Homeopathy is no more effective in treating health conditions than placebos, a major Australian study has found.
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has released findings after assessing 1,800 papers which examined the efficacy of the alternative “medicine”.
Homeopathic practitioners believe substances which may cause illness in a healthy person can, in very small doses, treat those symptoms.
They also think molecules in a highly diluted form retain a “memory” of the original substance.
The NHMRC found of the studies examined, only 225 were included in the review, as the scientific quality of other studies was limited.
The review found homeopathy was not any more effective than a placebo, or sugar pill, in treating common medical conditions such as headaches, asthma, anxiety, attention deficit disorder, and ulcers.
The council found no study with enough participants which supported the idea homeopathy caused health improvements equal to other medical treatments.
In a statement, NHMRC chief executive Professor Warwick Anderson said that all medical treatments and interventions should be underpinned by reliable evidence.
“NHMRC’s review shows that there is no good quality evidence to support the claim that homeopathy works better than a placebo,” he said.
“People who choose homeopathy may put their health at risk if they reject or delay treatments for which there is good evidence for safety and effectiveness,” he said.
“People who are considering whether to use homeopathy should first get advice from a registered health practitioner and in the meanwhile keep taking any prescribed treatments.”
He said the council was aware of the “strongly held” views on homeopathy, and said the review process was consultative, and that the public was invited to submit information and evidence to be considered.
Australians spent $US7.3 million on homeopathy in 2009, a World Health Organisation review found.