Individualized homeopathy as an adjunct in the treatment of gout – a randomized placebo controlled trial

Background:

Homeopathy is frequently used to treat joint pain. In the common, classical form of homeopathy, prescriptions are individualized for each patient. There has been no rigorous investigation into this form of treatment for gout.

Methods:

In a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial, the effects of individualized homeopathic remedies were compared with placebo medication in 60 patients with mild to moderate pain as a result of gout, as an adjunct to conventional treatment.

Results:

There were no clinically relevant or statistically significant changes in the active quality of life score. Other subscales, notably those measuring severity, indicated relative improvements, but the extent of the effects were small. There were no differences between the groups for other measures.

Conclusions:

This study provides no evidence that adjunctive homeopathic remedies, as prescribed by experienced homeopathic practitioners, are superior to placebo in improving the quality of life of patients with gout as an addition to conventional treatment in primary care.