Therapies on Trial

Synopsis

Explores how clinical trials are used to test the effectiveness of complementary therapies such as homoeopathy, which is based on the principle of treating ‘like with like’ - using minute doses of substances which in high doses can bring on symptoms of the disease. Some argue that the apparent effectiveness of homoeopathy is due more to the power of suggestion that to the remedies themselves. Shows a clinical trial on homoeopathy for treating hay fever and trial on asthma. Discusses a review of over 100 clinical trials on homoeopathy, with most showing that homoeopathic remedies have a greater effect than placebo treatment. The studies target the strengths and limitations of clinical trials themselves.

Series

Health and Disease, Course U205

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video; Videocassette. Standard formats. col. 24 min.

Year of production

1994

Availability

Off-air recording licence
Sale; 2000 sale: £145.00 (+VAT +p&p)

Subjects

Medical sciences

Keywords

clinical trials; complementary medicine; hay fever; homoeopathy

Credits

Producer

Rissa de la Paz

Cast

Alison Colvile

Production Company

Name

BBC Open University Productions

Distributor

Name

Open University Worldwide

Web

http://www.ouw.co.uk External site opens in new window

Phone

+44 (0) 1908 274066

Address

Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA

Notes

NB. As of May 2016 Open University Worldwide are no longer distributing DVDs. They have posted this message on their website: ‘Unfortunately Open University Worldwide Limited has decided that product sales are no longer viable given the reduced funding to Higher Education institutions and diminishing demand for the products we have traditionally stocked. At present the Open University Students Association (OUSA) will continue to sell the "Good Study Guide", and we are in discussion with other possible distributors to continue to make The Open University’s products available for purchase. As soon as we have any information on other channels of distribution we will update this notice’. Some products are still available via second hand dealers on Amazon.co.uk