[Homeopathy confronted with clinical research]

Homeopathy is a medical practice using medications characterized by four basic principles: similitude, dilution, dynamization, and personalization. To date, there is no scientific evidence supporting any of these principles. For this reason, careful examination of clinical evaluation of homeotherapy trials is the only pragmatic way of evaluating the value of the "homeopathic pharmacy". Many clinical trials have been conducted over the last decade. Clinical trials are not however a prerequisite for marketing these medications since the legal authorities do not require proof of efficacy for marketing authorization. Unfortunately, these trials which are rarely favorable, often present methodological biases which compromise the readability of results and the validity of conclusions. Both meta-analyses and individual trials performed in a broad spectrum of clinical situations exclude severe disease and do not provide data suggesting these products are effective or produce effects reproducible from one team to another or over time. For this reason, and at the present state of our knowledge, their use cannot be recommended. The public authorities should now require the demonstration of efficacy before awarding marketing approval for homeopathic medications.