Intervention Review

Homeopathic medicines for adverse effects of cancer treatments

  1. Sosie Kassab1,*,
  2. Mike Cummings2,
  3. Saul Berkovitz1,
  4. Robbert van Haselen3,
  5. Peter Fisher4

Editorial Group: Cochrane Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Group

Published Online: 20 JAN 2010

Assessed as up-to-date: 20 JAN 2009

DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004845.pub2

Database Title

Additional Information

How to Cite

Kassab S, Cummings M, Berkovitz S, van Haselen R, Fisher P. Homeopathic medicines for adverse effects of cancer treatments. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD004845. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004845.pub2.

Author Information

  1. 1

    Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital, London, UK

  2. 2

    British Medical Acupuncture Society, London, UK

  3. 3

    INTMEDI, Surrey, UK

  4. 4

    Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine, London, UK

*Sosie Kassab, Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital, 60 Great Ormond Street, London, WC1N 3HR, UK. sosie.kassab@uclh.nhs.uk.

Publication History

  1. Publication Status: Edited (no change to conclusions), comment added to review
  2. Published Online: 20 JAN 2010

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Abstract

  1. Top of page
  2. Abstract
  3. Plain language summary
  4. 摘要

Background

Homeopathic medicines are used by patients with cancer, often alongside conventional treatment. Cancer treatments can cause considerable morbidity and one of the reasons patients use homeopathic medicines is to help with adverse effects.

Objectives

Evaluate effectiveness and safety of homeopathic medicines used to prevent or treat adverse effects of cancer treatments.

Search methods

The following were searched up to November 2008: Cochrane PaPaS Trials Register; Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); MEDLINE; EMBASE; CINAHL; BNI; CancerLIT; AMED; CISCOM; Hom-Inform; SIGLE; National Research Register; Zetoc; www.controlled-trials.com; http://clinicaltrials.gov; Liga Medicorum Homeopathica Internationalis (LMHI, Liga) conference proceedings; reference lists of relevant studies were checked; and homeopathic manufacturers, leading researchers and practitioners were contacted.

Selection criteria

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of homeopathic medicines in participants with a clinical or histological diagnosis of cancer where the intervention was aimed at preventing or treating symptoms associated with cancer treatments. All age groups, and all stages of disease were included.

Data collection and analysis

Two review authors independently assessed studies for inclusion and two review authors extracted data. Three review authors independently assessed trial quality using the Delphi List and the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias. Disagreements were resolved by consensus. Where available, data were extracted for analysis.

Main results

Eight controlled trials (seven placebo controlled and one trial against an active treatment) with a total of 664 participants met the inclusion criteria. Three studied adverse effects of radiotherapy, three studied adverse effects of chemotherapy and two studied menopausal symptoms associated with breast cancer treatment.

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.

No serious adverse effects or interactions were reported attributable to the homeopathic medicines used.

Authors' conclusions

This review found preliminary data in support of the efficacy of topical calendula for prophylaxis of acute dermatitis during radiotherapy and Traumeel S mouthwash in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced stomatitis. These trials need replicating. There is no convincing evidence for the efficacy of homeopathic medicines for other adverse effects of cancer treatments. Further research is required.

 

Plain language summary

  1. Top of page
  2. Abstract
  3. Plain language summary
  4. 摘要

Homeopathic medicines for adverse effects of cancer treatments

Homeopathic medicines are used by many patients with cancer, usually alongside conventional treatment. Cancer treatments can cause adverse effects, and one of the reasons patients use homeopathic medicines is to help with these symptoms. This review looked at whether these medicines could help patients with problems caused by cancer treatments. Eight studies with a total of 664 participants were included in this review. Three studied adverse effects of radiotherapy, three studied adverse effects of chemotherapy and two studied menopausal symptoms associated with breast cancer treatment. Two studies with low risk of bias demonstrated benefit: one with 254 participants demonstrated benefits from calendula ointment in the prevention of radiotherapy-induced dermatitis, and another with 32 participants demonstrated benefits from Traumeel S (a complex homeopathic medicine) over placebo as a mouthwash for chemotherapy-induced stomatitis. These trials need replicating. Two other studies reported positive results, although the risk of bias was unclear, and four further studies reported negative results. The homeopathic medicines used in all eight studies did not seem to cause any serious adverse effects or interact with conventional treatment. No cancer treatments were modified or stopped because of the homeopathic interventions.

 

摘要

  1. Top of page
  2. Abstract
  3. Plain language summary
  4. 摘要

背景

順勢療法藥物應用在癌症治療造成的不良反應

順勢療法的藥物，常與常規治療一起應用於癌症病患身上。癌症治療會造成相當大的併發症。而患者使用順勢療法藥物的原因之一，就是幫助減輕治療所造成的不良反應。

目標

評估順勢療法藥物，用於治療或預防癌症治療所產生的不良反應之有效性和安全性。

搜尋策略

到2008年11月，搜尋資料庫主要有Cochrane PaPaS Trials Register;Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); MEDLINE; EMBASE;CINAHL; BNI; CancerLIT; AMED; CISCOM; HomInform; SIGLE; National Research Register; Zetoc; www.controlledtrials.com; http://clinicaltrials.gov; Liga Medicorum Homeopathica Internationalis (LMHI, Liga) conference proceedings;檢查相關重要研究的參考名單並接觸順勢療法藥物製造商，具領導地位的研究人員和從業人員。

選擇標準

主要是順勢療法藥物的隨機對照臨床試驗(RCTs)，其參加者為經臨床或病理診斷癌症的病人，實驗目的針對預防或治療癌症治療所引起的症狀。所有年齡組和各階段的疾病都包括在內。

資料收集與分析

兩位審查作者個別評估適合納入的研究和兩位審查作者負責提取研究數據。另三位審查作者個別使用Delphi List評量臨床試驗的品質，並使用Cochrane Collaboration's tool評估試驗誤差的風險性。藉由共識來解決意見的分歧。如果可行，提取數據來進行分析。

主要結論

八個對照試驗(七個有安慰劑對照和一個設計與有效治療相反的試驗)，共664位受試者符合納入標準。有三個試驗研究放射治療所產生的不良反應，三個研究化學治療造成的不良反應和兩個研究因乳癌治療所造成更年期症狀。其中兩個誤差較少的試驗顯示出好處：一個有254名受試者的臨床試驗中顯示，在治療放療引起的皮膚炎，局部使用calendula優於trolamine(此為不含類固醇的局部藥劑)，另外有一個32名受試者的試驗，針對化療所引起的口腔炎，使用Traumeel S(一種順勢醫學藥物的特有配方)漱口比安慰劑來的更有效。其他有兩個試驗，雖然誤差風險不清楚，但顯現出較正面的結果，而有四個試驗則顯示否定的結果。沒有嚴重的不良反應或是交互作用被報導因使用順勢療法藥物所造成的。

作者結論

這篇系統性回顧發現初步數據支持局部使用Calendula來預防放療期間產生的急性皮膚炎，及使用Traumeel S漱口來治療化療引起的口腔炎是有效果的。這些試驗之結果必須被重複證實。至今沒有任何令人信服的證據可以顯示，順勢療法的藥物用於癌症治療所產生的其他副作用是有效的。進一步的研究是必需的。

翻譯人

本摘要由三軍總醫院黃子權翻譯。

此翻譯計畫由臺灣國家衛生研究院(National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan)統籌。

總結

順勢療法的藥物，常與常規治療一起應用於癌症病患。癌症治療會造成相當大的併發症。而患者使用順勢療法藥物的原因之一，就是幫助減輕治療所造成的不良反應。這篇系統性回顧的文章著眼於了解這些藥物能否幫助患者處理癌症治療所造成的問題。八個研究，共664位受試者被納入在本次回顧中。有三個研究放射治療所產生的不良反應，三個研究化學治療造成的不良反應和兩個研究因乳癌治療所造成更年期症狀。其中兩個誤差較少的試驗顯示出好處：一個有254名受試者的臨床試驗顯示，使用Calendula軟膏在預防放療引起的皮膚炎是有益處的，另外有一個32名受試者的試驗，針對化療所引起的口腔炎，使用Traumeel S(一種順勢醫學藥物的特有配方)漱口比安慰劑來的更有效。這些試驗必須被重複驗證。其他有兩個試驗，雖然誤差風險不清楚，但顯現出較正面的結果，而有四個試驗則顯示否定的結果。使用在所有八個研究中的順勢療法藥物似乎並沒有造成任何嚴重的不良反應或與常規治療產生交互作用。沒有癌症治療因為順勢療法而調整或停止。

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