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Influenza Research
Alternative
& Complementary Therapies
Homœopathy
& Influenza
Can homœopathic medicines offer any help for people
suffering from flu? Several years ago, French researchers conducted a controlled clinical
trial to assess the effectiveness of an homœopathic preparation in the treatment of
influenza-like syndromes and came up with an interesting result.
Two hundred and thirty seven (237) patients all received
the homœopathic medicine and two hundred and forty one (241) patients were used as
controls and given placebo tablets. The patients were asked to record their rectal
temperature twice a day, and monitor the presence or absence of five major symptoms
(headache, stiffness, lumbar and articular pain, shivers) along with cough, coryza and
fatigue. Recovery was defined as a rectal temperature less than 37.5 degrees C and
complete resolution of the five major symptoms.
The proportion of cases who recovered within forty eight
hours of treatment was far greater among the homœopathic group than among the placebo
group (17.1% against 10.3%). Whilst the researchers stated that they could not explain the
action of the homœopathic preparation, there was no doubt that it showed that it
offered therapeutic value, and called for more controlled, clinical studies.
Ferley JP; Zmirou D; D'Adhemar D; Balducci F. A controlled
evaluation of a homoeopathic preparation in the treatment of influenza-like syndromes.
Centre Alpin de Recherche Epidemiologique et de Prevention Sanitaire, Grenoble University
Hospital, France.
Br J Clin Pharmacol (ENGLAND) Mar 1989, 27 (3) p329-35
A
controlled clinical trial was conducted to at Grenoble University Hospital,
Grenoble France to assess the effectiveness of an homoeopathic preparation
in the treatment of influenza-like syndromes. 237 patients received the
homoeopathic preparation and a further 241 patients were assigned to receive
a placebo. The patients recorded their rectal temperature twice a day, and
the presence or absence of five cardinal symptoms - headache, stiffness,
lumbar and articular pain, shivers - along with cough, coryza (head cold and
nasal catarrh) and fatigue.
Recovery from the influenza was determined by the rectal temperature
falling below 37.5degreeC and complete resolution of the five cardinal
symptoms. The proportion of cases who recovered within 48 h of treatment was
considerably greater among the patients in the homoeopathic group (17.1%)
than among the placebo group (10.3%). The researchers themselves were so
impressed by the result that they called for further rigorously designed
clinical studies.
Ferley J.P.; Zimirou D.; D'Adhemar D.; Balducci F. A controlled
evaluation of a homoeopathic preparation in the treatment of
influenza-like syndromes. Centre Alpin de Recherche Epidemiologique et de
Prevention Sanitaire, Grenoble University Hospital, Grenoble France
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 1989, 27/3 (329-335)
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