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Cited by 297Complementary and Alternative Medicine StudiesPain Management and Placebo EffectAllergic Rhinitis and Sensitization

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 25 of the 25 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

IS HOMOEOPATHY A PLACEBO RESPONSE? CONTROLLED TRIAL OF HOMOEOPATHIC POTENCY, WITH POLLEN IN HAYFEVER AS MODEL

Reilly, DavidTaylor, Mcsharry, Charles, Taylor, MoragA., Aitchison, Tom·1986·The Lancet
DOI 10.1016/s0140-6736(86)90410-1
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Abstract

The hypothesis that homoeopathic potencies are placebos was tested in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The study model chosen compared the effects of a homoeopathic preparation of mixed grass pollens with placebo in 144 patients with active hayfever. The homoeopathically treated patients showed a significant reduction in patient and doctor assessed symptom scores. The significance of this response was increased when results were corrected for pollen count and the response was associated with a halving of the need for antihistamines. An initial aggravation of symptoms was noted more often in patients receiving the potency and was followed by an improvement in that group. No evidence emerged to support the idea that placebo action fully explains the clinical responses to homoeopathic drugs.

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Crossref · 10.1016/s0140-6736(86)90410-1

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25 of 25 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Citations

Cites

Show all 25 references

Research works printed but not linked: 13

  1. Vithoulkas, 1983, Round Table: Homoeopathy today, World Health Forum, 4, 99
  2. Anonymous, 1983, The "evidence" for homoeopathy, Br J Hosp Med, 30, 377
  3. Anonymous, 1983, The trial of homoeopathy, Lancet, i, 108
  4. Vithoulkas, 1985, Homoeopathic experimentation: The problem of double blind trials and some suggestions, J Complementary Med, 1, 10
  5. Blackley, 1871, Experimental researches on the nature and causes of catarrhus aestivus, Br J Hom, 29, 238
  6. 1872, Br J Hom, 30, 246
  7. 1873, Br J Hom, 31, 77
  8. Keysell, 1984, An investigation into the analgesic activity of two homoeopathic preparations Arnica and Hypericum, Commun Br Hom Res Group Vet Rec, 11, 32
  9. Owen, 1982, The mustard gas experiments of the British Homoeopathic Society 1941-1942, Proc 35 Int Hom Congress, 258
  10. Barnard, 1967, Microdose paradox: a new biophysical concept, Am J Inst Hom, 60, 277
  11. Calhnan, 1985, The mechanisms of action of homoeopathic remedies—towards a definitive model. Section C: Mode of action, J Complementary Med, 1, 35
  12. Young, 1975, Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of succussed solutions, J Am Inst Hom, 68, 8
  13. Boyd, 1943, Boyd Medical Research Trust Laboratories, 1941-43, Br Hom J, 33, 71

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Metadata

Authors
Reilly, D., Mcsharry, C., Taylor, M., & Aitchison, T.
Affiliations
Western Infirmary (GB)
ORCID
Mcsharry, Charles
Venue
The Lancet
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1986-10
Volume
328
Issue
8512
Pages
881-886
ISSN
  • 0099-5355 (ISSN-L)
  • 0140-6736
DOI
10.1016/s0140-6736(86)90410-1
OpenAlex
W1996492700
Cited by
297
References
25
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 5
FWCI
27.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • The Lancet (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Pain Management and Placebo Effect
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Immunology and Allergy › Allergic Rhinitis and Sensitization
Keywords
homeopathy, placebo effect, allergic rhinitis, pollen counts, antihistamine use, symptom aggravation
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Child, Child, Preschool, Clinical Trials as Topic, Double-Blind Method, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal, Histamine H1 Antagonists, Homeopathy, Humans, Male, Models, Biological, Placebos, Pollen, Random Allocation

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