Homeopathic drugs are not
effective against any illness, according to a document drafted
by Australia's top research institute, the National Health and
Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
The institute announced on Wednesday that it has completed
an exhaustive review of research available on homeopathic drugs
- a total of 225 published clinical trials and 57 reviews,
evaluating the quality of each study.
Even in the few cases in which research showed that
homeopathic drugs were effective, problems and mistakes in
planning the tests were found, according to the NHMRC, which
added that the trials were carried out on an insufficient number
of patients to begin with.
An independent panel that examined the research came to the
same conclusion.
The results showed that there was "no reliable evidence in
humans that homeopathy was effective for treating the range of
health conditions considered".
It added that "people who choose homeopathy may put their
health at risk if they reject or delay treatments for which
there is good evidence for effectiveness and safety".
Homeopathy is an alternative medicine system developed in
Germany in the 19th century based on the concept that, as
explained by the report, "substances that may cause illness or
symptoms in a healthy person can, in very small doses, treat
those symptoms in a person who is unwell".
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