In late 2011, the Swiss government issued the most comprehensive evaluation of homeopathic medicine ever written by a government. This breakthrough report validated homeopathic treatment as being both a valuable course of treatment and cost effective - so much so that the treatment should be reimbursed by Switzerland's national health insurance program. Not only did this report carefully and comprehensively review the body of evidence from randomized double-blind and placebo controlled clinical trials testing homeopathic medicines, they also evaluated the "real world effectiveness" as well as safety and cost-effectiveness. The report also conducted a comprehensive review of the wide body of preclinical research.
The Swiss report affirmed that homeopathic high-potencies seem to induce regulatory effects (balancing or normalizing effects) and specific changes in cells or living organisms. The report also reported that 20 of the 22 systematic reviews of clinical research testing homeopathic medicines detected at least a trend in favor of homeopathy. Strong evidence was found to support homeopathic treatment in Upper Respiratory Tract Infections and Respiratory Allergies. 24 out of 29 studies found a positive result in favor of homeopathy and six out of seven controlled studies that compared homeopathic treatment with conventional medical treatment demonstrated that homeopathy was more effective.
Costs were also explored in this report and found that total practice costs for physicians who specialized in homeopathic medicine had an overall 15.4 percent reduction in overall health care costs associated with their practice, as compared with physicians who practiced conventional medicine as well as those physicians who practice other "complementary and alternative medicine" treatments (but not homeopathic medicine). The significant reduction in health care costs from homeopathic treatment represents a potential saving of hundreds of millions of dollars or more in many countries. This significant 15 percent saving from homeopathic care confirmed from an independent Dutch study that analyzed claims from a major health insurer which also found a 15 percent reduction in health care costs associated with alternative medical care by physicians who were trained in homeopathic medicine, acupuncture, or anthroposophical medicine
85% of the Swiss population concur with the report's findings - and wanted complementary healing strategies covered by the government. As a result, a national referendum was passed supporting the inclusion of homeopathic and select alternative medicines in Switzerland's national health care insurance program.
It is so unfortunate that homeopathic remedies and consults are not covered by insurance companies in the United States, particularly since they have been found to be effective in a wide variety of studies worldwide and have been shown to work so dramatically in a number of patients. Even though it is not covered, it is often still more cost effective than paying co-pays for doctor's visits and prescription medications that can be so costly and have a number of adverse side effects, resulting in more doctor's visit and medications.
To find out how homeopathy can help you and your family call our office at (800) 669-0358 to schedule your appointment today
