Rostock, M

Saller, R

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I 	 I Hubertus Wald Tumorzentrum IUniversitätsSpital Universitäres Cancer Center Hamburg Universität Zürich 	 IZürich Ein Kompetenznetzwerk des UKE Homeopathy in cancer patients a systematic review of randomized controlIed trials Rostock MI,2, Salier RI I Center for Complementary Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland 2 University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany ECIM - European Congress fo r Integrative Medicine, 3_-4. December 2010 BACKGROUND Homeopathic treatment is often used by cancer patients in many countries, especially in Europe, Asia, and South America.. In general, prospective observational studies and case-series on di fferent , not cancer-related indications show positive results for various homeopathic therapies. The available randomized controlled trials and their results were judged very controversially in METHODS Search Strategy: We searched the Cochrane Library, MEDLlNE, EMBASE, C1NAHL and web of science. We handsearched reference Iists of reviews and included articles. Selection criteria: Randomized controlled trials on homeopathy in cancer patients . Data collection and analysis: Two authors independently selected potentially relevant studies, decided upon their inclusion and extracted data on participant characteristics and systematic reviews and meta-analyses . Conceming tbe treatment of cancer patients only interventions of included studies. very few studies have been conducted up to now. They are presented and discussed here. RESULTS RadlodcnnUl llts 10 hrcast cancer pnt h!mS • :\I ' .. (, I h.JC~H canO.!f PllhCr.tS lI:1def rrlthoHI(:'rllpv 2 11olrrli[1:! ~.lj1o,; - H~II ,ldom\il C7 tll'tJ X -my CI 5 In. 2~) J - I' lacebl) • n :8 I Ol'tcom~ ' · hl.!:'ll . ct1' lhcltla. rl),llcfpig,nlt:ul;llinn ..."<1emll • \l lIn !iCnrl' • Re~uh, . ..um !>Cmc , lunn8 J'ildi"Lio I'O~iri\.(' lr~nlJ • ,;um SC:fJri;' ltllcr r1u1ia[;tl : \I,Ytl tx>tt\.!rf p-<.O 0'1 H011lcopal!1\ i or chcmothcl'Jpv mtlucC'd nLlll~t=:t i\onutlIIg • N 55 hrL:;lst c.lmCCII1.9.llcllb ~~l1h n n 1IItlUU..'tlIUIlJ"ie-a (C\WI 9 	 :! 1)'.U'wlel !!JUUI1~ . hnmW(lJl'l1hj~ ~o111blllalH1n rel~d" (n - 1UI .. plas.:d](lill 2<') m IldUl1ll1l1lt'11h\."l ' ~·lll l"'I.'JlUI!llOll ;UJfll.'l1l~ll"-" • OUIUllllI: .. Ih~ llo:t:d ~')f ~!d(hf'nfU11 ~(l"\ ~n.ll0Ilal Llllucml!lIVi • R,,'"'iull tt LI!.) ~1l!f1 Ih tft'l OlCt:'O hCl\WJ:11 ~roul'~ SUMMARY and CONCLUSIONS Aotitumour ElTects: There are few preclinical studies showing cytostatic activity of homeopathic remedies, but no controlled clinical trials proving antitumour effects ofhomeopathic treatment have been published until today . ElTects on side effects Bod on guality oflife: We found n = 9 randomized placebo controlled trials. So me studies show positve effects ofhomeopathic medications on side effects of conventional therapies (e.g. radiation or chemotherapy) as weil as on quality of life, but these results are preliminary and need furt her replication in methodically adjusted and meaningful follow-up studies. Homeopathy may be effective against radiotherapy-induced dermatitis . There was no therapeutic effect of homeopathic combination remedies on chemotherapy­induced nausea and vomiting There was nearly no effect of homeopathic treatment on menopausal symptoms in breast cancer patients, but studies were small and probably underpowered. Studies on the effect against chemotherapy-induced stomatitis have conflicting results. Toierability: No serious adverse effects and no interactions with conventional therapies were described in the studies published up 10 now. Conclusion: While most observational studies on homeopathy in general medicine show beneficial effects, the few randomized controlled trials in cancer palienlS have shown conflictin results . The reat demand for homeo athic treatment in cancer atients calls for further research. 

Homeopathy in cancer patients - a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

http://www.zora.uzh.ch/46498/1/Rostock_et_al_Homeopathy_Poster_ECIM_12-2010_.pdf

Homeopathy in cancer patients - a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

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