A focus on ...Homeopathy

What is homeopathy?
Homeopathy is a common complementary and alternative medicine and was developed in the 1790s by a German doctor, Samuel Hahnemann.
The idea behind homeopathy is to treat "like" with "like". This means treating an illness with a substance that causes the symptoms of that illness. The substance is derived from plant, mineral or animal material and is given in a highly diluted form so the patient doesn't experience any ill effects. The homeopathy remedies are made up by shaking substances in water or alcohol multiple times until the active ingredient barely exists (3). The theory behind this method is to allow the water to gain a "healing energy of the substance throughout the body of water" (3). The higher the dilution the more potent the remedy is considered. Homeopathy is said to treat the patients mental, emotional, and physical symptoms (2) all of which are assessed by a homeopathic practitioner before being prescribed as a remedy.

Can homeopathy benefit breast cancer patients?
There have been only a few clinical trials investigating the effects of homeopathy on breast cancer patients and these have mostly been looking at symptom relief. One study investigated the effects of two homeopathic regimes for the treatment of menopausal symptoms in 83 breast cancer survivors (4). Patients had completed surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment and had a history of hot flushes. They were given either: i) a single remedy + placebo; ii) a combination remedy (readily available over the counter) + placebo; or iii) two placebo medications. No significant differences were seen in the severity of the hot flushes across all groups. However, the patients not taking the breast cancer drug Tamoxifen had an increase in hot flushes in the combination group compared to the single remedy and the placebo groups.

Another study investigated the effects of homeopathy on symptoms caused by low levels of oestrogen, as well as mood disturbance and quality of life in 40 breast cancer survivors in a Glasgow homeopathic hospital (5). Breast cancer patients received individualised homeopathy prescriptions. At the end of the study patients reported that hot flushes, mood disturbance, anxiety, quality of life, and quality of health had all significantly improved, however, there was lack of evidence to prove these effects were not due to the placebo effect. The same scientists carried out a trial at Bristol Homeopathy Hospital, where 57 breast cancer survivors received a homeopathy consultation and were given either a homeopathic remedy or placebo (6). Outcomes were measured by many symptoms and quality of life questionnaires. No differences were seen between groups in any of the outcome measures which included self rated symptom scores, general feeling and wellbeing, quality of life, anxiety and depression, as well as menopausal symptom and final assessment questionnaires.

In 2000, a study investigated the effects of homeopathic remedies (Belladonna and X-rayed water) on skin irritation, a side effect of radiotherapy (7). Four parameters (skin colour, heat, swelling, and hyperpigmentation) were assessed in 66 breast cancer patients. From the observations, they found that frequency of swelling was higher in the homeopathic remedy group compared to the placebo.

The effects of homeopathy on radiation induced itching has also been studied (8). In this small study involving twenty five patients prescribed with an individualised remedy, half the patients responded well to the treatment, however, this was another observational study where no control group of patients was used.

Summary
Homeopathy may have a role in reducing menopausal symptoms and improving quality of life in breast cancer survivors, however, conclusions cannot be drawn from results of studies carried out so far as these have been both and not well-designed.
Patients should always consult their GP and careful consideration should be taken when choosing homeopathy as an alternative medicine.

References

1. Molassiotis. (2006). Support Care Cancer. 14: 260-267.
2. The Society of Homeopaths (2005) http://www.homeopathy-soh.org/. (accessed 04/02/2010)
3. NHS Homeopathy 2009. http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Homeopathy/Pages/Introduction.aspx (accessed 01-02-10)
4. Jacobs. 2005. The Journal of alternative and complementary Medicine. Vol 11, 1, pp.21-27.
5. Thompson. 2005. The Journal of alternative and complementary Medicine. Vol 11, 1, pp.13-20.
6. Thompson. (2003). Homeopathy. 92, 131-134.
7. Balzarini. (2000). British Homeopathy Journal. 89, 8-12.
8. Schalappack. (2004). Homeopathy. 93, 210-215.