Preparados homeopáticos¿Tienen efecto más allá del placebo? Revisión de la literatura

Abstract

Rationale and goals In 1796, the medical practice was in some ways more harmful than beneficial for the patient. S. Hahnemann sought for an alternative using substances that produce the same symptoms as the diseases they are intended to treat but supplied at infinitesimal doses, thus giving rise to homeopathy. In recent years, these homeopathic preparations have been increasingly used as an alternative to conventional analgesic drugs. The goal of this review was to analyze whether ho- meopathic analgesic preparations have an effect beyond placebo as well as to assess the predisposition of future healthcare professionals to their indication. Methods Randomized clinical trials and meta-analyses were searched in PubMed and Cinahl, selecting human studies in the last 10 years and with full text. We also analyzed the predisposition towards homeopathy of nursing and medical students through a survey. Results High-quality, randomized, double-blind studies with a 95% confidence interval were assessed. The results showed that homeopathic preparations do not produce effects beyond placebo, which is in agreement with the absence of active principle with pharmacological activity. The results of the survey showed that around 40% of future health professionals believe that homeopathy might be a good therapeutic resource. Conclusions Homeopathy is not useful for treating pain. Health professionals should not recommend it, as it goes against the scientific evidence. Therefore, it is necessary to train in this matter to future health workers