An Overview of Positive Homeopathy Research and Surveys, ENHR, March 2007
Homeopathy is being practised in 41 out of 42 European countries.The Legal Situation for the Practice of Homeopathy in Europe, revised report, May 2006, European
Council for Classical Homeopathy. Legal Status of Traditional Medicine and Complementary/
Alternative Medicine: A Worldwide Review, World Health Organization, 2001.
Homeopathy is the most frequently used CAM therapy in 5 out of 16 surveyed countries in Europe
and among the three most frequently used in 11 out of 16 surveyed countries.
Norges offentlige utredninger, NOU 1998:21 Alternativ medisin. (Official report published by the
Norwegian Department of Health. Available at:
http://odin.dep.no/hd/norsk/publ/utredninger/NOU/030005-020019/index-ved005-b-n-a.html)
Ot.prp. nr. 27 (2002-2003). Om lov om alternativ behandling av sykdom mv.
Public interest in, and acceptance of alternative treatment increases in most European countries.Percentage of the population using alternative treatment varies from 18 to 71 % depending on country.
Ot.prp. nr. 27 (2002-2003). Om lov om alternativ behandling av sykdom mv. Det kongelige
helsedepartement.
http://odin.dep.no/repub/02-03/otprp/27/Homeopathy is officially recognised and included in the national health system in a number of
countries within and outside of Europe.Legal Status of Traditional Medicine and Complementary/Alternative Medicine: A Worldwide Review,
World Health Organization, 2001.
Three Europeans out of four know about homeopathy and of these 29 % use it for their health care.
Homeopathic medicinal products. Commission report to the European Parliament and the Council on
the application of Directives 92/73 and 92/74.
A study of 1097 patients visiting 80 Norwegian homeopaths showed that one in four patients were
children between 0 and 9 years of age, compared to one in ten in 1985 and in general practice. The
most commonly presented complaints were respiratory, skin and psychological complaints.
Steinsbekk A, Fønnebø V. Users of homeopaths in Norway in 1998, compared to previous users and
GP patients. Homeopathy (2003) 92, 3-10.
A survey of 1400 patients treated in a homeopathic clinic showed that 36 % were under the age of 16
in 2004, compared to 26 % in 1995. Respiratory complaints, complaints of ears and skin accounted for
70 % of patients in the age group from 0 to 10 years. More than half of the patients had university or
other higher education.
Viksveen P, Steinsbekk A. Changes in patients visiting a homeopathic clinic in Norway from 1994 to
2004. Homeopathy (2005) 94, 222-228.
A survey of more than 70 000 citizens showed that approximately 9 million people in Italy (15.6 % of
the population) have used at least one unconventional therapy in the period from 1997 to 1999.
Homeopathy was the most frequently used (8.2 % of the population). Homeopathy was also quite
commonly used by children (7.7 %). The use of CAM therapies has almost doubled since 1991.
Menniti-Ippolito, F., Forcella, E., Bologna, E., Gargiulo, L., Traversa, G., & Raschetti, R. Use of
unconventional medicine in children in Italy. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2002 Apr;58(1):61-4.
Homeopathy is one of several alternative therapies that are used in treating infertile people. CAM
therapists take a more holistic view of infertility treatment than allopathic health professionals.
Veal L. Complementary therapy and infertility: an Icelandic perspective. Complement Ther Nurs
Midwifery. 1998 Feb;4(1):3-6.
Research has shown that homeopathy is one of a number of alternative therapies that women
experience as useful in treating endometriosis.Wienhard J, Tinneberg HR. Alternative treatment possibilities of complaints due to endometriosis.
Zentralbl Gynakol. 2003 Jul-Aug;125(7-8):286-9.
Infertility can also be caused by difficulties in men, including low sperm numbers and poor quality.
Men with infertility problems also consult with CAM practitioners such as homeopaths.
Oldereid NB, Rui H, Purvis K. Male partners in infertile couples. Personal attitudes and contact with
the Norwegian health service. Scand J Soc Med. 1990 Sep;18(3):207-11.
CAM therapies such as homeopathy are gaining acceptance in countries across the world, both among
health providers and consumers. A majority of patients consulting with CAM practitioners are
women, often seeking help for reproductive health problems, menstrual disorders, menopause,
problems during pregnancy and childbirth.
Beal MW. Women’s use of complementary and alternative therapies in reproductive health care. J
Nurse Midwifery. 1998 May-Jun;43(3):224-34.
A number or studies have shown that women make up between 64 and 80 % of the clientele visiting
homeopaths.
Viksveen P, Steinsbekk A. Changes in patients visiting a homeopathic clinic in Norway 1994-2004.
Homeopathy (2005) 94, 222-228.
