Homeopathy leaves asthmatics breathless

Homeopathic remedies, which are often used to improve the quality of life of asthmatic children, are no better than placebo, finds a study in Thorax​.

The findings were based on a comparative trial of 93 children, recruited from five general practices in Somerset, south west England. Aged between 5 and 15 years, the children had mild to moderate asthma, which was treated in the usual way with reliever or preventer inhalers.

In addition to the usual medical treatment, classically trained homeopaths, who had been in practice for at least 10 years, provided homeopathic remedies for the children in up to six sessions over the course of a year. Half the children were given placebo remedies instead of homeopathy. Neither the children nor the practitioners knew who would receive which remedy.

Validated questionnaires, specifically designed to find out about quality of life for children with asthma, were completed at the start of the trial and after 12 months.

According to the researchers, analysis of the results provided no evidence that homeopathy had any measurable impact on quality of life. The severity of symptoms lessened among children taking homeopathic remedies, but not to any extent that was significantly greater than placebo.

Homeopathic remedies are used by an estimated 15 per cent of children with asthma in the UK, wrote the authors, who concluded that they are no better than placebo for improving quality of life in mild to moderate asthma when used in addition to conventional treatment.

The study, led by Dr A. White, was co-ordinated by the University of Exeter's Department of Complementary Medicine in the UK.

Full details of the study can be found in the April 2003 issue of Thorax​.