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| ====== Novella-Saine Post-Debate Q & A ====== | ====== Novella-Saine Post-Debate Q & A ====== | ||
| + | Answered question from the [[en:misc:talk-saine-novella|Debate on Homeopathy]]. | ||
| **1- What do you consider to be the best clinical evidence supporting the efficacy of homeopathy for any indication? (March 28, 2013)** | **1- What do you consider to be the best clinical evidence supporting the efficacy of homeopathy for any indication? (March 28, 2013)** | ||
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| As the TCS will greatly change during the course of successful homeopathic treatment, the prescribed remedy will occasionally be replaced by a more similar one. //The remedy and the posology are therefore constantly individualized during the course of genuine homeopathic treatment.// This process of constant individualization is an art that takes many years of diligent study and practice to master. | As the TCS will greatly change during the course of successful homeopathic treatment, the prescribed remedy will occasionally be replaced by a more similar one. //The remedy and the posology are therefore constantly individualized during the course of genuine homeopathic treatment.// This process of constant individualization is an art that takes many years of diligent study and practice to master. | ||
| - | To better illustrate the practice of homeopathy, let me briefly describe how it is applied in a patient with an acute disease, //i.e//., pneumonia. The homeopathic physician will first seek to obtain all the symptoms that have developed since the onset of pneumonia, including the characteristic aspects of the chills, fever, sweat, malaise, cough, sputum, respiration, thirst, appetite, energy, moods, sleep, etc., to which will be added the results obtained from physical examination (auscultation, percussion, pulse, respiratory rate, temperature, complexion, tongue, etc.), x-rays, other laboratory findings, reports from attendants, friends and closed relatives, and all the pertinent circumstances related to the development of pneumonia in this patient, //i.e//., exposure to cold wet weather during a period of particularly high emotional stress. | + | To better illustrate the practice of homeopathy, let me briefly describe how it is applied in a patient with an acute disease, //e.g//., pneumonia. The homeopathic physician will first seek to obtain all the symptoms that have developed since the onset of pneumonia, including the characteristic aspects of the chills, fever, sweat, malaise, cough, sputum, respiration, thirst, appetite, energy, moods, sleep, etc., to which will be added the results obtained from physical examination (auscultation, percussion, pulse, respiratory rate, temperature, complexion, tongue, etc.), x-rays, other laboratory findings, reports from attendants, friends and closed relatives, and all the pertinent circumstances related to the development of pneumonia in this patient, //e.g//., exposure to cold wet weather during a period of particularly high emotional stress. |
| As in about fifty percent of the cases, the remedy that corresponds best to the acute state of pneumonia is the same as the one that corresponds best to the underlying chronic state of the patient, it will be preferable for the homeopathic physician to also obtain all the symptoms that existed prior to the onset of the acute disease. From this TCS, the simillimum is chosen and administered in an optimal posolgy, and the patient’s response to the remedy is monitored within a few hours. In the absence of a positive response, the case is re-evaluated, and either the posology is changed, or a remedy with a higher degree of similarity is sought after to replace the previous prescription. This process is continued until a favorable response is obtained, following which the posology is evaluated and adjusted at each follow-up visit. If there is a change of picture, the case is re-evaluated to see if a more suitable remedy should now be prescribed in order to complete the cure. This process of searching for the simillimum and the constant optimization of the posology is continued until the patient has fully recovered. | As in about fifty percent of the cases, the remedy that corresponds best to the acute state of pneumonia is the same as the one that corresponds best to the underlying chronic state of the patient, it will be preferable for the homeopathic physician to also obtain all the symptoms that existed prior to the onset of the acute disease. From this TCS, the simillimum is chosen and administered in an optimal posolgy, and the patient’s response to the remedy is monitored within a few hours. In the absence of a positive response, the case is re-evaluated, and either the posology is changed, or a remedy with a higher degree of similarity is sought after to replace the previous prescription. This process is continued until a favorable response is obtained, following which the posology is evaluated and adjusted at each follow-up visit. If there is a change of picture, the case is re-evaluated to see if a more suitable remedy should now be prescribed in order to complete the cure. This process of searching for the simillimum and the constant optimization of the posology is continued until the patient has fully recovered. | ||
| - | In the case of a patient with a chronic disease, //i.e//., having rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as the WPD, the homeopathic physician must gather the TCS pertinent to the case since the onset of the disease, which would include the characteristic aspects of the pain and joint inflammation, all the factors and circumstances (weather, temperature, time of the day, menses, stress, etc.) that can affect the symptoms for the better or the worse, all the concomitant symptoms (//i.e//., insomnia, appetite changes and irritability with the pain), all the other concomitant complaints (//i.e//., recurrent headaches, seasonal allergies, recurrent herpes infection, warts, onychomycosis, etc.), the past medical history, the family history, the pertinent aspects of lifestyle and environment, the susceptibility to influences, temperament, disposition, sensitivities and personality of the patient, as well as characteristic aspects of sleep, appetite, thirst, digestion, menses, energy, etc., and reports from attendants, friends and closed relatives. | + | In the case of a patient with a chronic disease, //e.g//., having rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as the WPD, the homeopathic physician must gather the TCS pertinent to the case since the onset of the disease, which would include the characteristic aspects of the pain and joint inflammation, all the factors and circumstances (weather, temperature, time of the day, menses, stress, etc.) that can affect the symptoms for the better or the worse, all the concomitant symptoms (//e.g//., insomnia, appetite changes and irritability with the pain), all the other concomitant complaints (//e.g//., recurrent headaches, seasonal allergies, recurrent herpes infection, warts, onychomycosis, etc.), the past medical history, the family history, the pertinent aspects of lifestyle and environment, the susceptibility to influences, temperament, disposition, sensitivities and personality of the patient, as well as characteristic aspects of sleep, appetite, thirst, digestion, menses, energy, etc., and reports from attendants, friends and closed relatives. |
| As in homeopathy we always address the entire person and expect from an effective treatment changes on the mental, emotional and physical levels of the patient, //it will be a logical fallacy to assume that we address indications defined as WPDs//. As an example to better illustrate this point, I recently saw a patient with Parkinson’s disease (PD), who, aside from the common symptoms of PD, was also complaining of depression, insomnia, extreme fatigue and hypoglycemia. In conventional medicine, two or more drugs would have been prescribed in such a patient. However, he was treated with only one remedy to address this chronic state of dysregulation, and on his follow-up visit all of his five chronic complaints had improved under the same remedy as if it was one complaint. | As in homeopathy we always address the entire person and expect from an effective treatment changes on the mental, emotional and physical levels of the patient, //it will be a logical fallacy to assume that we address indications defined as WPDs//. As an example to better illustrate this point, I recently saw a patient with Parkinson’s disease (PD), who, aside from the common symptoms of PD, was also complaining of depression, insomnia, extreme fatigue and hypoglycemia. In conventional medicine, two or more drugs would have been prescribed in such a patient. However, he was treated with only one remedy to address this chronic state of dysregulation, and on his follow-up visit all of his five chronic complaints had improved under the same remedy as if it was one complaint. | ||
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| “The result was equally satisfactory, and gave me a firm confidence—which every year’s practice has tended to strengthen—in the exact truth and inestimable value of the homeopathic law, and the superiority of the homeopathic method of practice over every other system and combination of systems.” [(Benjamin Franklin Joslin. //Evidences of the Power of Small Doses and Attenuated Medicines.// Nashua, N.H.: Murray & Kimball, 1848.)] | “The result was equally satisfactory, and gave me a firm confidence—which every year’s practice has tended to strengthen—in the exact truth and inestimable value of the homeopathic law, and the superiority of the homeopathic method of practice over every other system and combination of systems.” [(Benjamin Franklin Joslin. //Evidences of the Power of Small Doses and Attenuated Medicines.// Nashua, N.H.: Murray & Kimball, 1848.)] | ||
| - | Lastly, in 1850, Dr. Carroll Dunham, also a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, who was know among his peers to have an exceptionally brilliant mind, developed a dissection wound, while assisting in the autopsy of a woman who had died of puerperal peritonitis. He wrote, “Within a week, the finger had quadrupled in size, the hand and forearm were much swollen and edematous, a hard red line extended from the wrist to the axilla. The axillary glands were swollen. The arm and hand were intensely painful; the whole left side was partially paralyzed. The constitutional symptoms were extreme prostration, causing the disease to be at first mistaken with typhus, low muttering delirium at night, marked aggravation of suffering and prostration on awaking from sleep. The general condition grew steadily worse—abscesses forming under the deep fibrous tissues of the finger and hand. The allopathic surgeons in attendance advised calomel and opium, and gave a very discouraging prognosis.” | + | Lastly, in 1850, Dr. Carroll Dunham, also a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, who was known among his peers to have an exceptionally brilliant mind, developed a dissection wound, while assisting in the autopsy of a woman who had died of puerperal peritonitis. He wrote, “Within a week, the finger had quadrupled in size, the hand and forearm were much swollen and edematous, a hard red line extended from the wrist to the axilla. The axillary glands were swollen. The arm and hand were intensely painful; the whole left side was partially paralyzed. The constitutional symptoms were extreme prostration, causing the disease to be at first mistaken with typhus, low muttering delirium at night, marked aggravation of suffering and prostration on awaking from sleep. The general condition grew steadily worse—abscesses forming under the deep fibrous tissues of the finger and hand. The allopathic surgeons in attendance advised calomel and opium, and gave a very discouraging prognosis.” |
| “The patient refused to take any drugs whatever determining to trust the issue of the case to homeopathy. Lachesis twelfth was taken thrice daily for five days, at the end of which period the constitutional symptoms had substantially vanished. The recovery of the finger was slow but complete. The effect of the Lachesis could not be mistaken by the patient.” Dunham was //smitten// by the event, which led him to investigate the principles of homeopathy. He soon became convinced of the extraordinary power of homeopathy and dedicated the rest of his professional life to it. [(Carroll Dunham. Observations on Lachesis. //American Homoeopathic Review// 1863-64; 4: 29-33.)] | “The patient refused to take any drugs whatever determining to trust the issue of the case to homeopathy. Lachesis twelfth was taken thrice daily for five days, at the end of which period the constitutional symptoms had substantially vanished. The recovery of the finger was slow but complete. The effect of the Lachesis could not be mistaken by the patient.” Dunham was //smitten// by the event, which led him to investigate the principles of homeopathy. He soon became convinced of the extraordinary power of homeopathy and dedicated the rest of his professional life to it. [(Carroll Dunham. Observations on Lachesis. //American Homoeopathic Review// 1863-64; 4: 29-33.)] | ||
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| Similar trials can be found by the hundreds in the homeopathic literature, in which clinical outcomes in patients with very poor prognoses totally //surprise// the experimenters, which are followed by further experimentations that keep confirming the original observations. True scientists, who will have the //courage// to investigate homeopathy, will eventually come to recognize the truth of its principles, as facts are more powerful than prejudices, | Similar trials can be found by the hundreds in the homeopathic literature, in which clinical outcomes in patients with very poor prognoses totally //surprise// the experimenters, which are followed by further experimentations that keep confirming the original observations. True scientists, who will have the //courage// to investigate homeopathy, will eventually come to recognize the truth of its principles, as facts are more powerful than prejudices, | ||
| - | Hering, Boenninghausen, Des Guidi, Wesselhoeft, Joslin and Dunahm were all men of science with great intellect and were all leaders of men; all were skeptical about homeopathy; all were //surprised// by the results of their first experiment, which gave them sufficient courage and confidence to go against tradition and to continue experimenting; all eventually became convinced of the unmistakable phenomena of the potentized remedies after repeated experimentation, usually over a period of two or more years, and all practiced homeopathy until their last day. | + | Hering, Boenninghausen, Des Guidi, Wesselhoeft, Joslin and Dunham were all men of science with great intellect and were all leaders of men; all were skeptical about homeopathy; all were //surprised// by the results of their first experiment, which gave them sufficient courage and confidence to go against tradition and to continue experimenting; all eventually became convinced of the unmistakable phenomena of the potentized remedies after repeated experimentation, usually over a period of two or more years, and all practiced homeopathy until their last day. |
| As this self-satisfactory level of evidence may not be satisfactory to everyone, I will now move closer to the central idea of your question. | As this self-satisfactory level of evidence may not be satisfactory to everyone, I will now move closer to the central idea of your question. | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{anchor:homeopathy_clinical_evidence}} | ||
| ===== What is the Best Clinical Evidence for Homeopathy? ===== | ===== What is the Best Clinical Evidence for Homeopathy? ===== | ||
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| However, the broader and necessary questions of effectiveness (relative risks and benefits), costs, appropriateness, etc. will //unlikely// find their answers in RCT studies, which are more appropriate for strictly testing efficacy. | However, the broader and necessary questions of effectiveness (relative risks and benefits), costs, appropriateness, etc. will //unlikely// find their answers in RCT studies, which are more appropriate for strictly testing efficacy. | ||
| - | In 1979, the Canadian Task Force on the Periodic Health Examination produced the first formalized version of a hierarchy of evidence for clinical effectiveness,[(N. C. Hill, Lise Frappier-Davignon, Brenda Morrison. The periodic health examination. //Canadian Medical Aassociation Journal// 1979; 121: 1193-1254.)] which has since been refined in collaboration with the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which still stipulates to this day that level I, or the highest quality of evidence, must come “from at least //one// //properly// randomized controlled trial.”[(http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/clinic-clinique/pdf/methe.pdf)] | + | In 1979, the Canadian Task Force on the Periodic Health Examination produced the first formalized version of a hierarchy of evidence for clinical effectiveness,[(N. C. Hill, Lise Frappier-Davignon, Brenda Morrison. The periodic health examination. //Canadian Medical Association Journal// 1979; 121: 1193-1254.)] which has since been refined in collaboration with the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which still stipulates to this day that level I, or the highest quality of evidence, must come “from at least //one// //properly// randomized controlled trial.”[(http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/clinic-clinique/pdf/methe.pdf)] |
| We can’t utilize the great majority of the RCTs purporting to test homeopathy, as we have seen that most of them misrepresent homeopathy, each having their own list of methodological shortcomings. There are many RCTs about UMPs, which are valuable to demonstrate the efficacy of their biological “activity,” but they can’t be used to represent homeopathy. Most of the in vitro and plant research I mentioned during the debate were about the efficacy of UMPs to affect living organisms. However, not all RCTs professed to test homeopathy have been misguided or are misguiding. | We can’t utilize the great majority of the RCTs purporting to test homeopathy, as we have seen that most of them misrepresent homeopathy, each having their own list of methodological shortcomings. There are many RCTs about UMPs, which are valuable to demonstrate the efficacy of their biological “activity,” but they can’t be used to represent homeopathy. Most of the in vitro and plant research I mentioned during the debate were about the efficacy of UMPs to affect living organisms. However, not all RCTs professed to test homeopathy have been misguided or are misguiding. | ||
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| The active group exhibited a //significantly// greater improvement in tender point count and tender point pain on palpation, in the Appraisal of Fibromyalgia Scores, in quality of life and in Global Health Ratings, and with trends toward lower Profile of Mood States (POMS) depression, POMS anger--hostility and McGill Affective Pain scores compared with placebo at 3 months. Right prefrontal cordance findings correlated with subsequently reduced pain and trait absorption. | The active group exhibited a //significantly// greater improvement in tender point count and tender point pain on palpation, in the Appraisal of Fibromyalgia Scores, in quality of life and in Global Health Ratings, and with trends toward lower Profile of Mood States (POMS) depression, POMS anger--hostility and McGill Affective Pain scores compared with placebo at 3 months. Right prefrontal cordance findings correlated with subsequently reduced pain and trait absorption. | ||
| - | A significantly higher proportion of patients in the active group experienced at least a 25% improvement in tender point pain on examination (13/26, 50%) versus placebo (4/27, 15%) (//P//= 0.008). At the 4-month homeopathic visit, patients on active treatment rated the helpfulness of the treatment//significantly// greater than did those on placebo (//P//=0.004).[(Iris R. Bell, et al. Improved clinical status in fibromyalgia patients treated with individualized homeopathic remedies versus placebo. //Rheumatology// 2004; 43 (5): 577-582.)] [(Iris R. Bell, et al. EEG alpha sensitization in individualized homeopathic treatment of fibromyalgia. //International Journal of Neuroscience// 2004; 114 (9): 1195-1220.)] [(Iris R. Bell, et al. Electroencephalographic cordance patterns distinguish exceptional clinical responders with fibromyalgia to individualized homeopathic medicines. //Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine// 2004; 10 (2): 285-299.)] | + | A significantly higher proportion of patients in the active group experienced at least a 25% improvement in tender point pain on examination (13/26, 50%) versus placebo (4/27, 15%) (//P//= 0.008). At the 4-month homeopathic visit, patients on active treatment rated the helpfulness of the treatment //significantly// greater than did those on placebo (//P//=0.004).[(Iris R. Bell, et al. Improved clinical status in fibromyalgia patients treated with individualized homeopathic remedies versus placebo. //Rheumatology// 2004; 43 (5): 577-582.)] [(Iris R. Bell, et al. EEG alpha sensitization in individualized homeopathic treatment of fibromyalgia. //International Journal of Neuroscience// 2004; 114 (9): 1195-1220.)] [(Iris R. Bell, et al. Electroencephalographic cordance patterns distinguish exceptional clinical responders with fibromyalgia to individualized homeopathic medicines. //Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine// 2004; 10 (2): 285-299.)] |
| I mentioned earlier that trials of homeopathy //equally// measure the skills of the practicing homeopathic physicians and the efficacy of homeopathy, but with only one known exception. The experiment in which the greatest attempt was made to dissociate efficacy of these two equally distributed factors was the trial of Frei et al., which is therefore of great interest. I already referred to this unique trial during the debate, which entails the treatment of children with ADHD. | I mentioned earlier that trials of homeopathy //equally// measure the skills of the practicing homeopathic physicians and the efficacy of homeopathy, but with only one known exception. The experiment in which the greatest attempt was made to dissociate efficacy of these two equally distributed factors was the trial of Frei et al., which is therefore of great interest. I already referred to this unique trial during the debate, which entails the treatment of children with ADHD. | ||
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| In conventional medicine, a great proportion of cases that show clear and sudden changes toward recovery during the course of very serious and/or stubborn diseases soon after initiation of treatment tend to indicate new directions in research and treatment, and establish new prognostic expectations. Despite the fact that the homeopathic literature is very rich in such cases, the scientific community as a whole has remained indifferent to homeopathy. | In conventional medicine, a great proportion of cases that show clear and sudden changes toward recovery during the course of very serious and/or stubborn diseases soon after initiation of treatment tend to indicate new directions in research and treatment, and establish new prognostic expectations. Despite the fact that the homeopathic literature is very rich in such cases, the scientific community as a whole has remained indifferent to homeopathy. | ||
| - | I will now illustrate the value of evidence provided by single case studies with a few examples in cases presenting with very serious acute diseases ( //i.e//., rabies, meningitis) and in a case with a stubborn, unremitting chronic disease (PD). The information they provide can’t be easily obtained through RCTs, partly because of the rarity of some these conditions (rabies), or the need for the long-term treatment (6 or more years) in order to be able to better appreciate the entire effectiveness scope of homeopathy. | + | I will now illustrate the value of evidence provided by single case studies with a few examples in cases presenting with very serious acute diseases ( //e.g.//, rabies, meningitis) and in a case with a stubborn, unremitting chronic disease (PD). The information they provide can’t be easily obtained through RCTs, partly because of the rarity of some these conditions (rabies), or the need for the long-term treatment (6 or more years) in order to be able to better appreciate the entire effectiveness scope of homeopathy. |
| Many cases of clinical rabies in both animals and humans and experimental rabies have been reported to have fully recovered under homeopathic treatment. By clinical rabies, it is typically meant that an animal with an abnormal behavior, usually a stray dog, comes into a village located in an area in which rabies is known to be endemic, and, unprovoked, bites a number of animals and persons. Within a couple of weeks some of the bitten animals develop abnormal behaviors, are put in isolation, eventually develop the full unmistakable manifestations of furious rabies, and are killed. Some weeks later, one of the bitten persons develops general malaise with heightened redness, swelling and unusual sensation at the site of the bite, which are followed within a few days by spasms, especially when swallowing, hydrophobia, and convulsions. A physician, usually an allopath, is called in, who in turn calls in other colleagues as consultants. The spasms, hydrophobia and the convulsions become progressively more severe. From the history and the symptomatology, they all concur without any doubt in their minds that the patient has hydrophobia and is thus incurable. As a last resort they try various nostrums but in vain, and the patient is now in a state of almost constant convulsions and is on the verge of dying. Typically a priest, a distant family member or a friend suggests calling //in extremis// a homeopath, who is called in with great reluctance. This one comes, examines the patient, concurs with the diagnosis, and administers a homeopathic remedy. Within a short period of time, the spasms and convulsions begin to diminish in intensity, duration and frequency. The remedy is repeated as needed. The patient becomes more restful, falls into a deep and prolonged sleep, and eventually becomes capable of drinking without experiencing any spasms or convulsions. A convalescent period, typically of two to three weeks, follows with a progressive recuperation of strength, after which the patient seems completely recovered subjectively and objectively. | Many cases of clinical rabies in both animals and humans and experimental rabies have been reported to have fully recovered under homeopathic treatment. By clinical rabies, it is typically meant that an animal with an abnormal behavior, usually a stray dog, comes into a village located in an area in which rabies is known to be endemic, and, unprovoked, bites a number of animals and persons. Within a couple of weeks some of the bitten animals develop abnormal behaviors, are put in isolation, eventually develop the full unmistakable manifestations of furious rabies, and are killed. Some weeks later, one of the bitten persons develops general malaise with heightened redness, swelling and unusual sensation at the site of the bite, which are followed within a few days by spasms, especially when swallowing, hydrophobia, and convulsions. A physician, usually an allopath, is called in, who in turn calls in other colleagues as consultants. The spasms, hydrophobia and the convulsions become progressively more severe. From the history and the symptomatology, they all concur without any doubt in their minds that the patient has hydrophobia and is thus incurable. As a last resort they try various nostrums but in vain, and the patient is now in a state of almost constant convulsions and is on the verge of dying. Typically a priest, a distant family member or a friend suggests calling //in extremis// a homeopath, who is called in with great reluctance. This one comes, examines the patient, concurs with the diagnosis, and administers a homeopathic remedy. Within a short period of time, the spasms and convulsions begin to diminish in intensity, duration and frequency. The remedy is repeated as needed. The patient becomes more restful, falls into a deep and prolonged sleep, and eventually becomes capable of drinking without experiencing any spasms or convulsions. A convalescent period, typically of two to three weeks, follows with a progressive recuperation of strength, after which the patient seems completely recovered subjectively and objectively. | ||
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| The next day, Dr. Gonzalez returned to find the patient in a very happy, greeting mood when she saw him. After his departure on the previous day, she was given a third dose of the remedy and she had a similar fit as after the first two doses but shorter and with less desire to bite. Her state of terror progressively diminished during the rest of the day, and the night was calmer. She was able to sleep even though she kept being interrupted by jerking and frightful dreams. She continued to improve until the following morning (May 31), when around seven o’clock she went into a biting fit that lasted 45 minutes. | The next day, Dr. Gonzalez returned to find the patient in a very happy, greeting mood when she saw him. After his departure on the previous day, she was given a third dose of the remedy and she had a similar fit as after the first two doses but shorter and with less desire to bite. Her state of terror progressively diminished during the rest of the day, and the night was calmer. She was able to sleep even though she kept being interrupted by jerking and frightful dreams. She continued to improve until the following morning (May 31), when around seven o’clock she went into a biting fit that lasted 45 minutes. | ||
| - | Dr. Gonzalez was called and he found her in a state of constant restlessness, trying to escape, having great difficulty breathing and with titanic convulsions. Her limbs were now extremely cold. She was experiencing coldness ascending from her lower limbs to her mid-chest where it met a burning sensation that had now worsened and was extending to her throat. When this heat would extend to her head, she would choke until she would faint. Her jaw and lips were tight and her eyes were closed shut. She uttered frightening sound with inability to breathe, as if she had great chest pain. Her screams would get longer, as the fits would peak. During the fits, the muscles of her face would alternately contract and relax; she would then open her eyes, which were injected, shiny and fixed with an expression of furor but without being able to see. Her face was again inflamed. | + | Dr. Gonzalez was called and he found her in a state of constant restlessness, trying to escape, having great difficulty breathing and with tetanic convulsions. Her limbs were now extremely cold. She was experiencing coldness ascending from her lower limbs to her mid-chest where it met a burning sensation that had now worsened and was extending to her throat. When this heat would extend to her head, she would choke until she would faint. Her jaw and lips were tight and her eyes were closed shut. She uttered frightening sound with inability to breathe, as if she had great chest pain. Her screams would get longer, as the fits would peak. During the fits, the muscles of her face would alternately contract and relax; she would then open her eyes, which were injected, shiny and fixed with an expression of furor but without being able to see. Her face was again inflamed. |
| In her state of unconsciousness, she would convulsively open her mouth followed by the desire to bite anything she could find. After three minutes of intense furor, she would slowly calm down but would continue to moan but less loudly. The same remedy was again given and was repeated every three hours. She was better by the evening when Dr. Gonzalez decided to test her by making a new preparation of the remedy in water before her. This provoked a fit but of a lesser intensity as compared to the previous days when she was trying to escape at the sound or sight of water. | In her state of unconsciousness, she would convulsively open her mouth followed by the desire to bite anything she could find. After three minutes of intense furor, she would slowly calm down but would continue to moan but less loudly. The same remedy was again given and was repeated every three hours. She was better by the evening when Dr. Gonzalez decided to test her by making a new preparation of the remedy in water before her. This provoked a fit but of a lesser intensity as compared to the previous days when she was trying to escape at the sound or sight of water. | ||
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| - The prophylactic approach would have to be started all over again but this time by producing rabies with less severe introduction of the rabies virus than by the intracerebral, intraocular or intralingual/intralabial way, as it is a well-known fact that rabies occurs more frequently, more rapidly and more severely the closer to the brain is the introduction of the virus. | - The prophylactic approach would have to be started all over again but this time by producing rabies with less severe introduction of the rabies virus than by the intracerebral, intraocular or intralingual/intralabial way, as it is a well-known fact that rabies occurs more frequently, more rapidly and more severely the closer to the brain is the introduction of the virus. | ||
| - | - As for the treatment of fully developed rabid animals, even if only in its early phase of experiments, the 35 cured dogs provided the//absolute proof// that rabies //can no longer be// considered an incurable disease and this because of homeopathy. [(E. Plantureux. Recherche sur le traitement de la rage et de diverses maladies par l’homoeopathie. //Homoeopathie Française// 1950; 37: 217-226.)] | + | - As for the treatment of fully developed rabid animals, even if only in its early phase of experiments, the 35 cured dogs provided the //absolute proof// that rabies //can no longer be// considered an incurable disease and this because of homeopathy. [(E. Plantureux. Recherche sur le traitement de la rage et de diverses maladies par l’homoeopathie. //Homoeopathie Française// 1950; 37: 217-226.)] |
| These experimental findings are consistent with the clinical data, and provide greater strength to the evidence of the curability of rabid animals and humans by homeopathy. | These experimental findings are consistent with the clinical data, and provide greater strength to the evidence of the curability of rabid animals and humans by homeopathy. | ||
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| Late on the evening of Tuesday November 3, 1987, I received a phone call from a nurse who was asking if homeopathy could help an AIDS patient imminently dying in the ICU of the Toronto General Hospital. | Late on the evening of Tuesday November 3, 1987, I received a phone call from a nurse who was asking if homeopathy could help an AIDS patient imminently dying in the ICU of the Toronto General Hospital. | ||
| - | This 37-year-old man began experiencing a full relapse of pneumoncystic carinii pneumonia two days after having been released from two weeks of hospitalization. After another two weeks of IV antibiotics, he developed acute cryptococcal meningitis, a very insidious and often fatal form of meningitis. Two antifungal drugs, flucytosine was given orally and amphotericin B was given IV, both in increasing doses, as he was not responding. | + | This 37-year-old man began experiencing a full relapse of pneumocystic carinii pneumonia two days after having been released from two weeks of hospitalization. After another two weeks of IV antibiotics, he developed acute cryptococcal meningitis, a very insidious and often fatal form of meningitis. Two antifungal drugs, flucytosine was given orally and amphotericin B was given IV, both in increasing doses, as he was not responding. |
| 100 mg of prednisone was added to counteract the severe adverse effects of these two antifungal drugs, which the patient experienced as severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, cramps, spasms, chills, fever, photophobia and general weakness. | 100 mg of prednisone was added to counteract the severe adverse effects of these two antifungal drugs, which the patient experienced as severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, cramps, spasms, chills, fever, photophobia and general weakness. | ||
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| It is ironic that any intervention in conventional medicine demonstrating a fraction of the ranges of effectiveness reported for homeopathy would attract limitless attention, and would turn the research world around particularly if there were great financial incentives for the medical-industrial complex. On the other hand, homeopathy is continually and automatically being dismissed in people minds since a huge negative prejudice was stamped on it in the 1830s, which was actually based on completely false premises and flawed evidence. Ever since generation after generation of skeptics have been repeating the same arguments without ever taking the time to look at the original facts. Homeopathy had to be a sham, as like magic its reported results were too good to be true. | It is ironic that any intervention in conventional medicine demonstrating a fraction of the ranges of effectiveness reported for homeopathy would attract limitless attention, and would turn the research world around particularly if there were great financial incentives for the medical-industrial complex. On the other hand, homeopathy is continually and automatically being dismissed in people minds since a huge negative prejudice was stamped on it in the 1830s, which was actually based on completely false premises and flawed evidence. Ever since generation after generation of skeptics have been repeating the same arguments without ever taking the time to look at the original facts. Homeopathy had to be a sham, as like magic its reported results were too good to be true. | ||
| - | Medical historian Michael Dean explored the rejection of homeopathy by some of the most prominent skeptics in the first half of the nineteen-century. He wrote, “The rejection of homeopathy by the medical establishment has been portrayed as a watershed in medical history because it is deemed to have been based on evidence rather than prejudice: homeopathy was given a fair trial, especially by the pre-eminent Paris School, and was found wanting. This belief forms the basis of an influential thesis that the development of modern scientific medicine, as a unified discipline, can be date to that rejection in the 1830s and 1840s.” | + | Medical historian Michael Dean explored the rejection of homeopathy by some of the most prominent skeptics in the first half of the nineteen-century. He wrote, “The rejection of homeopathy by the medical establishment has been portrayed as a watershed in medical history because it is deemed to have been based on evidence rather than prejudice: homeopathy was given a fair trial, especially by the pre-eminent Paris School, and was found wanting. This belief forms the basis of an influential thesis that the development of modern scientific medicine, as a unified discipline, can be dated to that rejection in the 1830s and 1840s.” |
| However, Dean dared asking some very pertinent questions regarding this early rejection, as true scientists should do, which are, “How valid was the trial evidence used by sceptics such as the French Académie de Médecine (1835) and Holmes (1842) in their rejection of the claims of homeopathy? Was their use of evidence biased in any way?” | However, Dean dared asking some very pertinent questions regarding this early rejection, as true scientists should do, which are, “How valid was the trial evidence used by sceptics such as the French Académie de Médecine (1835) and Holmes (1842) in their rejection of the claims of homeopathy? Was their use of evidence biased in any way?” | ||
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| The main finding of this research is that results obtained by homeopathy during epidemics reveal a very important and clear constancy, //which is a very low mortality rate//. This constancy remains, regardless of the physician, time, place or type of epidemical disease, including diseases carrying a very high mortality rate, such as cholera, smallpox, diphtheria, typhoid fever, yellow fever and pneumonia. | The main finding of this research is that results obtained by homeopathy during epidemics reveal a very important and clear constancy, //which is a very low mortality rate//. This constancy remains, regardless of the physician, time, place or type of epidemical disease, including diseases carrying a very high mortality rate, such as cholera, smallpox, diphtheria, typhoid fever, yellow fever and pneumonia. | ||
| - | Since society values the savingn of life more highly than any other outcome, most of these reports give accounts of rates of recovery versus mortality, and should therefore warrant great attention from academia, governments and health authorities, and be followed with strong recommendations. [(Gordon H. Guyatt, et al. Rating quality of evidence and strength of recommendations: GRADE: an emerging consensus on rating quality of evidence and strength of recommendations. //British Medical Journal// 2008; 336 (7650): 924-926.)] | + | Since society values the saving of life more highly than any other outcome, most of these reports give accounts of rates of recovery versus mortality, and should therefore warrant great attention from academia, governments and health authorities, and be followed with strong recommendations. [(Gordon H. Guyatt, et al. Rating quality of evidence and strength of recommendations: GRADE: an emerging consensus on rating quality of evidence and strength of recommendations. //British Medical Journal// 2008; 336 (7650): 924-926.)] |
| - | Hierarchies of evidence of EBM have not been developed with the perspective of integrating such massive amounts of evidence, as the allopathic literature prior to WWII is relatively poor in valuable therapeutic interventions. Aside from a small number of trials, such as the ones of Lind’s with citrus in sailors with scurvy (1747), and Louis’ with bleeding and expectancy in patients with pneumonia (1828), there are not many astounding //therapeutic// trials that are worth recounting, or whose therapeutic interventions would have any clinical significance today. However, //this is not at all the case with homeopathy//, whose literature overflows with all types of very meaningful case studies, trials and outcome reports that remain as pertinent today as when there were first published. Results obtained by homeopathy don’t really lose any of their value with the passing of time, and are like all facts as relevant as if they had occurred today. | + | Hierarchies of evidence of EBM have not been developed with the perspective of integrating such massive amounts of evidence, as the allopathic literature prior to WWII is relatively poor in valuable therapeutic interventions. Aside from a small number of trials, such as the ones of Lind’s with citrus in sailors with scurvy (1747), and Louis’ with bleeding and expectancy in patients with pneumonia (1828), there are not many astounding //therapeutic// trials that are worth recounting, or whose therapeutic interventions would have any clinical significance today. However, //this is not at all the case with homeopathy//, whose literature overflows with all types of very meaningful case studies, trials and outcome reports that remain as pertinent today as when they were first published. Results obtained by homeopathy don’t really lose any of their value with the passing of time, and are like all facts as relevant as if they had occurred today. |
| - | Also, in the hierarchies of EBM, expert opinion tends to be the least valued. This is understandable, as expert opinion, with rare exceptions (//i.e//., incurability of rabid persons (except outside homeopathy)), tends to greatly change from one expert to another, and from one era to another. No one will contest this to be true within conventional medicine, but it is actually not at all the case in homeopathy, as Hahnemann had so well explained the perennial relevance of the principles and practice of homeopathy, “Homeopathy is a perfectly simple system of medicine, remaining always fixed in its principles as in its practice.” | + | Also, in the hierarchies of EBM, expert opinion tends to be the least valued. This is understandable, as expert opinion, with rare exceptions (//e.g.//, incurability of rabid persons (except outside homeopathy)), tends to greatly change from one expert to another, and from one era to another. No one will contest this to be true within conventional medicine, but it is actually not at all the case in homeopathy, as Hahnemann had so well explained the perennial relevance of the principles and practice of homeopathy, “Homeopathy is a perfectly simple system of medicine, remaining always fixed in its principles as in its practice.” |
| The practice of homeopathy is based on two series of independent phenomena, namely the symptoms observed during proving of a medicine and the presenting symptoms of a patient, which are connected by the homeopathic physician through the principle of similarity. The symptoms that disappeared with certainty under the influence of a remedy are called cured symptoms, and are integrated into the materia medica with the pathogenetic symptoms. They form the basis of the homeopathic materia medica, which is cumulative in nature and never stops being relevant like any natural science that is based on the study of phenomena. | The practice of homeopathy is based on two series of independent phenomena, namely the symptoms observed during proving of a medicine and the presenting symptoms of a patient, which are connected by the homeopathic physician through the principle of similarity. The symptoms that disappeared with certainty under the influence of a remedy are called cured symptoms, and are integrated into the materia medica with the pathogenetic symptoms. They form the basis of the homeopathic materia medica, which is cumulative in nature and never stops being relevant like any natural science that is based on the study of phenomena. | ||
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| Incidentally, it is a strange fact how detractors of homeopathy rely so much on expert opinion when they recognize it to be the least valuable level of evidence. From earlier time until now, professed experts on homeopathy, whom skeptics have relied on, have been found to be shams and/or the evidence they advanced against homeopathy have been shown to be flawed, like we have seen above with the French Academy of Medicine, Holmes, Shang et al., the //Lancet// editors, Edzard Ernst, etc. | Incidentally, it is a strange fact how detractors of homeopathy rely so much on expert opinion when they recognize it to be the least valuable level of evidence. From earlier time until now, professed experts on homeopathy, whom skeptics have relied on, have been found to be shams and/or the evidence they advanced against homeopathy have been shown to be flawed, like we have seen above with the French Academy of Medicine, Holmes, Shang et al., the //Lancet// editors, Edzard Ernst, etc. | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{anchor:homeopathy_statistics}} | ||
| ===== Statistical Analysis of the Epidemiological Evidence ===== | ===== Statistical Analysis of the Epidemiological Evidence ===== | ||
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| First, we find that among 146,237 patients under PAA there were 35,698 reported deaths for an average mortality rate of 24.4%.[(Willis A. Dewey. Editorials. Pneumonia and its treatment. //Medical Century// 1912; 19: 250-253.)] [(Henri de Bonneval. //Considérations sur l’homoeopathie.// (Bordeaux: Imprimerie Adrien Bousin, 1881), 19-22.)] [(Krüger-Hansen. Ueber das Heilverfahren bei Pneumonien. //Medicinischer Argos// 1842; 4: 341-361.)] [(J. Greenwood, R. H. Candy. The fatality of fractures of the lower extremity and of lobar pneumonia of hospital mortality rates, 1751-1901. //Journal of the Royal Statistical Society// 1911; 74: 363-405.)] [(William Osler. The mortality of pneumonia. //University Medical Magazine// 1888; 1: 77-82.)] [(Samuel Henry Dickson. //Essay on Pneumonia.// In //Studies in Pathology and Therapeutics//. New York: William Hood & Co., 1867.)] [(O. Sturges, S. Coupland. //The Natural History and Relations of Pneumonia//. 2<sup>nd</sup> edition. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1890.)] [(William Osler. //The Principles and Practice of Medicine.// 8th ed. New York and London: D. Appleton and Company, 1912.)] [(Russell L Cecil, Horace S. Baldwin, Nils P. Larsen. Lobar pneumonia: A clinical and bacteriological study of two thousands typed cases. //Archives of Internal Medicine// 1927; 40: 253-280.)] | First, we find that among 146,237 patients under PAA there were 35,698 reported deaths for an average mortality rate of 24.4%.[(Willis A. Dewey. Editorials. Pneumonia and its treatment. //Medical Century// 1912; 19: 250-253.)] [(Henri de Bonneval. //Considérations sur l’homoeopathie.// (Bordeaux: Imprimerie Adrien Bousin, 1881), 19-22.)] [(Krüger-Hansen. Ueber das Heilverfahren bei Pneumonien. //Medicinischer Argos// 1842; 4: 341-361.)] [(J. Greenwood, R. H. Candy. The fatality of fractures of the lower extremity and of lobar pneumonia of hospital mortality rates, 1751-1901. //Journal of the Royal Statistical Society// 1911; 74: 363-405.)] [(William Osler. The mortality of pneumonia. //University Medical Magazine// 1888; 1: 77-82.)] [(Samuel Henry Dickson. //Essay on Pneumonia.// In //Studies in Pathology and Therapeutics//. New York: William Hood & Co., 1867.)] [(O. Sturges, S. Coupland. //The Natural History and Relations of Pneumonia//. 2<sup>nd</sup> edition. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1890.)] [(William Osler. //The Principles and Practice of Medicine.// 8th ed. New York and London: D. Appleton and Company, 1912.)] [(Russell L Cecil, Horace S. Baldwin, Nils P. Larsen. Lobar pneumonia: A clinical and bacteriological study of two thousands typed cases. //Archives of Internal Medicine// 1927; 40: 253-280.)] | ||
| - | | **Allopathic Treatment** | Cases | **Deaths** | **Mortality (percent)** | | + | | **Allopathic Treatment** | **Cases** | **Deaths** | **Mortality (percent)** | |
| | Dr. Brouillard, Paris[(#72)] | 152 | 18 | 11.8 | | | Dr. Brouillard, Paris[(#72)] | 152 | 18 | 11.8 | | ||
| | Dr. Louis, Paris[(#72)] | 107 | 32 | 29.9 | | | Dr. Louis, Paris[(#72)] | 107 | 32 | 29.9 | | ||
| Line 475: | Line 480: | ||
| | Philadelphia General Hospital[(#72)] | 991 | 533 | 53.8 | | | Philadelphia General Hospital[(#72)] | 991 | 533 | 53.8 | | ||
| | Boston City Hospital[(#72)] | 949 | 341 | 35.9 | | | Boston City Hospital[(#72)] | 949 | 341 | 35.9 | | ||
| - | | Chomel, Paris<sup>73</sup> | 24 | 13 | 54.1 | | + | | Chomel, Paris[(#73)] | 24 | 13 | 54.1 | |
| - | | Androl, Paris, 1830<sup>73</sup> | 65 | 37 | 56.9 | | + | | Androl, Paris, 1830[(#73)] | 65 | 37 | 56.9 | |
| - | | St-Petersburg, 1834<sup>74</sup> | 10,123 | 3,358 | 33.2 | | + | | St-Petersburg, 1834[(#74)] | 10,123 | 3,358 | 33.2 | |
| - | | Mussy, Paris, 1835<sup>73</sup> | 86 | 38 | 44.2 | | + | | Mussy, Paris, 1835[(#73)] | 86 | 38 | 44.2 | |
| - | | Broussais, Paris, 1835<sup>73</sup> | 218 | 137 | 62.9 | | + | | Broussais, Paris, 1835[(#73)] | 218 | 137 | 62.9 | |
| - | | Becquerel, Paris, 1838<sup>73</sup> | 46 | 40 | 90.0 | | + | | Becquerel, Paris, 1838[(#73)] | 46 | 40 | 90.0 | |
| - | | St-Petersburg, 1839<sup>74</sup> | 16,015 | 5,303 | 33.1 | | + | | St-Petersburg, 1839[(#74)] | 16,015 | 5,303 | 33.1 | |
| - | | London, 1845<sup>73</sup> | 1,133 | 404 | 35.7 | | + | | London, 1845[(#73)] | 1,133 | 404 | 35.7 | |
| - | | Pinel, Paris<sup>73</sup> | 23 | 11 | 47.8 | | + | | Pinel, Paris[(#73)] | 23 | 11 | 47.8 | |
| - | | Cochin Hospital<sup>73</sup> | 63 | 16 | 25.4 | | + | | Cochin Hospital[(#73)] | 63 | 16 | 25.4 | |
| - | | Cayol<sup>73</sup> | 24 | 6 | 25.0 | | + | | Cayol[(#73)] | 24 | 6 | 25.0 | |
| - | | St. Joseph Hospital, Lisbon<sup>73</sup> | 52 | 21 | 54.2 | | + | | St. Joseph Hospital, Lisbon[(#73)] | 52 | 21 | 54.2 | |
| - | | Geneva Military Hospital<sup>73</sup> | 27 | 11 | 40.7 | | + | | Geneva Military Hospital[(#73)] | 27 | 11 | 40.7 | |
| - | | London Hospital, 1784-1903<sup>75,</sup>[(In the statistics of the London Hospital, cases from broncho-pneumonia have been excluded, which tend to have a higher mortality rate particularly in young children. Osler said, “Primary acute broncho-pneumonia, like lobar form, attacks children in good health, usually under two years. … The death rate in children under five has been variously estimated at from 30 to 50 per cent.” (William Osler. //The Principles and Practice of Medicine. (// New York: D. Appleton and Company), 1912, 102, 106.))] | 5,692 | 1,157 | 20.3 | | + | | London Hospital, 1784-1903[(#73)] [(In the statistics of the London Hospital, cases from broncho-pneumonia have been excluded, which tend to have a higher mortality rate particularly in young children. Osler said, “Primary acute broncho-pneumonia, like lobar form, attacks children in good health, usually under two years. … The death rate in children under five has been variously estimated at from 30 to 50 per cent.” (William Osler. //The Principles and Practice of Medicine. (// New York: D. Appleton and Company), 1912, 102, 106.))] | 5,692 | 1,157 | 20.3 | |
| - | | Charité Hospital in New Orleans, 1830-1879<sup>76</sup> | 3,969 | 1,509 | 38.0 | | + | | Charité Hospital in New Orleans, 1830-1879[(#76)] | 3,969 | 1,509 | 38.0 | |
| - | | Basel Hospital 1839-1871<sup>75</sup> | 922 | 213 | 23.1 | | + | | Basel Hospital 1839-1871[(#75)] | 922 | 213 | 23.1 | |
| - | | Seraphim Hospital in Stockholm, 1840-1855<sup>75</sup> | 2,710 | 375 | 13.8 | | + | | Seraphim Hospital in Stockholm, 1840-1855[(#75)] | 2,710 | 375 | 13.8 | |
| - | | Pensylvannia Hospital, 1845-1887<sup>76</sup> | 704 | 205 | 29.1 | | + | | Pensylvannia Hospital, 1845-1887[(#76)] | 704 | 205 | 29.1 | |
| - | | Vienna General Hospital, 1847-1857<sup>75</sup> | 5,990 | 1,441 | 24.1 | | + | | Vienna General Hospital, 1847-1857[(#75)] | 5,990 | 1,441 | 24.1 | |
| - | | Edinburg Infirmary, 1848-1856<sup>76</sup> | 1,726 | 333 | 19.3 | | + | | Edinburg Infirmary, 1848-1856[(#76)] | 1,726 | 333 | 19.3 | |
| | Dr. Routh’s collection, 1852[(#72)] | 388 | 66 | 17.0 | | | Dr. Routh’s collection, 1852[(#72)] | 388 | 66 | 17.0 | | ||
| - | | Montreal General Hospital, 1853-1887<sup>76</sup> | 1,012 | 206 | 20.4 | | + | | Montreal General Hospital, 1853-1887[(#76)] | 1,012 | 206 | 20.4 | |
| - | | Dickson’s Tables, 1867<sup>77</sup> | 80,437 | 16,915 | 21.0 | | + | | Dickson’s Tables, 1867[(#77)] | 80,437 | 16,915 | 21.0 | |
| - | | Stockholm Military Hospital<sup>75</sup> | 670 | 49 | 7.3 | | + | | Stockholm Military Hospital[(#75)] | 670 | 49 | 7.3 | |
| - | | Middlesex Hospital, 1869-1888<sup>78</sup> | 1,010 | 192 | 19.0 | | + | | Middlesex Hospital, 1869-1888[(#78)] | 1,010 | 192 | 19.0 | |
| - | | Boston City Hospital, 1875-1887<sup>73</sup> | 1,443 | 421 | 29.1 | | + | | Boston City Hospital, 1875-1887[(#73)] | 1,443 | 421 | 29.1 | |
| - | | Collective Investigation, London, British Med. Ass. 1884<sup>75</sup> | 1,060 | 191 | 18.2 | | + | | Collective Investigation, London, British Med. Ass. 1884[(#75)] | 1,060 | 191 | 18.2 | |
| - | | St. George’s Hospital 1884-1888<sup>78</sup> | 86 | 18 | 20.4 | | + | | St. George’s Hospital 1884-1888[(#78)] | 86 | 18 | 20.4 | |
| - | | Guy’s Hospital 1884-1888<sup>78</sup> | 62 | 10 | 16.1 | | + | | Guy’s Hospital 1884-1888[(#78)] | 62 | 10 | 16.1 | |
| - | | St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, 1884-1888<sup>78</sup> | 137 | 28 | 20.4 | | + | | St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, 1884-1888[(#78)] | 137 | 28 | 20.4 | |
| - | | Westminster Hospital, 1884-1888<sup>78</sup> | 247 | 52 | 21.1 | | + | | Westminster Hospital, 1884-1888[(#78)] | 247 | 52 | 21.1 | |
| - | | Osler, John Hopkins Hospital, 1889-1905<sup>79</sup> | 658 | 200 | 30.4 | | + | | Osler, John Hopkins Hospital, 1889-1905[(#79)] | 658 | 200 | 30.4 | |
| - | | St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, 1897-1906<sup>75</sup> | 1,111 | 173 | 15.6 | | + | | St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, 1897-1906[(#75)] | 1,111 | 173 | 15.6 | |
| - | | Bellevue Hospital, NYC, 1920-1925<sup>80</sup> | 2,629 | 825 | 31.4 | | + | | Bellevue Hospital, NYC, 1920-1925[(#80)] | 2,629 | 825 | 31.4 | |
| | **Total** | **146,237** | **35,698** | **24.4 (average)** | | | **Total** | **146,237** | **35,698** | **24.4 (average)** | | ||
| Now, let’s look at the outcome under homeopathy of patients with pneumonia in also a mixed population of ambulatory and hospitalized care during the same period of time and in the same parts of the world. Contrary to cherry picking, I have included all the case and cohort series of 5 or more cases that I have so far found in the literature, and are therefore representative of different levels of expertise in homeopathy. We find that out of 25,216 cases there were 866 deaths, a mortality rate of 3.4%, or 7 times less than under PAA. [(André Saine. //The Weight of Evidence. The Extraordinary Success of Homeopathy in Times of Epidemics.// In preparation, see here: http://www.homeopathy.ca/publications_det02.shtml)] [(Henri de Bonneval. //Considérations sur l’homœopathie.// (Bordeaux: Imprimerie Adrien Bousin, 1881), 19-22.)] [(Willis A. Dewey. Editorials. Pneumonia and its treatment. //Medical Century// 1912; 19: 250-253.)] [(R. del Mas. Thirty cases of pneumonia. //Homoeopathician// 1914; 4: 53-54.)] [(E. Rodney Fiske. A survey of the statistics of the homeopathic treatment of lobar pneumonia. //Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy// 1928; 21: 886-993)] | Now, let’s look at the outcome under homeopathy of patients with pneumonia in also a mixed population of ambulatory and hospitalized care during the same period of time and in the same parts of the world. Contrary to cherry picking, I have included all the case and cohort series of 5 or more cases that I have so far found in the literature, and are therefore representative of different levels of expertise in homeopathy. We find that out of 25,216 cases there were 866 deaths, a mortality rate of 3.4%, or 7 times less than under PAA. [(André Saine. //The Weight of Evidence. The Extraordinary Success of Homeopathy in Times of Epidemics.// In preparation, see here: http://www.homeopathy.ca/publications_det02.shtml)] [(Henri de Bonneval. //Considérations sur l’homœopathie.// (Bordeaux: Imprimerie Adrien Bousin, 1881), 19-22.)] [(Willis A. Dewey. Editorials. Pneumonia and its treatment. //Medical Century// 1912; 19: 250-253.)] [(R. del Mas. Thirty cases of pneumonia. //Homoeopathician// 1914; 4: 53-54.)] [(E. Rodney Fiske. A survey of the statistics of the homeopathic treatment of lobar pneumonia. //Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy// 1928; 21: 886-993)] | ||
| - | | **Homeopathic Treatment** | Cases | **Deaths** | **Mortality (percent)** | | + | | **Homeopathic Treatment** | **Cases** | **Deaths** | **Mortality (percent)** | |
| - | | Infantry Hospital, St. Petersburg, 1829<sup>82</sup> | 71 | 0 | 0 | | + | | Infantry Hospital, St. Petersburg, 1829[(#82)] | 71 | 0 | 0 | |
| - | | Rosenberg Collection, 1843<sup>82</sup> | 390 | 14 | 3.6 | | + | | Rosenberg Collection, 1843[(#82)] | 390 | 14 | 3.6 | |
| - | | Dr. Bosch<sup>82</sup> | 100 | 3 | 3.0 | | + | | Dr. Bosch[(#82)] | 100 | 3 | 3.0 | |
| - | | Mercy Hospital, Vienna, 1835-1842, 1849-1854<sup>82</sup> | 954 | 47 | 1.1 | | + | | Mercy Hospital, Vienna, 1835-1842, 1849-1854[(#82)] | 954 | 47 | 1.1 | |
| - | | Mercy Hospital, Vienna, 1843-1848<sup>82</sup> | 88 | 1 | 1.1 | | + | | Mercy Hospital, Vienna, 1843-1848[(#82)] | 88 | 1 | 1.1 | |
| - | | Nechanitz Hospital, 1846-1848<sup>82</sup> | 19 | 1 | 5.3 | | + | | Nechanitz Hospital, 1846-1848[(#82)] | 19 | 1 | 5.3 | |
| - | | Mercy Hospital, Kremsier, 1846-1848<sup>82</sup> | 49 | 8 | 16.3 | | + | | Mercy Hospital, Kremsier, 1846-1848[(#82)] | 49 | 8 | 16.3 | |
| - | | Turin Military Hospital, 1851<sup>82</sup> | 89 | 0 | 0 | | + | | Turin Military Hospital, 1851[(#82)] | 89 | 0 | 0 | |
| - | | Bruges Dispensary, 1861<sup>82</sup> | 19 | 0 | 0 | | + | | Bruges Dispensary, 1861[(#82)] | 19 | 0 | 0 | |
| - | | Five Points House Industry Hospital, NYC, 1861-1887<sup>82</sup> | 222 | 7 | 3.2 | | + | | Five Points House Industry Hospital, NYC, 1861-1887[(#82)] | 222 | 7 | 3.2 | |
| - | | Military Hospital Kansas City, 1861-1863<sup>82</sup> | 194 | 3 | 1.6 | | + | | Military Hospital Kansas City, 1861-1863[(#82)] | 194 | 3 | 1.6 | |
| - | | Roubaix Hospital, 1863-1864<sup>82</sup> | 49 | 2 | 4.1 | | + | | Roubaix Hospital, 1863-1864[(#82)] | 49 | 2 | 4.1 | |
| - | | Cavalry Depot Hospital, St. Louis, 1865<sup>82</sup> | 25 | 1 | 4.0 | | + | | Cavalry Depot Hospital, St. Louis, 1865[(#82)] | 25 | 1 | 4.0 | |
| - | | St. Rochus and Besthesda Hospitals, Budapest, 1870<sup>82</sup> | 711 | 63 | 8.9 | | + | | St. Rochus and Besthesda Hospitals, Budapest, 1870[(#82)] | 711 | 63 | 8.9 | |
| - | | Gyongyos Hospital, Hungary<sup>83</sup> | 20 | 0 | 0 | | + | | Gyongyos Hospital, Hungary[(#83)] | 20 | 0 | 0 | |
| - | | Guns Hospital, Hungary<sup>83</sup> | 32 | 0 | 0 | | + | | Guns Hospital, Hungary[(#83)] | 32 | 0 | 0 | |
| - | | Leipzig Hospital<sup>83</sup> | 34 | 2 | 5.9 | | + | | Leipzig Hospital[(#83)] | 34 | 2 | 5.9 | |
| - | | Military Hospital, Vienna<sup>83</sup> | 79 | 0 | 0 | | + | | Military Hospital, Vienna[(#83)] | 79 | 0 | 0 | |
| - | | Munich Hospital<sup>83</sup> | 5 | 0 | 0 | | + | | Munich Hospital[(#83)] | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| - | | Bond Street Dispensary, 1865-1871, NYC<sup>82</sup> | 815 | 12 | 2.5 | | + | | Bond Street Dispensary, 1865-1871, NYC[(#82)] | 815 | 12 | 2.5 | |
| - | | Poughkeepsie Dispensary, 1865-1867<sup>82</sup> | 15 | 0 | 0 | | + | | Poughkeepsie Dispensary, 1865-1867[(#82)] | 15 | 0 | 0 | |
| - | | Dr. Routh’s collection, 1852<sup>84</sup> | 738 | 45 | 6.1 | | + | | Dr. Routh’s collection, 1852[(#84)] | 738 | 45 | 6.1 | |
| - | | Gumpendorf Hospital<sup>84</sup> | 1,415 | 48 | 3.4 | | + | | Gumpendorf Hospital[(#84)] | 1,415 | 48 | 3.4 | |
| - | | Leopoldstadt Hospital, Vienna<sup>84</sup> | 149 | 9 | 6.0 | | + | | Leopoldstadt Hospital, Vienna[(#84)] | 149 | 9 | 6.0 | |
| - | | Linz Hospital<sup>84</sup> | 99 | 1 | 1.0 | | + | | Linz Hospital[(#84)] | 99 | 1 | 1.0 | |
| - | | St-Marguerite Hospital, Paris<sup>84</sup> | 41 | 3 | 7.3 | | + | | St-Marguerite Hospital, Paris[(#84)] | 41 | 3 | 7.3 | |
| - | | London Homoeopathic Hospital<sup>84</sup> | 63 | 3 | 4.8 | | + | | London Homoeopathic Hospital[(#84)] | 63 | 3 | 4.8 | |
| - | | Professor Henderson, Edinburgh<sup>84</sup> | 11 | 0 | 0 | | + | | Professor Henderson, Edinburgh[(#84)] | 11 | 0 | 0 | |
| - | | Dr. Watkins, London, 1898<sup>82</sup> | 14 | 0 | 0 | | + | | Dr. Watkins, London, 1898[(#82)] | 14 | 0 | 0 | |
| - | | Dr. Bodman, Bristol, 1900-1910<sup>84</sup> | 50 | 0 | 0 | | + | | Dr. Bodman, Bristol, 1900-1910[(#84)] | 50 | 0 | 0 | |
| - | | Dr. Hood’s collection (50 physicians), 1906<sup>84</sup> | 6,605 | 251 | 3.8 | | + | | Dr. Hood’s collection (50 physicians), 1906[(#84)] | 6,605 | 251 | 3.8 | |
| - | | Dr. Del Mas, 1914<sup>85</sup> | 30 | 0 | 0 | | + | | Dr. Del Mas, 1914[(#85)] | 30 | 0 | 0 | |
| | Hahnemann Hospital, 1908-1921[(G. Harlan Wells. A study of the comparative value of the homeopathic treatment and other methods of treatment in lobar pneumonia. //Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy// 1922-1923; 15: 541-550.)] | 190 | 14 | 7.4 | | | Hahnemann Hospital, 1908-1921[(G. Harlan Wells. A study of the comparative value of the homeopathic treatment and other methods of treatment in lobar pneumonia. //Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy// 1922-1923; 15: 541-550.)] | 190 | 14 | 7.4 | | ||
| - | | Survey: Am. Inst Hom., 1928<sup>86</sup> | 11,526 | 323 | 2.8 | | + | | Survey: Am. Inst Hom., 1928[(#86)] | 11,526 | 323 | 2.8 | |
| - | | Drs. A and D. Pulford, Ohio, 1929<sup>82</sup> | 250 | 4 | 1.6 | | + | | Drs. A and D. Pulford, Ohio, 1929[(#82)] | 250 | 4 | 1.6 | |
| - | | Royal London Hom. Hospital, 1948-1953<sup>82</sup> | 55 | 1 | 1.8 | | + | | Royal London Hom. Hospital, 1948-1953[(#82)] | 55 | 1 | 1.8 | |
| | **Total** | **25,216** | **866** | **3.4 (average)** | | | **Total** | **25,216** | **866** | **3.4 (average)** | | ||
| Line 599: | Line 604: | ||
| | **Treatment** | **Number of patients** | **Number of recoveries** | **Survival Rate** | **Number of deaths** | **Mortality Rate** | | | **Treatment** | **Number of patients** | **Number of recoveries** | **Survival Rate** | **Number of deaths** | **Mortality Rate** | | ||
| - | | **Homeopathy** | **25,216** | **24,360** | **96.6** | **866** | **3.4** | | + | | Homeopathy | 25,216 | 24,360 | 96.6 | 866 | 3.4 | |
| - | | **PAA** | **146,237** | **110,539** | **75.8** | **35,698** | **24.4** | | + | | PAA | 146,237 | 110,539 | 75.8 | 35,698 | 24.4 | |
| - | | **CC** **C (limited to CAP)** | **33,148** | **28,607** | **86.3** | **4,541** | **13.7** | | + | | CCC (limited to CAP) | 33,148 | 28,607 | 86.3 | 4,541 | 13.7 | |
| Statistics from these outcomes show that: | Statistics from these outcomes show that: | ||
| Line 612: | Line 617: | ||
| ===== Pneumonia during the 1918-1920 Influenza Pandemic ===== | ===== Pneumonia during the 1918-1920 Influenza Pandemic ===== | ||
| - | The second part of the answer to Dr. Steven Novella’s first question will follow in June. | + | The second part of the answer to Dr. Steven Novella’s first question [[talk-saine-novella-question01-part02|will follow in June]]. |
en/misc/talk-saine-novella-question01.1370415252.txt.gz · Last modified: 2013/06/05 06:54 by legatum
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