JRSM >
Volume 96, Number 4 >
Pp. 204-205
22 Duchess Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2LA, UK
Science and homeopathy are uneasy bedfellows. Despite the testimony of millions of people and the growing demand from both patients and doctors worldwide, scientists cannot understand how homeopathy works and therefore conclude that it does not.
The trial by Professor Ernst's group1 is open to criticism. The number of participants was small and it is doubtful if they took the medicine correctly. Although arnica 30C had no appreciable effect, the patients taking arnica 6C needed fewer painkillers—indicating, I would have thought, that arnica 6C was effective. The operation for carpal tunnel syndrome, if well done, results in very little swelling or bruising. Arnica is particularly efficacious where there is bruising and swelling. I used it for more than 30 years in my National Health Service practice for mothers after childbirth, and they would certainly testify to its effectiveness. Finally, in the Discussion section of the paper, the authors say that the trial did not rule out the possibility that individual patients could benefit from arnica. It would be a tragedy if this effective, non-toxic and inexpensive medicine was denied patients because scientists cannot believe that it works.
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