Hundreds of clinical trials have been carried out in Homeopathic treatment. The results of these trials vary from positive to negative. Some high-quality Random Controlled Trials (RCTs) have produced significant positive results showing Homeopathic treatment having an effect that is not explicable by the mere placebo effect. The most recent and most rigorous investigation yet into clinical trials summarises the situation as ‘Medicines prescribed in Individualised Homeopathy may have small, specific treatment effects. Findings are consistent with sub-group data available in a previous ‘global’ systematic review. The low or unclear overall quality of the evidence prompts caution in interpreting the findings. New high-quality RCT research is necessary to enable more decisive interpretation.’ 

85% of RCTs are positive for homeopathy 70% report improvements in health after treatment.

The Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) is considered the ‘gold standard’ in medical research. One group of patients, the control group, receives a placebo (a “dummy” pill) or standard treatment while another group of patients receives the medicine being tested. The trial becomes double-blinded when neither the patient nor the practitioner knows which treatment the patient is getting.

85% of conclusive RCTs demonstrate that Homeopathy is more effective than a placebo. To date, 142 RCTs on homeopathy have been published in good quality scientific journals: 74 were statistically strong enough to be able to draw firm conclusions; of those, 63 or 85% demonstrated Homeopathy was more effective than placebo.

The absolute best evidence (according to researchers) is meta-analysis. This is where RTCs are pulled together and analyzed ‘as if one’ to reach a more solid conclusion. There have been five meta-analyses of Homeopathy trials to date. Four showed that Homeopathy worked above and beyond placebo.

The RCT model of measuring drug efficacy poses problems for Homeopathic research. In Homeopathy, treatment is usually tailored to the individual. A Homeopathic prescription is based not only on the symptoms of disease in the patient but on a host of other factors that are particular to that patient, including lifestyle, emotional health, personality, eating habits, and medical history. These factors often make a “one drug fits all” RCT less meaningful.

Every Homeopath knows Homeopathy works because they witness the positive results every day in their clinics. The recording of data from everyday practice is called a clinical observation trial. Such trials are important as they put the patient at the heart of the research. In 2005 a six-year study at Bristol Homeopathic Hospital – representing the largest service evaluation of Homeopathic treatment – reported that 70% of 6,500 follow-up patients experienced an improvement in their health.

A report commissioned in 2005 by Prince Charles and carried out by economist Christopher Smallwood found a 30% drop in the number of consultations with GPs and a saving in prescription drug bills of 50% when patients were treated with complementary and alternative medicines.