Cochrane review of homeopathy aimed at adverse effects of cancer treatment

Source: Cochrane Collaboration

A study reviewed eight randomised controlled trials with a total of 664 participants.

The authors report:

'Two studies with low risk of bias demonstrated benefit: one with 254 participants demonstrated superiority of topical calendula over trolamine (a topical agent not containing corticosteroids) for prevention of radiotherapy-induced dermatitis, and another with 32 participants demonstrated superiority of Traumeel S (a proprietary complex homeopathic medicine) over placebo as a mouthwash for chemotherapy-induced stomatitis. Two other studies reported positive results, although the risk of bias was unclear, and four further studies reported negative results'.

The authors conclude that these are very small trials and the two with positive results need replicating.