The effects of homeopathic belladonna 30CH in healthy volunteers - a randomized, double-blind experiment

Objectives: The practice of homeopathy rests on symptoms, which have been p roduced by medicinal substances in healthy volunteers, often applied at ult ramolecular dilutions. It is unknown whether these symptom patterns are due to specific effects or chance fluctuation. Methods: We tested the hypothes is that a homeopathic substance can bring about symptoms different from obs ervation and placebo in a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design with baseline observation. Results: 87 out of 118 healthy volunteers took both placebo and homeopathic belladonna 30CH in random sequence, after a 2- week observation period, and finished the 8-week trial. Apart from an insi gnificant tendency for subjects to report more symptoms with belladonna (me an number: 27.34), as compared to observation (24.26) or placebo (24.17), t here was no indication that subjects reacted differently to homeopathy than to placebo or during baseline. Conclusion: There is no indication that bel ladonna 30CH produces symptoms different from placebo or from no interventi on. Symptoms of a homeopathic pathogenetic trial (HPT) are most likely chan ce fluctuations. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.