Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine that is underpinned by the principle of similitude (like cures like) meaning substances that cause symptoms in a healthy person have the ability to treat an ill person with the same symptoms (when administered in homeopathic potencies).
In April 2014 NHMRC released an independent assessment of the evidence based on a review of available research evidence up to January 2013.
This review identified 57 systematic reviews which identified 176 studies that examined comparing homeopathy to placebos or other treatments.
The body of evidence identified from the evidence review was assessed according to study design, quality and the number of participants.
From this body of evidence it was found that well-conducted placebo-controlled trials demonstrated that homeopathic remedies were no more effective than placebo.
Placebo or medication-controlled clinical trials are the highest level of evidence for the effectiveness of any treatment, and there are several of these trials for various homeopathic remedies.
Relevant to the cancer setting a series of reviews were examined that were purporting to target adverse effects of cancer treatments.
Based on the studies available for review it was concluded that there is no reliable evidence on which to draw a conclusion about the effectiveness of homeopathy compared to placebo for the treatment of: adverse effects of venous cannulation; chemotherapy - associated nausea/vomiting; chemotherapy - induced stomatitis; hot flushes in women with a history of breast cancer; or radiodermatitis in breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.