Download PDF
Homeopathy 2023; 112(04): 280-285
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1772165
Commentary Article

A Broader Vision for Homeopathy: Medicine Needs Healing, and Homeopathy Has a Part to Play

Jeremy Swayne 
1   Tanzy Cottage, Rimpton, Somerset, United Kingdom
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
Also available at
   Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

The controversial claim that homeopathic medicines actively stimulate the innate capacity of body and mind for healing and repair demands continuing and energetic investigation. But regardless of the outcome of this scientific controversy, the reported changes associated with applying the homeopathic method are matters of clinical fact. There is thus a case to be made that the homeopathic approach, the way that it studies and construes the experience of illness in individual patients, enriches our understanding of health, illness and healing; and is itself an essential contribution that homeopathy can make to the advancement of medicine. Practitioners and researchers involved in homeopathy can, and should, be more energetic and forceful in making that case.



Publication History

Received: 29 May 2023

Accepted: 14 June 2023

Article published online:
06 September 2023

© 2023. Faculty of Homeopathy. This article is published by Thieme.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

  • References

  • 1 Pinsent RJFH. Homoeopathy—the end of the beginning. Br Homoeopath J 1984; 73: 149-159
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Swayne J. The role of homoeopathy in contemporary medicine. Br Homoeopath J 1985; 74: 177-185
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Dieppe P, Hypki C. Healing and Medicine: A Doctor's Journey Towards Their Integration. Oxford, UK: Routledge; 2023
    CrossrefGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Swayne J. Remodelling Medicine. Glasgow: Saltire Books; 2012
    Article in Thieme ConnectGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Swayne J. Medicine and healing: a broken marriage?. New Society September 2, 1966; 491-492
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Swayne J. Remodelling Medicine. Glasgow: Saltire Books; 2012: 259-265
    Google Scholar
  • 7 Swayne J. Remodelling Medicine. Glasgow: Saltire Books; 2012: 107-114
    Google Scholar
  • 8 Midgeley M. Science as Salvation. London: Routledge; 1992: 37
    Google Scholar
  • 9 Hasegawa H, Reilly D, Mercer SW, Bikker AP. Holism in primary care: the views of Scotland's general practitioners. Prim Health Care Res Dev 2005; 6: 320-328
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Swayne J. Homeopathic Method: Implications for Clinical Practice and Medical Science. 2nd ed. Glasgow: Saltire Books; 2013
    Google Scholar
  • 11 Mercer SW. Foreword. In: Swayne J. ed. Homeopathic Method: Implications for Clinical Practice and Medical Science. 2nd ed. Glasgow: Saltire Books; 2013
    Google Scholar
  • 12 Harris CM. . Foreword. In: Swayne J. ed. Homeopathic Method: Implications for Clinical Practice and Medical Science. 1st ed. London: Churchill Livingstone; 1998
    Google Scholar
  • 13 Harris CM. William Pickles lecture 1989. Seeing sunflowers. J R Coll Gen Pract 1989; 39: 313-319
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Swayne J. The starting point: pathography. Homeopathy 2002; 91: 22-25
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Marinker M. The chameleon, the Judas goat, and the cuckoo. J R Coll Gen Pract 1978; 28: 199-206
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Hahnemann S. The Organon of the Medical Art. Palo Alto, CA: Birdcage Press; 1996. :§6, 62; §83, 130
    Google Scholar
  • 17 Swayne J. . Aetiology. In: Homeopathic Method: Implications for Clinical Practice and Medical Science. 2nd ed. Glasgow: Saltire Books; 2013: 173-189
    Google Scholar
  • 18 Swayne J. . Constitution. In: Homeopathic Method: Implications for Clinical Practice and Medical Science. 2nd ed. Glasgow: Saltire Books; 2013: 163-171
    Google Scholar
  • 19 Swayne J. Constitution. Br Homoeopath J 1998; 87: 141-144
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Swayne J. Symptoms: individuality and totality. In: Homeopathic Method: Implications for Clinical Practice and Medical Science. 2nd ed. Glasgow: Saltire Books; 2013: 137-142
    Google Scholar
  • 21 Swayne J. The cost and effectiveness of homeopathy: a pilot study and proposals for future research. Br Homoeopath J 1992; 81: 148-150
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Spence DS, Thompson EA, Barron SJ. Homeopathic treatment for chronic disease: a 6-year, university-hospital outpatient observational study. J Altern Complement Med 2005; 11: 793-798
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Mallangi J, Chaudhuri J, Varanasi R, Oberai P. Multimorbidity in a 35-year-old female patient treated with homeopathy: a case report. Homeopathy 2023; 112: 135-142
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Mathie RT, Ulbrich-Zürni S, Viksveen P. et al. Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised, other-than-placebo controlled, trials of individualised homeopathic treatment. Homeopathy 2018; 107: 229-243
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Jacobs J, Jiménez LM, Gloyd SS, Gale JL, Crothers D. Treatment of acute childhood diarrhea with homeopathic medicine: a randomized clinical trial in Nicaragua. Pediatrics 1994; 93: 719-725
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Colau JC, Vincent S, Marijnen P, Allaert FA. Efficacy of a non-hormonal treatment, BRN-01, on menopausal hot flashes: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Drugs R D 2012; 12: 107-119
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Shang A, Huwiler-Müntener K, Nartey L. et al. Are the clinical effects of homoeopathy placebo effects? Comparative study of placebo-controlled trials of homoeopathy and allopathy. Lancet 2005; 366: 726-732
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Fisher P, Berman B, Davidson J, Reilly D, Thompson T. Are the clinical effects of homoeopathy placebo effects?. Lancet 2005; 366: 2082-2083 ; author reply 2083–2086
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Australian Government. NHMRC Information Paper: Evidence on the Effectiveness of Homeopathy for Treating Health Conditions. Canberra, Australia: National Health and Medical Research Council; 2015
    Google Scholar
  • 30 Homeopathy Research Institute. The Australian report. Accessed May 17, 2023, at: www.hri-research.org/resources/homeopathy-the-debate/the-australian-report-on-homeopathy/
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Swayne J. Book review: a bad advertisement for homeopathy. Homeopathy 2002; 91: 117-122
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 Swayne J. Book review and authors' response: Singh S, Ernst E, Trick or treatment? Alternative medicine on trial. Br J Gen Pract 2008; 58: 738-739
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Ernst E. Complementary/alternative medicine: engulfed by postmodernism, anti-science and regressive thinking. Br J Gen Pract 2009; 59: 298-301 , discussion 301
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 34 Swayne J. Joining the grown-ups: academic challenge and responsibility in homeopathic medicine. Br Homoeopath J 1988; 77: 235-244
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 35 Rutten L, Eizayaga J, Kaur H. et al. Counting polar symptoms: how to represent the results?. Homeopathy 2021; 110: 27-35
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 36 Bagchi S, Nayak C, Rutten L. et al. Assessment of likelihood ratio for four contact dermatitis symptoms of Vinca minor . Homeopathy 2018; 107: 209-217
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 37 Swayne J. Homoeopathic therapeutics: many dimensions—or meaningless diversity?. In: Vickers A. ed. Examining Complementary Medicine. Cheltenham, UK: Stanley Thornes; 1998: 64-73
    Google Scholar
  • 38 Moerman D. Meaning, Medicine and the ‘Placebo’ Effect. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2002
    CrossrefGoogle Scholar
  • 39 Swayne J. Natural medicine and natural healing. In: Remodelling Medicine. Glasgow: Saltire Books; 2012: 235-243
    Google Scholar
  • 40 Swayne J. Richard Hughes Memorial Lecture 2004. Homeopathy, wholeness and healing. Homeopathy 2005; 94: 37-43
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 41 Swayne J. The holistic perspective. In: Remodelling Medicine. Glasgow: Saltire Books; 2012: 249-251
    Google Scholar
  • 42 Swayne J. Homoeopathy in the NHS: a holistic and interprofessional challenge. J Interprof Care 1995; 9: 53-59
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 43 Swayne J. Reinstating the individual. In: Remodelling Medicine. Glasgow: Saltire Books; 2012: 97-103
    Google Scholar
  • 44 Centre for the Advancement of Interprofessional Education. About CAIPE. Accessed June 2, 2023, at: www.caipe.org/about
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 45 World Health Organization. Framework for Action on Inter-professional Education and Collaborative Practice. Geneva: WHO; 2010
    Google Scholar
  • 46 Department of Health. Working Together: Learning Together. London: The Stationary Office; 2001
    Google Scholar
  • 47 The British Pain Society. Philosophy & Ethics Special Interest Group. Accessed June 2, 2023, at: www.britishpainsociety.org/philosophy-ethics-special-interest-group/
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 48 Swayne J. A common language of care?. J Interprof Care 1995; 7: 29-35
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 49 Malcolm R. A view of the role of integrated medicine in breast cancer care within NHS Tayside. Accessed June 2, 2023 at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SetOV3HWDPs
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 50 Thompson EA. Investigating homeopathy as a complex intervention in the cancer setting [DM dissertation]. University of Oxford; 2008
    Google Scholar
  • 51 Swayne J. The place of homoeopathic medicine in postgraduate education for general practice. J R Coll Gen Pract 1988; 38: 119-120
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 52 Swayne J. Survey of the use of homeopathic medicine in the UK health system. J R Coll Gen Pract 1989; 39: 503-506
    PubMedGoogle Scholar