The placebo effect and homeopathy

Abstract

Background: Like other forms of medicine, including Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), homeopathy elicits expectations in patients. The physician-patient relationship, personal and comprehensive treatment and lack of adverse effects are elements in creating positive expectations. Other elements may be associated with negative expectations.

Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review on placebo and nocebo effects in acupuncture and homeopathy using Medline.

Results: Findings on the psychophysiological and neuromediating mechanisms of the placebo-nocebo phenomenon are reviewed. Studies of these effects reveal how expectations and unconscious conditioning can be measured by imaging and EEG methods. They result in significant, non-specific therapeutic effects, which may confuse the evaluation of the specific therapeutic effects treatment, hampering selection of the simillimum.

Conclusions: Directions for future research on non-specific therapeutic effects of homeopathy to improve clinical practice and clinical research are discussed.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00822406.