Supplementary memorandum by The Society
of Homeopaths
The Society of Homeopaths is the largest organisation
regulating professional homeopaths in the UK, with over 1,300
Registered Members (RSHom).
Homeopathy is a well-established Group 1 complementary
and alternative medicine with a unique approach to illness. In
common with other holistic therapies, homeopathic prescriptions
are normally specific to the individual rather than the disease.
The evidence for homeopathy in the treatment
of allergies is extensive, from randomised controlled trials,
large outcome studies and NHS practice-based services.
The mode of action of homeopathic remedies in
the body is not yet fully understood but there is growing evidence
from bioassays that ultra-high dilutions have an effect on living
cells.
DIAGNOSIS
Homeopaths take a full case history and detailed
symptom picture in order to find the remedy or remedies that most
closely match the patient. They therefore "diagnose"
an illness according to the homeopathic model.
Patients increasingly choose homeopathic treatment
for a range of mainly chronic conditions, including allergy, often
because conventional medicines have not helped them. Homeopaths
regularly treat people of all ages and many parents choose to
consult homeopaths about their child's allergies after consideration
of possible side-effects of conventional treatment.
COST-BENEFIT
The Smallwood Report acknowledged that homeopathic
treatments offer potential for substantial cost savings, particularly
in drugs bills for primary care as well as fewer adverse effects
than conventional medicines plus a reduced need for follow-up
appointments.
GPs are able to refer NHS patients to registered
homeopaths and most private health insurance companies and cash-plans
consider homeopathic treatment a good investment. Consultation
fees range between £30 and £100 and an episode of care
may cost the NHS around £250 per patient.
The Society of Homeopaths would welcome a full
clinical assessment of the cost effectiveness of CAM by NICE as
well as an overall increase in research funding.
INTEGRATION
Homeopathy has long been available on the NHS
through five NHS homeopathic hospitals. Registered Members of
The Society of Homeopaths (RSHom) are largely engaged in private
practice. 13 Society members offer their services to SureStart
(family medicine) and other members run well-integrated services
within the NHS in Nottingham, London and Wiltshire. The Smallwood
Report concluded that homeopathy could be relatively easily integrated
into the NHS.
REGULATION AND
SAFETY
The Society of Homeopaths is committed to the
objective of a single register for homeopaths. As founding participants
in the work of the Council for Organisations Registering Homeopaths
(CORN), we believe that rigorous voluntary self-regulation will
demonstrate to patients that the profession is fully accountable.
The Society supports homeopaths in autonomous
practice, working to high standards, within agreed bounds of competence,
in any context where homeopathy is a useful intervention.
Research has shown that whilst there may be
under-reporting of adverse incidents due to the assumption that
homeopathic medicines are harmless, the incidence of adverse effects
in controlled clinical trials was low.
FUTURE RESEARCH
It is clear that many people of all ages are
choosing homeopathy as their preferred option for treatment of
allergy related conditions. Whilst an evidence-base for the treatment
of allergies with homeopathy already, The Society of Homeopaths
would welcome further pragmatic research in this area. Particular
areas of investigation might include comparison with standard
conventional treatment in terms of efficacy, cost-effectiveness,
safety, patient preference and satisfaction.
REFERENCES [NOT
PRINTED]
21 February 2007
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