Exploring and analysing the published scientific literature on homeopathy is essential, not only for telling us what evidence already exists, but also for informing future research.  HRI is working to improve the clarity of the evidence by supporting an ongoing programme of ‘systematic reviews’ of published studies. We are also increasing access to existing research through our collaboration with the Carstens Foundation on the CORE-Hom […]

What is this project about? Symphytum officinale (a member of the Boragninaceae family) has been used as a medicinal plant for centuries, often being referred to by the common names ‘Comfrey’ and ‘Knitbone’. Symphytum’s specific role in bone healing can be traced back even further, being used by Roman soldiers to treat combat bone fractures […]

Lead Researcher – Dr Petter Viksveen Completed September 2018 What is this project about? This project, carried out as part of a PhD programme at the University of Sheffield, evaluated the impact of providing homeopathic treatment in addition to usual care, for patients with self-reported depression. Multiple research methods were combined to assess the acceptability […]

What is this project about? This project evaluates the effectiveness of homeopathic treatment as experienced in clinical practice for children with ADHD. The project consists of a series of increasingly robust research studies starting with a case series: 20 children received treatment by a homeopath for a year, and the outcomes were compared with 10 […]

While some people are concerned with the theoretical question of how homeopathic medicines work, for others the more important question is, ‘What conditions can homeopathy treat?’ To make informed decisions about healthcare, both patients and healthcare providers need to know whether homeopathy can help with specific medical conditions. HRI supports projects that focus on clinical […]

What is this project about? The Water Research Lab (WRL) explores the physics of water, using state of the art experimental techniques. The expected findings from this project will have a wide range of potential applications, but HRI’s reason for co-funding WRL is that the 5-year research programme may well uncover the mode of action of […]

During the manufacturing process, homeopathic medicines are repeatedly succussed (shaken vigorously), introducing kinetic energy. This process is thought to be responsible for making the final product biologically active, despite being highly diluted. The question is, what changes does succussion cause in the solution and how does this enable the homeopathic medicines to work? This project […]

What is the exact mechanism of action of homeopathic medicines? This is the burning question, both for advocates of homeopathy and critics of homeopathy alike. Some homeopathic medicines are at low enough dilutions to contain molecules of the original substance (usually a plant or mineral) from which they are made, but others are diluted beyond the […]

Promoting high quality scientific research in homeopathy Conducting poor quality research is a waste of time and money. Therefore, to qualify for support from HRI, projects must first pass a peer review process conducted by our Scientific Advisory Committee. This ‘quality control’ system enables us to confidently channel donations and expertise to only the most promising […]

Information on homeopathy and evidence For answers to the most frequently asked questions see Homeopathy FAQs and Research to go. Press releases If you are a journalist and would like to be added to the HRI press release list please email press@hri-research.org with your contact and publication details. Experts To arrange an interview with a member of the […]