The American Journal of Medicine
Volume 122, Issue 11 , Pages 973-974 , November 2009

Should We Maintain an Open Mind about Homeopathy?

  • Michael Baum, MD, ChM, FRCS, FRCR (hon)

      Affiliations

    • Professor Emeritus of Surgery, Visiting Professor of Humanities, Director, Clinical Trials Group, Academic Division of Surgical Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom
    • ,
  • Edzard Ernst, MD, PhD, FRCP, FRCPEd

      Affiliations

    • Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, United Kingdom

References 

  1. Kaplan B. Hypocrisy of attacks on homeopathy to be exposed soon. http://www.wellsphere.com/general-medicine-article/hypocrisy-of-attacks-on-homeopathy-to-be-exposed-soon/31269Accessed April 3, 2009
  2. Shang A, Huwiler-Muntener K, Nartey L, et al. Are the clinical effects of homeopathy placebo effects? (Comparative study of placebo-controlled trials of homeopathy and allopathy). Lancet. 2005;366:726–732
  3. Ernst E, Hahn EG. Homeopathy (A Critical Appraisal). Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann; 1998;
  4. Ernst E. A systematic review of systematic reviews of homeopathy. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2002;54:577–582
  5. Altnuc U, Pittler MH, Ernst E. Homeopathy for childhood and adolescence ailments: systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Mayo Clin Proc. 2007;82:69–75
  6. Mathie RT. The research evidence base for homeopathy: a fresh assessment of the literature. Homeopathy. 2003;92:80–87
  7. Milgrom LR. Are randomized controlled trials (RCTs) redundant for testing the efficacy of homeopathy? (A critique of RCT methodology based on entanglement theory). J Altern Complement Med. 2009;11:831–838
  8. Baum M, Demicheli R, Hrushesky W, Retsky M. Does surgery unfavourably perturb the “natural history” of early breast cancer by accelerating the appearance of distant metastases?. Eur J Cancer. 2005;41:508–515
  9. Ernst E, Koenig W. Hemorheology, thrombogenesis and atherosclerosis. Semin Thromb Hemost. 1993;19:99–103
  10. Holmes OW. Homeopathy and Its Kindred Delusions. 1842 re-publiziert in Stalker D, Glymour C Examining Holistic Medicine. Buffalo, NY: Prometheus Books; 1989;
  11. Vickers AJ. Independent replication of pre-clinical research in homeopathy: a systematic review. Forsch Komplementarmed. 1999;6:311–320
  12. Skrabanek P. Demarcation of the absurd. Lancet. 1986;I:960–961
  13. Goldacre B. Newsnight/sense about science malaria & homeopathy sting—the transcripts. http://www.badscience.net/2006/09/newsnightsense-about-science-malaria-homeopathy-sting-the-transcripts/Accessed April 3, 2009
  14. Society of Homeopaths. HIV/AIDS symposium. http://www.homeopathy-soh.org/for-homeopaths/documents/Aidsflyer.pdfAccessed April 3, 2009

 Funding: No relevant funding source for this commentary.

 Conflict of Interest: None, other than our commitment to evidence-based medicine.

 Authorship: Both authors had access to the data and an equal role in writing the manuscript.

PII: S0002-9343(09)00533-6

doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2009.03.038

The American Journal of Medicine
Volume 122, Issue 11 , Pages 973-974 , November 2009

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