Homeopathy effective in fibromyalgia

Homeopathy is effective in treating patients suffering from fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a widely misunderstood condition which can greatly reduce patients’ quality of life. No curative conventional treatment exists, but homeopaths have considerable positive experience in treating fibromyalgia patients that is supported by clinical research evidence.

Research – clear evidence of improvement from homeopathy

In a newly published trial of 47 patients diagnosed with fibromayalgia researchers found significant improvement in those patients treated with homeopathy (Relton et al. 2009). Patients were either treated by conventional care alone, or by homeopathic treatment in addition to conventional care. Significant improvement was seen in function, pain, fatigue and tiredness in the homeopathy group. No side-effects of homeopathic treatment were noted.

Significant effect in placebo-controlled trials

An important question to answer is whether the effect of homeopathic treatment is a result of the so-called placebo effect (the effect of the patient’s belief that they will improve), or whether there is an identifiable effect of the prescribed homeopathic medicines. High quality research indicates that homeopathic medicines do have an effect. In a study of over 50 patients who received either individually prescribed homeopathic medicines or placebo (dummy) pills, clear effect was seen in the group taking homeopathic medicines (Bell et al. 2004 a). Neither patients nor practitioners knew who had received what, until after the conclusion of the trial. Significant improvement was seen both in the number of painful points and in the degree of pain. Homeopathy patients also experienced improvement in quality of life, general state of health and mood. The trial was carried out over a period of 4 months. An independent external assessor not otherwise involved in the trial, evaluated patients’ response to treatment.

An earlier placebo controlled trial of 30 patients also showed reduction in the number of tender points, pain and improved sleep in patients receiving a homeopathic medicine, compared to those who received placebo.

EEG measurement shows effect of homeopathy

Significant differences were also found when measuring fibromyalgia patients’ brain wave patterns using electroencephalography (EEG) (Bell et al. 2004 b, c). Significant differences were found between patients receiving homeopathic medicine and those receiving placebo. Moreover, patterns improved significantly in homeopathy patients after 3 and 6 months.

The way forward for fibromyalgia patients

Many patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia experience frustration as they are not always taken seriously by some healthcare professionals. Although this is not a terminal illness, it often affects patients’ quality of life considerably. The public, patients and healthcare professionals need to learn more about fibromyalgia.

Research confirms homeopaths’ positive experience in clinical practice. More research should be carried out to further test the effect of homeopathy in patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Some researchers have suggested that CAM therapies such as homeopathy could be recommended within a multi-component therapy setting (Langhorst et al. 2008). Homeopaths and other healthcare professionals working together could greatly help improve the health of these patients.

Fibromyalgia facts

• A chronic musculoskeletal pain disorder of unknown cause
• Non-destructive (does not damage bones, joints or muscles)
• Greatly reduces the patient’s quality of life
• Frequency: About 2 % of the population (Lawrence et al. 1998), under-diagnosed?
• Most common in middle-aged women
• More common in people with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases
• Characterised by widespread muscle pain and tenderness (tender points)
• Typically pain in neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms, legs, especially when touched
• Often accompanied by
  • Morning stiffness
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Memory problems
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Dizziness
  • Numbness and tingling in arms and legs
• Fibromyalgia patients often also suffer from
  • Irritable bowl syndrome
  • Bladder control problems
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
• Diagnosis: ruling out other conditions AND considering the patient’s symptoms

Conventional medicine offers no solutions

• Poor prognosis with conventional medicine
• No curative conventional therapy exists
• No clear evidence based treatment exists
• Some symptom control through drugs such as antidepressants and analgesics

Other approaches include: exercise, education, diet, cognitive therapy.