in favour of the homeopathic remedy over placebo was detected (Frei H et al. 2005). The stability of this effect over 5 years, and cost-effectiveness compared to stimulant treatment, was shown in 2008 (von Ammon K et al. 2008; collaboration with Neurology and Neuropsychology, Children’s University Hospital, Bern; Institute of Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Science (IMSV), University of Bern; Center of Children’s Developmental Support and Neuro-Rehabilitation, Biel/Bienne).

Ongoing research
Continuing research on suitability, appropriateness and cost-effectiveness of classical homeopathy in Swiss NHS is done by evaluating Swiss results (Melchart D et al. 2005) and by surveying international publications. Comparing these data within a European project is under way.
Recently in education research, implementation of homeopathic lessons is desired in the medical students' learning catalogue (2005), as well as bedside-teaching in private practice, and KIKOM master theses in collaboration with other clinics, and institutes, in Bologna’s reform curriculum.
Further insight into the workings of homeopathic remedies is to be expected by neuroimaging of children with ADD/ADHD.

Perspective
Future research in classical homeopathy will further optimize general case-taking, recording, and evaluation of the individual remedy by operational Materia Medica comparison, and contribute to elucidate the specific effect of homeopathic remedies.
Research for homeopathy should demonstrate the risk-benefit ratio and cost-effectiveness of homeopathic therapy in NHS, and lead to inclusion of homeopathy in medical students’ curriculum.  

References

Besides the following, all references are given in:
KIKOM, 10 Jahre Forschung, Lehre, Dienstleistung 1995-2005 (o.O., o.J. <Bern 2006>)

von Ammon, K, Sauter U, Everts R, Thurneysen A, Steinlin M, Frei H.
< Long-term and cost-effectiveness of individualised homeopathic treatment in children with ADD/ADHD >, manuscript, 2008

Bornhöft G, Matthiessen PF (Hrsg.).
Homöopathie in der Krankenversorgung – Wirksamkeit, Nutzen, Sicherheit und Wirtschaftlichkeit.
Frankfurt/Main 2006 VAS Verlag für akademische Schriften

Frei H, von Ammon K, Thurneysen A.
Treatment of hyperactive children: increased efficiency through modifications of homeopathic diagnostic procedure
Homeopathy 95, 163-170, 2006

Frei H, Everts R, von Ammon K, Kaufmann F, Walther D, Hsu Schmitz S-F, Collenberg M, Fuhrer K, Hassink R, Steinlin M, Thurneysen A.
Randomised controlled trials of homeopathy in hyperactive children: treatment procedure leads to an unconventional study design
Homeopathy 96, 35-41, 2007

Marian F, Joost K, Saini KDS, von Ammon K, Thurneysen A, Busato A.
Patient satisfaction and side effects in primary care: an observational study comparing homeopathy and conventional care. Accepted for publication BMC medical 2008

Marian F, Walach H (eds.).
Medical Pluralism, Equity, Holism – Interdisciplinary research perspectives on integrative medicine
Forsch Komplementärmed 14(S2), 1-27, 2007

Mattmann P, Thurneysen A, Ferroni B, von Ammon K, Righetti M.
Antrag des SVHA an die ELK … Klassische Homöopathie als Pflichtleistung
(Kriens/Bern) 31.3.2005

Melchart D, Mitscherlich F, Amiet M, Eichenberger R, Koch P.
Programm Evaluation Komplementärmedizin (PEK) Schlussbericht
(Bern) 24.4.2005