Br Homeopath J 2001; 90(04): 180-182
DOI: 10.1054/homp.1999.0505
Original Paper
Copyright © The Faculty of Homeopathy 2001

Homeopathy in acute otitis media in children: treatment effect or spontaneous resolution?

H Frei
a   Spezialarzt FMH für Kinder and Jugendliche, FA Homöopathie SVHA, Laupen, Switzerland
,
A Thurneysen
b   University of Berne, Switzerland
› Author Affiliations

Subject Editor:
Further Information

Publication History

Received31 January 2000
revised08 August 2000

accepted11 December 2000

Publication Date:
28 May 2018 (online)

Abstract

The conventional antibiotic treatment of acute otitis media (AOM) faces a number of problems, including antibiotic resistance. Homeopathy has been shown to be capable of treating AOM successfully. As AOM has a high rate of spontaneous resolution, a trial to prove any treatment-effect has to demonstrate very fast resolution of symptoms. The purpose of this study was to find out how many children with AOM are relieved of pain within 12 h after the beginning of homeopathic treatment, making additional measures unnecessary. Two hundred and thirty children with AOM received a first individualized homeopathic medicine in the paediatric office. If pain-reduction was not sufficient after 6 h, a second (different) homeopathic medicine was given. After a further 6 h, children who had not reached pain control were started on antibiotics. Pain control was achieved in 39% of the patients after 6 h, another 33% after 12 h. This resolution rate is 2.4 times faster than in placebo controls. There were no complications observed in the study group, and compared to conventional treatment the approach was 14% cheaper.