Rev Med Brux. 1998 Sep; 19(4): A277-82.

[Homeopathy]

Van Wassenhoven M.

The European Union and the European Council are interested in the phenomenon "Homoeopathy". At the initiative of a member of the European Parliament, Mr. Paul LANNOYE, the European Commission created a study group with the aim to answer the question: "Is Homoeopathy researchable?" After 18 month, the group, including conventional pharmacologists and researchers using daily homoeopathy, answered affirmatively to the question. On the other side, the European Council asked the European Commission to start the COST Action B4 (1993 Ã 1998) with the aim to analyse unconventional medicine in Europe. The experts' group from 14 different countries produced a report on the legal situation, the sociologic and scientific aspects of these practices. Homoeopathy in Europe was deeply scrutinized during this action. The general quality of the clinical publications is acceptable and we could conclude that a specific remedy action, over the placebo effect, can be scientifically expected. The total number of publications is still too low to authorize conclusions about efficacy in one particular diagnosis. About basic research more publications are available and positive results are regular. One third of the publications were published in peer reviewed international journals. Today a sound scientific hypothesis can be drawn up about working mecanisms of homoeopathic dilutions.