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Evidence summaries

Homeopathy for Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

There is insufficient evidence regarding the effectiveness and safety of homeopathy for the treatment of IBS. Level of evidence: "D"

The quality of evidence is downgraded by study quality and imprecise results.

Summary

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 4 studies with a total of 307 subjects. Two studies compared clinical homeopathy (homeopathic remedy, asafoetida or asafoetida plus nux vomica) to placebo for IBS with constipation (IBS-C). One study compared individualised homeopathic treatment (consultation plus remedy) to usual care for the treatment of IBS in female patients. One study was a three armed RCT comparing individualised homeopathic treatment to supportive listening or usual care.

In a meta-analysis of the studies assessing clinical homeopathy (171 participants with IBS-C), at short-term follow-up of two weeks, global improvement in symptoms was experienced by 73% (46/63) of asafoetida participants compared to 45% (30/66) of placebo participants (RR 1.61, 95% CI 1.18 to 2.18). In the other clinical homeopathy study at two weeks, 68% (13/19) of those in the asafoetida plus nux vomica arm and 52% (12/23) of those in the placebo arm experienced a global improvement in symptoms (RR 1.31, 95% CI 0.80 to 2.15). In the study comparing individualised homeopathic treatment to usual care (N = 20), the mean global improvement score (feeling unwell) at 12 weeks was 1.44 + 4.55 (n = 9) in the individualised homeopathic treatment arm compared to 1.41 + 1.97 (n=11) in the usual care arm (MD 0.03; 95% CI 3.16 to 3.22).

In the study comparing individualised homeopathic treatment to usual care, the mean IBS symptom severity score at 6 months was 210.44 + 112.4 (n = 16) in the individualised homeopathic treatment arm compared to 237.3 + 110.22 (n = 60) in the usual care arm (MD 26.86, 95% CI 88.59 to 34.87).

In the study comparing individualised homeopathic treatment to supportive listening, the mean IBS symptom severity score at 6 months was 210.44 + 112.4 (n = 16) in the individualised homeopathic treatment arm compared to 262 + 120.72 (n = 18) in the supportive listening arm (MD 51.56, 95% CI 129.94 to 26.82).

Links

SOF Table http://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD009710.pub3/full#CD009710-sec1-0001

Abstract in McMaster database

Clinical comments

Note

Date of latest search:

    References

    • Peckham EJ, Cooper K, Roberts ER et al. Homeopathy for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019;(9):CD009710. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords