Support for Defra’s position on homeopathy

• Published in: Veterinary record 2018-04, Vol.182 (17), p.489-490
• Main Authors: Whitehead, Martin, Jessop, Mike, Gough, Alex, Taylor, Niall, Atkinson, Martin, Hyde, Phil, Price, Alison, Guthrie, Arlo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibiotics; Caregivers; Clinical trials; Homeopathic medicine; Pain; Placebo effect; Systematic review; Veterinary medicine
• ISSN: 0042-4900; 2042-7670
• DOI: 10.1136/vr.k1780

On March 28, David Tredinnick, MP, asked the secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs whether Defra had any evidence showing that homeopathic vets are a risk to animal welfare by using homeopathy as an alternative to pharmaceutical treatment options. 1 George Eustace, MP, answered stating that Defra had no such evidence, but noted that authorised veterinary medicines are shown to be efficacious, safe and are assessed for a positive benefit/risk ratio, whereas homeopathic remedies are not. 1 Homeopathic remedies usually consist of nothing more than drops of water/alcohol or sugar tablets, and are typically harmless. [...]best evidence from clinical trials shows that - as expected from the composition of the remedies - the efficacy of homeopathy is indistinguishable from placebo in people and animals. 2-6 In a recent Vet Record research paper (summarised in VR, 5 April 2018, vol 182, p 407), yet another randomised controlled trial demonstrated that homeopathy was ineffective - in this case in the treatment of bovine clinical mastitis, one of homeopathy's most common veterinary uses- whereas conventional treatment with antibiotics was effective. 7 A 2016 review of trials comparing treatment of farm animals with homeopathy and antibiotics found that homeopathy was less effective than antibiotics and replacing or reducing antibiotics with homeopathy cannot be recommened. 8 Many studies regarding homeopathy in the 2016 review were poorly controlled; the better-controlled studies were less likely to have a 'positive' result for homeopathy. [...]caregiver placebo effects 9-12 can make owners believe their animals are improving when they are not. [...]placebo effects of veterinary treatments may actually be harmful to animals as owners may not seek effective care for their animals.