Burke Lennihan

Homeopathy for Pain Management

Alt Complem Ther, 2017, 23 (5), 176-183

Homeopathy is often overlooked as a modality for pain management. However, it deserves to be a first-line treatment due to its safety, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness. Limitations to the acceptance of homeopathy in the United States include physicians’ lack of familiarity with the research studies, which primarily come from Europe, where homeopathy is integrated into the national healthcare systems of nearly all European countries. The database of the social security system in France, where citizens can choose a homeopathic or conventional family doctor, shows that the former modality provides comparable results in pain management while significantly reducing the use of conventional painkillers. Research in the United States is minimal due to lack of government or industry funding. In addition, exaggerated media reports as to the potential harm from homeopathy have resulted in undue reluctance to use it among both physicians and the general public. A large-scale review of the German drug safety database has revealed a miniscule number of adverse events. Finally, resistance to the use of homeopathy – based on the mistaken notion that it contains nothing but water – is addressed by citations from the newly emerging field of ultrahigh dilution physics. A description of the most common homeopathic medicines for various types of pain is provided, including back pain, dental pain, labor pains, and trigeminal neuralgia. Homeopathic medicines must be customized to the individual patient in chronic conditions. Yet, a severe acute trauma can respond to the same homeopathic medicine in nearly all individuals. As an example, a standard protocol is provided to speed healing and reduce pain after surgery or dental extraction. While homeopathic medicines are rarely tested against conventional painkillers in a head-to-head trial, certain research studies show that homeopathic medicines can enhance healing for those already on conventional medications and can reduce pain in a condition such as a fracture for which effective drug treatment is lacking.

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