[Omeo33] Art 1110 - JACM, 2010, 16 (1), 69-79

[Gino Santini]

The Use of Homeopathic Products in Childhood: Data Generated over 8.5  
Years from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)
Elizabeth A. Thompson, Jackie L. Bishop, Kate Northstone

Background: Very little is known about the use of homeopathic products  
(HP) in children. The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children  
(ALSPAC), a population-based cohort in the South-West of England, has  
collected homeopathic data through self-completion questionnaires  
posted to the mother at regular time points throughout childhood. The  
aim of this article is to describe the use of these products in a  
large cohort of children from birth to 8.5 years of age.
Methods: Questions asked about the use of HP within a preceding time  
period at seven time points from birth to 8.5 years of age. Additional  
questions at 18 and 81 months asked about the conditions treated and  
at 81 months who had prescribed the HP.
Results: Eleven and eight-tenths percent (11.8%) of this cohort used a  
HP at least once up to 8.5 years of age. Chamomilla for teething and  
Arnica for soft-tissue bruising were the most commonly used products.  
The most frequently prescribed products were for common self-limiting  
infantile conditions such as colic, cuts and bruises, and teething.  
Parents were most likely at 81 months to prescribe HP for their  
children (46.3% of all prescription sources) and 10% of products were  
prescribed by general practitioners. Confusion about what constituted  
a HP was present in nearly 10% of answers.
Conclusions: No other study, to our knowledge, has been able to map  
the use of HP over such a long time period in such a large cohort of  
children. The amount of HP use reflects a significant minority of the  
population who use complementary and alternative medicine treatments  
to manage the health of their family. Health care professionals should  
be aware of the confusion surrounding HP and have knowledge around  
some of the more commonly used HP. Parents and carers are using  
homeopathy wisely with appropriate remedies consistently used for  
acute problems. Research could focus on greater information delivery  
to the community and monitoring of potential health and cost benefits,  
or side-effects of the use of HP for acute and chronic conditions in  
children.

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