Research on homeopathy called for

Research in the field of homeopathy should be expanded

05/18/2012

According to the German Central Association of Homeopathic Physicians (DZVhÄ), the alternative healing method of homeopathy should be intensively researched in order to facilitate a scientific examination of its effects.

The scientific studies on homeopathy are so far very manageable, but the few existing have sometimes provided for significant surprises. For example, a study by Swiss researchers at the beginning of May found cost-effectiveness advantages in homeopathy over conventional treatment methods. The lack of scientific research on homeopathy is also due to the lack of funding in the opinion of the German Central Association of Homeopathic Physicians. The head of the DZVhÄ, Cornelia Bajic, therefore called for a stronger commitment of the Federal Government and the establishment of institutional research funding at the start of the German Homeopathy Congress 2012.

Doctors complain of bad reputation of homeopathy
Many practitioners complain about the bad reputation of homeopathy in conventional medicine and< fordern daher verstärkte Forschungen zur Wirkung der alternativen Behandlungsmethode, auch um eine seriöse wissenschaftliche Auseinandersetzung zu ermöglichen. Bislang stehe die Homöopathie unbegründet unter dem Generalverdacht, im Gegensatz zur Schulmedizin unwirksam zu sein, so die Kritik beim Auftakt der DZVhÄ-Jahrestagung am Donnerstag in Freiburg. Die Vorsitzende des Vereins betonte, dass die Homöopathie-Forschung bundesweit mehr Unterstützung brauche - auch von Seiten der Politik. Sie forderte die Bundesregierung dazu auf, sich stärker für eine wissenschaftliche Auseinandersetzung mit dem Thema Homöopathie zu engagieren und ein gesundheitspolitisches Förderprogramm aufzulegen, das eine institutionelle Forschungsförderung ermöglicht. Es könne „nicht angehen, dass Forschung in der Homöopathie nur stattfindet, wenn Stiftungen Lehrstühle ins Leben rufen oder Ärzte im Ehrenamt dafür zuständig sind“, erklärte Cornelia Bajic. Hier ist nach Auffassung der Expertin ein deutlicher Ausbau der Forschung erforderlich, um die Wirksamkeit der alternativen Heilmethode endgültig zu belegen.

Scientific debate on homeopathy demanded
The fact that homeopathy is effective is out of the question for the physicians of the DZVhÄ. The homeopathic physicians are wrongly regularly accused by supporters of conventional medicine, the accusation that their method is based only on the placebo effect, said the chair DZVhÄ. In fact, according to the expert numerous studies provide evidence of the effects of homeopathy, but since the mechanism of action has not been explored so far, many doctors still doubt today. Therefore, intensified research into this alternative treatment method is needed to facilitate a scientific discussion. At the German Homeopathy Congress 2012 in Freiburg, which runs until Saturday, the scientific debate on the subject of homeopathy will be one of the focal points that the 700 congress participants will discuss intensively.

More and more patients are choosing a homeopathic treatment
While in the professional world is still arguing about the effectiveness of homeopathy, in practice, more and more people opt for homeopathic treatment, said the Baden-Württemberg state chairman of the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), Andreas Vogt. Homeopathy is becoming more and more popular „In Baden-Württemberg, some 22,000 of our insured have opted for homeopathic treatment in the past two years“, Vogt continues. There is much more demand from women than from men. Nearly two-thirds of patients receiving homeopathic treatment were women, according to the TK head of state. According to Vogt, there are also considerable regional differences. So will the homeopathy offer of TK, „much more demand in the southwest than the national average“, explained the Baden-Württemberg TK-Landesvorsitzende. On average, 14 out of every 1,000 TK insured persons in Germany can be treated homeopathically, while in Baden-Württemberg, 23 out of 1,000 people insured with TK are insured. A higher rate would be achieved with 25 out of 1,000 insured only in Berlin.

DZVhÄ oldest medical association of Germany
According to the German Central Association of Homeopathic Doctors, about 6,500 physicians in Germany use methods of homeopathy, which illustrates the importance of this form of therapy in everyday medical practice. In the DZVhÄ, founded in 1829, today more than 4,000 members are organized, whereby the association is considered the oldest existing German medical association. (Fp)

Also read about homeopathy:
Study: Homeopathy is cost effective
Parents trust homeopathy

Image: filorosso.eu - Manfred Gerber