WELCOME! to the web-site of ECCH, the representative professional platform for the homeopathy profession in Europe made up of 26 member professional associations in 22 EU, EEA and CEE countries. More introductory information about ECCH is available under the Public Servicessection of this site. To find a list of national professional associations throughout Europe click on ECCH Members. Latest News:
25 January 2010
More Positive Evidence for the Effects of High Dilutions and Homeopathy's Effectiveness -
The latest double volume edition of the journal 'Homeopathy' is dedicated to the sharing of further proof that high dilution medicines have an effect. Both volumes contain a range of articles revealing the effects of high dilution medicines in in-vitro experiments as well as some trials showing the effectiveness of homeopathic treatment. The journal owner and editor have generously made the second volume free to access and download. It can be found at:
3 Year EU CAM Research Project Kicks Off in Munich
A three year EU Commission funded project to research the area of
Complementary and Alternative Medicine(CAM) in Europe kicked off with
an inaugural meeting of the project group in Munich on the 21 & 22
January 2010. The project entitled CAMbrella is led by a consortium of
16 university-based research teams working together with an Advisory
Group of stakeholder representatives from the CAM sector and from other
groups representing patients and consumers. The meeting was addressed
by a representative from the EU Commission Directorate General for
Research and Development who outlined the various responsibilities
involved in managing the project and the 1.5 million Euro grant awarded
to the successful CAMbrella consortium, one of several that bid for the
funding.
The project will extend over a period of three years and culminate in
December 2012 with a summary report being produced and a final project
conference in which the results will be presented and discussed. Areas
to be researched through 8 work package agendas include descriptions of
the various CAM modalities and and definitions of terms; patient use,
needs and expectations; provider perspectives including those of the
CAM therapeutic medicines and products industry and a roadmap of
recommendations for future research in to CAM as a springboard for
future research in the area. ECCH is represented on the CAMbrella Advisory
Board by General Secretary Stephen Gordon.
Antibiotics:
Life savers and cause of death. Alternatives needed
Antibiotic resistance has become a global health problem.
Over-use and mis-use of antibiotics has caused the development of lethal
antibiotic resistant micro-organisms. They are now also suspected of causing
cancer. Can homeopathy serve as an alternative?
International warning
18 November 2009 was the 2nd European Antibiotic
Awareness Day. The European Centre of Disease
prevention and Control (ECDC)warned about the
threat of antibiotic resistance andcalledfor antibiotics to be used far more responsibly in
the treatment of infectious diseases1. Antibiotics are of no use in
viral infections and they should not be used in uncomplicated bacterial
infections such as light ear, throat and sinus infections2.
The ECDC and the World Health Organisation (WHO) warn that
infectious micro-organisms have become increasingly resistant to existing
antibiotics3.Replacementproductsare proving
difficult to find. Governments and researchers across the world are searching
for alternatives.
Antibiotics may cause cancer
A Finnish study based on three million people correlates a
higher risk of developing prostate, breast, lung, and colon cancer with
multiple use of antibiotics4. Researchers
are currently unsure as to whether antibiotics are carcinogenic and directly
cause cancer, or that cancers develop as a result ofantibiotics disturbingthe body’s protective intestinal micro-biotic
environment.
Homeopathy – effective in infectious diseases
Research shows that homeopathy can serve as an effective
alternative to antibiotics in a range of infectious conditions for which they
have been commonly used5-13.
Out of 500 patients suffering from upper respiratory
complaints, 82 % receiving homeopathy improved within 14 days, compared to 67 %
treated conventionally10. In another study with 169 children, those
receiving homeopathic treatment had significantly less symptoms and shorter
duration of disease compared to other children11. Their parents also
had less time away from work.
Homeopathy is effective in treating recurrent ear infections
in children7-8. Over 70 % had no ear infections after homeopathy,
compared to 57 % percent receiving conventional drugs8. Out of 230
children those receiving homeopathic treatment recovered 2.4 times faster than
others7.
Three surveys show that homeopathy is at least as effective
as conventional treatment in treating sinus infections5,12-13.
Patients
receiving homeopathic treatment need antibiotics less often. Moreover, no
complications are found. Homeopathy is not only effective and avoids the
creation of antibiotic resistance, but is also shown to be potentially a more
cost-effective solution14-16.
In summary: Homeopathy may
be at least as effective as conventional treatment in treating infectious
diseases. It could therefore serve as an effective first line option in
treating viral and mild bacterial infectious diseases and so help preserve
antibiotics for when they are really needed.
2.Arroll B, Kenealy T. Are antibiotics
effective for acute purulent rhinitis? Systematic review and meta-analysis of
placebo controlled randomised trials. BMJ 2006, doi:10.1136/bmj.38891.681215.AE
4.Kilkkinen
A, Rissanen H, Klaukka T, Pukkala E, Heliövaara M, Huovinen P, Männistö S,
Aromaa A, Knekt P. Antibiotic use predicts an increased risk of
cancer. Int. J. Cancer 2008, 123, 2152–2155.
5.Adler
M. Efficacy, safety of a fixed-combination homeopathic therapy for sinusitis.
Adv Ther 1999; 16: 103-111.
6.De Lange de Klerk E, et al. Effects of homoeopathic medicines on
daily burden of symptoms in children with recurrent upper respiratory tract
infections. BMJ 1994; 309: 1329-1332.
7.Frei H,
Thurneysen A. Homeopathy in acute otitis media in children: treatment effect or
spontaneous resolution? Br Homeopath J 2001, 90: 180-182.
8.Friese
K-H, Kruse S, Ludtke R, Moeller H. Homeopathic treatment of otitis media in
children: comparisons with conventional therapy. Int J Clim Pharmacol Ther
1997; 35: 296-301.
9.Jacobs
J, Springer DA, Crothers D. Homeopathic treatment of acute otitis media in
children: a preliminary randomized placebo-controlled trial. Pediatr Infect Dis
J 2001; 20: 177-183.
10.Riley
D, Fischer M, Singh B, Haidvogl M, Heger M. Homeopathy and conventional
medicine: an outcojmes study comparing effectiveness in a primary care setting.
J Altern Complement Med 2001; 7: 149-159.
11.Steinsbekk
A, Fønnebø V, Lewith G, Bentzen N. Homeopathic care for the prevention of upper
respiratory tract infections in children: A pragmatic, randomised, controlled
trial comparing individualised homeopathic care and waiting-list controls.
Complementary Therapies in Medicine 2005, 13, 231-238.
12.Weber
U, Luedtke R, Friese KH, Fischer I, Moeller H. A non-randomised pilot study to
compare complementary and conventional tretaments of acute sinusitis. Forsch
Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd 2002; 9: 99-104.
13.Wiesenauer
M, Gaus W, Bohnacker U, Haussler S. (Efficiency of homeopathic preparation
combinations in sinusitis. Results of a randomized double blind study with
general practitioners.) Arzneimittelforschung 1989; 39: 620-625.
14.Rossi
E, Crudeli L, Endrizzi C, Garibaldi D. Cost-benefit evaluation of homeopathic
versus conventional therapy in respiratory diseases. Homeopathy 2009, 98, 2–10.
15.Trichard
M, Chaufferin G, Dubreuil C, Nicoloyannis N, Duru G. Effectiveness,
quality of life, and cost of caring for children in France with recurrent acute
rhinopharyngitis managed by homeopathic or non-homeopathic general
practitioners. Dis Manage Health Outcomes 2004, 12(6): 419-427.
Van Wassenhoven M, Ives G. An observational study of patients receiving
homeopathic treatment. Homeopathy 2004, 93, 3–11.
Public Services
If you are a member of the public seeking brief information about homeopathy then you should go to our introductory page.
If you are seeking the services of a qualified and registered homeopath in your particular country then please see if there is a member association of ECCH in your country in the ECCH Members section.
For information about ECCH itself please click here.
For Homeopaths
As well as the introductory pages for the members of the public we have developed a number of other web-pages of interest to homeopaths in this section of the site.
and Homeopathy's Effectiveness - 