A patient’s campaign to get the NHS Glasgow Centre for Integrative Care (CIC) funded

directly by the Scottish government appears to have gained support from a number MSPs who sit on the influential Public Petitions Committee. Fears for the CIC’s long-term future were raised after a number of health boards stopped funding referrals to the centre. Believing that NHS homeopathy should be available to everyone in Scotland, Catherine Hughes submitted a petition of more than 30,000 signatures calling on the government to take over the responsibility for funding patient access to the CIC. The Public Petitions Committee considers whether issues raised by the public should be debated by the Scottish parliament. In their last session before the Scottish parliamentary election, the MSPs reviewed the evidence given earlier this year by three health board bosses who were summoned before the committee to explain their decisions to end CIC referrals. At that earlier meeting Dr Harpreet Kohli, director of public health for NHS Lanarkshire, admitted the health board had decided to stop funding the service despite it recording a high level of patient satisfaction and receiving widespread public support.

Ignoring patients Referring to Dr Kohli’s evidence to the committee, Glasgow MSP Hanzala Malik said he found the health board’s decision hard to understand. “Why are we ignoring the patients who are using the service and are happy with the service?” he asked. Jackson Carlaw MSP agreed with Mr Malik and added that it had been

an unsatisfactory session with the NHS managers. He accused them of setting aside a very high level of patient satisfaction, much higher than for any other service, because of prejudice against homeopathy and suggested they were behaving as if the therapy were “voodoo”. He went on to say the Scottish government needs to take a broad view of all complementary therapies

and not depend on individual health boards to make this decision. He recommended this subject be referred to the Health Committee of the new parliament. The problem patients were experiencing in accessing replacement services after the withdrawal of funding for their treatment at the CIC was raised by John Wilson MSP. He highlighted the plight of one patient suffering severe back pain who waited eight months to see a consultant because NHS Lanarkshire were longer sending patients to the pain clinic at the CIC. He also spoke of the cost analysis of homeopathy treatments which the British Homeopathic Association had submitted, saying it was a startling indication of the savings being made in terms of the NHS.

A wrong decision Although not a member of the Public Petitions Committee, Elaine Smith MSP also attended the meeting. She reminded the committee that the issue was not whether homeopathy worked or not, but the future of the CIC. “Patients were very clear that this was a service that was actually helping and they wanted to keep,” she said, before adding that she thought the decision to end funding referrals to the CIC was wrong. Committee convener Michael McMahon MSP said he felt this issue had huge implications. He concurred with his colleagues that the petition be put forward as a legacy paper for the new parliament’s petitions’ committee, with a recommendation that the next cabinet secretary for health be brought in, as the previous meeting had raised more questions than answers.

The Faculty of Homeopathy Newsletter May 2016

Health bosses’ decisions criticised by MSPs

Jackson Carlaw MSP

Dr Harpreet Kohli, NHS Lanarkshire

It’s a great pleasure to write my first editorial for simile as chief executive of the Faculty.

My career has spanned both private and public sectors in North America, Europe and the UK. For the last 15 years I have worked in a series of progressively senior roles in higher education, specialising in business development and educational philanthropy. When I saw the chief executive role advertised it looked like a great opportunity from both standpoints, and an apt next career step from academia. When offered the post in January, I was honoured and excited. It is now April and the job is proving to be everything I hoped it would be. Interviewing for a new job there are three questions which come to my mind: firstly, “tell me about the team”; secondly, “tell me about the state of the finances”; and thirdly (post-interview, when safely back in the car or on the train), “I wonder what they didn’t tell me at interview?” For my first editorial I would like to share some first impressions in these three areas. It’s a truism that endeavours succeed or fail because of the people involved. It has been reassuring coming into post to see the professionalism of the support services provided by the small team at the offices in Luton. I am also pleased to see the confidence placed in them by busy Faculty colleagues around the world. And at this point I think it fitting to thank Cristal Sumner for her leadership to date. Moving forward, our task now is to raise the Faculty’s own voice: that of a community of confident, professional healthcare practitioners who are leaders and innovators in their fields. Our voice must be independent and distinct, for the Faculty faces pressing challenges to which we must find answers. The Faculty’s financial position can be characterised as stable but frail. A small surplus in the last financial year has been applied to reduce the Faculty’s accumulated deficit, but in a deficit position we remain. Income has been declining in real terms for

some time. Membership numbers are correlated with income, so it’s no surprise to find that Faculty membership has been falling too. Both trends have to be reversed. New approaches to external income generation and a freshening up of the representative structures for members are priority areas. Still on the subject of money, something the higher education sector does very well is fight its corner in public funding terms. Yes, students carry more of the cost of a degree than ever before, but the sector still does very well justifying drawing on the public purse as a public good. Its success is in part due to its fluency in Mandarin – not Mandarin Chinese but Whitehall Mandarin, or “Treasury Green Book-speak”. We probably all feel some level of exasperation by the sterility of the homeopathic efficacy debate, so policymakers in our circles of influence probably feel the same way. Robust, independent, in-cash-terms facts and figures may help raise our external profile as an influential professional body which commands even greater respect. Which brings me on to what they didn’t tell me at the interview. That homeopathy was under attack from the scientific community, lobbyists and the media was not news. The external pressure on homeopathy has not been the surprise. The surprise for me has

been the passion of the homeopathic community. The passion was something I sensed through my work as a BHA trustee, but now being an insider it’s palpable. The volume of the post bag the RCGP received in protest to its planned policy statement on homeopathy is a good example, and without which the Faculty may well have not received a hearing (see report on page 4). The passion of our community is therefore a key strength, and we will need it to tackle structural challenges. Crucial in doing so will be the speedy development of a new strategic plan, which we have lacked to date. Its development is a real opportunity to choose what we want to achieve and how to do it, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch and give me your thoughts. I had the chance to meet some of you at the council meeting and AGM in March, and look forward to getting out and about in the coming months to meet more of you. My personal mobile and email address appear on the back of this newsletter. I look forward to working with you all.

Greg White Chief Executive

2

EDITORIAL

Introducing the new chief executive, Greg White

Editor: John Burry Consultant Editor: Greg White

Faculty of Homeopathy Hahnemann House 29 Park Street West Luton LU1 3BE Tel: 01582 408680 Fax: 01582 723032

E: simile@facultyofhomeopathy.org W: www.facultyofhomeopathy.org

All the material in this publication is copyright and may not be reproduced without permission. The publishers do not necessarily identify with or hold themselves responsible for contributors’, correspondents’ or advertisers’ opinions.

Design: HMCA Services info@hmca.co.uk Printing: Henry Ling Limited

Greg White

Homeopathy is one of five complementary therapies to be accorded the same status as conventional medicine, the Swiss government has announced. The Swiss healthcare system is based on compulsory health insurance and under this system homeopathy will be recognised on par with other medical disciplines by May 2017. In recent times, homeopathy has had a chequered history in Switzerland and in particular in relation to how it is viewed by the Swiss government, which in 2005 rejected the therapy for lacking scientific proof of efficacy. But in a referendum in 2009 the Swiss people voted by a two-thirds majority for complementary therapies, including homeopathy, to be part of

the constitutional list of health services covered by the compulsory health insurance. As a result of the vote the government agreed to make the CAM therapies available for a six-year trial period in which they had to prove their “efficacy, cost-effectiveness and suitability” by 2017. Although the government now concedes it is “impossible to provide such proof for these disciplines in their entirety”, patients will still be reimbursed for these treatments through their health insurance, provided they are administered by qualified medical doctors. As with all medical treatments, however, these complementary therapies will be subjected to further scrutiny.

The health and economic benefits of using homeopathy in livestock farming are being recognised by farmers internationally. Llew and Tania Gray own a 200 hectare dairy farm in Manawahe, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, on which they manage 600 cross bred cows. Previously the Grays had been sheep and beef farmers and say they were astonished by the amount of drenches and medication recommended to ensure they had “healthy” animals. Moving into dairy farming they decided to adopt a less conventional approach to animal health through homeopathy. The couple first became interested in homeopathy when they discovered friends used it on their organic farm. Tania says organic farming wasn’t for them but they did recognise the benefits of homeopathy. “The amount of conventional drugs we were administered by the vet at the beginning of the season was incredible; we didn’t use any and returned them at the end of the season,” Tania says. “There is a time and a place for conventional medicine but we will always use homeopathy first.”

Each year Llew, Tania and their staff complete a refresher course in homeopathy through Homeopathic Farm Support, an organisation set up in 1997 in response to repeated requests from New Zealand farmers for information, education and support in the safe and effective use of homeopathy. “It is crucial that [the] staff are on board, as correct administration is vital to its success,” Llew says. “It’s just so easy to use, and the guys love it. Our animal health bill is negligible.” While the financial benefits of using homeopathy are important, they are secondary to the animal health benefits and the Gray’s are adamant that their herd is healthier because of homeopathy. Among Llew’s favourite remedies are gunpowder for drawing out infection, Phytalaca for treating mastitis, Ignatia for milk let down and calming and settling calves, and Arnica for calves who have had a traumatic birth. When drying off the herd – the dry period is an important phase of a dairy cow’s lactation cycle – he says a capful of Dry Cow remedy is added to the water trough and it’s done.

3

NEWS

Swiss government recognises homeopathy

New Zealand dairy farmers improve livestock health

simile • May 2016 • The Faculty or Homeopathy

His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester has shown his support for homeopathy by attending a reception organised by the British Homeopathic Association (BHA).

The Duke is the BHA’s Royal Patron and agreed to attend the event to highlight the work the charity does promoting the health benefits of homeopathy, funding research and education, and campaigning for it to be more widely available on the NHS. Among the specially invited guests at London’s Vintners’ Hall were the Faculty’s president, Dr Helen Beaumont, who is also a BHA trustee, several council members and clinical staff from the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine. In his speech the Duke said he was brought up on homeopathy, and remembers as a child being treated with Arnica and Calendula and other remedies for various childhood illnesses. He went on to describe homeopathy as a “rare branch of medicine” and, emphasising one of the BHA’s main objectives, concluded by saying that everyone in the country should have access to homeopathy if they wanted it. “If it works,” he said, “why not use it!”

Dr Helen Beaumont and the Duke of Gloucester

Royal support for homeopathy

4

NEWS

A delegation from the Faculty of Homeopathy has met with representatives from the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) to discuss its proposed position statement on homeopathy. Late last year, the Faculty learned the RCGP was planning to issue a statement advising medical practitioners against practising homeopathy, referring patients to homeopathic practitioners or recommending homeopathic products. In a letter to Dr Maureen Baker, chair of the RCGP, Faculty president Dr Helen Beaumont complained of a lack of consultation before the RCGP council agreed the statement and disputed the assertion, on which their decision was made, that there is no evidence to support homeopathy as an effective therapy. About 100 doctors have joint Faculty and RCGP membership, many of whom wrote to their royal college criticising what they saw as an attack on their professional competence. Since the meeting in early February the Faculty’s concerns have been discussed by the RCGP council and the majority view was that the “voice of the RCGP members of the Faculty of Homeopathy had not been heard”. Although we understand there was some opposition

from individual RCGP council members, there was general agreement that a “facilitated discussion” should take place between open-minded members of the council and the Faculty to discuss common ground prior to the RCGP’s June council meeting. The main task of this short-term working group, scheduled for mid-April, will be to produce a paper describing where homeopathy fits within the delivery of general practice services in 2016, which would then be discussed by the RCGP council. Greg White, Faculty chief executive, said: “While remaining cautious we are moving forward, as the RCGP does appear to be taking the concerns of Faculty members seriously.” He continued: “I believe our position was strengthened by the scores of members who wrote to the RCGP protesting about their proposed statement on homeopathy and I would like to thank everyone for their support on this important issue. Anyone who has not written in please do so, as it’s important to keep up the momentum.” Letters should be addressed to the RCGP’s honorary secretary, Nigel Mathers, at Royal College of General Practitioners, 30 Euston Square, London, NW1 2FB. Alternatively you can email Hon.Sec@rcgp.org.uk

Talks to continue with the RCGP

The Homeopathy Research Institute’s (HRI) third international conference will be held in Malta from 9 to 11 June, 2017. This biennial event brings together many of the world’s leading figures in the field of homeopathy research and affords an opportunity for delegates to learn about by the latest scientific advances being made in different areas of homeopathic medicine.

The venue will be the Radisson Blu Resort, St. George’s Bay, St. Julian’s, Malta. Located only 13 km from Malta International Airport and 10km from the Maltese capital Valetta, this newly refurbished 5-star hotel overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and will provide the professional meeting facilities and high standard of service delegates have come to expect from

an HRI conference. Following the success of the HRI’s two previous research conferences in Rome and Barcelona, there is bound to be a high demand for tickets. So to ensure your place at the 2017 International Homeopathy Research Conference, keep visiting www.hri-research.org for more information.

2017 HRI conference date and venue announced

The Faculty of Homeopathy has a new chief executive following Cristal Sumner’s decision to step down after seven years in the role. Her successor is Greg White, a vastly experienced senior manager who has worked in both the private and public sectors. His career to date has seen him hold positions in North America and Europe, as well as the UK. Most recently Mr White was the development director for the University of Bedfordshire in which capacity he worked with individuals, charities, trusts and corporate foundations to grow levels of philanthropy, raising over £1.2 million. In January 2015 he was invited to become trustee of the British Homeopathic Association. Mr White said he was thrilled to be given the chance to lead the Faculty. “I am looking forward to making a success of the Faculty’s new structure. My conviction is that core to its success will be the delivery of real value to you, the Faculty members.”

He added: “You are right to be proud of the achievements of the Faculty of Homeopathy to date and ambitious for its future, so I look forward keenly to working with you.”

In welcoming Mr White to the Faculty, president Helen

Beaumont also praised outgoing chief executive Ms Sumner. “First I would like to thank Cristal for her excellent leadership, hardwork and support over the past seven years.

Her many achievements on our behalf are too numerous

to mention and I know all members will wish her every success as she continues to head up the British Homeopathic Association,” she said.

Dr Beaumont continued: “While sad to lose Cristal, we are delighted to have appointed Greg from a very strong field of candidates. His business and strategic acumen will prove

invaluable as we put in place plans for the future development of the Faculty over the coming years.”

All change at the top for the Faculty

5

simile • May 2016 • The Faculty or Homeopathy

At the Faculty’s council meeting in March, three members of the council stepped down after many years’ service. They are pharmacy dean Lee Kayne, NHS primary care representative Dr Ralf Schmalhorst and NHS secondary care representative Dr Helmut Roniger. Faculty president, Dr Helen Beaumont, said: “The Faculty is fortunate to have members like Lee, Ralf and Helmut who despite having extremely busy professional lives have been committed to the work the council does for the membership. And on behalf of all members I would like to thank each of them for the important contributions they have made over a long period of time.”

New appointments have been made for the NHS primary and secondary care posts, these are respectively Dr Andrew Sikorski and Dr Jackie Mardon. There is also a new face on the Fellows committee following the announcement that former chief executive Cristal Sumner has been made an honorary Fellow. Committee chair Dr Sara Eames said: “The Fellows unanimously voted to award Cristal an honorary fellowship in appreciation of her years of hard work and expertise for the Faculty. I’m personally delighted that in this way she will still be part of the Faculty and we’ll be able to continue to benefit from her energy and experience.”

New council members appointed

The first speakers at this year’s British Homeopathic Congress in Belfast have been announced. Making his congress debut will be the internationally renowned Swiss paediatrician and homeopathic teacher Dr Heiner Frei. Vastly experienced in paediatric medicine, Dr Frei is a former head physician in paediatric haematology and oncology at the University Children’s Hospital of Bern. He has served as president of the Swiss Association of Homeopathic Physicians and is the recipient of several awards for his research in homeopathy. In 2001 Dr Frei developed polarity analysis, a new approach to improve the precision of homeopathic prescriptions based on Boenninghausen’s concept of contra-indications. He is also a pioneer in the use of homeopathy in the treatment of ADHD and this important clinical work will form the basis for his congress presentation. The organising committee is also delighted to confirm that three congress favourites will be speaking at Belfast: Dr Elizabeth Thompson, Dr Julie Geraghty and Dr Jonathan Hardy. Dr Hardy will be presenting video cases of patients with severe addictions markedly helped by homeopathy.

The new gemstone remedies like Amethyst, Diamond and Emerald (also very useful in addiction) will be introduced by Dr Geraghty; and Dr Elizabeth Thompson will discuss the usefulness of the hydrocarbon remedies in treating patients with cancer. The 2016 British Homeopathic Congress takes place at Belfast’s four-star Europa Hotel from 3 to 6 November. The event will feature an exciting programme of presentations, seminars and workshops, as well as a number of social events. To take advantage of the early-bird discount, visit the Faculty’s website to book your place today. For more information contact congress2016@facultyofhomeopathy.org

The first congress speakers confirmed

The Snooks, those loveable cartoon characters created by the 4Homeopathy group (4H), have been adopted by a leading homeopathic organisation in the Netherlands.

Last year the Dutch Association of Classical Homeopaths (NVKH) contacted 4H to say they were so impressed with the imaginative way in which the group were promoting homeopathy, they too would like to use the Snooks to deliver positive messages about the therapy via the NVKH’s YouTube channel. The three short animated films have now been dubbed into Dutch and will go live shortly. Speaking on behalf of 4H, Mani Norland of the School of Homeopathy said: “We’re delighted the work being done by 4H to promote homeopathy to a wider audience is being recognised in other countries. We wish our colleagues in the Netherlands every success and look forward to seeing the Dutch versions of the films.” The Snooks look set for further international fame as the films will soon be seen in China with the narration translated into Mandarin and Cantonese.

The Snooks go Dutch

Dr Heiner Frei

The Faculty’s Twitter account has

3,205 followers

Keep up with the conversations

Log on to http//twitter.com/ fohhomeopathy

The Faculty of Homeopathy is supporting a campaign to get Barcelona University to reinstate its master’s degree in homeopathy. The course was dropped after some professors and students across different faculties voiced their opposition to the course, claiming it lacked a scientific basis. A university spokesman said the university’s Faculty of Medicine recommended scrapping the master’s because of the doubt that exists in the scientific community and because the postgraduate degree in homeopathic medicine is no longer approved by Spain’s Health Ministry. Currently the university has 20 students studying for their Master’s in Homeopathic Medicine; but after they complete their degrees in 2016, there will be no new courses in homeopathy.

The campaign to get the university to reconsider its decision is being led by the Homeopathic Medical Academy of Barcelona (HMAB). Faculty member Dr Jaume Costa is also affiliated with the HMAB, which has launched an online petition calling for the master’s degree to be reinstated. Writing on the Faculty’s Facebook page Dr Costa said the training always got a high level of satisfaction among both students and the bodies that coordinated the course. He says: “The cessation of this academic training involves a restriction of the training offered to medical doctors and veterinarians to expand their therapeutic possibilities, and thus choose the therapeutic method that at any time they deem most appropriate to respond to the clinical situation and needs of their patients.”

Dr Costa goes on to cite the recommendation from the Bologna agreement for European Higher Education which supports the inclusion of non-conventional therapies (including homeopathy) in undergraduate studies of health sciences. In addition, he says, the World Health Organization recommends the integration of traditional medicine in health and education systems as part of its strategic plan 2014-2023. Barcelona University’s decision replicates those made by the University of Córdoba and the University of Seville, which removed homeopathy courses from their syllabuses in 2013 and 2009 respectively. You can support the HMAB’s campaign by visiting https://goo.gl/9dFscN and signing the petition.

6

NEWS

Campaign to restore homeopathy degree at top Spanish university

A media campaign promoting homeopathy and highlighting the findahomeopath online directory - on which many Faculty members appear - has reached a potential audience of millions. The campaign featured choreographer and dancer Arlene Phillips who attended the National Television Awards (NTA) in January wearing a dress decorated with flowers used in the manufacture of homeopathic medicines. The “living” dress was the creation of award-winning florist Joseph Massie, who has five consecutive gold medals and four Best of Show Awards from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Among the blooms used within the dress were clematis, roses, African violets, chrysanthemum, arabicum and jasmine, all skilfully entwined in Massie’s signature style to create a beautiful fusion of floristry and fashion. Ms Phillips was filmed and interviewed on the red carpet at the NTA, where she explained why she was supporting the campaign and how

homeopathy helps to keep her healthy. The video was broadcast on MSN (UK) and BT.com which have 23-million and

8.7-million unique users respectively. All the major breakfast TV shows also featured Ms Phillips and her dress, reaching just under five million viewers. Further national coverage was secured through the issue of a press release which was taken up by OK! magazine (circ. 195,017), Daily Star (circ. 148,390) and Mail Online (13.9-million daily unique users). Regional media outlets that covered the campaign included the Northern Echo (27,819 unique users), Mid Devon Star (18,165 unique users), Darlington and Stockton Times (18,743 unique users), Dorset Echo (circ. 12,359) and serving London’s dockside The Wharf (circ. 30,000). The preparation of the dress and the campaign also appeared in Florist Online (9,563 unique users). The campaign was run by 4Homeopathy and was the latest media success for the group involving celebrity supporters of the healing art. Ms Phillips was not paid to take part in the campaign.

Arlene’s floral dress is a media hit

Photo: Justin

Goff/Ph

otos

7

simile • May 2016 • The Faculty or Homeopathy

The public can now have a wide range of information about homeopathy at their finger-tips following the launch of a new App. Called Homeopathy UK, the App first became available to download on to digital mobile devices during Homeopathy Awareness Week in April. Its icon is easily identifiable by the “H” logo and offers the public clear and concise information about what homeopathy is; symptoms that respond to homeopathic treatment; as well as listing the most common remedies and the stockists where they can be purchased. Most importantly, though, the new App will automatically bring up a list of local practitioners wherever the user is in the UK. People can also search using the name of a town or city or post code. Alternatively they can find a particular homeopath simply by keying in the name. As the data for this facility is supplied by findahomeopath.org, Faculty members listed on the online directory have another way to be found by potential patients. For those thinking of training in homeopathy there is also a section listing the various courses available, including the Faculty’s accredited teaching centres.

The App was funded by the 4Homeopathy group. Speaking on the group’s behalf, Cristal Sumner of the British Homeopathic Association said: “With smart phones and tablets fast becoming the number one resource for finding information, it is important homeopathy has a mobile marketing presence. The new App quickly delivers easy to understand information and we’re confident it will become an important tool in the development of homeopathy in the UK.” The App is free to download and can be found on Google Play and Apple i-Tunes.

NHS Grampian has defended its homeopathy service after it was revealed £150,000 was spent on providing the therapy to patients last year. A spokeswoman for the health board said: “We have a responsibility to consider all treatments available to NHS patients to ensure they offer safe, effective and person-centred care. We also have a responsibility to use NHS resources carefully and balance our priorities across the population as well as individuals.” She continued: “We also recognise that patient reported outcome and experience measures are valued even when objective evidence of effectiveness is limited. Homeopathy can be considered in this arena and we remain connected with the wider debate on its role within the NHS while regularly reviewing our local support for such services within NHS Grampian.” Professor Simon Maxwell, clinical pharmacology lecturer at the University of Edinburgh and guest lecturer at Robert Gordon University, opposes NHS funding of homeopathy, claiming there is “no substantial, credible evidence” to suggest homeopathy produces any therapeutic benefits. “At a time when the NHS is desperately short of funding, we should reserve public money for effective, proven drug therapy,” he said. But professional homeopath and former intensive care nurse Neil Spence believes the therapy could fill a gap left by orthodox medicine. “It’s often those with chronic, long-term problems where conventional treatment has not worked that can be helped by homeopathy.” He added: “Homeopathy is about treating the whole person, not just the symptoms of disease, and it could save the NHS an absolute fortune.”

The popularity and accessibility of homeopathy in Italy is highlighted in recently published market research which found one in six Italians use homeopathic medicine at least once a year. The study was conducted by DoxaPharma, market researchers for the healthcare sector. In what can be interpreted as another sign of the healthy state of homeopathy in Italy, the study also showed that about 20,000 doctors in the country recommend the use of the therapy. Further encouragement for the sector came from Omeoimprese, an association representing Italy’s largest companies producing homeopathic

medicines. It reported an increase in revenues of 2.9 % compared with the previous year. This amounts to about 92.6 million euros in 2015, Nationally the total turnover for the whole homeopathy sector amounted to more than 300 million euros, making it the third largest market in Europe. However, last year did see overall revenues slip slightly by 1%. Omeoimprese president, Giovanni Gorga, said: “The number of Italians who are familiar with our products remains high, but the economic crisis that has hit companies globally has without doubt negatively influenced prescriptions of the drugs, for which patients have to pay the entire cost.”

Healthier living at your finger-tips

Health board defends its homeopathy service

1 in 6 Italians use homeopathy

8

RESEARCH

Research in homeopathy: the end of an era … and the start of a new one

A lasting legacy

After 15 years, Dr Robert Mathie writes his final regular article for simile.

As you read this, it will be a couple of months after my departure from the position of research

development adviser at the British Homeopathic Association. Instead of my usual Research Update, therefore, this article (my 60th contribution to simile) summarises the key published contributions made during my tenure of the post. Appointed in March 2001, initially to organise Research Methods courses and to grow a “research culture” in the Faculty of Homeopathy, my role extended to include research-targeted data collection with the Faculty’s practitioners. Together with Tim Robinson, Mark Elliott, Sue Farrer and Jane Greenwood – and with key analytical support from my research assistant, Liz Baitson – bespoke spreadsheets were developed to enable practitioners in four disciplines

to record their patient/client reported outcomes over defined periods of clinical data collection. We identified the clinical conditions – for doctors, vets, dentists and podiatrists – that were treated the most frequently and the most successfully. The consequent series of published papers has informed promising targets for homeopathy research in each discipline. With key research collaborations – notably in Glasgow – I subsequently launched the extensive programme of systematic reviews and meta-

analyses of randomised controlled trials (RCTs), delivering findings that are transforming the homeopathy research landscape. This large body of work, financially assisted by a grant from the Manchester Homeopathic Clinic, is enabling informed interpretation of the RCT literature and, therefore, optimal future research. Key to the approach is the separate assessment of trials that examined individualised cf. non-individualised homeopathy, treatment cf. prophylaxis, placebo-controlled cf. other-than-placebo controlled trials. The crucial conclusion so far – and from the highest quality trials – is that the medicines prescribed in individualised homeopathy have a small treatment effect that is significantly greater than placebo. As I commence my career as an independent research consultant I believe the homeopathy profession and its researchers are able to focus ever more sharply on developing and refining its clinical evidence base. I wish Faculty members well in contributing to this vital endeavour.

Robert T Mathie

Robert Mathie’s work has been widely recognised throughout the homeopathic community.

Rachel Roberts, chief executive at the Homeopathy Research Institute, says his systematic review programme has brought long-needed clarity to the field of homeopathy research. “Robert’s ongoing efforts to categorise and analyse the clinical and veterinary literature is providing insight into what is already ‘out there’ in terms of existing trials,” says Ms Roberts. “Such knowledge is invaluable for informing future research efforts.” She went on to describe Dr Mathie’s systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials of individualised homeopathic treatment published in 2014 as “one of the most significant publications in years”. This study found that homeopathic

remedies, when prescribed during individualised treatment, are 1.5 to 2 times more likely to have a beneficial effect than placebo. “This directly challenges claims that homeopathy is purely a placebo effect, making an important contribution to the evidence base for individualised homeopathy,” she says. Dr Peter Fisher is the director of research at the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine. He believes Dr Mathie’s work has “revolutionised the quality of clinical research in homeopathy”. While acknowledging Dr Mathie’s meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials of individualised homeopathy is his most important paper in the eyes of the outside world, Dr Fisher is quick to point out other noteworthy work. This covers research into veterinary and dental homeopathy,

a survey of homeopathic treatment in the 2009 swine flu epidemic in India, as well as leading the Cochrane review of Oscillococcinum. “But perhaps of greatest long-term significance is the method he has developed to assess ‘model validity’: essentially assessing whether research is based on good quality homeopathy or not,” says Dr Fisher. “This is an important concept with implications well beyond homeopathy, and he has pioneered it.” Concluding, Dr Fisher turned to Dr Mathie’s scientific legacy: “His work is always careful and thorough, his conclusions, as is appropriate in good science, cautious but solid. He has made an immense contribution to research in homeopathy, and because his work is so thorough and solid, its influence will be felt and increase over the years to come.”

Dr Robert Mathie

10

Simile • July 2015 • The Faculty or HomeopathyCASE STuDy

Healing emotional disconnection

Photo: N

adezh

da 1906/Sh

utterstock.com

This case is of a girl who has behavioural problems. Having been adopted at the age of three

years old she demonstrates classic symptoms of attachment disorder – a broad term which describes disorders of mood, behavior, and social relationships arising from a failure to form normal attachments to primary care giving figures in early childhood. Her symptoms and behavior also give a familiar picture of a well-known and very useful remedy. Paula is aged six. Her chief complaint is anxiety but she also suffers from a recurring cough.

The consultationPaula: I have busy bees in my head. Also, I have this cough – when I am nervous or frightened.

Tell me more about that please.

Paula: I want to stick to my mother and give her kisses and cuddles.

What do you like doing best?

Paula: Swimming, playing with my toys and playing in the garden.

Mother: She loves animals – she wants to be a vet.

Paula: I give them kisses and hugs because they’re so cute.

Do you have any favourite animals?

Paula: Elephants and giraffes.

What do you like about them?

Paula: I love the babies.

Mother: Her favourite play is about babies, mummies and daddies. Always babies!

Tell me more about how you feel about animals.

Paula: I love dogs, puppies, cats, kittens and birds.

Do you have any dreams?

Paula: Of kittens and puppies. I often dream about them. I dream of them

coming out of their mummy’s tummy.

Do you have any scary dreams?

Paula: Of monsters which eat me and Mummy and Daddy. They eat us in one big chunk. (She is hugging her mother and kissing her.)

(I speak to the mother alone).

Mother: She’s adopted. She was taken from her mother when she was three years’ old and then went to a foster family for about a year. Since then she has been with us. Her birth family had a lot of problems with violence, drugs and family breakdown. She has a very poor memory – for example by the afternoon she cannot remember what has happened in the morning. She doesn’t like to be seen as someone who doesn’t know anything. She’s always taking control, for example saying to me, “Don’t do this – do that instead!” Control and tidiness are very important to her.

Dr Jonathan Hardy shares a case of a young child with attachment disorder.

simile • May 2016 • The Faculty or Homeopathy

11

Her energy goes really fast. She’ll be very energetic then suddenly collapse. She is suddenly very tired about five o’clock in the afternoon.

Say more about her liking tidiness.

Mother: For example she tidies away her pencils after school. And at home she’ll say, “This is a mess Mum” and then she’ll tidy things up! She is very attached to rules. She follows the rules and tells others to do so. She is also very alert to what she thinks is fair or unjust. At school if someone is hurt in the play area she runs and helps – she’s always the first to cheer them up. She’s always trying to help people. She’s always there

for me. She has a very high level of empathy.

Tell me about the cough please.

Mother: It’s always when she is trying to deal with something that she can’t manage. Her cough was horrible when she first came to us. The first time we went on holiday she was very angry and frightened and she coughed a lot then. It’s a dry cough. If anything new is happening she coughs but then when we tell her what’s happening and the problem is dealt with - she’s ok.

Tell me more about how she likes to play.

Mother: Her play is all about mummies, babies, people getting married. If she

sees a bird she always says “It’s a baby bird, we need to protect it and take care of it”. It is very strange but she described her own birth to me, she said: “There were bright lights, lots of people, they were holding me. It was a warm feeling of welcoming”. She loves babies who have just been born – pictures of them. It was interesting that when she saw my niece being breastfed she really regressed. She became like a baby – moaning and grieving. But she improved again after a few hours.

Anything else to say about the word warm?

Mother: She likes warm things. She loves teddy bears – she is surrounded by teddy bears!

Mammal themes

Disturbed relationship with mother.

Cuddling, hugging, kissing.

Recurrent dreams of mammals and baby mammals.

Play involving mothers and babies.

Desire to protect and take care.

Rubrics of Lac humanum

Mind; dreams; animals, of; young (2)

Mind; death; ailments from, agg.; parents or friends, of; mother, of (4) (not an exact rubric but related to her experience of being taken away from her Mother)

Mind; afternoon; agg.; 5.00 p.m. (12)

Mind; dreams; birth, of (13)

Mind; affection; desires (13)

Mind; clinging; mother, to (14)

Mind; abuse; agg., ailments from; childhood, in (19)

Mind; concentration; difficult; children, in (13)

Mind; dreams; forsaken, forsaking (17)

Mind; anxiety; company; agg. (22)

Mind; caress, caressed; desire to be (27)

Mind; delusions, imagination; ugly, is (31)

Mind; clinging; children, of (37)

Mind; restlessness, nervousness; sitting, while (38)

Mind; attached, very; mother, to (44)

Mind; dreams; child, children; babies (53)

Mind; activities; hyperactive (63)

Mind; injustice, cannot support (76)

Mind; dictatorial (84)

Mind; starting, startled; fright or fear, after (91)

Mind; childish behaviour (93)

Mind; restlessness, nervousness; children, in (113)

Mind; concentration; difficult; studying, reading, while (144)

Mind; starting, startled; sleep; during (178)

Mind: shame (192)

Themes of Lac humanum

This patient shows a number of keynotes of Lac humanum:

Disturbed relationship with the mother.

The need for control.

A high level of empathy.

Aversion to untidiness.

Dreaming of babies and baby animals.

A very strong desire to cuddle and caress the mother.

High level of physical energy.

Desire for sweet things.

Restlessness, hyperactivity.

Difficulty in concentrating.

Case analysis

Animal remedies in general have a tendency to strong inner conflict”

“

12

Anything else?

Mother: If I or my husband disturbs her during the night she is very, very startled – it’s almost like she has a fit. She’s very restless. Constantly on the go. She finds it very hard to sit still and concentrate. Whenever she is anxious or stressed she wants sweet food. She finds it very hard to absorb information. At school she is having difficulty learning. She gets anxious if she is in company with a lot of people. She has a very bad body image – she doesn’t like to be naked.

Case analysis (see page 11).

PrescriptionI prescribe Lac humanum 1M one dose every two weeks. Interestingly, the patient refused to take the medicine in the consulting room. Her mother said this was quite typical behaviour and our conclusion was it was part of her strategy to try to control her environment.

Follow up at five weeks

Mother: The cough has stopped – she hasn’t been coughing at all. Her sleep is very good now. There is no problem with going to bed and she is not having any bad dreams.

Paula: I am just having happy dreams now.

Mother: It’s amazing – she is much more calm. She is happy. She is not anxious any more. She is not obsessed

about babies now. All her play used to be about babies and dolls.

Paula: I am not dreaming of babies and mummies any more.

Mother: Her school says things are much better. They actually said they couldn’t believe what a change they have seen in her – she is flourishing.

(I speak to the mother alone).

Mother: At first, after the dose of the remedy, she was worse – very babyish – for two or three days. Then she was euphoric for a few days and then she just became calm and she has remained calm. After each dose of the remedy she complains of cramps in her abdomen for a number of hours. It’s amazing – now we can teach her things and she absorbs them. She’s much less sensitive to being told off. The negative body image has gone – now she is happy to be naked. She is becoming more independent. She is happy to choose her dresses now and what books to read. Last week she read a whole book to the younger children in her school.

The major themes of Lac humanum

The polarities in a remedy reflect the core issues of that remedy state. Animal remedies in general have a tendency to strong inner conflicts, as demonstrated by the large representation of animal

remedies in the following rubrics:

• Will, contradiction of

• Antagonism, oneself, with

• Thoughts, two trains of thoughts

Mammal remedies can feel this inner split very intensely and Lac humanum has very strong inner conflicts, in particular to do with human relationships – rubric: mind; lamenting, bemoaning, wailing; relationships, about human (1) ** The following analysis shows the themes demonstrated by the most characteristic rubrics of Lac humanum, i.e. those of its rubrics which it shares with few other remedies. (The numbers in brackets are the numbers of remedies in the rubric. The number of asterisks indicate the ranking of Lac humanum in the rubric.)

Inner conflict: antagonism with oneself

mind; will; contradiction of; work and rest, about (1) *

mind; will; contradiction of; religious, being, and sinful (2) *

mind; indolence, aversion to work; alternating with desire to work (3) *

mind; conflict between higher consciousness and worldly existence (7) *

mind; will; two, feels as if he had two wills (13) *

Desire for or aversion to intimacy

Desire to belong and conform in polarity with the desire to express individuality

Desire for intimacy Aversion to intimacy

mind; intimacy, desire for (4) * mind; pacifier; aversion to (2) *

mind; helplessness; infant, feels like an (8) * mind; irritability; mother, towards (4) *

mind; affection; desires (13) * mind; caress, caressed; aversion to be (14) *

mind; clinging; mother, to (14) * mind; irritability; alone; desires to be (20) **

mind; caress, caressed; desire to be (27) *

mind; clinging; children, of (37) *

mind; attached, very; mother, to (44) *

Desire for conformity Desire to be an individual

mind; writing; agg.; left handed, suppressing (2) * mind; independence; demonstrative (3) *

mind; domination by others agg. (60) *

mind; precocity (62) *

Food issues (a common mammal remedy complaint)

mind; anxiety; food, about (1) ** mind; weaning, ailments from (2) * mind; dreams; breast feeding (3) * mind; nursing; ailments from, agg. (9) * mind; dreams; eating (28) ** mind; dreams; food (47) *

Warmth (a common mammal theme)

mind; dreams; child, children; babies; coldness, saved from (1) *

The importance of family – sensitivity to loss of family members

mind; dreams; death, of; family, in;

daughter, of (2) * mind; dreams; death, of; family, in; son (2) * mind; death; ailments from, agg.; parents or friends, of; mother, of (4) * mind; death; ailments from, agg.; parents or friends, of (37) * mind; death; ailments from, agg.; loved ones, of (48) * mind; dreams; death, of; relatives (49)

The importance of community (community is a common theme in primate cases. Primates often live in large and complex societies.)

mind; dreams; cousin, of (4) ** mind; estranged; friends, from (12) **

mind; reverence; those around him, for (14) * mind; harmony, sensation of (17) * mind; dreams; relatives (33) ** mind; forsaken feeling; friendless, feels (34) ** mind; dreams; parties, of pleasure (39) **

Shame (a common mammal theme)

mind; delusions, imaginations; ugly, is (31) ** mind; aversion; oneself, to (35) * mind; mutilate his body, tendency to (41) * mind; abuse agg., ailments from; sexual (45) *

Dr Jonathan Hardy

simile • May 2016 • The Faculty or Homeopathy

13

Empathy in polarity with lack of feeling

Desire for motherhood in polarity with aversion to it

Desire for knowledge and learning in polarity with aversion to or difficulty with learning (Primates – the grouping which includes apes, monkeys and humans - are characterised by a high level of intelligence and ability to learn.)

Desire for motherhood Aversion to motherhood

mind; dreams; family, own; family planning (1) * mind; indifference, apathy; children, to her (18) *

mind; delusions, imaginations; nesting, she is (4) * mind; irritability; family, to her (28) **

mind; dreams; child, children; babies; nursing (9) ** mind; responsibility; aversion to (31) **

mind; childless, ailments from being (10) * mind; irritability; children, towards (47) *

mind; dreams; birth, of (13) * mind; indifference, apathy; duties, to (47) *

mind; anxiety; others, for; loved ones, for (31) **

mind; dreams; child, children; babies (53) *

Desire for learning Difficulties with learning

mind; reverence; those around him, for; teachers, for (1) mind; weeping, tearful mood; reading, from (5) *

mind; dreams; studies, of (7) * mind; thoughts; disconnected; read, cannot (5) **

mind; dreams; examinations (15) * mind; concentration; difficult; calculating, when (12) **

mind; concentration; difficult; children, in (13) *

mind; mistakes, making; reading (33) **

mind; mistakes, making; calculating, in (35) **

mind; mathematics, calculating; inept for (59) **

Empathy Lack of feeling

mind; help; others, wants to (39) * mind; impulses, morbid; harm loved ones, to (1) *

mind; indifference, apathy; suffering, to; others, of (4) **

mind; unsympathetic, unscrupulous (46) **

mind; sensitive, oversensitive; want of sensitiveness (49) *

Other themes

14

The competition winner will receive a free student place at the 2016 British Homeopathic Congress in Belfast, from 3-6 November. The British Homeopathic Congress is a biennial

event that attracts an international audience and a line-up of first class of presenters. You will be able to access the full programme of talks and seminars which will be given by internationally renowned teachers of homeopathy, including Dr Heiner Frei, Dr Jonathan Hardy and Dr Julie Geraghty. You’ll be staying at Belfast’s four-star Europa Hotel for three nights, including breakfast. You will also have free attendance to all three main social events of the weekend, including an Irish night out at the Dark Horse restaurant and Saturday’s black tie Gala Dinner. A contribution towards student travel to Belfast is included. The prize also includes the chance to visit Weleda’s growing and manufacturing sites in Derbyshire, including overnight accommodation and student travel. This rare opportunity to go behind the scenes of one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of homeopathic medicines will take place this summer and begin with a tour of Weleda’s 13 acre Demeter

certified herb gardens. You will be able to walk through the wildflower meadow, chat to the gardening team and learn about biodynamic agriculture and tincture production. Follow the plant’s journey to Weleda’s Production Suite and Pharmacy and witness the homeopathic manufacturing process – from potentising and succussion to the finished product. Meet Weleda’s skilled homeopathic pharmacists and dispensers, enjoy lunch with the team, learn about Weleda medicines, and finally take home a great selection of organic skincare and bodycare products. How to Enter Send your article of 300-500 words, along with your name, address, course and teaching centre, to: Congress 2016, Faculty of Homeopathy, Hahnemann House, 29 Park Street West, Luton LU1 3BE. Alternatively entries can be sent by email to congress2016@facultyofhomeopathy.org Entries much reach the Faculty on or before 30 June 2016.

COMPETITION

Congress 2016 Student CompetitionWeleda UK, a major sponsor of the 2016 British Homeopathic Congress, offers students of homeopathy a chance to win a unique prize. Students studying at any of the Faculty’s accredited teaching centres have the chance of winning a fantastic prize worth £1,000, simply by entering Weleda UK’s competition.

Conditions of entry The competition is open to UK residents only. Entrants must be studying towards a recognised qualification in homeopathy at one of the Faculty’s accredited teaching centres*. The Faculty of Homeopathy may contact the entrant’s teaching centre to check validity. The competition prize must be taken as stated and no cash alternative will be offered. The winning entrant accepts that their article may be publicly available on the Weleda, the Faculty of Homeopathy and the British Homeopathic Association websites, linked via Twitter, Facebook and other social media outlets and that their name and photo may be used in publicity materials by Weleda UK Ltd, the Faculty of Homeopathy and the British Homeopathic Association.

The winner will be chosen by a panel made up of representatives of the Faculty of Homeopathy, Weleda UK Ltd and the British Homeopathic Association. The closing date for the competition will be 30 Jun 2016 and the winner will be informed in July 2016. The winner will be notified by letter and details will be publicly announced in early August 2016. Entries may be posted to the Faculty or sent electronically via email. *list available

All you have to do is write a short article of between 300 and 500 words on the subject of “Homeopathy – the natural career choice”, explaining why you have chosen to train in homeopathy and what benefits you believe it will bring you as a practitioner and to your patients. The winning entry will then be published on the Weleda and British Homeopathic Association websites.

Photo: C

ourtesy of Europa H

otel, BelfastPh

oto: Courtesy of W

eleda U

K Ltd

RESEARCH simile • May 2016 • The Faculty or Homeopathy

Background Since May 2011, a generous donation made to the British Homeopathic Association has funded a homeopathy clinic based in Norwich.1 The lead physician (Dr Katalin Borbely) has run a session of consultations twice per month. This short paper sets out the aims, methods and results from the clinical data recorded over the four-year period to April 2015.

Aims of study (1) To catalogue the numbers of patients and medical complaints treated in the clinic; (2) using the ORIDL (Outcome Related to Impact on Daily Living) score, to determine patient-assessed change in severity of the treated medical complaint compared with the first appointment.

Methods A bespoke Excel spreadsheet was used to record data per appointment for each patient. It includes the following headings: [1] Consecutive appointment number; [2] Unique patient ID code; [3] Appointment date; [4] Age of patient; [5] Gender of patient; [6] Previous location of treatment; [7] Main complaint being treated; [8] ORIDL score (Main complaint, MC); [9] ORIDL score (Well-being, WB); [10] Homeopathic medicine/s prescribed; [11] Status of conventional medicine being taken.

Results One hundred and three patients (71 female, 32 male; mean age 42 years) attended a total of 247 appointments during the clinic’s first four years. The patients’ previous treatment location had been: GP (64); hospital (17); none (self-referral, 22). The most frequently treated medical complaints were eczema (13 patients), cough (7) and anxiety (7). The most frequently used homeopathic medicines overall were: Syc co, Carcinosin, Nat mur and Pulsatilla.

For all medical complaints, ORIDL scores (both MC and WB) > +2 were reported by 61% of the 59 patients who had at least one follow-up appointment. For the most frequently treated complaints, ORIDL scores > +2 were reported by 2 of 5 (40%), 4 of 4 (100%) and 1 of 4 (25%) follow-up patients with eczema, cough and anxiety respectively. High scoring conditions also included hypothyroidism (3 of 3, 100%) and sleeplessness (2 of 3, 76%). A higher proportion of ORIDL scores > +2 was reported overall by self-referred patients (75%) compared with those whose previous treatment had been by their GP (52%) or at hospital (54%). Conventional medicine was not being taken by the majority of the clinic’s patients. For the remaining patients, conventional prescriptions were stopped in 4 cases, reduced in 9, unchanged in 25, and increased in 1.

Discussion The patient demographics (gender ratio, mean age, percentage of follow-ups) for the Norwich Clinic are very similar to those reported from a much larger, UK-wide, data collection project that was carried out in 2005.2 The most frequently treated complaints mirror the previous sample in some respects,

notably in the prominence of cough and anxiety. The relatively frequent use of the polychrests Nat mur and Pulsatilla is again evident. The proportion of patients with high outcome scores (61%) is also very similar to the earlier UK-wide sample.2 Due to the small sample sizes here, the outcome rates for individual medical complaints are difficult to interpret: nevertheless, cough is again prominent; anxiety less so. The relatively high frequency, and moderate outcome rates, of eczema patients treated at the Norwich Clinic reflects corresponding statistics for a cross-sectional sample of patients who attended the UK’s homeopathic hospitals in March 2007.3 The apparently higher rate of good outcomes for self-referred patients is of note. It is unclear if this is a random finding due to small sample size, or if it reflects different health status or motivation, or absence of recent allopathic treatment, for the individuals concerned. Significantly for the individuals concerned, conventional medicine consumption was stopped or reduced for 13 of the 103 patients attending the clinic.

Robert T Mathie, Elizabeth S Baitson, Katalin Borbely

15

Norwich Homeopathic Clinic: four-year evaluation of practice and clinical outcomes

References

1 British Homeopathic Association: Norwich Homeopathic Clinic. http://www.britishhomeopathic.org/bha-charity/norwich-homeopathic-clinic/ 2 Mathie RT, Robinson, TW. Outcomes from homeopathic prescribing in medical practice: A prospective, research-targeted, pilot study. Homeopathy 2006; 95: 199–205. 3 Thompson EA, Mathie, RT, Baitson ES, et al. Towards standard setting for patient-reported outcomes in the NHS homeopathic hospitals. Homeopathy 2008; 97: 114–121.

Dr Katalin Borbely of the BHA Norwich clinic.

Faculty members in the UK will be well aware of the hostility that the word “homeopathy” engenders

from fellow clinicians and large sections of the media, not to mention those campaign groups committed to banishing the therapy to the annals of medical history. In her Richard Hughes’ Memorial Lecture, Cristal Sumner explored whether the very name of the therapy had become so toxic that the only way to improve homeopathy’s fortunes would be for it to undergo a rebranding which might involve it being called something else. From the outset Ms Sumner admitted she could not provide any definitive answers for overcoming homeopathy’s current predicament. Nevertheless, she says that by stimulating debate on this question of nomenclature the audience may possibly be able to form ideas to help create a brighter future.

Identify and define To highlight the importance of names she began by quoting from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Juliet’s dismissal of the importance of a name didn’t go

as well as she had hoped and we all know the tragic fate of the star-crossed lovers. Although someone’s name rarely results in their death, this extreme literary example does serve to show the importance attached to names and what they mean to others: for names not only identify they can also define. Elaborating on this point Ms Sumner light-heartedly gave definitions that are often associated with her first name – Cristal. These included the extravagantly priced French champagne, a woman from the lowest Caucasian socio-economic group in America cruelly dismissed as “white trash”, or someone connected with a New Age or hippy lifestyle. However, her audience more readily recognised the personality traits attributed to Ms Sumner’s first name on a popular website used by parents searching for names for their babies: independent, individualistic, ambitious, strong-willed, inventive and successful. Returning to how names clearly invest people and things with certain characteristics they often don’t deserve, Ms Sumner highlighted the trend among some celebrities for giving their children outlandish names and how when adults these children feel about

their bizarre monikers. As an example she quoted the late Peaches Geldof who said she hated ridiculous names, stating “my weird name has haunted me all my life”. Perception, Ms Sumner argues, can vary between individuals and experience; but without people knowing anything about you, on hearing your name they will form some standardised responses and associate certain traits.

Public perception Ms Sumner then turned to homeopathy, asking her audience what the name of the therapy meant to them. As you would expect from a room full of homeopaths the answers included medical, health, healing, complementary and long use. But what if homeopathy was not already an important part of your life – either as a practitioner or patient – where would you go to find out more? A first port-of-call, she suggested, could be the Oxford Dictionary which describes homeopathy as:

A system of complementary medicine in which ailments are treated by minute doses of natural substances that in larger amounts would produce symptoms of the ailment. Often contrasted with allopathy.

16

EvENT

What’s in a name? This year’s Richard Hughes’ Memorial Lecture was delivered by the Faculty’s former chief executive Cristal Sumner. In a provocative address Ms Sumner challenged her audience to consider whether the term “homeopathy” is hurting or helping.

Former Faculty chief executive Cristal Sumner.

simile • May 2016 • The Faculty or Homeopathy

At this point the speaker offered her personal experience from when she was invited to attend an interview for a job with the Faculty. “I had been working in a tertiary care teaching hospital in the US and was familiar with medicine and healthcare, however homeopathy was not part of the conventional medical scene and I needed to find out more. So I can tell you what I would have thought about this dictionary definition. Complementary medicine, dilutions, allopathy? What the devil is this?” She continued: “Now I wanted to get the job so I sought out more information on the subject.” But the problem she was illustrating was how explanations like the one from the Oxford Dictionary affected the general public’s perception of the therapy. “What would happen if a member of the public thinking about using homeopathy came across such a definition, which to the uninitiated is clearly more confounding than expounding?” she asked. “Would it make them want to immediately book a consultation or just forget about it? I think you’ll agree the answer isn’t very encouraging.”

Confusion about CAM So in general what do people think homeopathy is? Again Ms Sumner drew on her personal experience dealing with phone inquiries from members of the public, as well as the results from market research. “We get a wide range of responses about what homeopathy means, including herbalism, Reiki, candle wax and it is even thought by some to be an umbrella term for all complementary medicine,” she said. She says the only sorry conclusion that can be drawn is “there isn’t a tremendous amount of understanding by those not ‘in the know’”. Reinforcing the difficulties faced by the homeopathic community in promoting the therapy, a graphic was projected on to the screen of a cartoon in which a professorial-looking character is asking his students, “How many of you comprehend the term ‘follicular’?” His puzzled audience, however, are seen unanimously thinking, “What does ‘comprehend’ mean?” People must first understand at a basic level what complementary medicine is and what it includes before

they can be expected to understand what homeopathy is.

The ‘H’ word Ms Sumner suggested that another obstacle in creating greater public awareness for homeopathy was the difficulty that many people seem to have pronouncing the word. According to David Rusenko, founder of the blogging website Weebly, company names without clear pronunciation or spelling won’t last. Amazingly homeopathy – or should that be h-o-m-o-e-o-p-a-t-h-y – has 17 online videos instructing people in how to pronounce the word (acupuncture only has four), so it clearly fails Mr Rusenko’s golden rules for marketing success. “As a patient,” Ms Sumner said, “is being afraid to say the word ‘homeopathy’ going to encourage you to request it?” Ms Sumner then described homeopathy as a brand before referring to another axiom from the marketing world: “Your brand is what other people say about you when you’re not in the room.” Hearing what others say about homeopathy can make for uncomfortable listening. An audit of journalists and decision makers in 2011 found that the most common associations for homeopathy were: Prince Charles, loonies, zany, kooky and witchcraft. The therapy fared no better when medical students and other healthcare professionals were asked to give their opinions, which included: placebo, not evidence based, not worth studying or funding, not part of medicine. As for leading medical journals such as The Lancet and BMJ, they seem united in the view that papers using the term “homeopathy” are not worth peer-review or publishing unless they support the argument that homeopathy does not work. “What all this means,” says Ms Sumner, “is that the term ‘homeopathy’ doesn’t seem to be helping us to achieve our key aims of getting more people using homeopathy, recruiting more healthcare professionals to train in homeopathy and to get homeopathy integrated into everyday healthcare.”

Hope for the future To reverse this unsatisfactory state of affairs will be a huge task, the size of

which is illustrated by statistics from market research conducted on behalf of the 4Homeopathy group in 2015. A nationwide survey found that only 2.7% of the population had used homeopathy. However, the research also offered hope for the future as it revealed that 79% of the population are open to the idea of homeopathy or complementary medicine in general. “The question is how to take advantage of this opportunity,” says Ms Sumner. Could rebranding homeopathy augur a brighter future for the therapy? Such a measure would certainly meet with opposition from traditionalists. Would it even be possible to rebrand and repackage homeopathy so the “H” word no longer alienated the public, decision makers and clinicians? Here Ms Sumner asked her audience to consider Mindfulness. Achieving a mental state by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations is clearly a form of meditation. But a change of name and the stripping away of its spiritual and New Age connotations have seen the therapy become recognised as a valuable psychological approach for improving health. Today millions of people are using Mindfulness, it is available on the NHS and the word is now accepted as part of the modern medical vocabulary.

Radical approach Ms Sumner admits this radical approach would inevitably lead to a fundamental reappraisal of what homeopathy stands for. In addition to being easy to say and understand, any new name would have to convey certain qualities and characteristics that the profession wants associated with it. What would they be? When people hear the new name what responses and expectations do we want it to engender? Is it equally meaningful to the public and medical professionals? Does it set us apart or make it easier for us to be aligned with broader fields of medicine? This year’s Richard Hughes’ Memorial Lecture may not have delivered many answers, but it certainly raised some very important questions.

John Burry Editor

17

18

EvENT

Examinations calendar 2016EXAM EXAM DATE vENuE CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS

VETERInARy MEMBERSHIP ExAM - open to Vets who have passed the LFHom (Vet)VetMFHom TBA TBA 5 February 2016

MEMBERSHIP ExAM - open to Nurses and Doctors who have passed the PHCE

MFHom/MFHom (Nurse) 15 July 2016 Glasgow 8 April 2016

MFHom/MFHom (Nurse) TBA TBA 16 September 2016

PRIMARy HEALTHCARE ExAM

PHCE 10 June 2016 Bristol 6 May 2016

SPECIALIST REgISTRATIOn - open to Doctors who have gained the MFHom

Assessment 7 October 2016 Glasgow 5 August 2016

Assessment 13 October 2016 Luton 5 August 2016

OTHER EXAMS NOT CuRRENTLy NOTED ON THE CALENDAR WILL BE ARRANGED AS REquIRED.

north West annual seminar

14 and 15 May 2016

Evolution mapping, sensation method, materia medica – the REAL SYNERGY approach to our cases.

Speaker: Annette Sneevliet from the Netherlands

With a variety of video cases on techniques, the sensation method and classical homeopathy, and a possible introduction to Michal Yakir’s Plant Table.

Venue: The Foresight Centre, 1 Brownlow St, Liverpool, L69 3GL

For both days: 12 CPD hrs

Cost: £130 for both days or £80 for a single day attendance (lunch and refreshments included).

For further information contact Dr Eftihia Metallidou at eftmet@gmail.com or call 0161 474 7301 (Mon-Fri 12.00 to 16.00hrs)

Clinical meeting (6)

16 May 2016 at 8:00pm to 9:30pm

Speaker: Edward de Beukelaer

Venue: Kensington Arms, Redland, Bristol

There is no fee to attend this event.

Contact: education@portlandcentrehealthcare.co.uk

Video clinic (2) with Dr Elizabeth Thompson 19 May 2016

Contact: education@portlandcentrehealthcare.co.uk

glasgow Homeopathic Masterclass Series

A series of Homeopathic Masterclass weekend lecture seminars hosted by Glasgow NHS Centre for Integrative Care (formerly Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital) and delivered by the academic department of the Portland Centre for Integrative Medicine (formerly Bristol Homeopathic Hospital. www.portlandcentrehealthcare.co.uk

21 and 22 May 2016 – Sensation of the Sarcodes: the Human Hormone Remedies Speaker: Geoff Johnson

9 and 10 July 2016 – Animal kingdom, comparing

remedies in different animal groups: snakes,

spiders, insects, birds, mammals.

Speaker: Dr Jonathan Hardy

10 and 11 September 2016 – M.E. and Chronic

Fatigue

Speaker: Dr Julie Geraghty

These CPD events are open to all levels of

experience: medical homeopaths, professional

practitioners and students of homeopathy from

all colleges. CPD: 5 hrs per day.

The masterclasses cost £150 for each two day

event, with discounts for booking two or more of

the series. For more information or to book your

place email

education@portlandcentrehealthcare.co.uk

Masterclass (5) 18 June 2016 at 9.00 am to 4:30 pm

Managing Complex autoimmune conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis and MS.

Speaker: Dr Julie Geraghty

Fee £80. Includes lunch and refreshments. This event counts towards CPD.

Venue: Penny Brohn Centre, Chapel Pill Lane, Pill, Bristol, North Somerset. BS20 0HL

Open to all homeopaths and current LFHom/MFHom course students.

Contact: education@portlandcentrehealthcare.co.uk

2016 British Homeopathic Congress

3 to 6 november

Homeopathy: healthy patients, healthy practice

Venue: Europa Hotel, Belfast, Northern Ireland

An exciting programme of presentations, seminars and workshops is planned and will be delivered by leading homeopaths from the UK and abroad. Away from the conference hall, there will be opportunities to meet old friends and make new ones at social events that will reflect the convivial hospitality of our Irish hosts.

For more information, please contact congress2016@facultyofhomeopaty.org

WHAT’S ON simile • May 2016 • The Faculty or Homeopathy

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Regular meetingsW Surrey & W Sussex Homeopathic group Event Time: 20:00 until 22:00 Members include doctors, vets, dentists and pharmacists. The aim of the group is to act as a forum for ongoing learning and support, covering all aspects of homeopathy and medical practice. The Punch Bowl, Oakwood Hill, nr Ockley, Surrey RH5 5PU. • For dates contact: Charles Forsyth on 01737 226338 (office), 01737 248605 (home), 07802 293006 (mobile)

Leeds Homeopathic group Regular meetings in the Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Adel, north Leeds.

• Jutta Prekow on 0113 203 7329 or at jutta.prekow@bradford.nhs.uk

Manchester-Liverpool Homeopathic group Meetings for discussing homeopathic cases and other matters relevant to homeopathy. Open to doctors, vets, nurses, pharmacists of all levels. Location varies, so contact in advance for details:

• Dr Eftihia Metallidou on 0161 4747301 weekdays 12- 4.00pm or email: eftmet@gmail.com

London Homeopathic group Regular meetings take place in Wimbledon or in Harley Street. • For further information contact Dr Ralf Schmalhorst at londonralf@aol.com

Weleda insight day On Tuesday 12 July, Faculty members have the chance to visit Weleda’s HQ in Derbyshire. The special homeopathy themed day runs from 10am-4pm and offers a unique insight into the company, its history, products and ethos. Visitors will enjoy a tour around Weleda’s beautiful 13 acre biodynamic herb gardens, followed by a visit to the tincture-making workshop for talks, demonstrations and interactive sessions.

The day has been designed to help guests gain a deeper understanding of Weleda’s wide range, sustainable ingredients, manufacturing processes and the full service available from the company. A delicious lunch is included and each visitor will receive a gorgeous goody bag of Weleda natural and organic cosmetics to take home. The event is entirely FREE of charge, but places are limited to 30 so need to be pre-booked well in advance.

For further details about the day please contact insightdays@weleda.co.uk

www.weleda.co.uk

CONTACTS

Who to contact at the Faculty••• STAFF

••• FACuLTy COuNCIL

• Greg White – Chief Executive gwhite@facultyofhomeopathy.org 07401 443580

• John Burry – Communications Manager jburry@facultyofhomeopathy.org 01582 408682

• Chris Connolly – Operations and Special Projects Assistant connolly@facultyofhomeopathy.org 01582 408680

• Nilesh Mulji – Financial Controller nmulji@facultyofhomeopathy.org 01582 408678

• Lisa Peacock – Education Officer lpeacock@facultyofhomeopathy.org 01582 408679

• Dr Claire Raistrick – Education Director craistrick@facultyofhomeopathy.org

• Mohammed Saqib Ali – Digital Mark eting Officer sali@facultyofhomeopathy.org 01582 408680

• Tracey Simmons – Membership Officer tsimmons@facultyofhomeopathy.org 01582 408681

• Helen Beaumont, President drhbeaumont@hotmail.com

• Liz Thompson, V ice-President elizabeth.thompson@ portlandcentrehealthcare.co.uk

• Sara Eames, Immediate Past-President sara.eames@uclh.nhs.uk

• Gary Smyth, Treasurer drgaryjsmyth@gmail.com

• Julie Geraghty, Medical Dean drjuliegeraghty@gmail.com

• Peter Gregory, Veterinary Dean pg.ahimsa@virgin.net

• Patricia Donnachie, Nursing Dean patriciadonnachie63@gmail.com

• Tariq K han, Podiatry Dean tariq.khan@uclh.nhs.uk

• Lesley Peatfield, Communications Co-ordinator lesleypeatfield@me.com

• Patricia Ridsdale, Members’ Committee Convener trish@lastmango.co.uk

• Andrew Sik orsk i, NHS Primary Care Representative andrew.sikorski@doctors.org.uk

• Jacqueline Mardon, NHS Secondary Care Representative jackiemardon@gmail.com

• Jonathan Hardy, Independent Practice Representative jonathan.homeopath@gmail.com

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Faculty of Homeopathy Hahnemann House, 29 Park Street West, Luton LU1 3BE Tel: 01582 408680 • Fax: 01582 723032 Email: info@facultyofhomeopathy.org www.facultyofhomeopathy.org