Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2001; 6: 94
This pilot study investigates the homoeopathic approach to symptoms of oestrogen withdrawal in women with breast cancer and the impact of this intervention on mood disturbance and quality of life.
The homoeopathic approach involves the consultation and the prescription of a remedy. A maximum of three symptoms were targeted and rated by the patient as a problem, using a numerical self-rating scale. The affect these symptoms have on daily life and overall sense of well-being were also recorded at every consultation. Patients completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score (HADS) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment in Cancer Quality of life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-30) at the initial consultation and at three to five consultations later when they also completed a Final Assessment Questionnaire (FAQ). Data was collected on the choice of remedy and side-effects of medication.
Forty-five women were entered into the study. The most common symptoms were hot flushes (n = 38), mood disturbance (n = 23), joint pains (n = 15) and fatigue (n = 14). Numerical self-rating symptom scores improved on average by a factor of 2.11 [confidence interval (CI) 1.42–2.8] and the effect of symptoms on daily living improved by 2.76 (CI 2.2–3.35). It was found that 90% of women were satisfied with the homoeopathic approach and 80% regarded it as helpful for their symptoms. Side-effects included a transient worsening of symptoms.
The homoeopathic approach may offer a useful and safe alternative to oestrogen withdrawal symptoms. The author is now carrying out a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial to investigate this approach more rigorously.
