Scottish Homeopathic Prescribing Studied

A new survey suggests as many as 60 percent of Scottish doctors prescribe homeopathic or herbal remedies to patients, including babies and children.

University of Aberdeen researchers analyzed prescribing data from 2003 and 2004, covering 1.9 million Scottish patients in 323 practices.

The researchers, among other things, discovered children under 12 months were most likely to be prescribed homeopathic or herbal remedies.

The top five homeopathic remedies were Arnica montana (for injury, bruising), Rhus toxicodendron (joint symptoms, headache), Cuprum metallicum (cramps, poor circulation) Pulsatilla (PMT, menopausal symptoms, breast feeding problems) and Sepia (PMT, menopausal symptoms, fatigue).

The five most prescribed herbal remedies were: Gentian (poor appetite), Cranberry (urinary tract infection), Digestodoron (indigestion, constipation), Evening primrose (PMT) and Laxadoron (constipation).

Study co-author Dr. James McLay said the major problem with homeopathic preparations is the lack of scientific evidence they are effective.

Whatever the arguments, our study shows an apparent acceptance of homeopathic and herbal medicine within primary care, including extensive use in children and young babies, McLay said. We believe that these findings underline the need for a critical review of this prescribing trend.

The study appears in the December issue of the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.