The Faculty of Homeopathy Newsletter November 2020 Two surveys show CAM in Europe to be in good health he results of two recent surveys Picking up on this point Giovanni homeopathy is covered under the indicate that homeopathy and Gorga, president of Omeoimprese, national healthcare insurance scheme. Tother complementary and addressed the region’s politicians: Generally, it seems women in Europe alternative medicines (CAM) continue “This survey sends an unequivocal are more open to CAM than men, to play an important part in the message to candidates: let us not after the survey found that one in four healthcare of many Europeans. neglect the sector in electoral women “swear by it” compared to one A survey in the Campania region programmes and in future regional in six men. in South-West Italy found that nearly health policies.” Webcam consultations 800,000 residents use homeopathic One in five Another interesting finding from the medicines. Encouragingly, 71% The STADA Health Report 2020 aims survey was the significant rise in the of respondents had heard about to provide a representative snapshot on number of people who are comfortable homeopathy and 18% used it at least what the people of Europe think about using webcam technology to seek once a year. The survey also found that the future of healthcare. This annual professional healthcare advice. Seven on average those who use homeopathy survey canvassed 24,000 people from in ten Europeans are now happy had been doing so for more than five 12 European countries about their to have a consultation via webcam, years, and one fifth said they have been views on a wide range of healthcare compared to only 54% in 2019. using it for over a decade. topics including CAM. This is clearly a consequence of the The survey was carried out in In relation to CAM the survey move to remote consultations that has July on behalf of Omeoimprese, the found that one in five Europeans relies taken place across Europe during the association representing companies on complementary therapies, such coronavirus emergency. in Italy that produce and distribute as homeopathy and acupuncture, STADA is a leading pharmaceutical homeopathic medicines. in addition to using conventional manufacturer. For its 2020 Health Political support medicine. Countries where there is Report it canvassed people from Austria, Further analysis of the results found above average acceptance of CAM Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, users of homeopathy generally have include Serbia (35%), Austria (24%) Italy, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Spain, a higher level of education than the and Switzerland (23%), where Switzerland and the United Kingdom. average population and are more likely to be in employment. Word of mouth appears to be how most people living in the Campania region discover homeopathy, with 39% of respondents who know about the therapy saying they learnt about it from friends or relatives. While only 9% said they were introduced to homeopathy by their doctor and 8% by their pharmacist. The survey also looked at the need for political support for homeopathic products, with 56% of all respondents and 90% of users saying it was “very important” or “quite important” for politicians to pay attention to homeopathic medicines. Royal Patron HRH The Prince of Wales EDITORIAL he past few months have been a and contributing to wider experience, of addressing and working with testing time for all. Some have so please consider submitting a case susceptibility. We understand obstacles Tflourished and been able to use study to simile. to cure and assessing disease in a the time to develop new skills and an Although our hospitals remain a holistic way. appreciation for things around them, vital part of the medical response, it I encourage you all to contribute others have struggled with isolation, is clear that much of the real battle to the discussion at whatever level you uncertainty and illness. Regardless against the virus will be fought in the feel able. We all have a part to play in of how you have been affected or community and in primary care. sharing knowledge and I hope that by responded to the impact of COVID-19, Much of the planning and example and speaking about the work most of us have been challenged in modelling of the impact of coronavirus that we do, the role that homeopathy some way. A way to reframe this more was based on worst case scenarios, can play in patient care will become positively is to take some time to but this too has not been as simple as more widely accepted. reflect on what we have learned and first thought. In the UK, we have so how we can incorporate the knowledge far managed the capacity problems *An International homeopathic data of what is important to us into our well and there has been plenty of bank able to store millions of clinical lives going forward. Developing capacity freed up via public health cases collected in different languages, resilience comes from this sort of management. The challenge now is to sent by homeopaths working with response to adverse circumstances. manage not only COVID-19, but also different methodologies. I have particularly reflected the rest of the health service activity **A collaboration of researchers, on the amount of information which has, up to now, been largely health practitioners and organisations and disinformation that has been paused. There are still patients with working together to provide the circulating. Everyone has an individual ongoing health needs such as cancers, resources needed to build better perception of risk. We can try to diabetes, asthma and mental health health systems. understand what circumstances others needs that must also be cared for, along are dealing with but may have no real with many people with complaints Dr Patricia Ridsdale idea, so it is important to remember to that have not been fully addressed or Faculty vice-president be kind, both to ourselves and others. investigated. In recent months, Faculty Some of the UK government’s members have taken part in calls and thinking has been simplistic, focussing conferences online with homeopaths mainly on the acute. But many patients across the world. Where possible, we have long-term conditions and it have placed recordings of these in the is becoming increasingly clear that Members’ Area of the Faculty website coronavirus leaves many with lasting in order to share the experience of health problems. others as widely as possible. It is Homeopathy has a vital role in clear from these discussions that providing long-term support where presentation and symptoms of conventional medicine often has COVID-19 are variable across the little to offer, by working at a deep world and in different populations; constitutional level to bring about and most important when selecting healing. By addressing the mind-body Editor: John Burry remedies, so that it’s the individual connection and that common thread Consultant Editor: Sara Eames patient and their individual symptoms that runs through a case like the name Faculty of Homeopathy in front of us that we need to consider. of a seaside town in a stick of rock, CAN Mezzanine , 49-51 East Road It is vital to share experience bearing a message through to its core, London, N1 6AH across the world from our great a patient’s symptoms can provide a Tel: 020 3640 5903 homeopathic community. Examples map to health and healing. The role of E: [email protected] have been CLIFICOL*, Hawk Health**, homeopathy in supporting health and W: www.facultyofhomeopathy.org and my own local University of constitution is recognised by many. Southampton which is conducting a Hahnemann recognised and wrote All the material in this publication is copyright and may study by gathering data around what in the Organon about the importance not be reproduced without permission. The publishers treatments people have found useful, of nutrition and addressing obstacles do not necessarily identify with or hold themselves focussing on complementary medicine to cure and maintaining causes. This responsible for contributors’, correspondents’ or including homeopathy. Part of our is now being discussed in regard to the advertisers’ opinions. role as homeopathic professionals is to increased risk of complications from contribute to research and create a data COVID-19 in diabetics and patients set to identify trends and patterns, and with pre-existing inflammatory Design, print and mail fulfilment by try to learn as much as possible. Case conditions. Questions are being HMCA Services Ltd. studies are another way of sharing asked about susceptibility, and as Tel: 01423 866985 knowledge of remedies used in practice homeopaths we have long experience Email: [email protected] 2 NEWS simile • November 2020 • The Faculty of Homeopathy Latest five-year analysis of randomised controlled trials in homeopathy published The latest five-year review of An analysis of 1,128 systematic on conventional medicine had been randomised controlled trials (RCTs) reviews of RCTs of conventional published by 2011, each analysing of homeopathy has been published. medicine had strikingly similar multiple individual trials. This important scientific work is being findings: This highlights the need for more conducted by Dr Robert Mathie in • 45% were positive – the treatments research in homeopathy, particularly collaboration with the Homeopathy were likely to be beneficial large-scale high quality repetitions Research Institute. • 10% were negative – the treatments of the most promising positive By the end of 2019, 221 RCTs were likely to be harmful studies. of homeopathic treatment for 115 • 45% were inconclusive – the The difference in quantity is also medical conditions had been published evidence did not support either not surprising when one considers in peer-reviewed journals and were benefit or harm.