- Comment: Homeopathy 'no better than a placebo'
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This means people could be putting themselves at risk if they use homeopathic medicines instead of conventional treatment.
The discussion document is written by researchers who looked for evidence to back the use of homeopathy to treat 68 health conditions.
The authors could not find any study to show homeopathy is more effective than placebo for treating ailments including a cough, ear infection and acne.
They described many of the pro-homeopathy studies as poorly designed with too few participants to give a meaningful result.
They, however, found good studies showing homeopathy was no better than placebo for several conditions, including dental pain, migraine, warts and colds.
"Homeopathy should not be used to treat health conditions that are serious, or could become serious," say the researchers led by Bond University's Professor Paul Glasziou.
"Those who use homeopathy should tell their (conventional) health professionals, and should keep taking any conventional medicines that they have been prescribed," they write.
Health care choices should be based on good quality evidence, says NHMRC CEO Professor Warwick Anderson.
However, the organisation is "acutely aware" of the strong views about homeopathy, "which is why the draft information paper is available for public comment until May 26", he says.
