English - European Committee for Homeopathy

SPRING 2008
First EU Homeopathy Day
The first EU Homeopathy Day was celebrated in Brussels on 10 April,
with the theme ‘Homeopathy for a healthier Europe’. It celebrated
homeopathy as a worldwide medical system with its roots in Europe
and commemorated the founder of homeopathy, German physician
Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843). The date was chosen to coincide
with Hahnemann’s birthday and the start of the World Homeopathy
Awareness Week.
whose well-documented history of homeopathy in Europe
emphasised the deep roots of this long-standing European
tradition. Dr Michel Van Wassenhoven from the Unio
Homeopathica Belgica, research coordinator of the Liga
Medicorum Homeopathica Internationalis (LMHI) and the
European Committee for Homeopathy (ECH) spoke about the
evidence base of homeopathy. “Good policy must be based
on good science,” he said. “The level of evidence is sufficient
to allow promotion of homeopathy for public health.”It is
intended that EU Homeopathy Day will become an annual
event, helping to put homeopathy more firmly on the EU
political agenda.
[From ECHAMP’s newletter]
The aim of the day was to raise awareness amongst politicians and
decision makers in Brussels of the important role homeopathy can
play in European healthcare. It was a joint initiative of the European
associations of patients, practitioners, doctors and pharmacists of
homeopathy and the European homeopathic industry association,
with a special event and reception at the Saxony Liaison Office in
Brussels, Saxony being the region of Germany where Hahnemann
was born, in the city of Meissen.
Use of homeopathic medicines across Europe
The last decade has seen a steady increase in turnover of
homeopathic and medicines in Europe, reflecting the growing
demand for complementary and alternative approaches in
medicine. Between 1995 and 2005, sales increased from
€ 590 million in 1995 (EU15), to € 775 in 2001 and to
€ 930 in 2005 (EU25). This represents a 60% growth over
ten years, or more than 5% per year. The European turnover
of homeopathic products amounts to € 1.771 million at
consumer prices, which is an average consumption of € 4 per
head of the population and represents approximately 1% of
the European pharmaceutical market, and approximately 7%
of the European non-prescription pharmaceutical market.
Eight EU Member States (France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands,
Spain, Belgium, United Kingdom, Poland) are responsible for
90% of the total sales figure. The absolute numbers are to
be seen in relation to the size of the population. France and
Germany (59%), both major markets in terms of population,
are the leading European and also global producers of
homeopathic medicines. Italy ranks third, already the case
in previous years, followed by the Netherlands, where
complementary medicine also has a long-standing tradition.
Poland is the only new Member State ranking in the top ten
countries by volume of sales.
Prof Dr Jütte
Dr Van Wassenhoven
Ms Ria Oomen-Ruijten MEP (EPP/ED) opened the reception. She
fully recognises that over 100 million European citizens trust in this
field of medicine. Speaking at the reception, she said, “The European
Commission and the European Parliament should pay more attention
and align their interest to the important role homeopathy plays in the
daily lives of so many Europeans.”
In addition to being the largest producer, France also has the
highest consumption per head of homeopathic medicines in
Europe, with an average spend of € 7 per citizen in 2005. The
Netherlands and Belgium rank second and third respectively
for their level of consumption per head of homeopathic
remedies, thus overtaking Germany and Italy.
[From ECHAMP’s Facts & Figures, 2 nd edition, 2007]
Other speakers included Prof Dr Robert Jütte from the Institute for the
History of Medicine of the Robert Bosch Foundation in Stuttgart,

2
63th LMHI World homeopathic congress in Oostende
These yearly world events are very seldom organised in Belgium
(1856, 1913, 1953, 1972). However, this year it was organised to celebrate
the 20th anniversary of the Unio Homeopathica Belgica. This
congress was also exceptional because it was supported by several
Belgian University Professors, partially funded by the national fund for
scientific research (FNRS) and accredited in medicine (INAMI). More
than 700 homeopathic doctors from 61 countries attended this meeting,
including 160 Belgians. All participants were very enthusiastic
about the very high quality and diversity of this congress. The visit of
the Queen of Belgium was most welcome.
The Belgian Queen, LMHI Executive Committee and congress
organisers
The central theme of the congress was built around one sentence:
“Mutual respect when looking at evidence”. There was indeed an
ideological confrontation but debates were always constructive and
serene. The high quality of the presentations was guaranteed by the
scientific committee that made a selection looking at the level of scientific
evidence and the correspondence in line with the congress theme.
The best presentation was awarded to Dr Gustavo Dominici for
his talk about “Hydrogenium peroxydatum - H 2
O 2
- Proving results
and clinical use in humans and animals of hydrogen peroxide”. The
proving was controlled by a placebo group and results verified by a
large clinical study on humans and animals.
The clinical verification of homeopathic symptoms was indeed the
first priority of the congress and many groups presented their understanding
of this theme. No doubt that there is still work to do within
the ECH sub-committees to find a common accepted strategy and
to give some guidance for this extremely important research activity.
Provings are the start of homeopathy, but they are of no value if they
are not verified in the practice. We have the knowledge, we have the
tools and we need people and clinical data to go further. At the next
General Assembly of the ECH in November 2008, all these aspects
will be discussed.
A DVD about the congress will be available very soon, to get
more information about the DVD please contact Valérie Lenaerts:
valerie@bjain.com.
European CAM info centre
Scientific research in the field of Complementary and
Alternative Medicine is increasing both quantitatively and
qualitatively. The outcome of this research is usually presented
only in scientific journals and to fellow scientists, using
scientific terminology. Thus, the information rarely reaches
decision makers on European health policies and when it does,
it may be difficult for decision makers to read and understand
in the limited time they have available. This problem is not
systematically taken care of by the organisations and institutes
presently active in the field of CAM research. Consequently
there is a communication gap to be bridged. As long as the
latter exists, it will be hard to convey the message to the
political decision makers, namely that substantial and good
quality research in CAM does show potential for much
improved public health care.
The European Information Centre for Complementary and
Alternative Medicine (EICCAM) is being set up to bridge this
gap. Its aim is the communication of scientific and health
care related information on CAM to the media, politicians,
legislators and other stakeholders in a way appropriate to the
needs of the target groups. Its information will be independent,
comprehensive, accessible and quality assured in order to
contribute to informed decision-making. It is intended to make
the scientific voice of CAM heard and understood in Europe,
to focus on communication and in the longer term to become
the first interlocutor on European scientific CAM affairs.
This means that the Centre will collect and update scientific
information on CAM on a regular basis, convert the scientific
information in summarised and understandable information
for the educated non-expert public, monitor the input and
output of information. Also it will network with the scientific
community, with all CAM stakeholders, organise or participate
in scientific events on CAM and take any other relevant
initiatives.
The Information Centre is being set up as a public foundation,
with a management board and a scientific committee. The
scientific committee will select the information input and
output, decide on actions and activities and, most importantly,
ensure its independence. The management board takes care
of the daily business and is composed of minimally five and
maximally nine members, of which one member is member of
the scientific committee.
The scientific committee consists of nine full members, of
which five members must be specialised in at least one of the
following selected therapies: acupuncture, herbal medicine,
homeopathy, anthroposophic medicine, osteopathy &
chiropractic and four members possess expertise in history,
qualitative research, economics, or information & transparency,
related to CAM therapies. The scientific committee includes
distinguished research experts working at European universities
and with expertise in the CAM field, such as Rudolf Bauer,
Stefan Baumgartner, Roman Huber, Robert Jütte, Karin Kraft,
Laila Launso, George Lewith, Karen Pilkington, Friedrich-
Wilhelm Schwarz, Harald Walach, Wolfgang Weidenhammer,
and Claudia Witt.

3
To date EICCAM has been given some funding, but more funding
has to be obtained to establish a firm sustainable infrastructure.
Readers of this article who are aware of possible charitable funding
are encouraged to contact the Chair of the EICCAM Management
Board, Dr Susanne Schunder-Tatzber, e-mail: s.schund@ping.at.
Chair for Research in CAM for Claudia Witt
Prof. Dr. Claudia Witt has been appointed holder of the new Karl
and Veronica Carstens Foundation Endowed Chair for Research in
Complementary/Alternative Medicine at the Charité University
Medical Center in Berlin. For the first time in Germany, world-class
research in this area of inquiry will thus be possible in the context of
a university chair. Following an open competition, Claudia Witt was
chosen for this prestigious appointment based on her outstanding
scientific work and extensive teaching experience.
The chair is located at Charité’s
Institute for Social Medicine,
Epidemiology and Health Economics.
A grant of €1 million will fund
the professorship, as well as two
associate positions, for a period of five
years. With this grant, the Carstens
Foundation hopes to promote
research in the areas of naturopathy,
homeopathy, and Chinese Medicine.
The director of the foundation, Dr.
Henning Albrecht, emphasises the
important role the new chair will
play in the future of complementary medicine: ‘First-rate research
is essential to ensure the long-term acceptance of complementary
treatment methods and to incorporate these into everyday patient
care.
Professor Witt’s main scientific interest lies in studying the efficacy,
safety, and cost-effectiveness of complementary medical treatments,
especially in the areas of Chinese medicine and homeopathy. In
recent years, she has set international standards by coordinating a
range of rigorously designed, large-scale studies on treatments such
as acupuncture. Professor Witt is approaching her new position with
great enthusiasm: ‘More than sixty per cent of the German population
uses complementary medicine, and yet we still know very little about
its efficacy or potential side effects. I’m excited about this opportunity
to help bridge the gap between real-world treatment and scientific
evidence.’
A number of comprehensive research projects have already been
planned for the coming years, including studies on individual
treatment methods such as qigong, acupuncture, and homeopathy.
Another of Professor Witt’s key interests is educating and supporting
young physicians and scientists through undergraduate and graduate
study, post-graduate training, and conferences.
Charité’s Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health
Economics is the ideal place to pursue these goals. Researchers at
the Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics
have been studying the efficacy and benefits of complementary
medicine treatments since 1997. Their work, including studies on
acupuncture and homoeopathy in patients with chronic disease,
has set international standards. The institute’s current director, Prof.
Dr. Stefan N. Willich, looks towards the future with confidence:
‘Our institute has gained worldwide recognition for its first-rate
research on complementary medicine. With Professor
Witt’s help, we will be able to continue to build upon
this position in the future.’ [From Charité’s press release]
More info at: http://www.charite.de/cam
European CAM doctors collaborating
On the European level there is an increasing collaboration
among the four European umbrella organisations of doctors
in the field of Complementary and Alternative Medicine
(CAM), i.e. European Committee for Homeopathy (www.
homeopathyeurope.org), European Council for Plurality in
Medicine (ECPM, www.ecpm.org), International Council for
Medical Acupuncture and Related Techniques (ICMART, www.
icmart.org) and International Federation of Anthroposophic
Medical Associations (IVAA, www.ivaa.info), jointly
representing 132 medical CAM associations across Europe.
The four organisations seek to raise the awareness of the
potential contribution of CAM to European healthcare
among EU decision makers. The organisations teamed up
during the lobby for inclusion of CAM into the 7th Research
Framework Programme and the Public Health Programme
2008-2013 of the European Union and issued joint position
papers. In addition, they published some joint documents,
such as Model Guidelines for the Practice of Complementary
Therapies (CAM) by Medical Doctors in the European Union
and Complementary Medicine (CAM) - its current position
and its potential for European Healthcare.
The Model Guidelines for the Practice of Complementary
Therapies (CAM) by Medical Doctors in the European Union
are aimed at ensuring the public health and safety by facilitating
the proper and effective use of both conventional and CAM
treatments, while educating physicians on the adequate
safeguards needed to ensure their services are provided within
the bounds of acceptable professional practice. The ECH,
ECPM, ICMART and IVAA believe that adoption of guidelines
based on this model will protect legitimate medical use of
CAM while avoiding unacceptable risk.
The document Complementary Medicine (CAM) - its current
position and its potential for European Healthcare describes
how all the major CAM therapies approach illness; firstly by
trying to support and induce the self-healing process of the
individual. If recovery can occur from this alone, the likelihood
of adverse effects and the need for high-impact, high-cost
intervention is reduced. It is this orientation towards selfhealing
and health promotion – improving health rather than
defeating disease – that makes CAM approaches especially
appropriate. CAM, which is demanded by many millions of
European citizens, has the potential to humanise modern
medicine and widen its vision beyond disease to health and
wellbeing in its widest sense. The document was presented
at a recent meeting at the Public Health Executive Agency in
Luxembourg where the possibilities for CAM projects in the
Public Health Programme 2008-2013 were discussed.
Both documents can be downloaded from the ECH website
at www.homeopathyeurope.org, click on publications.

ECH General Assembly 15/16 November
ECH General Assemblies take place every 2 years and are
usually attended by 100-150 people. People who dedicate
themselves to working for homeopathy in Europe. The sixth
ECH General Assembly is approaching; it will take place on
Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 November 2008 in Brussels.
There is a strong need to raise the awareness of the therapeutic
potential of homeopathy with the national and European policy
makers. At the same time, more official participation in the national
healthcare systems entails the necessary development of professional
standards and the formulation of policies in several areas. Not only
at a national level. In fact, a great deal of matters can be more
appropriately dealt with on a European level.
The upcoming ECH General Assembly in November provides the
ideal opportunity for reflection on how the ECH is playing its role in
Europe and for development of our future policy. At the Assembly all
subcommittees, i.e. documentation, education, provings, pharmacy,
politics, patients/users’ interests, basic and clinical research, veterinary
medicine and dentistry will have simultaneous working sessions.
Please help us to make this gathering to a great success. Come and
tell us what else the ECH, in your opinion, should do for homeopathy
in Europe and participate in the continuing work of the ECH
subcommittees. It is of utmost importance that more people become
involved in the work for homeopathy in Europe. Several subcommittees
need more participation. We would especially appreciate it if more
people from the new EU Member States were to contribute to our
work. We seek to include delegates from all European countries in all
subcommittees.
If you are interested in participating in this meeting and the working
session of one of the subcommittees you are requested to complete
the registration form that can be downloaded from the ECH website.
Please return the completed registration form to the ECH secretariat
in Brussels, preferably before 30 September 2008. The receipt
of your registration form will be confirmed and the agenda of the
subcommittee meetings will be dispatched in good time before the
meeting.
LMHI - ECH booklet “Scientific framework of
homeopathy – Evidence Based Homeopathy”
After the 63rd LMHI congress a new booklet has been edited. It is a
joint production of the Liga Medicorum Homeopathica Internationalis
and of the European Committee for Homeopathy.
European Congress of Integrative Medicine
The first European Congress of Integrative Medicine will take
place in Berlin, from 7 to 9 November 2008. The congress
is aimed at getting together scientists and physicians from
both conventional and complementary medical fields to
discuss current issues on several indications including cancer,
cardiovascular disease, pain, atopic disease and gastrointestinal
disorders. The congress, which will take place annually in the
future, will provide a platform to further develop integrative
medicine and models of comprehensive care.
Integrative medicine has to be understood as bridge between
conventional western medicine and complementary medical
procedures and providers. Integrating the various approaches
offers great potential for improving individual medical care.
That is why the theme for the 1st European Congress for
Integrative Medicine is: “The Future of Comprehensive
Patient Care”.
With regard to this congress, the close and successful scientific
collaboration with various medical societies (Deutsche
Krebsgesellschaft, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Schmerztherapie,
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kardiologie – Herz- und
Kreislaufforschung, International Society for Complementary
Medical Research) is evidence of the growth of importance,
which integrative medicine experiences across the borders of
scientific areas.
The congress will be organised by Prof. Dr. Stefan Willich of
the Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health
Economics of the Charité University Medical Center in Berlin,
Germany. More information can be found at the conference
website www.ecim-congress.org
Secretariat
European Committee for Homeopathy
Chaussée de Bruxelles 132, box 1
1190 Brussels - Belgium
Tel. +32-2-3453597
Fax +32-2-3461826
E-mail info@homeopathyeurope.org
Website www.homeopathyeurope.org
4
This booklet aims at considering all important aspects of the scientific
framework of Homeopathic practice including ethical questions, evaluation
of daily practice, looking at the level of scientific evidence of
each of these aspects in an objective way. The conclusions are clear,
homeopathy has to stay in the framework of medical practice and it is
even a necessity for public health. Of course more research is always
needed but the facts are already indisputable. This booklet will be distributed
at the next General Assembly of ECH in November 2008. It is
already available electronically at the secretarial office of the ECH. Do
not hesitate to use it for the promotion of homeopathy at Universities
or at political level.
Editors
Dr Ton Nicolai, Dr Patricia Le Roux,
Mrs Enid Segall
Please send any contributions for the
newsletter to the ECH secretariat