Homeopathy Seen to Combat Allergic Reactions

Homeopathy is one of the more well-established faces of alternative medicine, although it still fights a running battle with some members of the medical community.

A study of 50 patients at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Scotland found that subjects with runny noses caused by allergy responded well to Homeopathic treatment. 28% of patients given homeopathic treatment showed improvement, compared to only 3% of a control group. The main improvement was in enabling patients to breathe through their noses more easily.

The process of homeopathic treatment involves treating 'like with like', by prescribing tiny doses of an allergen to the sufferer. For example, hayfever is normally treated with a weak dilution of pollens and grasses. This process does not sit well with orthodox philosophy and some doctors describe Homeopathy as 'biologically implausible'.

The study strengthens existing calls for greater research into homeopathic methods.

Friday, 1 September 2000