The Faculty of Homeopathy, whose premises are based at the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital, offers treatment for all conditions. Some research is carried out and published in medical journals such as the BMJ and the Lancet. Nevertheless, there are hardly any well-conducted clinical trials. Homeopathic practioners have sometimes been reluctant to pursue clinical trials on the grounds that their remedies are individual for each patient and therefore cannot be assessed in this way.

A trial published recently in the Lancet [Reilly, D. et al. Lancet (1994):334:1601-1606] suggested that a homeopathy remedy might be of some benefit (albeit limited) in treating allergic asthma. The study was carefully conducted by doctors working at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. The authors' results reproduced the findings of two previous studies and they concluded that there was 'evidence that homeopathy does more than placebo'. They consider that the principles said to underly homeopathy are irreconcilable with those of modern pharmacology, but speculate that electromagnetic or nuclear magnetic resonance changes may occur at high dilution and in some way underlie a biological activity.

At present, the answer has to be no. The above sugguestions are purely speculative and remain to be refuted or confirmed.

As discussed above, there is at present scant evidence that homeopathy is effective. Proponents have claimed that the process of dilution and shaking releases a therapeutic force. Thus, if homeopathy were in future shown to be effective, it might well be the methodology which was important.

Hahneman was a freemason and hypnotist but also an educated and compassionate practitioner in his day. Today, individual therapists have differing world-views.

Christians in the UK are divided about this issue. The answer to the question is not immediately obvious and depends on where the 'immaterial and vital' force is thought to originate from. This will depend to some extent on the therapist and their world-view. There is evidence from continental Europe of a link between homeopathy and the occult, where is has been alleged that homeopathic practitioners carry out research during séances and use occult practices such as the pendulum [Bopp, H. Homeopathy. Great Joy: Belfast, N. Ireland, English translation, 1985] but this is probably less common in Britain. Christian homeopaths would of course not be involved in any such practices.

I would conclude that there is presently insufficient scientific evidence for homeopathy for it to be a tenable therapy for the individual. Whether it will eventually gain scientific credibility remains to be see. Given the isolated reports of an association with occult practices I would encourage the reader to be cautious and prayerful, and to make exhaustive enquiries if considering treatment.