Experimental research in homœopathy—a critical review^{[ * ]}

Abstract

This review discusses the clinical and experimental evidence for the efficacy of homœopathic treatment of disease. The conclusion is that despite a great deal of experimental and clinical work there is only a little scientific evidence to suggest that homœopathy is effective. This is because of bad design, excution, reporting or failure to repeat experimental work and not necessarily because of the inefficacy of the system which has yet to be properly tested on a large enough scale. It is suggested that there is sufficient evidence to warrant the execution of well-designed, carefully-controlled experiments, particularly in naturally diseased organisms, to investigate the efficacy of homœopathy further. Some of the experimental work already done suggests that homœopathy may be of value in the treatment and prevention of diseases in crops as well as animals and humans.

^* First published with additional introductory and discussion material as “Homœopathy and its Potential Role in Agriculture—a Critical Review” in Biological Agriculture and Horticulture 2 (1984), published by A B Academic Publishers, P.O. Box 97, Berkhamsted, Herts. HP4 2PX, England.