Homeopathic pathogenetic trials produce more specific than non-specific symptoms: results from two double-blind placebo controlled trials.
We conducted two parallel, blinded homeopathic pathogenetic trials conducted at two different sites to determine whether symptoms reported by healthy volunteers were significantly different for homeopathic remedies than for placebos. Study 1 used a two-armed design, testing ozone against placebo. Study 2 used a three-armed design, testing ozone and iridium against placebo. We found significantly more remedy-specific symptoms in provers taking ozone or iridium than in provers taking placebo in the three-armed trial and in both trials pooled for ozone and placebo. We, therefore, conclude that homeopathic remedies produce more symptoms typical for a remedy than non-typical symptoms. The results furthermore suggest a somewhat non-classical pattern because symptoms of one remedy appear to be mimicked in the other trial arm. This might be indicative of entanglement in homeopathic systems.
Walach
H
H
School of Social Sciences and European Office of the Samueli Institute for Information Biology, University of Northampton, Northampton, UK. harald.walach@northampton.ac.uk
Möllinger
H
H
Sherr
J
J
Schneider
R
R
D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006705:Homeopathy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007495:Iridium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010126:Ozone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015990:Placebo Effect; D012107:Research Design; D055815:Young Adult
D007495:Iridium; D010126:Ozone