Author: Dossett ML1, Yeh GY2
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Division of General Internal Medicine and Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
<sup>2</sup>Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
Conference/Journal: Homeopathy.
Date published: 2018 Feb
Other:
Volume ID: 107 , Issue ID: 1 , Pages: 3-9 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1055/s-0037-1609016. Epub 2017 Dec 22. , Word Count: 132
Homeopathy is used by just over 2% of the U.S. population, predominantly for respiratory, otorhinolaryngology, and musculoskeletal complaints. Individual users who see a homeopathic provider for care are more likely to perceive the therapy as helpful than those who do not; however, only 19% of users in the United States see a provider. The rest presumably rely upon over-the-counter products. Recent clinical trials highlight several areas in which homeopathy may play a role in improving public health, including infectious diseases, pain management, mental health, and cancer care. This review examines recent studies in these fields, studies assessing costs associated with homeopathic care, safety, and regulations in the United States. Data suggest the potential for public health benefit from homeopathy, especially for conditions such as upper respiratory infections and fibromyalgia.
PMID: 29528473 DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1609016