A 2010 study looked at the efficacy of a homeopathic therapy for a variety of gastrointestinal cancers.
All participants in the study had inoperable cancers of the stomach, gall bladder, pancreas, and liver. The majority were late stage tumours.
The homeopathic treatment was given for 2 years. At the 5-year point, 62% of study participants were still alive, 17.72% were cancer free, and the cancers of another 35.44% had shrunk by at least a third.
Pancreatic cancer, especially, is normally notoriously difficult to treat with only about 14% of sufferers expected to live to the 5-year mark, and only 1% if they had received a stage IV diagnoses.
While just one homeopathic remedy was used in the study’s treatment protocol, other remedies and conventional treatments were used as supportive measures for infection, pain control, and nutritional deficiencies.
Blood transfusions, abdominal or plural paracentesis, stenting of the hepato-pancreato-biliary system, and bypasses were done when required to improve the survival and the quality of life of the participants.
The researchers of the study point to the need for alternative approaches such as theirs for cancer treatment as: the expense of conventional approaches is beyond reach of many in both developing and developed countries; some types of cancers still have a poor prognosis; the side-effects of radiation and chemotherapy are intolerable for some; and, the elderly often can’t be treated when other age-related problems are present.
A patient survey of those in the study showed they mainly took part in the homeopathic protocol because of: no other treatment options being available; financial constraints; frustration with the conventional cancer treatments; and, belief in the efficacy of the homeopathic approach.
At least 60% participants of stage-III and at least 45% participants of stage-IV reported the therapy was effective in reducing their cancer-related pain, weakness, cough, breathlessness, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, constipation, and poor appetite.
The therapy was well tolerated with no adverse side-effects, and was effective in reducing disease symptoms and improving quality of life.
The researchers from this study have called for follow-up RCTs.
Studies on other homeopathic remedies would also be welcome.

Hayfever – an ideal place for homeopathy?

Posted on May 11, 2016 by Em Colley

It’s that time of year again, the one that all the warmth lovers eagerly anticipate (or at least hopefully wish for) and those who suffer from hay fever retreat inside, counting down until the season is over. The dark rooms, closed windows, sunglasses to cope and countless days of irritable sneezing, sniffing or weeping eyes, or the over the counter meds to get through each day. Neither of which make for a particularly glamorous sounding summer. Or that enjoyable either.
But what can homeopathy do? Well, as well as ideally helping to strengthen your own healing ability longer term and perhaps reduce the chance of getting the hay fever, whilst you’re in the thick of the season you can also treat the symptoms with remedies that may help.
Following is a round up of the most commonly used remedies in hay fever:
Allium Cepa

• Strong burning sensation from the eyes accompanied by a bland watery discharge – better open air.
• The eyes are sensitive to light, often red and irritated with burning and smarting. 
• Nose can become red and sore from the copious, burning, acid discharge. 
• Sneezing on entering warm room. The voice can be hoarse and there can be a hacking cough on breathing in cold air. 
• Allium cepa hayfever often comes on worse in spring or August, is worse for being in a warm room and better off for cool air. A peculiarity is that it particularly affects the left eye or nostril or may start off on the left side and spread to the right. 

Sabadilla

•  Persistent and spasmodic sneezing, running nose, copious watery discharge and an itchy, stuffed up nose. 
• The eyes water in the open air, from sunlight or whilst sneezing. 
• Symptoms are also worse for cold air and there is usually improvement from eating warm food and warm drinks or from keeping warm. 

Euphrasia

•  Eyes water all the time with acrid watering (cf Allium Cepa)
• Burning and swelling of the lids (especially the lower), blinking, conjunctivitis like symptoms.
• The nasal and throat symptoms are less marked but include profuse watery bland mucus, which is easily discharged. Euphrasia symptoms are worse for sunlight, evening and night-time, for windy weather and indoors, and better for the cool, open air.
• Euphrasia tincture can also be used as a local eyewash by diluting one drop in an eyebath of cooled sterile water. 

Arundo

•  Hayfever begins with burning and itching of the palate and conjunctiva.
• Annoying itching of the roof of the mouth and in the nostrils sometimes with pain at the root of the nose.
• Initially the nose can discharge clear mucus which can then turn green and slimy with lots of sneezing.
• Loss of smell.

Wyethia

• Intolerable itching felt on the roof of the mouth and behind the nose, sometimes extending into the throat and ears.
• Irritable throat with dry cough.
• Everything in the head feels dry and irritated, but the nose may still be runny.

(Information from www.materiamedica.org.uk)

​Urtica urens
(Common Name: Stinging nettle)
You can make a liquid lotion by adding the mother tincture to water or purchase one of the ointments or creams on the market. Here are a few ways that you can make use of it:

• Minor burn: Apply a compress soaked in lotion, ointment, or cream for minor burns with redness but no blistering. Follow up with the internal remedy that best matches your symptoms.
• Sunburn: Carefully apply cream or lotion to sunburned skin and repeat as needed. A mixture of Urtica and Hypericum is indicated when shooting pains are present. Follow up with the internal remedy that best matches your symptoms.
• Bee sting: Gently pat tincture on the sting and follow up with an internal remedy
• Skin rashes: Use Urtica lotion or cream to relieve the itching of eczema and other skin irritations that itch, sting and then burn. Seek the help of a professional homeopath for the correct internal remedy.

​Pilot Study on the Homeopathic Treatment of Binge Eating in Males.van Heerden HJ, Razlog R, Pellow J

AbstractContext • Frequent binge eating is often a symptom of an underlying eating disorder, such as bulimia nervosa (BN) or binge eating disorder (BED). The role of homeopathy in the treatment of binge eating remains poorly explored. Objective • The study intended to measure the efficacy of individualized homeopathic treatment for binge eating in adult males. Design • This case study was a 9-wk pilot using an embedded, mixed-methods design. A 3-wk baseline period was followed by a 6-wk treatment period. Setting • The setting was the Homeopathic Health Clinic at the University of Johannesburg in Johannesburg, South Africa. Participants • Through purposive sampling, the research team recruited 15 Caucasian, male participants, aged 18-45 y, who were exhibiting binge eating. Intervention • Individualized homeopathic remedies were prescribed to each participant. Primary Outcome Measures • Participants were assessed by means of (1) a self-assessment calendar (SAC), recording the frequency and intensity of binging; (2) the Binge Eating Scale (BES), a psychometric evaluation of severity; and (3) case analysis evaluating changes with time. Results • Ten participants completed the study. The study found a statistically significant improvement with regard to the BES (P = .003) and the SAC (P = .006), with a large effect size, indicating that a decrease occurred in the severity and frequency of binging behavior during the study period. Conclusions • This small study showed the potential benefits of individualized homeopathic treatment of binge eating in males, decreasing both the frequency and severity of binging episodes. Follow-up studies are recommended to explore this treatment modality as a complementary therapeutic option in eating disorders characterized by binge eating.

From THE GUARDIAN

 Prince Charles spoke about using homeopathy on his own dairy herd during a speech on antimicrobial resistance at the Royal Society in London. Photograph: Mark Cuthbert/Getty Images

Sarah Boseley Health editor

Prince Charles has proposed a solution to the growing crisis of antibiotic over-use in animals and humans, telling an international gathering of scientists and government officials in London that he treats his own cows and sheep with homeopathy.

In front of the government’s chief medical officer, Dame Sally Davies, who once told a parliamentary committee that homeopathy in humans was “rubbish” and that she was “perpetually surprised that homeopathy is available on the NHS”, the prince explained to delegates from 20 nations and organisations why he had turned to homeopathic remedies for animals.
“It was one of the reasons I converted my farming operation to an organic – or agro-ecological – system over 30 years ago and why we have been successfully using homeopathic – yes, homeopathic – treatments for my cattle and sheep as part of a programme to reduce the use of antibiotics,” he said.
The prince did not give details or stay for questions, but Clarence House later said: “Homeopathy is used on a case-by-case basis at Home Farm, in combination with more conventional medicine, to minimise dependence on antibiotics.”The prince’s belief in homeopathic medicines for humans has long been known, as well as his support for homeopathy in the NHS. It has sparked clashes with doctors and scientists who say the remedies, which involve a drop of active substance diluted in so much water that only “the memory” of the substance remains, are not evidence-based. There have been some experts, however, who have conceded that homeopathy could have a placebo effect for those who believe it will help them.
Cows and sheep are unlikely to experience this benefit, although a group calledHAWL (Homeopathy at Wellie Level) which trains farmers in its use and is funded by the prince, said it can help animals that are stressed.
“It is now well accepted that problems come at times of stress (weaning, transportation, seperation etc), and giving animals remedies at these times may well avoid disease, but it may also improve production,” its website stated. It acknowledged, however, that scientific evidence for homeopathic remedies in animals is scarce.
'Black spider memos': Prince Charles lobbied over NHS homeopathy fundingThere are 500 farmers trained in homeopathy and 38 homeopathic vets, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. A spokesperson for Defra said animal remedies “must be registered in accordance with the Veterinary Medicines Regulations to ensure they are safe and labelled appropriately before they can be sold in the UK. Animal owners should always discuss the best treatment option with their vet and seek their professional advice.”
AdvertisementBut the British Veterinary Association, the leading representative body for vets in the UK, dismissed homeopathy out of hand.
“BVA cannot endorse the use of homeopathic remedies, or indeed any products making therapeutic claims, which have no proven efficacy; the consequence could be serious animal health and welfare detriment because of the lack of therapeutic effect, which would be counterproductive to best animal health and welfare,” said John Blackwell, its senior vice president.
The prince’s categoric condemnation of the over-use of antibiotics in farming and in humans, however, will be universally welcomed.
“Given the potentially disastrous scenario we face, I find it difficult to understand how we can continue to allow most of the antibiotics used in farming, many of which are also used in human medicine, to be administered to healthy animals,” he said. “Would we, I wonder, advise adding antibiotics to our own food or water on a daily basis, just in case we became ill?”
Antibiotic use in food fuels resistance to vital drugs – report
Davies, the chief medical officer, who has twice visited the prince’s farm to admire its sustainable approach and minimal use of antibiotics, said she was delighted that he had agreed to sponsor the London meeting.“He’s an organic farmer who has cared all his life for animal welfare and he hardly uses antibiotics,” she said. “His sponsorship means we have a very senior set of people here from around the world.”
Asked what she thought of his use of homeopathy, she answered: “I’m not a vet.”