The California Homeopath
Journal of the California Homeopathic Medical Society

The California Homeopathic Medical Society was happy and honored to participate in the first Joint American Homeopathic Conference with the National Center for Homeopathy along with six other organizations: including: the American Institute of Homeopathy, the American Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy, the Homeopathic Academy of Naturopathic Physicians,the Homeopathic Nurses Association, the North American Society of Homeopaths and the Holistic Pediatric Association on April 7-11, 2006 in San Jose, California. There was a sense of "United We Stand - Divided We Fall" or "Unity with Diversity".

The Conference title was Pediatrics and Family Care and included a day emphasizing research with the Clinical Director of the The Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital who spoke on the Rigor, Realism and Basic Research: A Global Look at the Current Scientific Situation of Homeopathy. There were criticisms concerning the recent Lancet publication in 2005 on homeopathy being a placebo. Dr. Fischer presented approximately 100 slides on a variety of homeopathic research including asthma, upper respiratory tract infections [URTI], sepsis, Arnica studies in long distant running, post-partum hemorrhage, carpal tunnel surgery, otitis media, etc. He gave a picture of homeopathy in the “real world” with an objective view of homeopathic research listing the positive, negative and inconclusive results.

There are some research results which should be emphasized:

In context of the Conference’s theme of Pediatrics, both positive and negative studies were examined on Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorders [ADHD].

A 6-Year Study in 2005 at the Bristol Homoeopathic Hospital [Received the Best Topic Award at the Berlin LIGA Congress 2005] was an excellent example of “real world” research with 7,000 patients and 30,000 consultations showing around 70% positive health gain at relatively low costs. The World Health Organization’s [WHO] Report on Homeopathy about controlled clinical trails [drafted by Ton Nicolai (NL) and David Riley (USA)] was discussed.There was some concern about the hostile Lancet 2005 article affecting the upcoming report.

Water, and perhaps other polar solvents are, under certain circumstances, capable of storing information relating to substances with which they have previously been in contact, and subsequently transmitting this information to presensitised biosystems.

Iris Bell, MD, one of the best researchers in the USA, followed with the Science, Logic and Emotion: Evaluating the Allopathic Worldview and its Impact on Homeopathic Research. This study was funded by USA National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine [NCCAM] and National Institutes of Health. The conclusions were:

• Scientific world views influence the premises upon which researchers base opinions about homeopathy and study design.
• Dissonance between a conventional scientist’s world view and homeopathy fosters illogic and misplaced emotions.
• Resonance between a modern scientist’s integrative, nonlinear dynamical complex systems world view and homeopathy permits logic and rationality.

Iris Bell also was one of the authors of The Materials Research Innovations, 9.4, December 2005

Dana Ullman, MPH, the Conference Chairperson, also spoke on research and quoted a survey by the American Medical Association (AMA) [the chief conventional medical organization] of its members in 1997 that:

- 49% want training in homeopathy

- 13.8% refer to homeopaths

- 5.9% have prescribed homeopathic medicine

- One-third “would use or have used” homeopathy in own practice. (1998 Survey in Archives of Internal Medicine)

– 15% of Medical Doctors referred for homeopathic care (Vol. 158:2303-10).

More homeopathic research in the USA was in COPD [Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease] in the Journal of March 2005. 50 patients in the Intensive Care Unit [ICU] were given Kali Bichromicum 30C every 12 hours in randomized, double-blind & placebo-controlled study. After day 2, tracheal secretions were reduced significantly [p. 0.0001]. Extubation could be performed earlier. [p. 0.0001]. Length of stay at the ICU was significantly shorter [p. 0.001].

Dana continued with some important information on keeping up with the latest research: ACCESSING RESEARCH IN THE USA

“Homeopathy” published by Elsevier.  

Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 

National Library of Medicine 

“Homeopathic Family Medicine” e-Book www.homeopathic.com

This wonderful conference shows again what can be done with teamwork. It is absolutely necessary that homeopathic community unite with diversity as much as is reasonable. It is, of course, important to stand up for one’s principles, but also one must allow tolerance for those people sincerely wanting to find the truth.

By Richard Hiltner

Richard Hiltner , MD, DHt, of Ojai, CA, has been practicing medicine for 36 years specializing in homeopathy, and Traditional Chinese Medicine including acupuncture. He was board certified in homeopathy in 1978 and graduated from the Santa Barbara  College of Oriental Medicine in 1988. For 12 years, he’s been President of the California Homeopathic Medical Society and Editor of its journal. For 6 years, he has been U.S. National Vice-President to the International League of Homeopathic Medical Doctors (Liga).