Bereits vor einer ausführlichen offiziellen Publikation wurde als Ergebnis der Münchner Kopfschmerzstudie verkündet: Homöopathie ist bei chronischen Kopfschmerzen nicht wirksamer als Plazebo. Wohl ist die Studie bislang einzigartig in ihrer Verknüpfung von homöopathischen Ansprüchen und derzeit üblichen wissenschaftlichen Standards, dennoch liefert die Untersuchung aus methodischen Gründen keinen Beweis dafür, daß Homöopathie Plazebo ist. Erschwernisse der Behandlung, die sich während des Studienverlaufs zeigten, werden kritisch gewürdigt. Neben der Frage, ob sich homöopathische Effekte mit einer Methode, die kausale Wirkmechanismen unterstellt, nachweisen lassen, ist die Frage nach Konsequenzen für die weitere Homöopathieforschung zu stellen.

Little is known about the long-term effects of homeopathic treatment. Following a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of classical homeopathy in chronic headaches, we conducted a complete follow-up study of all trial participants. All patients enrolled in the double-blind study were sent a 6-week headache diary, a follow-up questionnaire. Eighty-seven of the original 98 patients enrolled returned questionnaires, 81 returned diaries. There was no additional change from the end of the trial to the 1-year follow up. The improvement seen at the end of the 12-week trial was stable after 1 year. No differential effects according to treatment after the trial could be seen. Patients with no treatment following the trial had the most improvement after 1 year. Approximately 30% of patients in homeopathic treatment will benefit after 1 year of treatment. There is no indication of a specific, or of a delayed effect of homeopathy.

We conducted a randomized, placebo-cor rolled, double-blind clinical trial in order to determine the efficacy of classical homeopathic therapy in patients with chronic headaches. After 6 weeks of baseline observation, patients received either the prescribed individualized homeopathic medication or an indistinguishable placebo for 12 weeks. Outcome parameters were headache frequency, duration, and intensity, measured daily by diary. Use of medication for acure headache was also monitored. Of the 98 patients in the sample, 37 were randomized to receive placebo, 6I received individualized homeopathic remedies. Groups were comparable at the beginning of the treatment. The median age was 48.5 years; 76% suffered from migraine, 51% from tension-type headaches, and 94% were previously treated for headache. The median headache frequency was 3 days a week. Headaches were present for 23 years (median). In both groups, patients showed an improvement of one headache day less per month. The use of medication for acute headache was reduced. The headache frequency of 11 patients was reduced by more than 40%. Thirty-nine patients either did not improve or experienced aggravations. There was no significant difference in any parameter between homeopathy and placebo.