The Faculty of Homeopathy Newsletter January 2010 ......IN THIS ISSUE: New s 1 -6 R esearch eupdate...
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IN THIS ISSUE: News 1-6 Research update 7 Annual review 11-18 Case studies 19-22 Events 23-27 s m le The Faculty of Homeopathy Newsletter January 2010 The British Homeopathic Association was invited to provide oral evidence to the House of Commons Science and Technology select committee on Wednesday 25 November, in a review of the research evidence that could have implications for the future of NHS homeopathy. Written submissions were also provided by both the Faculty of Homeopathy and the BHA, although a request for the Faculty of Homeopathy to be present at the oral hearing was not successful. In fact there were no organisations representing practitioners or patients called to give oral evidence, although both Robert Mathie, the BHA’s Research Development Adviser and RLHH Clinical Director Peter Fisher represented the Faculty’s arguments admirably. Robert told the committee emphatically that there is evidence that homeopathy has an effect greater than placebo and that much more research is needed. Peter also made it plain to the committee that positive clinical trials do exist, despite remarks from other witnesses to the contrary. A number of homeopathy sceptics were invited to give evidence, including Guardian journalist and Bad Science blogger Ben Goldacre, Managing Director of Sense About Science, Tracey Brown, and James Thallon, the NHS medical director at West Kent Primary Care Trust who was responsible for cutting the funding for homeopathy that led to the closure of Tunbridge Wells Homeopathic Hospital. This latest “evidence check” follows a previous request for information on the research in homeopathy by the Government Office for Science (GO- Science), headed by Professor John Beddington, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government. The Faculty of Homeopathy and BHA together submitted key research evidence for that report in 2008. The resulting GO- Science review for the Department of Health made recommendations for a programme of further research in homeopathy. Beddington has repeatedly come under fire in the media from Evan Harris MP, a member of the Science and Technology select committee, for not denouncing NHS provision of homeopathy. Despite this previous report from the Chief Scientific Adviser’s office that recommended further research, parties were invited via press release to make a written submission by 6 November. Only selected individuals were asked to provide oral evidence to the committee. Robert Mathie comments: “A key point that the select committee has perhaps not fully taken on board is that the total number of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in homeopathy is minuscule, especially when compared with research activity in most areas of conventional medicine. The fact that there are just 87 placebo- controlled (or “efficacy”) trials of homeopathic medicines in the total scientific literature, but that 37 of them have reported positive findings, is something that must be properly recognised. That this evidence exists seems to have escaped the notice of some commentators.” Robert continues: “And there needs to be far more RCTs of homeopathy as it is practised in the ‘real world’. That means comparing the effectiveness of normal, individualised, homeopathy with usual care”. The President of the Faculty of Homeopathy, Sara Eames, appeared on BBC Breakfast news the day after the evidence session and George Lewith from the University of Southampton also appeared on BBC Breakfast the day after that, to defend homeopathy (see News page 3). continues on page 3 Photo: istockphoto.com/Paul Vasarhelyi Science and technology committee told: there is evidence
Transcript of The Faculty of Homeopathy Newsletter January 2010 ......IN THIS ISSUE: New s 1 -6 R esearch eupdate...
IN THIS ISSUE:News 1-6
Research update 7Annual review 11-18Case studies 19-22
Events 23-27
s m leThe Faculty of Homeopathy Newsletter January 2010
The British Homeopathic Associationwas invited to provide oral evidence tothe House of Commons Science andTechnology select committee onWednesday 25 November, in a reviewof the research evidence that couldhave implications for the future of NHShomeopathy.
Written submissions were alsoprovided by both the Faculty ofHomeopathy and the BHA, although arequest for the Faculty of Homeopathyto be present at the oral hearing wasnot successful. In fact there were noorganisations representing practitionersor patients called to give oral evidence,although both Robert Mathie, the BHA’sResearch Development Adviser andRLHH Clinical Director Peter Fisherrepresented the Faculty’s argumentsadmirably.
Robert told the committeeemphatically that there is evidence thathomeopathy has an effect greater thanplacebo and that much more researchis needed. Peter also made it plain tothe committee that positive clinical trialsdo exist, despite remarks from otherwitnesses to the contrary. A number of
homeopathy sceptics were invited togive evidence, including Guardianjournalist and Bad Science blogger BenGoldacre, Managing Director of SenseAbout Science, Tracey Brown, andJames Thallon, the NHS medical directorat West Kent Primary Care Trust whowas responsible for cutting the fundingfor homeopathy that led to the closureof Tunbridge Wells HomeopathicHospital.
This latest “evidence check” followsa previous request for information onthe research in homeopathy by theGovernment Office for Science (GO-Science), headed by Professor JohnBeddington, Chief Scientific Adviser tothe Government. The Faculty ofHomeopathy and BHA togethersubmitted key research evidence forthat report in 2008. The resulting GO-Science review for the Department ofHealth made recommendations for aprogramme of further research inhomeopathy. Beddington hasrepeatedly come under fire in the mediafrom Evan Harris MP, a member of theScience and Technology selectcommittee, for not denouncing NHSprovision of homeopathy.
Despite this previous report fromthe Chief Scientific Adviser’s office thatrecommended further research, partieswere invited via press release to make
a written submission by 6 November.Only selected individuals were asked to provide oral evidence to thecommittee.
Robert Mathie comments: “A keypoint that the select committee hasperhaps not fully taken on board is thatthe total number of randomisedcontrolled trials (RCTs) in homeopathyis minuscule, especially whencompared with research activity inmost areas of conventional medicine.The fact that there are just 87 placebo-controlled (or “efficacy”) trials ofhomeopathic medicines in the totalscientific literature, but that 37 of themhave reported positive findings, issomething that must be properlyrecognised. That this evidence existsseems to have escaped the notice ofsome commentators.” Robert continues:“And there needs to be far more RCTsof homeopathy as it is practised in the‘real world’. That means comparing theeffectiveness of normal, individualised,homeopathy with usual care”.
The President of the Faculty ofHomeopathy, Sara Eames, appeared onBBC Breakfast news the day after theevidence session and George Lewithfrom the University of Southamptonalso appeared on BBC Breakfast theday after that, to defend homeopathy(see News page 3).
continues on page 3
Photo: istockphoto.com
/Paul Vasarhelyi
Science and technology committee told:there is evidence
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•• editorial
Faculty Council:
Peter Darby, Dental Dean:[email protected]
Christopher Day, Veterinary Dean:[email protected]
Patricia Donnachie, Nursing Dean:[email protected]
Sara Eames, President:[email protected]
Julie Geraghty, Vice-President:[email protected]
Jonathan Hardy, Independent PracticeRepresentative:[email protected]
Graham Jagger, NHS Primary CareRepresentative:[email protected]
Lee Kayne, Pharmacy Dean:[email protected]
Tariq Khan, Podiatry Dean: [email protected]
Bob Leckridge, Promotion CommitteeConvener:[email protected]
Tim Robinson, Members’ CommitteeConvener:[email protected]
Helmut Roniger, NHS Secondary CareRepresentative:[email protected]
John Saxton, Immediate Past-President: [email protected]
Raymond Sevar, Dean:[email protected]
Andrew Sikorski, Treasurer:[email protected]
The Faculty of HomeopathyNewsletter
I cannot help but think how Hahnemannmight have spent the festive season inthe various German towns in which helived. Wooden nutcrackers, archedcandle-holders and even the Christmastree were in evidence by the mid-eighteenth century. Did Sankt Nikolausbring gifts for the children, I wonder?
The Season of Good Cheer it maywell be, but there has not been anycheer about the ill informed and biasedattacks on homeopathy in the medicalpress. Early in December headlines inthe BMJ declared that ‘Giving homoe -opathy on the NHS is unethical andunreliable, experts tell committee ofMPs’ The parliamentary science andtechnol ogy committee was holding aone-off ses sion on homoeopathy aspart of an investiga tion of the scientificevidence that underpins the govern -ment’s existing policies (see leadarticle, page 1). In the BMJ report it isacknowledged that ‘Expert opinionabout the effectiveness and worth ofhomoeopathy is sharply divided’ buthighlighting three negative opinions andonly one positive do not reflect this.
Later on in the month the BMJ sawfit to publish an outrageous editorial byresearch pharmacologist DavidColquhoun in which he cites OliverWendell Hughes as being the man whosaid ‘all that needs to be said (abouthomeopathy)’ in his essay entitledHomeopathy and its Kindred Delusions.(http://tinyurl.com/ylmyd2e). The essaywas presented as two lectures to theBoston Society for the Diffusion ofUseful Knowledge in 1842. The authorachieved prominence as a physician,poet, and humorist. Maybe it is the lastwhich Professor Colquhoun has someaffinity, for ‘avin a larf’ could be oneappropriate description of his attacks.He goes on to quote the professionalstandards director of Boots that theysell homoeopathic pills without knowingwhether they work. Boots also sellsome other items without knowingwhether they work. Professor Colquhounchides the Government’s Chief ScientificAdvisor for uttering words that made nosense. Pots and kettles, I think. Notthat the BMJ is alone. The PharmacyDean mentions in his annual report (see page 15) that The PharmaceuticalJournal is on the bandwagon too. In one article it recommended that
patients should be actively discouragedfrom visiting pharmacies wherehomeopathic medicines were available.In another article entitled ‘Homeopathy’semerging credibility’ the same authorwith an equally uninformed colleagueasks ‘Where is the public protectionfrom charlatans and profiteers?’
In all cases vigorous responseswere drawn from the homeopathiccommunity. Faculty messages wereon BBC TV two days running (see page 3) – brilliant! As the PromotionConvener says in his annual report (see page 16) it is heartening to seehow better prepared we are in gettingour counter arguments across. I have the feeling that we are going to need all our communication skills in 2010.
On pages 11-18 you will find theAnnual Review with reports from thePresident, Deans, Conveners andshares our financial position as of 31 August 2009. Here is a quickhighlight of some of the best bits – the Dean reports on the new teachingavailable in Northern Ireland, theVeterinary Dean pays tribute to JackHoare’s pilot study at Bristol Vet School,and the Podiatry Dean announces thefirst MFHom (Pod) intake in the NewYear. The Nursing Dean has been toKenya and an account of the trip is onpage 6. The Pharmacy Dean sees nolegal issues arising with the supply ofhomeopathic medicines and the DentalDean sees a need for responding to ademand for education.
It is a great shame that SarahBuckingham has left the Simile team.Sarah started in the Publications andCommunication role in 2005 andgradually her duties increased tomanaging all aspects of Simile. Sheoversaw its development to the currentformat and did a wonderful job. Inaddition to expressing our collectiveappreciation, I offer my personal thanksfor all her help – and patience! We wishher well in the future.
Well one last sip and my glass willbe empty. I am now feeling relaxed andmellow. Earlier outburst has subsided.So here’s wishing you and yours a GuidNew Year. Cheers!
Steven [email protected]
As I write this, a few nights before Christmas, alarge glass of Madeira on my desk, the snowflakesare quietly falling outside. Sadly no roaring log fireto complete the scene – just a white radiator! s m le
Editor: Steven Kayne
Assistant Editor: Sarah Buckingham
Faculty of HomeopathyHahnemann House29 Park Street WestLuton LU1 3BE
Tel: 01582 408680Fax: 01582 723032Email: [email protected]: www.facultyofhomeopathy.org
All the material in this publication is copyright andmay not be reproduced without permission. The publishers do not necessarily identify with or hold themselves responsible for contributors’,correspondents’ or advertisers’ opinions.
Design: Wildcat [email protected]: Burlington Press, Cambridge
•• news
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The House of Commonsevidence session (lead story)sparked plenty of interest inthe media. After the firstsession on 25 Novembermost national papers decidedto focus on the commentsmade by the witness fromBoots pharmacy, who impliedthat the company isn’tbothered about whether ornot there is evidence forhomeopathy and sell themedicines because peoplebuy them. A comparisonbetween this and GeraldRatner’s infamous gaffeabout the quality of a certaincrystal decanter seemed tocapture the media’simagination (apologies to ouroverseas readers, who mightnot have heard of GeraldRatner!). The widespreadcoverage ensured that theFaculty had an opportunity toget some messages acrossin the national media and SaraEames did this excellently onBBC Breakfast TV on Friday27 November, reinforcing thefact that there are over onehundred clinical trials and farmore are positive thannegative, while explaining to
the audience that doctors arequalified in homeopathy. Thenext day, BBC Breakfastcovered the story again, thistime from the researchperspective. ProfessorGeorge Lewith from theUniversity of Southamptonput the case for homeopathyacross well in a debate withSarah Jarvis, the GP from theBBC’s The One Show andRadio 2. Jarvis, althoughtaking an adversarial stance towards George’s point of view,mentioned the Faculty ofHomeo pathy’s policy onvaccination during theinterview. BBC coverage alsoincluded a Live 5 interviewwith Sara Eames and withRobert Mathie on local radio.
Meanwhile, in professionalcircles there was plenty ofdebate on Pulse’s websiteand homeopathy became themost popular subject on theirforum, with excellentcontributions from Facultymembers and other readers,as well as a healthy helpingof sceptics, although theopen-minded commentatorscertainly had the upper handon this occasion!
Faculty messages on BBC TVtwo days running
We have a number of newMFHoms to welcome to theFaculty since the last issue ofSimile. Congratulations toStephen Caulfield fromGlasgow, Olfat Ghoneim-Ismailfrom Essex, Renuka Kshirsagar
from Maharashtra in Indiaand Christine Suppelt fromMaidstone. We also welcomeHelen Idle from East Sussexand Lynne Fish from Dorset,who have both recentlyattained the MFHom(Nurse).
New members
The second evidence session whichtook place on 30 November wasencouraging, with Health Minister MikeO’Brien saying there was no justificationfor cutting homeopathy out of the NHSand that there was an argument forfurther research. He told the committeethere is a reputable body of people,including doctors, who believe that
homeopathy works, that people getbetter after treatment, whatever the modeof action, and that it was not his place totell clinicians what is best for theirpatients. It remains to be seen, however,how this commitment will translate inpractice, because funding decisionsremain devolved to individual PCTs.
You can read the Faculty’s full
written submission to the Science andTechnology select committee on ourwebsite at www.facultyofhomeopathy.org– search for ‘select committee’. Or viewboth recorded evidence sessions on theBBC’s Democracy Live website – searchfor ‘homeopathy’.
News, above; Comment, pages 8-9.
Science and technology committee continued from page 1
Illustration: Richard K
eys/www.william
sart.co.uk
Congress 2010Changing Perceptions: an integrated
approach to serious illness
11-14 November 2011, Cambridge
This year’s British Homeopath ic Congress is taking placebetween 11-14 November 2010 in Cambridge.We are extremely pleased to announce that
Frans Vermeulen and Linda Johnston will be joining usas guest speakers. You can register now – a booking
form is enclosed. Alternatively go to the Faculty websiteto download a brochure from the home page
www.facultyofhomeopathy.org
Don’t forget you can collect all the CPD you needat this one event, so don’t miss it!
If you are thinking about presenting a paper don’t forget the deadline for abstracts is 30 January. Please send abstracts to Catherine Saunders
[email protected] should be no longer than 250 words.
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•• news
Fancy yourself a bitof a photographer?
Do you like to take pictures of:
Plants?People?
Objects?
Would you like to win a prize for yourtalent and at the same time help uspromote homeopathy?
The Faculty, Society of Homeopathsand Nelsons are looking for digitalphotos for promotional use as wehave a shortage of new and originalphotos for leaflets, magazines andother important promotional needs.
Nelsons has kindly agreed to provideprizes for the best photos in threecategories:
• Patients and practitioners (patients, students, practitioners,the consultation room)
• Original remedy sources (animal,mineral, plant)
• The remedy making process(pills, bottles etc)
The deadline for the contest will be end of June 2010. If you would like to find outmore, go to the members only part of thewebsite today to get details and the entryform. Alternatively, contact Lisa [email protected]
Members’ areaThe members’ area of the Faculty website is availableto LFHoms and above and is fully secure. You will needyour username and password to login – for a loginreminder email:
• search for othermembersfind members close toyou by searching onpostcode, profession,town/city or country.
• take part in thediscussion forumask questions and chat with yourcolleagues online.
• download policystatementsto find out the Faculty’sposition on importanttopics.
• view local groupinformationto see what’s going on in your area and find contact details.
• sign up for e-newsthrough the update page in your account.
• promote yourpractice to the publictick the box on the update page in youraccount.
What’s on the website Photography contest
www.facultyofhomeopathy.org
Top resource
Guidelines for media interviewsDownload tips on how to handlejournalists, as well as list of the
Faculty’s key messages to give you an idea of the kinds of things we areaiming to get across in the media.
Log in to the members’ area and click on Promotion network.
similar job for LMHI. I think the challenges to
homeopathy have focused all of us on the key issues athand and we need now more than ever before to be unified and fight for ourbeliefs and rights. Both theECH and LMHI have beenproactively supportinghomeopathy whereverpossible and are particularlykeen to assist in ourchallenges here in the UK.Demonstrating theirkeenness to support us,both the ECH and LHMI eachmade submissions to the House of CommonsScience and Technology
committee restating to thecommittee the evidence for homeopathy as well asthe European and world wide use of homeopathy.
I was pleased to hearfrom members of variouscommittees and attendees at LHMI conferences thehigh regard in which theFaculty of Homeopathy isheld worldwide and theamount of support andgoodwill there is for us in the UK in our presentstruggles. The attacks herehave been mimicked in other countries and it isimportant to work together,learn from one another and
gain strength from oneanother as a community ofprofessionals. That is one of the reasons I am sopleased to have Dr Ton Nicolaipresenting the RichardHughes Memorial Lectureentitled ‘Is there a future forhomeopathy?’ on 4 Februaryto share a European andworldwide perspective (seepage 25). I am sure we will alllearn from his experiences,feel camaraderie and Ipersonally anticipate it will bean event not to miss. Hopeyou will attend.
Sara EamesPresident
As you may be aware theFaculty is a member of boththe European Committee forHomeopathy (ECH) and LigaMedicorum HomeopathicaInternationalis (LMHI). TheECH represents medicalhomeopaths in Europe and is very active in the EuropeanCommunity, and LMHI doesa similar job but on a world -wide stage. We feel member -ship is critically important inthese organisations – to learn from other countries,share challenges and mostimportantly have represent -ation as a profession on aEuropean and global stage.
Since taking on the role of President for the Faculty, I have become involved inthe politics of internationalhomeopathy through the twoorganisations. I sit on thepolitics committee of ECHwhile Raymond Sevar sits onthe education committee (thework of which he highlightsin his report on page 12). I must say, I attended initialmeetings with sometrepidation, fearing that theymight be more talk thanaction, but I have been verypleasantly surprised. Thepolitics committee of ECH iscurrently grappling with theimportant matters of EUlegislation which could havedetrimental effects on thepractice of homeopathy fromsupply of medicines to limitson practice. Dr Ton Nicolai,pushes forward the collectivewill of the committee asPresident of ECH, andrepresents the profession atmeetings all over the EU andparticularly in Brussels andlobbies for the profession andhomeopathy more generally.Dr Ulrich Fischer does a
•• news
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Our ongoing relationships with ECH and LHMI
Pulse reported in Decemberthat several leadingrespiratory experts havequestioned the use of Tamifluto prevent swine flucomplications. A jointinvestigation by the BMJ andChannel 4 News has raisedquestions over the UKgovernment’s response tothe pandemic.
A review of the evidencehas found that Tamiflu andother neuraminidaseinhibitors have only “modesteffectiveness” against thesymptoms of influenza inotherwise healthy adults. Italso found that there is a lackof good data and the authorshave subsequently called intoquestion the government’sstrategy over swine flu andits decision to spend anestimated £500m onstockpiling antivirals.
The research team, whichincluded Dr Tom Jefferson, aformer GP and a researcherat the Cochrane acuterespiratory infections group,analysed 20 randomisedcontrolled trials. The efficacyof Tamiflu against symptomaticlaboratory confirmedinfluenza was 61% at 75 mgdaily and 73% at 150 mg
Effectiveness of Tamiflu questioned
daily. Oseltamivir for postexposure prophylaxis had anefficacy of between 58% and84%. Relenza performedsimilarly. But the researcherswere forced to disregardeight trials which were neverfully published because theywere unable to independentlyverify the results, and haveaccused Roche, themanufacturers of Tamiflu, of
making “contradictory state -ments about the potentialbenefits of Tamiflu.” TheDepartment of Healthconfirmed that they willcontinue with their currentstrategy.
Faculty members aretaking part in data collectionwork on swine flu to seewhat role homeopathy canplay (Research, page 7).
Photo: istockphoto.com
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•• international update
•• news
I was very excited to beasked to go out to Kenya toassess this new course andto be an external examiner.As most of you will be aware,recruiting people onto Facultycourses has been quitedifficult recently. So to havesixteen new homeopathswith a further sixteenqualifying each year at thiscollege in Kwale and peopledesperate to get onto thecourse sounded wonderfuland a potentially fruitfulopportunity for the Faculty.
On meeting the students I wasn’t disappointed, theyhave so much enthusiasmand passion for learning thatthey were a joy to be among. The course was initially fortwo years but has now beenincreased to three to bring itinto line with diploma coursesthroughout Kenya. The corecurriculum of the course istaken from the Kenyannursing course but has morehours devoted to all the coresubjects, as well as the timespent on homeopathy.
The course needs to beregistered with the ministryof Education and Health andthey are awaiting inspectionsfor licences to be granted.The students have recentlybeen granted the licence tocall themselves nurses. Theyalso require a license to work
on their own. At present theyare able to work under thelicence of the director of thecollege but after qualifying,will need their own.
The examinations wentwell and all the girls passedboth their case studies andthe oral exam and I was veryimpressed by their knowledgeand understanding ofhomeopathy, the diseaseprocess and all the healthinformation that they alsogive their clients.
This course is somethingnew and completelydifferent. The college hasexcellent teachers, especiallyin homeopathy but theyalways enjoy having externalteachers who can bringdifferent experiences andteaching methods to thecollege. With all that hasalready been achieved by thewonderful team working atthe college, I can see noreason why they will not beable to achieve their goals.
If you would like to knowmore about the project visitwww.4kenia.com or contactme at [email protected]
Contribute to SimileSimile is your newsletter and we are always pleased to receive articles, case studies and news items from
members, please email Cristal [email protected]
or call 01582 408 674.The next copy deadline is 1st March 2010
Polish doctor wins medical ethics case
A medical doctor who hasbeen fighting for more thanthree years to practicehomeopathy has won hiscase in Posnan, Poland. JohnBaranowski, who has beenpresident of an association ofdoctors and pharmacists whopractice homeopathy in thecountry since 2003, wasaccused of breaching thecountry’s code of medicalethics. According to Poland’sSupreme Medical Councilhomeopathy is not arecognized method oftreatment, but Dr Baranowskiargued that using the therapy
does not breach medicalethics and that the medicinesare freely available forpatients to buy. He hasrepeatedly applied to theMinistry of Health for formalrecognition of homeopathy.Dozens of supporters cameto the court to back DrBaranowski. Hopefully theoutcome will have positiverepercussions for the rest ofthe homeopathic medicalcommunity in Poland, wherethe situation is much lessfavourable than the climate inthe UK and elsewhere.Source: polskieradio.pl
Nursing and homeopathy in Kenya
Following on from our report last issue by Noel Thomas(International Focus, Oct 09, pages 10-11), the Faculty’sNursing Dean Patricia Donnachie reports back from hervisit to Kwale in Kenya, where she went to find out if ahomeopathic course for nurses is suitable for Facultyaccreditation and to assess final year students at the college.
Photo courtesy of P
atricia Donnachie
an RCT over 3 weeks(Sinfrontal® group: n = 57;placebo group: n = 56).Sinfrontal® led to averageincremental savings of €275per patient compared withplacebo over 22 days,essentially due to the markedlyreduced absenteeism fromwork (7.8 vs. 12.9 workdays).Incremental utility amountedon average to 0.0087 QALYs,or 3.2 quality-adjusted life-days(QALDs). Compared withantibacterials, Sinfrontal®had a significantly higher curerate (11% vs 59%; P<0.001)at similar or lower costs. Theresults of this economicevaluation indicate thatSinfrontal® may be a cost-effective treatment for AMSin adults.
Reference:Kneis KC, Gandjour A. Economicevaluation of Sinfrontal® in thetreatment of acute maxillarysinusitis in adults. Appl HealthEcon Health Policy 2009; 7:181–191.
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•• case studies•• news•• news
•• research updateFirst cost-effectiveness RCT haspromising resultsSinfrontal®, a complexhomeopathic medication, ispopular in Germany for thetreatment of ear, nose andthroat and respiratory tractinfections. Unlike many otherhomeopathic medications,the efficacy and safety ofSinfrontal® has beendemonstrated in a number ofclinical studies of patientswith sinusitis. The objectiveof this study was to assessthe cost-effectiveness ofSinfrontal® versus placebo inthe treatment of adults withacute maxillary sinusitis(AMS) in Germany. Asecondary objective was toassess the cost effectivenessof Sinfrontal® versus standardtreatment with antibacterials.It is a landmark piece ofresearch, for it is the firstrandomised controlled trial(RCT) in homeopathy focusingon economic evaluation.Sinfrontal® was comparedwith placebo in a cost-utilityanalysis based on data from
Faculty research
International clinical data collection inhomeopathy for swine fluTwenty Faculty of Homeopathy doctors are taking part inthis study, which aims to find out about the homeopathictreatment of H1N1 influenza and its complications. Theproject is scheduled to take place until the end of March.
Clinical data collection in homeopathicdentistry, podiatry and veterinary medicineAnalysis of the data from the 18-month data collectionproject in periodontal homeopathy is continuing. SevenFaculty podiatrists are currently taking part in a 9-monthperiod of clinical data collection. In the veterinary project,the analysis of over 3,500 appointments for dogs isnearly complete.
Homeopathic approach to adversereactions of conventional immunisationsEarly in 2010, we shall be conducting a survey of Facultymedical practitioners that seeks to gain insight into theuse of homeopathy to treat adverse reactions toconventional immunisations of childhood. Look out foran e-mail request to complete and return the briefquestionnaire!
Small RCT offers limited conclusions in eczemaThe effectiveness ofhomeopathy in treatingatopic eczema has neverbeen proven by rigorously
controlled clinical trials. Thisstudy was a single-centre,randomised, double-blindclinical trial comparing‘homeopathic remedies’ withplacebo in young adults (age18–35) with atopic eczema.Homeopathic remedies wereindividually administeredaccording to the principles ofclassical homeopathy. Afteran untreated baseline periodof 4 weeks, all patients weretreated and monitored for 32weeks. Throughout thestudy, co-medication wasallowed only with indifferentemollients. The mainoutcome parameter wasdisease severity as assessedby Costa and Saurat’s multi-parameter atopic dermatitisscore (MP-score). Sevenhundred and forty-four
patients were screened, outof which 24 (10 verum, 14placebo) were randomisedand analysed. Treatmentgroups were balanced inmost baseline parametersbut MP-scores weresignificantly higher in verumpatients (P=0.034). Tenpatients (5 per group)dropped out of the study,mainly because thetreatment was perceived asineffective and co-medicationwas needed. The MP-scoredecreased from a mean of54.5 to 40.7 in the verumgroup and from 45.9 to 32.7in the placebo group,resulting in a non-significantgroup difference of 5.6 infavour of placebo. In thisstudy, individualisedhomeopathic remedies did
not prove to be superior toplacebo in atopic dermatitis.The authors comment that‘generalisability of results islimited due to the smallnumber of patients and thehigh percentage of ineligiblepatients’; that is anunderstatement! Also, theyhave missed the point thatgeneralisation of findingsfrom an ‘efficacy’ trial of thisnature is not usually possiblein any case!
Reference:Siebenwirth J, Lüdtke R,Remy W, Rakoski J, Borelli S,Ring J. Effectiveness of aclassical homeo pathictreatment in atopic eczema. Arandomised placebo-controlled double-blindclinical trial. ForschKomplementmed 2009; 16:315–323.P
hoto: istockphoto.com
/Steve W
ilson
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Quotes taken from the House of Commons Science andTechnology select committee evidence sessions onhomeopathy last November. From uncorrected evidence at the time of writing, available at www.parliament.uk
•• comment
From the evidence session on 25 November
Ben Goldacre:“If you look at all of the trials in the whole, collectively, what you see whenyou look at the best quality trials is that homeopathy pills work no better thanplacebo pills. You can select individual trials and say: we have got thisindividual trial, or even ten individual trials, which show that it works, but if youcherry-pick your literature and pick out only the positive results and ignore theunfavourable results, you can make any treatment work, including ones thatare known to be ineffective or even dangerous. That is just bad scholarship.”
James Thallon, West Kent PCT:“Clearly there is somethingthat perpetuates the notionthat homeopathy is importantwhich goes beyond purelythe scientific debate becauseto my mind – and it can neverbe settled because you neverknow what might happen –the balance of the currentresearch at the momentsuggests to us, essentiallyscientifically trained but laypeople, that the issue of theeffectiveness of homeopathyis not in question.”
Professor Jayne Lawrence, Royal Pharmaceutical Society:“I agree there is no evidence on controlled trials.However, patients do feel benefit, and I think thatmay come from the fact that when they go to ahomeopathy practitioner, often, they have aconsultation and there are others things associatedwith treatment other than pills, in some cases.”Tracey Brown, Sense About Science:
“I think there is the issue that even minor conditions can sometimesbetray a more serious condition. For example, constipation. It soundsharmless to be taking sugar pills for constipation, but actuallysometimes that is a symptom of a more serious condition anddiagnosis is necessary. So there is the possibility of delayed diagnosisor people believing that they are seeking effective treatment whenthey are not. There is also a broader harm to the public, I think. If youthink about the rows that have happened around things like theprescription of Alzheimer’s drugs on the NHS, on the one hand, youare expecting people to look at the evidence to understand whycertain drugs are available for people with a condition and certain arenot and, on the other, you throw the evidence up in the air and saythat if people want it they should have it. We just lose, as a society,the dividing line, the ability to talk to people about the evidence behindtheir medicines, and I think that is a serious public health issue.”
Peter Fisher, RLHH:“I... am shocked, actually, by the statements that have repeatedly been made this morningthat there is no evidence. You have, in fact, a submission before you that actuallyenumerates the meta-analyses and systematic reviews... to summarise: there have beenfive, comprehensive, global systematic reviews or meta-analyses of homeopathy whichlook at the whole thing, of which four were positive. If you look at the condition basedsystematic reviews and meta-analyses there are 24, of which nine are positive, fivenegative and ten inconclusive for various reasons, including the trials that were not largeenough or they were heterogeneous – the trials were somewhat different and they couldnot really be compared. I say it is quite clear if you actually look at the evidence, and theyare enumerated in a document you have before you.”
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From the evidence session on 30 November
Robert Mathie, British Homeopathic Association:“There are a substantial number of homeopathic medicines where there is molecularcontent. There seems to be an assumption that they are, to quote from an earliercommentator, “just sugar pills”; in fact, many are not just sugar pills and many of thosehave been investigated in randomised controlled trials, and some of those have shownclinical effectiveness beyond placebo, and some of those, in turn, have shown clinicallyrelevant and meaningful effects of homeopathic medicines compared with placebo. Sothere are trials out there which are of good quality and of good design, with goodsample sizes where positive evidence is available, and it is not cherry picking.”
Mike O’Brien, Health Minister:“There is a level of public interest and controversy, and there is a strongmedical lobby in favour of homeopathy, and there is also governmentfunding. Okay, in terms of drugs it is £152,000 out of a massive £11billion drugs budget, so therefore it is quite a small amount in that drugsbudget but it is £152,000 nonetheless. Should we look into how thatmoney is spent? I think there is an argument for doing that, yes. Whatyour argument seems to be is because at the moment the generallysettled view is that there is not an empirically peer group tested piece ofresearch which justifies it, that therefore we should not do that research.
“...there is a significant lobby of people who are clinicians who arequite capable of looking at data and who take a view that [homeopathy]works, and to say, therefore, that we should stop funding because otherclinicians, the majority, take a view that it does not work at all, and to saywe are going with the vast majority of the scientific community who takea different view is a stance I have real problems with. I think there is anilliberality in saying that personal choice in an area of significant medicalcontroversy should be completely denied”.
David Harper, Chief Scientist, Department of Health:“... there is an evidence base but it issubject to different interpretation, and thatis at the crux of the challenge we face onthis. It is a very difficult evidence base totest... homeopathic practitioners wouldargue that the way randomised clinicaltrials are set up they do not lendthemselves necessarily to the evaluationand demonstration of efficacy ofhomeopathic remedies, so to go down thetrack of having more randomised clinicaltrials, for the time being at least, does notseem to be a sensible way forward.”
10
This year the Japanese PhysiciansSociety for Homeopathy (JPSH)celebrates the tenth anniversary of itsfounding. In 2000 the Society startedout with just 50 members. This numberhas grown to 456 over the last tenyears and we now have 258 doctors,114 vets, 35 dentists, and 49pharmacists. As the best-qualifiedpromoter of homeopathic medicine inJapan, we started a three-yearhomeopathic training course in 2001for physicians who wanted to gainqualifications and train to a standardlevel. This course is accredited by theFaculty of Homeopathy. The JPSH hastwo examinations for those who attendthe course. The course sets out thecore knowledge required for theprimary JPSH examination ofcertification. Successful candidates willbecome a Certified Member of theJPSH. Medical practitioners who, afterbecoming Certified Members, pass theSpecialized Homeopathy Practitionerexamination, are qualified as Fellows ofthe JPSH – we currently have 11Fellows. We started the advancedcourse two years ago, for studentswho had finished the three yearcourse. This course provides clinicalpractice for more difficult cases. Wecontinue to see a good uptake to ourcourses and have recently startedpublishing a journal, HomeopathicMedicine.
The environment for homeopathyin JapanIn the last ten years, several homeopath icorganisations have developed in Japan.JPSH is distinctive and significantbecause we are the only society thatconsists exclusively of professionalmedical practitioners who hold a statequalification. Homeopathy has a shorthistory in Japan, and all of thehomeopathic organisations, establishedalmost at the same time, have sincefollowed their own path. The currentstatus of homeopathy in Japan is farfrom the situation in which patients canenjoy the benefit of homeopathictreatment with a feeling of security.There are two major reasons for this
situation. Firstly, there is no solid legalframework established for homeopathyin Japan; in other words, there existalmost no regulations relevant tohomeopathy. Even in a case where apractitioner with no medical knowledgeor experience provides homeopathic“treatment”, he or she can easilyevade the existing medical laws. It isnot until an accident occurs that theconduct of such a person is perceivedas a problem. In Japan, the MedicalPractitioners Law allows onlyphysicians who hold a statequalification to provide medicaltreatment to human patients. Provisionof medical treatment by a person whodoes not hold a state qualification isdefined as illegal. Similarly, theVeterinary License Law allows only thequalified veterinarians to providemedical treatment to animal patients.
The second problem is thathomeopathic remedies are notuniformly approved as pharmaceuticalproducts throughout the nation. Oncethe remedies are uniformly approvedas pharmaceutical products, theenvironment surrounding homeopathywill surely change dramatically.
Educating the publicRecently, some media sources havebecome interested in homeopathy andhave introduced it to many people.However, they do not recognizehomeopathy as a proper medicaltreatment. The general public havestarted to pay attention a little more tohomeopathy, so JPSH has started torun some seminars for them, to explainhomeopathy as a medical treatmentwhich can be offered by doctors.
Liga conference in Nara, 2012The JPSH is honoured to be given thechance of holding the 67th Congress ofthe LMHI in Nara in 2012. Nara is amost beautiful and historical city nearKyoto in Japan and excellentlyappointed with a competitive range ofhigh-class facilities for seminars,conferences and after conferenceentertainments, and offers remarkableconvenience, safety and hospitality tovisitors. We are looking forward toproviding an excellent internationalenvironment conducive to a first classproductive learning exchangeexperience in Nara. I hope to see youthere.
Ronko ItamuraSenior Director and Dean, JPSH
JPSH celebrate ten years of growth
•• international focus: •• JAPAN
Tokyo•
Kyoto•Nara•
•• news
Photo: istockphoto.com
/Yury Zaporozhchenko
Pagoda in Kofuku-ji temple, Nara
Faculty of HomeopathyAnnual review 2009
•• president’s report
It is certainly a challenging time forboth homeopathy and the Faculty, asthe unwarranted attacks on us havecontinued throughout the year. Asalways, these are linked withopportunities and I have beenheartened by the positive response ofso many Faculty members. It is anincreasingly common experience thatpeople unconnected to homeopathyare beginning to ask why there is quiteso much negative coverage aboutsome thing which is at worst harmlessand inexpensive. I am hopeful that thiscommonsense approach will becomemore prevalent in the next decade.
In the meantime there are manypositives. Our membership has heldup pretty well in the face of theadverse publicity and the creditcrunch. I am grateful to membershipofficer Tracey Rignall for streamliningour processes and I would like to askyou all to renew your membershipspunctually. It is now possible to dothis in instalments by Direct Debit, soplease contact Tracey in Luton if youneed to know more about this.
Also, thanks to all of you who haveresponded to our appeal to supportthe British Homeopathic Association(BHA), the charity which helps fundour educational work and whom weshare common objectives. The BHAnow has over 100 new Friends fromthe Faculty, but there is still room for more!
Many of you will be aware of therecent House of Commons Scienceand Technology Committee hearingsabout homeopathy. Peter Fisher andRobert Mathie were called to give oralevidence and were both robust andclear in their statement of the trueposition. In planning for submissionsto the Science and TechnologyCommittee the Faculty was able toplay a strategic role in co-ordinating theresponses, which was very effective.
There have also been a number ofpositive developments in oureducation field which are explained ingreater detail in the Dean’s report, butI am particularly pleased by thedecision to adopt course-basedassessment after the Primary HealthCare exam. The old written part of theMFHom exam was becomingincreasingly obsolete in moderneducational practice and representeda deterrent for many good students. Ithas also been a wonderful help to havethe new bursaries, offered jointly byThe Blackie Foundation and the ArthriticAssociation, for first year students.
I know that revalidation is a seriousconcern to many doctor members,especially those who work solely inprivate practice. The GMC is stillworking on the actual mechanismswhich makes it impossible for theFaculty to finalise its own plans. Thereare a group of members who areactively involved in keeping abreast ofdevelopments and the Facultyremains committed to supporting allmembers through this process.
On a sadder note we have recentlyhad to bid farewell to Sarah Buckinghamwho has worked so hard for us all inthe media and publication field. Wewill all miss her knowledge, supportand friendship, but I would like towish her all the best as she moves onto fresh pastures.
I have no doubt that the promotionof our message to all health professionalsis the only way to achieve a stablefuture for the Faculty andhomeopathy, so if any of you have anopportunity to speak to any groups,please don’t let that pass by, even ifyou are unable to do it yourself. If youcontact either the Faculty or me wewill either provide you with support orfind someone to do the talk.
Over the last few years I haveseen so many examples of the wholebeing greater than the individual parts– what might seem like a smallcontribution from one of us can set upall sorts of reactions, so never worrythat what you are doing might seeminsignificant. It is often a tiny push thatfinally opens a heavy door.
As I am sure you all know, 2010 isconference year, so pencil in the 11th– 14th November now for a trip toCambridge. We have chosen theprovocative title ‘Changing Perceptions:an integrated approach to seriousillness’ as it was the feeling of theAcademic Board and Council that wewanted to make a public statementabout what homeopathy canresponsibly achieve for our patients.We are hoping that members from alldisciplines will feel able to presentsome of their cases where homeopathy,combined if necessary withconventional treatment, has benefitedtheir patients. We will also have asession on the remedies of the PoppyFamily on Remembrance Sunday.
I would like to thank the staff as Iam constantly amazed by the amountof work that the team are able to getthrough. Thanks too to every Facultymember and may 2010 start a decadeof positive news for homeopathy.
Sara EamesPresident
11
•• annual review 2009
12
•• dean’s report
The Faculty continues to promote thedevelopment of homeopathy as aclinical discipline, to set and maintainstandards in education and practice ofits members and to positivelyinfluence such standards internationally.
The MFHom examinationThe MFHom examination pathway fordoctors has been modernised thisyear after several years of painstakingwork by the Academic Board, UKaccredited teaching centres andExaminers’ Panel to introduce CourseBased Assessment after the PHCE – a sensitive and creative blendincluding reflective portfolio, formativeand summative assessment toolssupplemented by tutor supervision bywhich the teaching centres directlyassess readiness to sit the finalClinical MFHom examination.
The final Clinical Examination fordoctors has been updated to includeOSCEs (Objective StandardisedClinical Examinations). Interimarrangements are being made forthose near the end of training and forteaching centres outside the UK.
Eight doctors have passed theMFHom examination in 2009 –congratulations to Stephen Caulfield,Olfat Ghoneim-Ismail, NadjaGunneberg, Renuka Kshirsagar,Rachel Lee, Ralf Schmalhorst,Tagelbahaa Bahnassi Sherif, andChristine Suppelt.
Congratulations to Jennifer Boyle,Leonora Coll, Jacqueline Mardon andHelmut Roniger who have beenappointed as examiners this year.
Thirty eight doctors continue ontheir path of Specialist training.
New teaching in the UKIt was very pleasing to see the launchof a new teaching venture in NorthernIreland this autumn. This is the first
time training has been delivered inNorthern Ireland in a very long time.The opportunity arose after the interestgenerated by the enquiry by Depart -ment of Health in Northern Ireland andproviding homeopathy on the NHS.Due to the tenaciousness of Dr GarySmyth and discussions with Dr SaraEames, the course launched with theRoyal London Homeopathic Hospitaldelivering the teaching initially withthe aim that teachers in NorthernIreland will take over in the next fewyears and have a fully accreditedteaching centre in due course.
British Homeopathic Congress 2010Arrangements for our Congress 11-14November in Cambridge are wellunderway. The theme is ‘ChangingPerceptions: an integrated approachto serious illness.’ The programme istaking shape and critical to developingthe programme is having a goodselection of abstracts to choose from.Abstracts are not limited to the abovetheme and are welcomed from allmembers. Please consider submittingan abstract in January to CatherineSaunders ([email protected]).
Accreditation of teaching centresThe Dulcamara School of Homeopathyin Genova was successfully re-accredited for a further 4 years. UK e-accreditation visits are due in 2010.
International Faculty-led teachingOur courses abroad have continued todevelop over the last year withteachers from all the UK accreditedteaching centres.
The Faculty international teachingcourse in Portugal began a new intakein 2009 in association with theUniversity Fernando Pessoa &Observatorio De Medicina Integrativain Porto and Lisbon for doctors,pharmacists and osteopaths.
In Russia, the Faculty core curri -culum, supplemented by additionaladvanced seminars, continues to bedelivered to 80 doctors and around100 doctors attend the rollingprogramme of advanced seminarswith the core teaching provided byRussian doctors with MFHom.
The teaching team have all shown
great dedication, enthusiasm, relianceand flexibility. If you have an interestand experience of teaching and wouldlike to take part in 2010 please docontact me.
International accredited teachingand centre-led teachingInternational teaching continues inaccredited teaching centres outsidethe UK with a total of 101 presentingfor the PHCE exam in 2009. TheHomeopathic Professionals TeachingGroup continued its teaching for vetsand other disciplines in Australia,Canada and South Africa.
Working with ECH & LMHIConsiderable efforts to combineeducational guidelines from both theECH (European Committee forHomeopathy) and LMHI (LigaMedicorum HomeopathicaInternationalis) into a single documentwhich reflects higher educationalstandards have been successful ingaining approval of both organisations.
RevalidationAll doctors who are Faculty membersand engaged in clinical work will havereceived their License to Practicefrom the GMC in November. TheFaculty’s revalidation working partyhas continued its efforts to assist ourmembers with queries about theprocess of revalidation, hasmaintained contact with theDepartment of Health and GMC andcontinues to develop the Faculty’s rolein re-certification.
CPDFaculty CPD counts toward the CPDneeded for revalidation. All memberstreating patients are expected to fulfillFaculty CPD requirements. Our annualCPD requirements remain: LFHom 6hours attendance-based plus 10 self-directed learning; DFHom, MFHomand FFHom level 12 hoursattendance-based plus 20 hours self-directed learning. The 2009 round ofensuring CPD requirements are beingmet has overall gone smoothly andsuccessfully.
Raymond SevarDean
annual review 2009 ••
13
UK student numbers continue to bedisappointingly low, a consequence ofthe ongoing negative image ofhomeopathy that persists generally.This is in spite of the excellentresearch work that is being done byveterinary members of the Facultyunder the direction of Robert Mathie.Particular mention must be made ofJack Hoare, whose involvement withthe Bristol Veterinary School resultedin a highly successful (for homeopathy)pilot study involving atopic dermatitis.A paper on the study was publishedby the Veterinary Record in March
2009 and discussions are underwayover the protocol for a full trial. A major change involving theexamination structure of the Faculty isunderway and this involves theveterinary profession as much as allthe others. At present, these newarrangements apply only within the UK.
On the examination front, in 2009six UK candidates were successful inthe LFHom (vet) examination, whichfor vets has replaced the PCVH in usefor other professions.
The HPTG course in Australiacontinues with preparations beginningfor the LFHom(Vet) examination. Thesame course has been taken toCanada and is now in its second year,teaching both vets and veterinarynurses (known as ‘Vet Tecs’ there). Inaddition it has been expanded intoLatvia, and includes additionalstudents from Estonia (2) andLithuania (2). Currently three modulesof the first year have been presented.It is to be hoped that these ventures
will result in further extensions ofFaculty membership.
Discussions are ongoing at nationallevel for a revision of the VeterinarySurgeons Act, which could haverepercussions for homeopathy.Various lay groups are campaigning fora liberalisation of the rules governingthe homeopathic treatment of animals.This does not appear to be a majorthreat but representations have beenmade to the appropriate authoritiesand the situation is being monitored.
The hawk-eyed will have noticedthat this report has not been writtenby the Veterinary Dean, Chris Day.After many years of devoted serviceto the Faculty Chris is taking a six-month sabbatical from his post, untilthe end of April. We wish him welland look forward to his resuming hisduties in the spring.
John SaxtonActing Veterinary Dean
2009 has been a fantastic year fordevelopment in homeopathic podiatry.We saw the first students take theDFHom(Pod) exam in September2009 and my congratulations go toColin Perry, Lorraine Epicheff, PennyWaters and Jane Greenwood, forsuccessfully completing their studies.They have undergone some gruellingwork over the past two years, whichhas included completing ten casestudies in addition to the examinationand viva. I was very impressed by thecalibre of students that we have hadon the courses and I am pleased to
say that Jane and Lorraine were ableto pass with distinction for the highstandard and level they performed intheir exams.
Last year we also saw the launchof the MFHom(Pod) syllabus, and thefirst intake is due in February 2010.This syllabus will replace theDFHom(Pod) and students will followtheir initial diploma level work with a20-30,000 word essay project at theend of their studies for MFHom(Pod).These changes are in line with thecurrent trends taking place within thepodiatric profession, where specialistrecognition is of a Masters level,which allows people to furtherdevelop their skills and specialise intheir own career pathway.
November saw the annual Societyof Chiropodists and Podiatristsconference in Harrogate. This year,the Homeopathic Special InterestGroup of the Society welcomed SaraEames, President of the Faculty, totalk about homeopathy as part of their
group. I presented my talk about theresearch basis of homeopathy inpodiatric practice. On the second day,we had our four DFHom(Pod)spresenting homeopathic cases carriedout in their podiatric practice. Therewas much enthusiasm from theaudience and the potential for newlicentiates coming onto our courseslooks very promising for 2010.
I hope the enthusiasm we haveseen this year in the podiatric worldtowards homeopathy will continue toget stronger and my wish is that in2010, we will be able to increase thenumber of LFHoms coming out of theteaching centres around the country.
Success for 2010.
Tariq KhanPodiatry Dean
•• podiatry dean’s report
•• veterinary dean’s report
•• annual review 2009
14
It has been a mixed year in the field ofdental homeopathy. Again this yearwe have been down on students aswell as candidates for professionalexams and further qualifications to sitthe MFHom. I am disappointed thatthe introduction of the MFHom(Dent)hasn’t motivated dentists to improvetheir level of competence in the waywe expected. I hope the reason is thatpotential candidates are waiting forthe new examination system to be inplace before they apply for the comingexamining year’s MFHom sitting.
There is all round pressure on the
whole dental profession, not only atthe coal face but with PCTs andeverything else that goes with theterritory. There is the new contract todeal with that is soon to be “offered”by the PCTs. Hopefully when this issorted out practitioners will be able toconcentrate their efforts back ontohomeopathic practice.
Added problems have been seen inlow student numbers at the teachinghospitals because teaching has comeunder pressure due to lack of funding.Hopefully a solution will be found tothis problem in the very near future.
BHDA symposiumThere was tremendous enthusiasmfor further education in dentalhomeopathy at last year’s BritishHomeopathic Dental Associationconference in October and we musttap into this wealth of enthusiasm.This must be considered as essentialif we are to motivate, enthuse andcontinue to provide education indental homeopathy.
Dental data collection projectI would like to thank all the dentiststhat took part in the Faculty’s researchproject on periodontal conditions,which finished after 18 months ofclinical data. We await eagerly theresults and conclusions of the dataset. I would like to thank RobertMathie and Sue Farrer for all the workand effort that has been needed tobring this project to fruition.
Pete DarbyDental Dean
•• dental dean’s report
I can’t believe that it’s now a year sincemy last report. Things have been verybusy; the MFHom exam has nowchanged to incorporate coourse-basedassessment. This will be carried out atthe teaching centres. There will be aclinical day and the usual ten casesstudies. The cases will be conductedthroughout the training so that thestudents gain experience and casetaking can be mapped. By changing tothis new form of course-basedassessment.
Congratulations to ElizabethBaines and Denise Kendrew, who
have both been successful in achievingtheir LFHom in the past year. Also mycongratulations go to Lynne Fish andHelen Idle who passed theirMFHom(Nurse) examinations last year.These are our first MFHom(Nurse)s inEngland and I would like to wish themall the best from myself and the restof the nurse membership.
I went down to BristolHomeopathic Hospital and met a fewof the nurses who are training both inEngland and Scotland. It was nice tohear how the teaching centrescompared to each other, and it gavethe nurses a chance to get to knowme and to ask all their questions. I hada lovely time and I’m looking forwardto visiting next year.
You may well have read about mytrip to Kenya and the training ofhomeo pathic nurses there (see page6). I would like to see nurses from theUK going out and helping to teach inKenya. If you are interested please getin touch.
Our two member representativesKaren Hooton (Scotland) and IlonaEdmonds (England) continue to do anexcellent job. I would like to take thisopportunity to thank them both.Theyneed your help by letting them knowwhat support you require so pleaseget in touch.
I am sure you are all aware thatCongress is in November this year andthat it will be held in Cambridge. If anynurses would like to submit an abstractplease send to Catherine Saunders atthe Faculty ([email protected]) before the end ofJanuary. Attending Congress can giveyou all the hours you require for yourCPD and is a great opportunity to bearound like minded people. I wouldlove to see you all there. Last yearfour nurses attended and they allenjoyed the experience. It would benice to see lots more in November!
Patricia DonnachieNursing Dean
•• nursing dean’s report
“I would like to thank all the
dentists that took part in the
Faculty’s research project
on peridontal conditions.”
annual review 2009 ••
15
•• pharmacy dean’s report
The Royal Pharmaceutical Societybegan the year by consulting with anumber of healthcare professionals,including myself and several otherFaculty members, on a variety ofhomeopathically related topics. Itseems that in the wake of theirpublishing arm’s recent support forthe complementary medicine sector,the RPSGB is gauging the need forthe provision of some official guidanceto pharmacists. Whether this will be inthe form of an updated informationsheet in the Pharmaceutical Journal,such as was produced with the helpof the BHA some years ago, a newcomplementary medicine CPDmodule or in some other way isunknown at this stage. This exercisehas undoubtedly been prompted by theincrease in demand for homeopathyfrom the public, with more patientsasking their pharmacists abouthomeopathy. While this is certainlyencouraging for homeopathy as awhole and has led to an associatedincrease in requests for talks onhomeopathy at Continuing ProfessionalDevelopment and PharmaceuticalSociety Branch meetings up anddown the country, it has also broughtmany critics from within our profession.
Last year, Professor Ernst usedthe pages of the PharmaceuticalJournal to attack homeopathy byaccusing pharmacists involved inproviding homeopathic services ofacting unethically due to a perceivedlack of evidence base. This point hasbeen repeated by several otherprotagonists this year. On eachoccasion Faculty members haveresponded to point out that there is anevidence base, indeed more than forsome allopathic drugs. In addition, ashomeopathy is available on the NHS,pharmacists are obliged to have someknowledge in order to dispense a
prescription presented to them – itcould even be argued that it isunethical to have no training inhomeopathy!
The availability of homeopathicmedicines would appear to be, atleast for the foreseeable future,assured in UK legislation withestablished registration,manufacturing and supply pathwaysfor both human and veterinarymedicines. In the last year, landmarkregistrations have been granted inboth sectors – Arnica for human usewas successfully licensed under theNational Rules (2006) frameworkwhich allows homeopathic medicinesto be labelled with limited indicationsof use. In veterinary homeopathy,Anxt-F became the first complex to beregistered by the VeterinaryMedicines Directorate (VMD).
Despite the best efforts of someof our high profile detractors, theGovernment appear committed toallowing continued access tohomeopathy within the NHS at thespecialist centres and on prescription.Homeopathic medicines are alsoavailable under the Minor AilmentsService in Scotland which allowspharmacists to issue NHSprescriptions for a range of medicinesfor certain patient groups.
LFHom(Pharm)In the most recent academic year,seven pharmacists passed the PHCEin the UK, Japan and Italy –congratulations to all the successfulcandidates! I hope that some willconsider progressing to a higher levelof training. The new course in Belfastestablished by Dr Gary Smyth hasattracted a large number ofpharmacists and I look forward tocontributing a specialist teachingsession to the programme in 2010.
DFHom(Pharm)This qualification level seeks to build onthe clinical skills of the homeopathicpharmacist while also increasing theirknowledge of homeopharmaceutics.In the evolving UK healthcareenvironment, the issues discussed onthis course such as manufacturing,source materials, pharmaceuticalquality and relevant legislation arebecoming increasingly important to therole of the pharmacist as the demandfor information about homeopathyincreases from the public andprofessional colleagues. A PharmacyDiploma programme is currentlyoffered by RLHH.
MFHom(Pharm)This is the highest level of qualificationwithin the Faculty and comprises acombination of distance learning,clinical and specialist pharmacy topicsbased around the existing MFHomcourses offered at the Faculty teachingcentres. The qualification works wellwithin the framework of developingspecialist clinical competencies whichis being actively encouraged by theRoyal Pharmaceutical Society and thisis an opportunity for pharmacists todevelop consultation and prescribingskills for the new roles in these areasthat we are increasingly being askedto perform. There are currently threepharmacists working towards thisadvanced award and I wish them wellas their studies progress.
Please do not hesitate to contact mewith any questions or comments or ifI can offer assistance with courses,CPD or any aspect of professionalpractice. I look forward to hearingfrom you.
Lee KaynePharmacy Dean
“Another busy year for Faculty pharmacists!”
•• annual review 2009
16
•• promotion convener’s report
The public debate about homeopathycontinued to be very active last year.Critics remain adept at gaining mediaaccess for their opinions, and there’sno doubt the negativity has resulted ina more hostile environment forhomeopathy. The closure of TunbridgeWells Homeopathic Hospital was asad loss.
However, it’s been a good year forgetting the counter arguments across.There’s an old saying that it’s theirritation of the grit in the oyster shell,which stimulates the oyster to grow apearl, and one of our pearls is the fivepage “We answer the critics”document which has recently beenupdated. It takes the commonestclaims of the anti-homeopathy brigadeand gives facts and references tocounter them. The document can bedownloaded at www.facultyofhomeopathy.org/media/news/we_answer_the_critics.html and becoming familiarwith its contents has allowed anumber of members to moreeffectively engage in debate, online,on the radio, and in print.
Over the last year a number ofFaculty GPs have undertaken mediatraining and are now armed with thetools to get our message out effectively.One of the key strands of our mediastrategy now is to promote homeopathyin primary care and this niche could be particularly fruitful for us. Thepublication, in Pulse, of TimRobinson’s article about his use ofhomeopathy in a busy GP practicewas a good example of managing tobreak through and have a morebalanced, real life, practical counter toour critics, whilst promoting the factthat GPs are offering homeopathy inroutine ten minute appointments andyes, getting results! Another of ourGP media recruits Charlotte Mendesda Costa did well in an interview for
London commercial radio after a storybroke about a homeopath in Australiaand a case of child neglect. Again wegot the message across that GPspractice homeopathy and are regulatedlike any other doctors. Mediaopportunities almost always comeabout because there is somethingnegative in the press abouthomeopathy, but we must take theseopportunities to get our voice heardand get our positive points acrosswhile we can.
Two big news items not abouthomeopathy have also begun tochange the environment for ourpromotions work. A very high profilelibel case between journalist SimonSingh and the British ChiropracticAssociation produced a lot of discussionabout libel laws and freedom topromote scientific research, eventhough the case was not about ascientific article, but against a piece ofjournalism in the mass media. Aneven more high profile case has beenthe sacking of Professor Nutt, as agovernment drugs advisor. This hasalso raised an intelligent debate aboutpower and the place of science in ourpolitical policy making. Neither ofthese two cases are necessarilypositive or negative for homeopathybut both widen the debate wellbeyond the territory of “my trial isbigger than your trial” and of“plausibility” (can those patients reallybe better?)
In the autumn, a group of studentsorganised by Sense About Sciencesent a letter to WHO condemning theuse of homeopathy and asking theorganisation to state its policy onhomeopathy in the treatment of severalinfections. The WHO responses wereactually quite bland and non-committalbut this was cleverly used by thegroup as “WHO condemns the use ofhomeopathy”, which, in fact, it doesn’t.The Sense About Science spin on thecorrespondence was accepteduncritically by the media, which is afurther demonstration of their ability tohave their message not only heard,but widely disseminated.
New media tools like Facebook arebecoming increasingly useful insharing our communications andsupporting members who both need
to defend homeopathy, and who aretrying to put across a more positivestory. The redesigned Faculty website,e-newsletter and Promotion Networkemail exchanges, which are increasinglyconnecting to other groups outwith theFaculty, have brought us to a higherlevel of active, effective promotionthan we’ve ever managed to achievebefore. The Faculty’s much improvedwebsite is at www.facultyofhomeopathy.org and will provide you with upto date information about what’snewsworthy in relation to homeopathy,as well as continuing to offer the best,most up to date, summary of theevidence base. The Facebook group“Focus on Homeopathy” is here –www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8610841917
The Faculty’s “key messages” arenow available to all members in thepassword protected area of thewebsite, along with guidelines forhow to handle media interviews. Clickon the Promotion network link. Wehave managed to get some of our keymessages across effectively on nationalTV and radio in the last year, includingthe vital message on research.
In summary, we are still in themidst of significant, organised hostilitytowards homeopathy. This continuingattack has forced us to clarify ourmessages to counter it and we arequickly learning how to use newmethods of networking anddissemination of those messages. Weneed as many members as possibleto participate actively in this area. Thenetwork works best when it facilitatessharing and community support, andour strength in the Faculty has alwaysbeen the enthusiasm, belief and passionof the members. It’s not a positiveexperience to continually have todefend, and it’s not been clear just howthe agenda might change, nor how wecan play an active part in that change.Perhaps an increasing demand forpersonal, safe care, with increasingrights to make your own decisionsabout your healthcare will be part of amuch improved environment in whichto develop and promote homeopathy.
Bob LeckridgePromotion Convener
annual review 2009 ••
The Members’ Committee has hadanother busy year. As always ourobjectives continue to be the protectionof the interests and representation ofour members. We also aim to maintainthe current membership and encouragegrowth of future membership.
The Members’ Committee iscomposed of representatives from allregions of the UK as well asrepresentatives from the dental,veterinary, nursing, pharmacy andpodiatry professions. Faculty staffpresent are Chief Executive CristalSumner and Tracey Rignall, ourMembership Officer. We meet ‘face toface’ twice a year at the Royal LondonHomeopathic Hospital as well as an‘e-meeting’ each June. Members’Committee meetings consist of a longagenda of issues ongoing as well asarising. One of the most importantparts of the meeting is the regionalfeedback; this is the opportunity forgrass roots Faculty members from anyof the disciplines to have their concernsbrought to the attention of the Faculty.This is an extremely important role ofthe Members’ Committee as it givesus the opportunity to consider yourviews and hopefully respond to yourwishes. As convenor, I sit on FacultyCouncil to represent the Members’Committee and the Faculty membersas a whole. Views, aspirations andconcerns raised at our meetings areshared with Council members; thisenables the dissemination ofinformation directly to our President,Deans and other Faculty committees.Over the last year around the countrylocal groups continue to meet, somemore than others; the recurringconstraint is still geographical whichseems to be insoluble. There havebeen a series of seminars and clinicalmeetings in the teaching centreswhich have been well attended.
Membership numbers are currently1205 which is slightly down on lastyear’s, due to lapsed members.Continued negative press and thecurrent financial climate are contributingto this fall in membership. Despitethese factors the existing membershipseems positive as judged by thefeedback following Faculty CPD eventsas well as from the reports fromregional and professionalrepresentatives on the Members’Committee. Whilst there is so muchnegative press and discrediting ofhomeopathy it is particularly importantto be able to defend ourselves.Continued criticism could wear usdown and defeat us. In order to resistthis criticism we need to be strong anddefend ourselves. I urge you to contactthe Faculty or visit our website atwww.facultyofhomeopathy.org forRobert Mathie’s research summarywhich sets out clearly the supportiveevidence for homeopathy. Armed withthis you can stand up to even thefiercest detractors and shoot themdown with the truth. Defending ourcause with pride and confidence isessential for our survival and theprotection of our membership.
The Faculty’s website continues togain visitor numbers each month. Themembers’ area with its notice board isparticularly impressive. I encouragethose of you who have not been thereto ‘log-on’. We see it as a forum fordebate as well as an educationalfunction for those less experiencedmembers who can access opinionsfrom wise old sages!
The two key issues that constantlyrecur in the Members’ Committeemeetings are recruitment and retentionof Faculty members. Recruitmentseems to result from word of mouthas well as advertising for courses.Personal effort of members to present
at post-graduate centres would help togain more interest. We would like toincrease this activity; the Faculty has aselection of powerpoint presentationsfor this purpose (i.e. the difficult bit isdone for you!)
Retention of membership ishopefully encouraged by the Facultybeing seen as a proactive, professionaland proud organization. Along with theimpressive website as mentionedearlier, our journal Homeopathycontinues to be respected and highlyregarded within the academicestablishment. Simile, the Facultynewsletter, has evolved into anenjoyable read, as well as an extremelyvaluable information source. Planningof the 2010 Congress, to be held inCambridge, is well underway. Thisevent is always a valuable membershipretention device, as well as anexcellent educational experience andenjoyable social gathering.
I think you will agree it has beenanother busy year for the committee.We will continue to work hard formembers. We welcome anysuggestions, views and criticismsregarding the Faculty and its workings.
We will endeavour to conveyinformation regarding developmentsthat may affect you. Above all wehope that you will continue to feelproud of your membership of thisworthy organization.
Tim RobinsonMembers’ Committee Convener
•• members’ committee convener’s report
17
“The two key issues that constantly recur in...
meetings are recruitment and retention of
Faculty members”
•• annual review 2009
18
This year we have performedwell in the face of a challengingenvironment and have retainedsurplus funds for the comingyear’s activities. Our year enddeficit was in line to what wehad budgeted at the start of the2008-09 budget year but thiswas only achieved because oftight controls on expenditure.
Due to the worldwide financialcrisis over the year, income wasadversely affected – thenumbers of members renewingmembership, enrolling for CPDevents and coming forward forexams fell below projections. It also meant the BritishHomeopathic Associationneeded to reduce its annualgrant toward our educationalwork from £84,000 in 2008 to£50,000 for the year endingAugust 31, 2009.
In the year we held our bi-annualCongress in Harrogate whichaccounts for the large increasein income and expenditure inrelated line items over 2008when we did not hold aCongress. Overall operationalcosts decreased substantiallyfrom 2008 which reflects thatcertain staff posts in the Facultywere not replaced when theybecame vacant, or werereplaced by part-time contractemployees.
We anticipate the coming yearwill be full of opportunities andwill be trying to maximise ourincome to support our membersand aim to breakeven at theclose of the year, retaining oursurplus.
Andrew SikorskiTreasurer
Draft income and expenditure – Year ended 31 August 2009
•• treasurer’s report
2009 2009 2008 2008£ £ £ £
IncomeMembership subscriptions 163,004 169,204Academic: exams, teachingand accreditation
27,455 35,205
Events and Congress 43,081 4,650Journal and Simile income 38,949 33,087Miscellaneous 1,187 3,425Grant from the BritishHomeopathic Association 50,000 85,000
323,676 330,571
ExpenditureMarketing and promotion 10,742 10,293Academic: exams, teachingand accreditation 59,912 51,217Journal and Simile 76,390 78,631Events and Congress 44,793 5,536Corporate 26,554 29,350Administration and overheads 140,459 173,558
358,850 348,585
Operating (deficit) surplus (35,174) (18,014Less taxation – –
Surplus for the year (35,174) (18,014Surplus brought forward from previous year 68,943 86,957
33,769 68,943
Balance sheet as at 31 August 2009
2009 2009 2008 2008£ £ £ £
Fixed AssetsTangible fixed assets 6.087 6,100Less: Depreciation 5,404 3,748
683 2,352
Current AssetsCash at bank: Current accounts 27,405 71,380
Deposit accounts 72,939 84,906Sundry debtors 15,015 19,676Prepayments 8,475 15,775
123,834 191,737124,517 194,089
Less: Current Liabilities
Connected charity creditor 5,393 16,075Miscellaneous creditors 85,355 109,071
90,748 125,146
33,769 68,943
Represented byGeneral fund 27,769 62,943Designated fund 6,000 6,000
33,769 68,943
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•• case studies•• case studies
I’ve just come across a really interestingpiece of work by a French researchercalled Montagnier1. He and his co-workers found that some bacterialDNA sequences are able to induceelectromagnetic waves at highaqueous dilutions. At ‘dilutions’ as highas 18x (10-18), they found that therewere recognisable signals detectable.Agitation of the preparations(succussion in homeopathic language)was found to be essential to thedilution process. The signals wereobliterated by heating and freezing thesolutions. Although homeopathy is notmentioned in the article, I thought thiswas pretty interesting research. LucMontagnier is no backwater crackpot.He co-discovered a virus you may haveheard of – HIV. And got a Nobel Prizefor it in 2008.
This turned my mind to theincredible scepticism there is towardshomeopathy. I often say to people that,in a way, I wish I’d never found it; mylife would be so much simpler and I’dprobably be a whole lot (monetarily)richer. But I did and am incrediblygrateful that I did. But I still have todeal, daily, with articles in the press,reports on the BBC, and jibes fromconventional colleagues at conferences.So the Montagnier paper, among otherspublished recently2, may be the firstchink of light in the orthodox armour. A way to silence the sceptics and toallow professional communicationsbetween conventional andhomeopathic veterinary colleagues forthe benefit of our patients. I hope so.
But why be sceptical? Veterinaryhomeopathy is alive and well andproducing incredible results. They maybe individual cases, not large doubleblind placebo controlled trials, they maybe “miraculous” cures, but withoutbefore and after data, but they arehappening every single day throughoutthe world. I began to reflect on someof the amazing cases I’ve seen overthe years.
Pip, a 14 year-old New Forest pony,was an early homeopathic miracle forme. He presented with what they call“sweet itch”, an allergy to midges.He’d had it all his life and would itch forten months of the year. His grey,thickened, cracked skin by June wouldmake him look like a rhino. No orthodoxmedicines seemed to work. Come tothat, my first prescription of Arsenicumalbum and Culicoides (the midge in a
nosode) didn’t touch him, either! I wasgutted, as was the owner, Susan, whohad put so much faith in the remedies.
I persuaded Susan to let me haveanother look. This time, onrepertorisation, I concluded Sulphur.The change, when dosed daily with theCulicoides nosode, was almost instant.It was April, so he was itchy, withoutmassive thickening yet. Within twoweeks he was no longer itchy. Susancouldn’t believe it. To be honest, as avet homeopath in training, nor could I.We continued dosing and managed toreduce to twice weekly dosing, but anyless frequency would see breakthrough scratching. Susan forgot to re-order his remedies when his first
prescription ran out. He started itchingimmediately, but when, after a week,the new remedies came through, hestopped again, right in the midst of themidge season. He’s been fine eversince.
Another lovely example ofhomeopathy saving the day was withAnja, a nervous 18 month-old Vizslabitch. She hadn’t had her first season,unlike her four other sisters and hermum who’d all come in aged tenmonths or so. Since this sororalpheromone storm she’d been “notquite herself”, jumpy, hysterical andsuspicious. Her vet had diagnosed“low progesterone”. He’d spoken to aspecialist at Bristol University who
CONTINUED >
Photo: photos.com
Homeopathy – that’s placebo, right?
20
•• case studies
predicted she’d never come into season,therefore. Her owner was not to be solightly discouraged and gave me a ring.Having had a few years prescribing bythis time I knew that homeopathy isfantastic for any hormonal condition.Cushing’s disease, hormonal alopeciaand old age incontinence I’d seen allclear up beautifully, so I was keen towork on Anja.
We prescribed Nat mur as aconstitutional for her in a 1M potency. I also used Folliculinum andProgesterone at a 30c potency for amore local, or pathological,prescription. I’ll often do this – treat thewhole animal and support a particularorgan or system at the same time. Itseems to work for hormones, but alsofor liver, kidney or skin problems, togive just a few examples. Within twoweeks, she became a little puffyaround the vulva, a sure sign thatsomething was happening. We thoughtthis was it, but she calmed again.
What told me that we weredefinitely going in the right directionwas that she was happier in her ownskin; less jumpy with people enteringthe house and not sleeping in a tiny ball– content to lounge like a normalsleeping dog. She became clingier andbegan to worsen after her weekly Natmur dose, so we switched to Pulsatilla.Within a month she had her firstseason, normalised her behaviour andmelded with the pack again. That wasin February 2007. She’s been fine sincewithout any remedies.
A final example I have to tell youabout is Zephyr. He’s a four year oldOccicat – looks a bit like a fawn tabbyBurmese, if you like. He was beingbullied by his brother – the other cat inthe house. His response, being a ratherpassive and malleable sort of chap,was to internalise his frustration andresentment and lick his back forcomfort. This is quite common in somenervous cats when they can’t expressthemselves. He eventually startedlicking dappled bald patches all over hisrump, poor boy. When I saw him, it
soon became apparent what washappening. Cats are really vicious totheir own kind. They make children in aplayground look like angels!
Staphysagria is the king ofresentment remedies. I prescribedStaphysagria 200c twice daily for fivedays and asked to be rung in a month.Disaster! He was licking more! Hissymptoms and his behaviour were,though, exactly as before. I decided tobe a little more aggressive with mydosing and we went for twice dailydosing for two weeks. This did thetrick. A two week check showed hiscoat to be slightly less bristly (with allthe licking) and his behaviour hadmellowed. He was actually retaliatingtoward his brother for the first time inhis life, too!
I increased the potency of theStaphysagria to 1M and advised dosingjust when he needed a boost. Hecontinued to improve, showing anormal coat within a few months. Heneeded dosing every few weeks, oncewith the 1M. Six months later, hisowner rang me to say the remedyseemed no longer to be working. I senther Staphysagria 50M and said dose asbefore. All was well after this. Now hejust needs a dose once in a blue moon. What is really interesting about this
Veterinaryhomeopathy
is alive and welland producingincredibleresults
case, and his owner only told me thisafter we’d been consulting for a fewmonths, is that she had been putting adrop of the liquid remedy on her fingerto dose him every time and her senseof smell had returned. She’d lost itabout 15 years previously when shewas working in a very stressful officeenvironment that she hated, or“resented” you could say...There we go – another three cases toadd to the mountain range ofanecdotes of homeopathic miracles.No doubt the sceptics will sneer atthese as well. Homeopathy is placebo,after all, isn’t it?
Reference:
1 Montagnier L, Aissa J, Ferris S,Montagnier J-L, Lavallee C (2009).Electromagnetic Signals Are Produced byAqueous Nanostructures Derived fromBacterial DNA Sequences. InterdisciplinarySciences: Computational Life Sciences,1: 81-90.
2 Various:
a Witt CM, Lüdtke R, Baur R, Willich SN(2009) Homeopathic treatment ofpatients with chronic low back pain: A prospective observational study with2 years’ follow-up. Clinical Journal ofPain, 25:334-339.
b Witt CM, Ludtke R, Willich SN (2009).Homeopathic treatment of patientswith chronic sinusitis: A prospectiveobservational study with 8 years follow-up. BMC Ear Nose ThroatDisorders, 9(1):7.
c Demangeat J-L (2009) NMR waterproton relaxation in unheated andheated ultrahigh aqueous dilutions of histamine: Evidence for an air-dependent supramolecular organizationof water. Journal of Molecular Liquids,144:32-39
d Piltan D, Rist L, Simões-Wüst P, SallerR (2009).Test of a homeopathic dilutionof Aconitum napellus. A clinical,randomized, double-blind, controlledcrossover study in healthy volunteers.Forschende Komplementärmedizin,16:168-73.
Nick [email protected]
Successful cases? The BHA would like to hear about themDo you have satisfied patients that are happy to talk to the media
about how homeopathy has helped them?
Good case studies are a vital part of getting positive media coverage.A simple case study information sheet can be obtained by emailing Jacqui at:
Please use it to tell us about your homeopathic successes, and help the BHA to promote homeopathy more effectively.
21
•• case studies•• case studies
CONTINUED >
In 1994 a man came for homeopathictreatment of rheumatoid arthritis andangina but before he told me anythingabout himself it was his “boundenduty” to tell me about his wife, “who isin a terrible state. She is terrified to goto sleep because she is convinced thatif she does she will die. She getscompletely hysterical – just terrified –she is utterly convinced that she willdie in her sleep. She sits up and drinkscoffee and watches TV and of courseeventually she does fall asleep andwakes up OK in the morning, but thenext night she is terrified andcompletely hysterical again.”
Reflective practiceHow would you respond? The patienthas a very clear and strong expectation.It would take great skill to say nowithout producing a stand-off situation.Is it appropriate to prescribe on onlythis information without seeing thepatient? If you do prescribe, will yougive Aconite or is there something veryunusual about this presentation whichmerits repertorisation?
I was intrigued, firstly by his use ofthe words “bounden duty” which gavethe first clue to his prescription of Kalicarbonicum which resolved hisrheumatoid arthritis in three months. Ireached for my paper copy of theComplete Repertory by Van Zandvoortbut which rubric? Is it FEAR sleep, go to,to – lest, die, he would? Is it HYSTERIA,sleeplessness with? I was struck bythe force with which he said “completelyhysterical” and prescribed Moschusmoschus 200CH pills 8 grams, one ifrequired and stop if she felt better.
Follow up from husband twomonths later: “She is great – She tookthe medicine and went to sleep OK thefirst night. She took it again wheneverthe fear came back and she has beengoing to sleep easily.” I forgot all aboutthis when she came for treatment fouryears later and she didn’t mention it!
Consultation November 1998Observation: J is an overweightattractive 51 year-old lady with greyhair, big soft brown eyes, flushedcheeks and greasy skin.
Observation: before I have a chance toask her anything she just bursts outcrying and continues weeping forseveral minutes.
I just keep bursting out crying all thetime and its getting ridiculous – as soonas I start to speak I burst out crying – ithappens with everyone… I don’t knowwhy, there seems to be no reason…I feel better for a while after I havecried… If someone shows me sympathyI cry but I don’t like it… I just can’tcope with anything anymore – I panic ifI think there is not enough time to getsomething done and my thoughts keepwhizzing round and round in my headand then I get dizzy and feel as if I willfall… I am eating chocolate, sweetsand biscuits for comfort all the time
Hysterical insomnia and osteoarthritis treated with Moschus moschus
and can’t stop.I feel as if my hair is being pulled…
I feel as if someone has got hold of myhair and is pulling it off my scalp.
I don’t really feel well since I had aconvulsion a year ago, my confidencehas gone down… I have had epilepsysince 1969 and take Epanutin 50mgtwice a day… I know it’s a small dosebut any more makes me feel awful…The convulsions start with an odd fuzzyfeeling in my head, then there is jerkingof my hands and arms while I amconscious and then I pass out and myhusband says then I jerk and spasm
The homeopathic medicine Moschus moshus comes from the Siberan musk deer
Photo courtesy of Ben Cooper
22
•• case studies
and after I wake up and I have beenincontinent.
I feel OK walking on the flat but Iget very puffy and short of breath onhills… I am chilly but I overheateasily… I am just tired, energy40/100… I am very scared ofthunderstorms I just hate them. I curlup in a ball and shudder with each flashof lightning… I get a sickly headache ifI sit in the sun… I love the sea and feelbetter at the sea… I feel free… Iabsolutely hate oysters, mussels,cockles. I forced myself to try an oysteronce but I could never eat another… Iam really scared of spiders and heightsand narrow closed in places – evenseeing someone pot-holing on TV Istart gasping for air.
AnalysisRecognition heuristic leads toprescription of Calcarea carbonica –sensation as if hair pulled, anxiety,fears narrow, heights andthunderstorms, epilepsy, aversionoysters, overweight, comfort eatingsweet carbohydrates – 30CH one dose,200CH one dose then 12CH daily.
Outcome 1998 to 2001The sensation as if her hair was beingpulled resolved completely as did herweepiness, anxiety and comfort eatingand she remained free of convulsions.
Consultation October 2001I have been good till the last six weeks– I have been getting stiffness in thefingers of my right hand – mainly themiddle and little fingers and it feelstight and stiff in the palm… worse inthe morning when I wake but it is thereall day and when I stop using my handit stiffens up more.
On examination: palpable flexortendon thickening, slightly tender.Heberden’s nodes both index fingers
I have been getting panic attacksagain. My husband is leaving for thenorth of Scotland because he has got abetter job and I don’t want to go. I getpanicky and can’t settle and can’t getmy breath and break out in a sweat… itcomes on in the evenings and getsworse till about 1am. I am afraid that Iwill go crazy. I have had to stop work…I have had to come back. I could notstand the isolation of living up there onthe north coast of Scotland – it wasdead, desolate, empty. There is nothingto see but the sea and nothing to doand nobody around… My epilepsy isstill OK, no convulsion… I havebecome exquisitely sensitive to certainperfumes and have to leave the room.
TreatmentCalcarea carbonica 30CH drops forthree days then panic attacks plus15CH pill daily produced no change insix weeks.
Consultation November 2001I am terrified to go to sleep in caseI die in my sleep. It is just like it wasyears ago when you gave my husbandMoschus for me to take. It waswonderful, like a miracle and I havehad none of this trouble for sevenyears… The fear is that I am terrified tosuffocate and die while I sleep – itcomes upon me just before I go tobed* and while I am lying there, so Ican’t go to sleep and then I get thefeeling that I can’t breathe.
*Gesture – her left hand goes toprotect her throat/larynx with thumbon one side of larynx and fingers onthe other – it is a fast but gentleprotective gesture – and her right handand arm make a ward-off gesture –and she looks at me with those bigsoft open brown eyes and I “see”the deer protecting her neck froma predator
Treatment Moschus moschus 200CH drops in30ml stock bottle, two drops daily forthree days then when required with tensuccussions before each dose.
RubricsAt this point of recognition there islittle need for repertorisation butrelevant rubrics are given below (which all contain Moschus):
DEATH; conviction of
DELUSIONS; death; approaching
FEAR; suffocation, of; lying, while
HYSTERIA; sleeplessness, with
SENSITIVE, oversensitive; odors, to
FEAR; sleep; go to, to; suffocation, of
WEEPING; hysterical; involuntary
STIFFNESS; fingers; hands; morning;rheumatic
CONVULSIONS; spasms; tonic
OutcomeHer fear and insomnia began to settleon the second day and resolvedcompletely in six weeks. The stiffnessonly began to settle after four weeks,when the frequency of dose wasreduced to once a week, and there wasobjectively less thickening of her rightmiddle flexor tendon at six weeks. Theflexor tendon thickening and rheumaticpain completely resolved and herosteoarthritis of both index DIP jointsstopped worsening and the jointsbecame pain free. Her comfort eatingstopped, she joined a gym, became theweight she wished to be and was ableto move to the north of Scotland to livewith her husband.
Raymond [email protected]
LMHI Congress 201065th LMHI Congress will be held 18-22 May 2010 in Redondo Beach,California.The title for the Congress is ‘A Homeopathic Odyssey’ – Celebratingthe 200th Anniversary of the Organon of Medicine. The Congress will exploreways in which homeopathy can play a vital role in the future of medicine.
If you are interested in learning more about the event go to www.liga2010.org.There may be financial support available to doctors interested in attending,contact Cristal ([email protected]) for more information. Sadlythe abstract deadline has passed but it is never too early to think aboutsubmitting abstracts for 2011, which will be in Riga, Latvia with more detailsavailable at www.liga2011.org
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•• events
A homeopathic doctor is now required to continue a very busy private practice on the outskirts of St Helier in Jersey.
The practice currently runs four days a month, from Tuesday to Saturday.There are regular 35 minute flights to Jersey from Gatwick, Exeter,
Bristol and Birmingham. Free parking on site.
If you are interested in continuing this practice, please get in touch with Max Deacon on 0207 6021 006 for further information.
Homeopathic doctor needed for practice in Jersey
REPORT:The Silica series by Julie Geraghty3 October, LondonDuring my MFHom training at GlasgowI have a distant memory of a lectureabout Jan Scholten’s new way oflooking at and understanding remedies.I bought a book, read it briefly and putit back on the shelf. So this seminarwas designed to reawaken this subjectin my dormant conscious. Having heardJulie talk previously I knew that I wouldbe receiving some clear, well-presented material.
A large part of the day was spentlooking at the remedies that arerepresented in row three of the table.To orientate us, Julie outlined brieflythe main features of each row.
Row 1: Existence (do I even exist?)Row 2: Separation (am I ready to separate
from my mother-figure?)Row 3: IdentityRow 4: Security (I must build my security)Row 5: Creativity (new things, ideas, arts)Row 6: Power and responsibility
The remedies of row 3 are oftenpresented in patients and were used toillustrate the use of the periodic table, tomake sense of the themes expressed.This row has many very frequentlyprescribed polychrests; a deeper under -standing has to help the prescriber.Progressing from left to right thecolumns represent, at the left extreme,a complete lacking, to a peak ofcompleteness at column 10, thenfalling away to the right.
The main themes of row three areindividual identity, uniqueness, under -standing and choice. If a child lacksthese, dysfunction may develop as achild or later in life. Often parenting
problems are the prime cause. Wordsin the history which are common to therow 3 remedies include all the above aswell as nurture, care, warmth, love andappreciation; and as negatives, isolation,confusion, neglect, forsakenness,abandonment, disgrace and rejection.Although these themes may beexpressed in any row 3 remedy,particular elements have particularstrong themes e.g. isolation in Natrumand Chlorum.
Julie referred repeatedly to the workof Scholten and Sankaran; she explainedhow the main sensations and symptomsrelate to the core of each element. Thethemes of all the row 3 elements werediscussed in detail and were illustratedwith case histories. Salts of theseelements were discussed and explored.In addition, salts of row 3 elements andother metals were discussed withreference to row 4 and 5 characteristics.
Julie talked about the way in which
a history can be taken to follow thepatient like a dance, ensuring theimportant points are brought out. Shereminded us that gestures that apatient might make or tears mark veryimportant parts of the patient’s story.“Tell me more about ….” is a usefulphrase, as is “what would this be like ifit was as bad as it could get?” Sheshared histories with us that had notbeen straightforward and which hadbeen a learning opportunity for her.
In summary, the thirty or sodelegates that attended enjoyed andbecame involved in the seminar. Herpresentation and lecture notes wereexcellent and it was fun to be givensome work to do as well. Her descriptionof the themes of each of the remediesin row 3 were drummed into us and Ican still remember a thing or two!
Roger [email protected]
Photo courtesy of Roger Neville-Smith
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•• events
This was the advertisement that wentout, aiming to draw in people unfamiliarwith mistletoe treatment:
‘A proportion of patients with adiagnosis of some form of cancer willwant to try non-conventional therapiesin addition to usual care. The growth inthe internet has probably fuelled thiswish, with therapies based onmistletoe often recommended.Mistletoe treatment has been availablethrough the Glasgow HomeopathicHospital for many years and patientsoften enquire about this form oftreatment and it is frequently used.This course aims to de-mystify the useof mistle-toe in cancer, so thatpractitioners can answer their patient’squestions from a rational point of view.There is no charge for the day’.
Some oncologists came, along withmany practitioners from GHH (nursesand doctors), practitioners fromLiverpool and pharmacists.
Costs for the day were met fromhospital endowments. This proved avery popular occasion (the seminarroom was bursting). We have not hadan exposition of how mistletoe came tobe used in cancer, its safety and itsmodern treatment results and how it isnow used, for many years.
Dr Orange has over 20 yearsexperience in working with mistletoetherapy in the treatment of cancer. Heis a GP principal and medical director atthe Park Attwood clinic inWorcestershire, the flagship clinic ofanthroposophical medicine in the UKand its integration with conventionalcare. He maintains active links andexchange with colleagues working inEurope. Park Attwood welcomes awide range of diagnoses, but at least300 people with cancer are seen thereevery year.
Dr Orange is particularly expert atcommunicating the role of the immunesystem in cancer and the benefits ofmistletoe treatment. He went throughtreatments and discoveries in the earlypart of the 20th century, puttingparticular emphasis on Dr WilliamColey’s practice in USA of treatingcancer with hyperpyrexia. Mistletoe,besides the anti-cancer properties ofsome of its constituents (lectins and
viscotoxins), then is seen as astimulator of the immune system andpyrexia is a very desirable effect.Before inventing mistletoe injections inthe decade 1910–1920, Dr Orangediscovered that Rudolph Steiner hadsuggested mistletoe drops in peoplewith cancer to a Berlin homeopath asearly as 1908.
A more down-to-earth approachwas taken by the second speaker, whoprovided us with a wealth ofexperience in using mistletoe in cancer,in the context of an NHS generalpractice. Dr Geider went through hisexperiences at variousanthroposophical hospitals in Germany,which inform his practice of medicinenow. Dr Geider trained in Germanybefore doing his GP training inAberdeen. He is a full-time principal inthe practice, which providesanthroposophic medical care alongside
conventional treatment as the onlysuch NHS integrated GP practice inScotland. He has recently taken aleading role in developinganthroposophic medicine in the UK,and has a special interest inanthroposophic cancer care andmistletoe treatment. The usual practicein the UK with mistletoe extractsinvolves quite small amounts injectedsubcutaneously to start with. DrsGeider and Orange discussed “off-label” uses, such as intravenous useand intratumoral injection. I don’t thinkwe’re quite ready for these as routinepractices in the NHS yet!
This was a thought-provoking dayand will inform hospital practice herefor a long time.
Mistletoe and cancer – 2 October, Glasgow Homeopathic Hospitalwith Dr Maurice Orange and Dr Stephen Geider
REPORT:
Photo: istockphoto.com
/Norvin Knight
All members are welcome and please RSVP to Tracey at the [email protected] or 01582 408681
See you there!
•• events
25
This marvellous course developedthemes which tie in exactly withcurrent homeopathic thinking andpractice about the essential nature ofsubstances and how they relate tohuman use and how they exist in theworld. This was an introductory coursein the study of substances by theGoethean method, using plants as theexample. The two facilitators are well-versed in the method, having givenmany workshops, sometimes from amedical perspective and to medicalaudiences and sometimes with non-medical participants. Both arepharmacists. Ian was pharmacist atWeleda for a number of years and hasorganised the latest review ofprocedures for treatment with Iscador(Weleda’s mistletoe product). He hasalso trained as an anthroposophical arttherapist. Clare also trained in dramaticart. They helped us through theminefield of our preconceptions about,and our experiences with, plants.
The course was billed as “a creativeblend of science and art exploring themysteries of plants”. The handoutopens with a quote from RudolfSteiner: “Goethe wanted neither artnor science; he wanted the idea….”.And so we searched. The garden atGlasgow Homeopathic Hospital,beautifully planned and maintained byJane Kelly, provides an ideal place to
experience the healing atmosphereplants can create and also providedhomeopathically used plants thatbecame the focus of study.
Clare and Ian eventually describedthe stages of Goethean methodology inthe study of plants, but first, to illustratethe initial, first encounter with a plant,they brought us a specimen of hogweed in a pot. We made charcoal,quick drawings of our first impressions.We looked at the physical reality ofhogweed, made drawings of it andeven dissected it to be able to describeit fully and conjure it up in our minds aswe returned to memories of it on oursecond day. That day, we said goodbyeto the first plant and went down to thegarden to be introduced to our studyplants, which we concentrated on forthe rest of the course. Half of theparticipants were directed towardsmillefollium, the other half towardsbamboo.
Each day was concerned with astage of the Goethean method andtried to ask various questions of theplant. Goethe enumerated sevenstages and we only were able to gothrough the first four stages, which areto do with growth of a plant. The otherstages are more concerned with decayand to some extent mirror what wemanaged to do, so we got a fairly goodidea. The intuitive pre-conception step
of preparation, which we did with thehogweed, asks of the plant “whomight you be?”. The first stage, ofestablishing physical facts, asks “whatare you?”. The second stage of exactsensorial fantasy asks “how have youbecome the way you are?” andrequired some imagination and a lot of supposition about possibledevelopment of a plant. The third stage looked at the plant gesture,mood and presumed character as weasked “what are you saying to me”.These stages all lead up to the finalstep, where we asked (and tried toanswer) “who are you? What is your true nature?”. Goethe describedthis stage as “being at one with thebeing”.
What a journey it was. Themescame up from observation which wereonly later confirmed in a plant’s clinicaluses. Much use was made of artmaterials (there was a “play table”)with plenty of drawing, painting andgluing. We often went back to thegarden to see “our” plant growingthere. We came away knowing someplants and remedies more deeply andwishing that all substances we use inhomeopathy could be appreciated inthis way.
New encounters with plants– September/October 2009Four study days with Clare Watson and Ian Wiggle
REPORT:
AGM announcementAn Annual General Meeting of the 66th Sessionof the Faculty of Homeopathy will be held atRoyal College of Physicians, 11 St Andrews Place,Regent’s Park, London NW1 4LEOn Thursday 4 February 2010 from 5.30pm
Following the AGM will be The Richard HughesMemorial Lecture by Dr Ton Nicolai FFHom(Hon)
PRIMARY HEALTH CARE EXAMEXAM EXAM DATE VENUE CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS
PHCE 22 January London 18 December 2009 (closed)6 February Glasgow 8 January 201024 April Belfast 26 March21 May Bristol 23 April17 September London 20 August
PODIATRY DIPLOMA – OPEN TO PODIATRISTS WHO HAVE PASSED THE PHCE
EXAM EXAM DATE VENUE CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS
DFHom (Pod) 17 September Luton/London 16 July
VETERINARY LICENCIATE EXAM – OPEN TO VETS WHO HAVE COMPLETED INTRODUCTORY TRAINING
EXAM EXAM DATE VENUE CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS
LFHom Vet 10 September Leeds 9 July
MEMBERSHIP EXAM– OPEN TO DOCTORS, NURSES, DENTISTS & PODIATRISTS WHO HAVE PASSED THE PHCE
EXAM EXAM DATE VENUE CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS
MFHom 14 May Bristol 12 March4 June Glasgow 12 March26 November Glasgow 24 September3 December Bristol 24 September
MFHom (Nurse) 22 October Luton/Glasgow 20 August
MFHom (Dent) 11 June Luton 9 April
MFHom (Pod) 17 September Luton/London 16 July
VETERINARY MEMBERSHIP EXAM – OPEN TO VETS WHO HAVE PASSED THE PCVH
EXAM EXAM DATE VENUE CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS
VetMFHom TBA November TBA 10 September
SPECIALIST REGISTRATION – OPEN TO DOCTORS WHO HAVE GAINED THE MFHOM
EXAM EXAM DATE VENUE CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS
Assessment 15 March Luton 15 January (cases and dissertation)22 March Glasgow 15 January (cases and dissertation)11 October Glasgow 13 August (cases and dissertation)18 October Luton 13 August (cases and dissertation)
26
•• events
•• examinations calendar 2010
•• case studies
27
•• events
•• what’s on January – November 2010
Saturday 16 JanuaryBristol MasterclassJulie Geraghty: Row 3 of the Periodic Table Penny Brohn Cancer Care Centre, Pill.10.00am-4.00pm • Renata Sopiarz at [email protected] or on 0117 9466087
Monday 18 JanuaryBristol Clinical MeetingRoy Welford. Bristol Homeopathic Hospital,8.15-9.45pm• Renata Sopiarz at [email protected] or on 0117 9466087
Monday 1 FebruaryBrighton and Hove GroupCase discussion and the Silica series• 07930 563796 for more details
Friday 5 FebruaryBristol Advanced Study GroupPenny Brohn Cancer Care Centre, Pill9.15am-4.30pm• Renata Sopiarz at [email protected] or on 0117 9466087
Monday 8 FebruaryBristol Clinical MeetingBoris Morrice. Bristol Homeopathic Hospital,8.15-9.45pm• Renata Sopiarz at [email protected] or on 0117 9466087
Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 FebruaryMammalian remedies with JonathanHardy in IrelandCorofin, Co Clare. To view venue visitwww.burreenlifebalance.com• Erica on 00 353 868527080 or [email protected]
Wednesday 3 MarchLondon Homeopathic GroupLilium tigrinum and members of the LilaceaeFamily - Dr Susanna Dreher Brogan 1 Upper Wimpole Street, London, W17.15-9.30pm. £8.00 to cover refreshmentsand administration.• Anita Davies at [email protected] or Rosie Coles on 020 7935 4271
Monday 1 to Friday 5 MarchPractical Introduction to IntegratedMedicine at RLHHFor more information go to this link and click on education services:http://www.uclh.nhs.uk/Our+hospitals/Royal+London+Homoeopathic+Hospital.htm• Amy Bowrin at [email protected] on 020 7391 8823
Monday 15 MarchBristol Clinical MeetingWilla Muir. Bristol Homeopathic Hospital,8.15-9.45pm• Renata Sopiarz at [email protected] or on 0117 9466087
Saturday 20 MarchBristol MasterclassHelen Beaumont: InsectsPenny Brohn Cancer Care Centre, Pill.10.00am-4.00pm • Renata Sopiarz at [email protected] or on 0117 9466087
Friday 23 AprilBristol Advanced Study GroupPenny Brohn Cancer Care Centre, Pill9.15am - 4.30pm• Renata Sopiarz at [email protected] or on 0117 9466087
Saturday 24 AprilLondon Homeopathic GroupRosaceae family of remedies –Dr Charlotte Mendes da Costa.1 Upper Wimpole Street, London, W110.15am-12.30pm£8.00 to cover refreshments andadministration.• Anita Davies at [email protected] or Rosie Coles on 020 7935 4271
Saturday 15 MayBristol MasterclassGeoff Johnson: Creatures of the SeaPenny Brohn Cancer Care Centre, Pill.10.00am-4.00pm • Renata Sopiarz at [email protected] or on 0117 9466087
Monday 17 MayBristol Clinical MeetingJulie Geraghty. Bristol HomeopathicHospital, 8.15-9.45pm• Renata Sopiarz at [email protected] or on 0117 9466087
Monday 21 JuneBristol Clinical MeetingClaire Stanford. Bristol HomeopathicHospital, 8.15-9.45pm• Renata Sopiarz at [email protected] or on 0117 9466087
Friday 11 JuneBristol Advanced Study GroupPenny Brohn Cancer Care Centre, Pill9.15am -4.30pm• Renata Sopiarz at [email protected] or on 0117 9466087
Friday 25 to Sunday 27 JuneBAHVS conference - Animal Energy 2010The application of the ‘new methods’ inhomeopathy in veterinarymedicine, particularly the work of theBombay Group and Jan ScholtenHalsway Manor, Quantock Hills, SomersetSpeakers to include Geoff Johnson, StefanKohlrausch, Marc Brunsen, Mark Elliot,Pierre Fromente, Liesbeth Ellinger• Geoff Johnson at [email protected]
And looking further ahead:
Saturday 30 OctoberBHDA SymposiumBiological Dentistry for the 21st CenturyBirmingham Medical Institute, 36 HarborneRoad, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3AF• Brian Teall on 01675 481535 or [email protected]
Thursday 11 to Sunday 14 NovemberBritish Homeopathic Congress,CambridgeSee enclosed brochure for more details and to book.
If you are organising anevent and would like it tobe included in futurelistings, please contact
Lisa at [email protected]
Regular meetings
Leeds Homeopathic GroupRegular meetings in Morley, Leeds.• Pauline Price on 0113 252 8849 or at [email protected]
W Surrey & W Sussex Homeopathic GroupMeetings on the third Tuesday of each month, 8.00-10.00pm. Group members includedoctors, vets, dentists and pharmacists. The aim of the group is to act as a forum forongoing learning and support, covering all aspects of homeopathy and medicalpractice.The Punch Bowl, Oakwood Hill, nr Ockley, Surrey RH5 5PU• Charles Forsyth on 01737 226338 (office), 01737 248605 (home), 07802 293006(mobile) or [email protected]
Join us in Cambridge for the 2010British Homeopathic CongressThursday 11–Sunday 14 November
Be a part of it. Register today!
Book nowbrochure
enclosed!
Changing Perceptions:an integrated approach to serious illnessChanging Perceptions:an integrated approach to serious illness
