Homeopathy & acute otitis

reduced antibiotic fill rates

The following is adapted from (my article) Antibiotic resistance, Otitis Media and Homeopathy. What does the evidence say? and first published by the Aurum Project Research blog 20-11-2022.

Complementary medicine can be used in the treatment of acute otitis media (aka ear infection). The use of properly prescribed homeopathic medicine (by a registered homeopath) has been found to result in:

• Faster relief

• Decreased pain

• Quicker resolution of infection, in combination with conventional therapy.¹

The proven advantages for homeopathy in otitis media are:

• Lower antibiotic fill rates

• Less serious side effects

• No drug interactions

• Reduced parental leave from work!²

Systematic reviews have found:

• Mild treatment effect for homeopathic medicine in otitis media.³

• Reduction of antibiotic use.⁴

• Clinical efficacy and effectiveness of homeopathy in acute paediatric infections are favourable in terms of faster responses, fewer and less serious side effects, and cost savings.⁵⁶

Two well regarded randomized controlled trials (RCT) showed promising results for homeopathic medicine in the treatment of otitis media with:

• Significant decrease in symptoms of otitis media at 24 and 64 hours after homeopathic treatment.⁷

• Early homeopathic treatment resulted in nil antibiotics in the homeopathy group.⁸

An observational study found pain control in 40% of children after 6hours, with resolution of all otitis media symptoms being twice as fast with homeopathic medicine.⁹

A guide to common homeopathic medicines can be found as part of Marom et al., 2016¹⁰ systematic review (copyright prohibits sharing here).  

In Australia, the highest rate of dispensing antibiotics in under 65’s is for children aged between two and four most commonly for – you guessed it… otitis media.¹¹

In Australia during 2020, antibiotics were prescribed for acute otitis media in 83% of patients, and 85% in 2021 - despite estimates that they are required in just 20–30% of cases.¹²

Antibiotic resistance also applies to our ‘reserve’ antibiotics¹³ but scarily antibiotics are still being overprescribed (in direct contravention of national evidence-based prescribing guidelines) with ever increasing rates of resistant bacteria in our communities.¹⁴

However, the 2021 Hospital National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey (Hospital NAPS) data showed notable improvements in the appropriate antimicrobial prescribing within hospitals.¹⁵

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Homeopathy shows potential for significant reduction in antibiotic use.¹⁶¹⁷¹⁸

• The Weiermayer et al., (2020) Overview¹⁹ clarified level 1a studies and provided level 1a, 1b, and 2c evidence of the general effectiveness for human and veterinary homeopathy, particularly in the treatment of infections.

• Fixsen A, 2018;²⁰ 2013²¹ (Literature review; Systematic review)

• Van der Werf et al., 2018²² (Retrospective cross-sectional analysis)

• Bell and Boyer, 2013²³ (Peer reviewed paper)

• Sinha et al., 2012²⁴ (Double-blind placebo-controlled trial)

A 2018 study showed British GP’s using complementary medicine - including homeopathy - prescribed 22% fewer antibiotics.²⁵

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ALSO SEE the prior articles

Homeopathy, Athletes and antibiotic resistance

Homeopathy & the rising tide of AMR

‘In contrast to frequent claims, the available MAs of homoeopathy in placebo-controlled randomised trials for any indication show significant positive effects beyond placebo. Compared to other medical interventions, the quality of evidence for efficacy of homoeopathy was similar or higher than for 90% of interventions across medicine.²⁶ Accordingly, the efficacy evidence from placebo-controlled randomised trials provides no justification for regulatory or political actions against homoeopathy in health-care systems.’²⁷

1. Nathan et al., 2022. Complementary/Integrative Medicine for Pediatric Otitis Media. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. Oct;55(5):1055-1075. Available from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36088163/

2. Bell and Boyer. 2013. Homeopathic medications as clinical alternatives for symptomatic care of acute otitis media and upper respiratory infections in children. Glob Adv Health Med. Jan;2(1):32-43. Available from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24381823/

3. Marom et al., 2016. Complementary and Alternative Medicine Treatment Options for Otitis Media: A Systematic Review. Medicine (Baltimore). Feb;95(6):e2695. Available from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26871802/

4. Fixsen. 2013. Should homeopathy be considered as part of a treatment strategy for otitis media with effusion in children? Homeopathy. Apr;102(2):145-50. Available from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23622265/

5. Bellavite et al., 2011. Advances in homeopathy and immunology: a review of clinical research. Front Biosci (Schol Ed). Jun 1;3(4):1363-89. Available from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21622275/

6. Bukutu et al., 2008. Complementary, holistic, and integrative medicine: therapies for acute otitis media. Pediatr Rev. Jun;29(6):193-9. Available from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18515336/

7. Jacobs J, Springer DA, Crothers D. 2001. Homeopathic treatment of acute otitis media in children: a preliminary randomized placebo-controlled trial. Pediatric Infectious Diseases Journal. Feb;20(2):177-83. Available from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11224838/

8. Sinha et al., 2012. Randomized controlled pilot study to compare Homeopathy and Conventional therapy in Acute Otitis Media. Homeopathy. 2012 Jan;101(1):5-12. Available from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22226309/

9. Frei & Thurneysen. 2001. Homeopathy in acute otitis media in children: treatment effect or spontaneous resolution? Br Homeopath J. Oct;90(4):180-2. Available from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11680801/

10. Marom et al., 2016. Complementary and Alternative Medicine Treatment Options for Otitis Media: A Systematic Review. Medicine (Baltimore). Feb;95(6):e2695. Available from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26871802/

11. AURA 2019: Third Australian report on antimicrobial use and resistance in human health https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/publications-and-resources/resource-library/aura-2019-third-australian-report-antimicrobial-use-and-resistance-human-health

12. Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Australian Passive AMR Surveillance (APAS). 2023. ACSQHC. https://www. safetyandquality.gov.au/antimicrobialuse-and-resistance-in-australia/apas/.

13. NPSMedicinewise 2016. Antibiotic resistance in Australia: here and now. https://www.nps.org.au/news/antibiotic-resistance-in-australia-here-and-now

14. AURA 2021: Fourth Australian report on antimicrobial use and resistance in human health https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/publications-and-resources/resource-library/aura-2021-fourth-australian-report-antimicrobial-use-and-resistance-human-health

15. AURA 2023. Fifth Australian report on antimicrobial AURA use and resistance in human health. https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-11/aura_2023_fifth_australian_report_on_antimicrobial_use_and_resistance_in_human_health.pdf

16. van der Werf et al., 2018. Do NHS GP surgeries employing GPs additionally trained in integrative or complementary medicine have lower antibiotic prescribing rates? Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of national primary care prescribing data in England in 2016. BMJ Open. Mar 5;8(3):e020488. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29555793/

17. Fixsen. 2013. Should homeopathy be considered as part of a treatment strategy for otitis media with effusion in children? Homeopathy. Apr;102(2):145-50. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23622265/

18. Bell and Boyer. 2013. Homeopathic medications as clinical alternatives for symptomatic care of acute otitis media and upper respiratory infections in children. Glob Adv Health Med. Jan;2(1):32-43. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24381823/

19. WEIERMAYER ET AL., 2020. EVIDENCE-BASED HOMEOPATHY AND VETERINARY HOMEOPATHY, AND ITS POTENTIAL TO HELP OVERCOME THE ANTI-MICROBIAL RESISTANCE PROBLEM - AN OVERVIEW. SCHWEIZ ARCH TIERHEILKD. OCT;162(10):597-615. Available from: https://sat.gstsvs.ch/de/sat/sat-artikel/archiv/2020/102020/evidence-based-homeopathy-and-veterinary-homeopathy-and-its-potential-to-help-overcome-the-antimic.html

20. Fixsen, 2018. Homeopathy in the Age of Antimicrobial Resistance: Is It a Viable Treatment for Upper Respiratory Tract Infections? Homeopathy. May;107(2):99-114. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29767829/

21. Fixsen. 2013. Should homeopathy be considered as part of a treatment strategy for otitis media with effusion in children? Homeopathy. Apr;102(2):145-50. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23622265/

22. an der Werf et al., 2018. Do NHS GP surgeries employing GPs additionally trained in integrative or complementary medicine have lower antibiotic prescribing rates? Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of national primary care prescribing data in England in 2016. BMJ Open. Mar 5;8(3):e020488. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29555793/

23. Bell and Boyer. 2013. Homeopathic medications as clinical alternatives for symptomatic care of acute otitis media and upper respiratory infections in children. Glob Adv Health Med. Jan;2(1):32-43. PMID: 24381823

24. Sinha et al., 2012. Randomized controlled pilot study to compare Homeopathy and Conventional therapy in Acute Otitis Media. Homeopathy. 2012 Jan;101(1):5-12. PMID: 22226309

25. van der Werf et al., 2018. Do NHS GP surgeries employing GPs additionally trained in integrative or complementary medicine have lower antibiotic prescribing rates? Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of national primary care prescribing data in England in 2016. BMJ Open. Mar 5;8(3):e020488. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29555793/

26. Howick et al., 2022. Most healthcare interventions tested in Cochrane Reviews are not effective according to high quality evidence: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Epidemiol. Aug;148:160-169. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35447356/

27. Hamre et al., 2023. Efficacy of homoeopathic treatment: Systematic review of meta-analyses of randomised placebo-controlled homoeopathy trials for any indication. Systematic Rev.  Oct 7;12(1):191. https://systematicreviewsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13643-023-02313-2#Abs1