Homoeopathic dilutions may be better than placebo

Many people consider that any benefits of homoeopathy must be due to the placebo effect because the medication is diluted beyond Avogadro's number. Taylor et al (p 471) tested this placebo hypothesis in a randomised controlled trial in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis. Patients in both groups reported similar subjective improvement, but those in the homoeopathic group had significantly greater improvements in objective measurements of nasal airflow than did the placebo group. The authors believe that when these results are taken together with the findings of three similar previous trials, it may be time to confront the conclusion that homoeopathy and placebo differ. This may be more plausible than the conclusion that their trials have produced serial false positive results.

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Relevant Article

Randomised controlled trial of homoeopathy versus placebo in perennial allergic rhinitis with overview of four trial series • Commentary: Larger trials are needed

Morag A Taylor, David Reilly, Robert H Llewellyn-Jones, Charles McSharry, Tom C Aitchison, Tim Lancaster, and Andrew Vickers
BMJ 2000 321: 471-476. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]