Homeopathic treatment of headaches: a systematic review of the literature.
OBJECTIVE
To systematically review published prospective trials relating to the homeopathic treatment of tension type, cervicogenic, and migraine headache.


METHODS
Pre-MEDLINE, MEDLINE, MANTIS, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and AMED were searched from the initial indexing year of each database through May 2002. Studies were further identified through a manual search of obtained article references.


METHODS
English and non-English randomized clinical trials and prospective observational trials were included if there were at least ten subjects in the homeopathic portion of the trial and, for randomized clinical trials, if there was a placebo group. Treatment in these studies included single dose and individualized homeopathic prescription. Case studies, homeopathic provings, unpublished material, non-peer reviewed papers, and studies that combined multiple homeopathic remedies, introduced other complementary and alternative medicine therapies and/or introduced additional medical therapy for patients in the homeopathic treatment groups were excluded.


METHODS
Qualitative data were extracted from each paper and entered into an evidence table.


RESULTS
A critical evaluation list of 20 methodological items and their operational definitions was used, resulting in a validity score determined for each paper.


RESULTS
Six papers met criteria for inclusion. Three out of the six papers studied migraine headache, two studied cervicogenic and tension type headache, and one included all types of headaches. Four studies were randomized clinical trials, and two were prospective observational studies. Validity scores ranged from 25.0% to 63.4%. Homeopathy was superior to placebo in one randomized clinical trial and equal to placebo in three randomized trials. In no study was homeopathy less effective than placebo in treating headache, or harmful. Two prospective observational studies demonstrated improvement in patients receiving homeopathic care.


CONCLUSIONS
There is insufficient evidence to support or refute the use of homeopathy for managing tension type, cervicogenic, or migraine headache. The studies reviewed possessed several flaws in design. Given these findings, further research is warranted to better investigate the effectiveness of homeopathic treatment of headaches.
Owen
Jonice M
JM
Private Practice of Chiropractic and Homeopathic, Emeryville, CA.
Green
Bart N
BN
Headache. 1998 Jul-Aug;38(7):497-506
15613165
Cephalalgia. 1997 Apr;17(2):119-26; discussion 101
9137850
Ann Intern Med. 2001 Sep 4;135(5):344-51
11529698
Arzneimittelforschung. 1995 Jan;45(1):88-92
7893278
Br Homeopath J. 2001 Oct;90(4):189-97
11680803
Ann Intern Med. 2001 Apr 17;134(8):663-94
11304107
Vital Health Stat 10. 1986 Jul;(156):1-191
3776106
Br Homeopath J. 2000 Jan;89(1):1-2
10703902
J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2001 Sep;24(7):457-66
11562654
Ann Intern Med. 2001 Aug 21;135(4):262-8
11511141
Can J Neurol Sci. 1993 May;20(2):131-7
8334575
Br Homeopath J. 2000 Jan;89(1):4-7
10703903
J Pain Symptom Manage. 1999 Nov;18(5):353-7
10584459
J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1996 Oct;19(8):499-507
8902660
Br Homeopath J. 2001 Apr;90(2):63-72
11341459
Headache. 1999 Mar;39(3):190-6
15613213
J Altern Complement Med. 1998 Winter;4(4):371-88
9884175
CMAJ. 1997 May 1;156(9):1273-87
9145054
Cephalalgia. 1997 Dec;17(8):801-16
9453267
Cephalalgia. 1988;8 Suppl 7:1-96
3048700
Lancet. 1997 Sep 20;350(9081):834-43
9310601
Cephalalgia. 1997 Aug;17(5):600-4
9251877
J Clin Epidemiol. 1991;44(11):1147-57
1941010
BMJ. 1991 Nov 23;303(6813):1298-303
1836153