Dana Ullman MPHThe second international conference on homeopathic research
(Omeomed ’97) took place in Urbino, Italy, September 25-28, 1997.
The conference took place at the university in Urbino. The
information provided was obviously so earth shaking that Italy
experienced a major earthquake during the conference (the center
of the earthquake, near Assisi, was less than 100 miles away from
Urbino).
The speakers at the conference primarily came from Italy,
though there were also speakers from Israel, England, Germany,
Austria, Russia, Ukraine, Greece, India, Portugal, and Slovenia.
The topics included clinical studies, laboratory studies, and
investigations into potential mechanisms of action of homeopathic
medicines.
Of special interest were the following presentations…
An Italian researcher, E. Felisi, conducted a preliminary
placebo-controlled, double-blind study on patients with breast
cancer who underwent radiation treatment. Patients were given
Belladonna 7CH and X-Ray 15CH. The results showed that those
given the homeopathic medicines had less redness and less burning
pains, but not less swelling. An attendee at the conference
noted that Apis would probably have been a better remedy for
preventing swelling, heat, and redness than Belladonna.
An Indian researcher, N.C. Sukul, observed the influence of
Nux Vomica 30C in the treatment of mice who were intoxicated with
ethanol as a sleep-inducing agent. The researcher found that
giving Nux Vomica 30C (made with 90% ethanol) reduced the sleep
inducing effects of ethanol, while Nux Vomica 30C (made with 100%
ethanol) and Nux Vomica 30C (90%) which was injected, rather than
given orally, had no effect.
A team of Italian researchers, led by C. Cardella, observed
the effects of homeopathic diluted weed-killer on lentils’
sprouting. The researchers found that, based on a total of 68
observations, those lentils that were given a 8CH of the weed-
killer had a tendency to sprout in greater numbers than those
lentils given a placebo.
A different group of Italian researchers, led by M. Brizzi,
conducted a similar type of research. They tested the effects of
Arsenicum 23x to 45x on wheat seeds which had been subjected to
arsenic poisoning. The researchers noted that 40x and 45x had
particularly beneficial effects on the wheat seed growth. Of
special interest was the observation that potentized water also
had an effect on wheat growth on seeds that were poisoned but not
on seeds that were not poisoned. This study and a select number
of previous studies from other researchers have observed an
effect from potentized water, suggesting that there is something
beneficial of simply potentizing water.
An Israeli reseacher, M. Oberbaum, conducted a preliminary
clinical trial of children suffering from chemotherapy-induced
stomatitis (the inflammatory damage of the oral mucous
membranes). The researcher tested a popular German and American
combination remedy commonly given for “trauma” and
“inflammation.” This study was observational and was not
randomized or double-blinded. It observed the effects on 27
children, aged 6 to 18. The benefit from the homeopathic
medicine was considerable, and the researcher recommended that a
larger and controlled trial be conducted.
The most significant clinical study presented at the
conference was on the homeopathic treatment of chronic headaches.
Conducted to a high level of sophistication, the German
researcher, H. Walach, conducted a randomized placebo-controlled,
double-blind trial with the aid of one of Vithoulkas’ leading
students/practitioners in Germany (Wolfgang Springer, MD). One
unique feature of this trial was that all six homeopathic physicians involved in the study had to agree to the accuracy of the
homeopathic prescription in order for a patient to be admitted
into the experiment. Initially, 139 patients were interviewed,
and 101 patients were admitted into the trial as those who homeo-
paths agreed upon the prescription. The first phase of the trial
was 12 weeks, and the second phase was 12 months.
The first phase showed no difference in headache or overall
health between those prescribed the homeopathic medicine and
those given a placebo. The second phase also showed no difference in headaches in either group, but based on standardized
questionaire assessments, those given homeopathic medicines
showed improved psychological states and reduced overall physical
complaints.
Although those of us involved in homeopathy may be surprised
to learn that this rigorous study showed no reduction in
headaches from homeopathic medicines, headaches may be like
certain skin ailments, in which improvement may not be observable
for a longer period of time and that the person’s overall health
is first improved.
My own presentation described recent clinical and basic
sciences research in the U.S. One soon-to-be published study by
Los Angeles homeopath/psychologist John Lamont, PhD, investigation the homeopathic treatment of 43 children with ADD. This
double-blind, placebo-controlled trial showed significant results
from individualized homeopathic medicines. Another trial by
Susan Garcia-Swain, MD, tested individually chosen homeopathic
medicine in the treatment of chemically-dependent patients in a
drug rehabilitation hospital. This study was a particularly
large trial with 703 patients, one-third of whom received a
homeopathic medicine, one-third of whom received a placebo, and
one-third of whom received no medicines. The study found that
those patients given a placebo and those given no medication had
limited and similar results, while those patients given a homeopathic medicine experienced highly significant results in numerous measurements of physical and psychological health and in drug
use. Interestingly enough to those of us familiar with Hering’s
law of cure, this trial showed that those patients given a homeopathic medicine had an increase in rhinitis, and skin and muscu-
loskeletal symptoms during the first three days after treatment.
I also discussed some new work conducted by a Los Angeles
physicist, Shui-Yin Lo, PhD, on the mechanism of action of highly
diluted substances. With the aid of electron microscope and an
Atomic force microscope, Dr. Lo has discovered IE (NOTE: “E” is
subscripted) (“I” stands for ice, and “E” subscripted stands for
in an electrical field). Dr. Lo has found that these ice crystals appear in room temperature water when a substance is diluted
and vigorous shaken at least to the 6x. These ice crystals have
a unique geometrical shape as well as charge and density. Dr. Lo
has published his work on this subject (see Modern Physics Letters B, 10,19, 1996, pages 921-930). He is continuing new work
in this area and is having others replicate his work.
Sadly, the earthquake occurred half-way through the first
day of the conference, and city officials chose to close the
university where the conference took place after lunchtime. The
conference resumed in a classroom outside of town. As a result
of this change of venue and because many speakers spoke over
their alloted time, there was no time for questions or discussion
after any presentation, even for the three following days of the
conference. While this problem is understandable during the
first day, it is inexcusable that the conference organizers
didn’t keep speakers to a schedule. Since discussion after
presentations on research subjects is so vital, conference organizers must plan for and insist upon adequate time for discussion.
The above described research was only a small number of the
studies described, some of which was preliminary and others were
finalized trials. It is always quite exciting to know that there
are an active group of reseachers investigating homeopathy in its
various forms.
For further information about homeopathic medicine or for access to homeopathic medicines, contact:
Homeopathic Educational Services
2124B Kittredge St.
Berkeley, CA. 94704
(510)649-0294
(510)649-1955 (fax)
email: mail@homeopathic.com
HOW DO I LEARN MORE ABOUT HOMEOPATHY?
The best source of homeopathic books, tapes, home medicine
kits, and software is:
Homeopathic Educational Services
2124B Kittredge St.
Berkeley, CA. 94704.
(510)649-0294
The key homeopathic organization to know about is:
National Center for Homoeopathy
801 N. Fairfax #306
Alexandria, VA. 22314
International Foundation for Homeopathy
PO Box 7
Edmonds, WA. 98020
Dana Ullman, M.P.H. is one of America’s leading educators on homeopathic medicine. He has authored 5 books, including The Consumer’s Guide to Homeopathy, Discovering Homeopathy, Homeopathic Medicine for Children and Infants, The One-Minute (or so) Healer and co-authored Everybody’s Guide to Homeopathic Medicines. He is also the Director of Homeopathic Educational Services, a leading resource of homeopathic books, tapes, medicines, and software in Berkeley, California.
Jim Strohecker
Daniel Redwood DC
