Homeopathic remedies as placebo alternatives--verification on the example of treatment of menopause-related vegetative and emotional disturbances.
With the example of treatment of menopause-related vegetative and emotional disturbances, the author verifies the effectiveness of the use of Ignatia amara containing complex homeopathic remedies (IACCHR) as an alternative to placebo. Substantial improvement in psychological and psychosomatic symptoms was observed. Climacteric complaints diminished or disappeared completely in the majority of women (95.7% by patient evaluation and 96.2% by physician evaluation). Compared to standard pharmaceuticals, IACCHR treatment was tolerated better and lower risk of side effects was observed. The results obtained in this work indicate the significant therapeutic potential of this group of treatments, which is in line with the therapeutic effect of the placebo. Nevertheless, the showing of specific effects in pharmacological tests disqualifies the investigated treatments from use in a clinical trial in place of a placebo.
Department of Psychosomatics, Sexology and Pathology of Interpersonal Relations, Medical Centre for Postgraduate Education, Warsaw, Poland. b.wasilewski@ips.pl
Bohdan W
BW
Wasilewski
D000328:Adult; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004341:Drug Evaluation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D016666:Fluvoxamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006705:Homeopathy; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015990:Placebo Effect; D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016666:Fluvoxamine; D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors