The AHA published a press release in response to Dr Singh’s tour of Australia to promote the book Trick or Treatment?: Alternative medicine on trial.

AHA statement

‘Trick or Treatment? Written by Simon Singh and Edzard Ernst, this book claims to “examine alternative therapies in a scrupulous manner” (p.3). Singh is currently touring Australia promoting the book, and attracting a lot of publicity on the way, which has been negative to homoeopathy.

William Alderson has written a summary of the failures of Trick or Treatment?, based on a full critique. Alderson identifies 19 main failings, such as: unsupported evidence; information out of context; double-standards for evidence.

AHA Response to Simon Singh

‘Homoeopathy is the second most widely used system of medicine in the world, and is recognised as a valid form of healthcare by the World Health Organisation (WHO). There is a substantial volume of research which validates the efficacy of homoeopathy, and references/summaries can be found on the website.

Dr Peter Fisher, physician to Queen Elizabeth II, Clinical Director of the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital, and Chairperson of the World Health Organisation Homoeopathic Working Group, presented the latest studies and analyses on the evidence and efficacy of homoeopathy at the 6th Australian Homoeopathic Medicine Conference in Sydney in 2008.

One of the biggest clinical trials presented was a study at the Bristol Homoeopathic Hospital, which included over 6,500 consecutive patients with over 23,000 attendances in a 6-year period. Dr Fisher stated that:

‘70% of patients reported improved health, 50% major improvement. The best treatment responses were reported in childhood eczema or asthma, and in inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, menopausal problems and migraine.

Dr Fisher informed us that recent studies:

“… universally show that most patients report significant clinical improvement, and suggest that integrating homoeopathy into medical practice results in better outcomes for similar cost.”

Objectors to homoeopathy refer to the high dilutions associated with homoeopathic medicines, and proclaim that it is impossible for such dilutions to have any effect. More recent studies provide objective evidence that there are measurable physical effects in substances that have undergone such ultra-dilutions. In recent years there have been important developments in physics and the material sciences, which are not explained by simple chemistry.

In addition, there is no discounting empirical research – the millions of people who state that they feel better after treatment; who have visible symptoms disappear after treatment; who have significant changes on blood tests in response to treatment. In the UK, research has demonstrated that homoeopathy has been shown to decrease the incidence of mastitis in cows. This is one of many studies that challenge the ‘placebo effect’ claims.

In Australia, homoeopathy is complementary medicine. Homoeopaths work in conjunction with other practitioners where appropriate, for the best interest of the client. All AHA members are registered with the Australian Register of Homoeopaths (ARoH) and are bound by Codes of Conduct. All ARoH registered practitioners meet the government endorsed competency standards for education.

Homoeopathic medicines are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and are scrutinised before being available to the public.

Michelle Hookham
National President AHA
16.07.09′