Background: To address the side effects of anticancer treatments, the Clinic for Complementary Medicine and Diet in Oncology was opened, in collaboration with the oncology department, at t...

Complementary and Integrative Medicine to Reduce Adverse Effects of Anticancer Therapy.

Use of Homeopathy in Integrative Oncology in Strasbourg, France: Multi-center Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study of Patients Undergoing Cancer Treatment.

In June 2019, a meeting was held in Paris in which experts from different countries (Israel, Spain, Belgium, Italy, USA, and France) met to discuss a selection of topics in integrative oncology (IO). The objectives were to draw on the delegates' experience and expertise to begin an international collaboration, sharing details of differing existing models and discussing future perspectives to help define and guide practice in IO and define unmet needs. This report presents a summary of the meeting's main presentations, and also reports on the experts' responses to a questionnaire examining different aspects of IO service delivery, infrastructure, and utilization.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/15347354211004730

Integrative Oncology: An International Perspective from Six Countries.

Resume Introduction Le recours aux medecines alternatives et complementaires (MAC) orales est frequent chez les patients atteints de cancer, mais moins documente chez l’enfant. Une enquete a ete realisee dans une unite d’onco-hematologie pediatrique dans le but d’etudier la frequence et les circonstances d’utilisation des MAC. Methodes Cette etude prospective a inclus 50 familles dont l’enfant etait suivi pour un cancer. Un questionnaire a ete elabore et a ete rempli avec l’un des parents lors d’un entretien individuel. Resultats Presque la moitie des familles interrogees (48 %, n  = 24) utilisait une ou plusieurs MAC dans le cadre de la prise en charge du cancer de leur enfant. Le type de MAC le plus utilise etait l’homeopathie, suivie des complements alimentaires et de l’aromatherapie. Pour 75 % des parents, l’objectif etait de diminuer les effets indesirables des traitements anticancereux. Pour 87,5 % des utilisateurs, les MAC etaient jugees efficaces. Un tiers n’avaient pas informe les medecins oncologues. Le medecin traitant etait la principale source d’information pour l’utilisation des MAC. Pres de la moitie (48 %) des parents interroges exprimaient avoir besoin de plus d’information a propos des MAC et 96 % des parents se les procuraient en pharmacie d’officine. Conclusions Cette etude confirme que l’utilisation des MAC orale est frequente en onco-hematologie pediatrique, mais les medecins n’en sont pas systematiquement informes. Pourtant certaines MAC a base de plantes peuvent engendrer des interactions medicamenteuses avec les traitements conventionnels. Une meilleure information des familles sur l’utilisation des MAC en onco-hematologie pediatrique semble necessaire. Cependant, s’agissant d’une etude ouverte sur des informations orales, l’interpretation des resultats devra rester prudente.

Iconographies supplémentaires de l'article : Évaluation du recours aux médecines alternatives et complémentaires orales dans un service d’onco-hématologie pédiatrique

In France, homeopathy is the most frequently used complementary therapy in supportive care in oncology (SCO); its use is steadily increasing. However, data is limited about the perception and relevance of homeopathy by oncologists and general practitioners (GPs) both with and without homeopathic training (HGPs and NHGPs, respectively). Our aim was to evaluate French physicians’ perceptions of homeopathy to clarify its place in SCO through two original observation survey-based studies. Two cross-sectional surveys of French physicians were conducted involving (1) 150 specialist oncologists; (2) 97 HGPs and 100 NHGPs. Questions evaluated physician attitudes to homeopathy and patterns of use of homeopathic therapies in patients requiring SCO. Survey responses were described and analyzed on the basis of physician status. Ten percent of oncologists stated they prescribe homeopathy; 36% recommend it; 54% think that homeopathy is potentially helpful in SCO. Two-thirds of the NHGPs sometimes prescribe homeopathy in the context of SCO and 58% regularly refer their patients to homeopathic doctors. HGPs have a positive perception of homeopathy in SCO. Homeopathy is viewed favorably as an integrated SCO therapy by the majority of French physicians involved with cancer patients—oncologists and GPs. Symptoms of particular relevance include fatigue, anxiety, peripheral neuropathy, sleep disturbance, and hot flashes. In such clinical situations, response to conventional therapies may be suboptimal and homeopathy is considered a reliable therapeutic option. These two studies highlight the fact that homeopathy has gained legitimacy as the first complementary therapy in SCO in France.

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Perceptions of homeopathy in supportive cancer care among oncologists and general practitioners in France

Therapeutic recommendations of the International Homeopathic Society of Supportive Care in Oncology (IHSSCO)

Recommandations thérapeutiques de la Société Homéopathique Internationale de Soins de Support en Oncologie (SHISSO)

Summary Vaginismus is a common and often unrecognized sexual dysfunction. Its psychopathology concerns the woman as much as her partner. A simple psycho-behavioural support usually solves the problem. The repertorisation of vaginismus symptoms indicates two drugs, Cactus grandiflorus and Platinum metallicum, thus illustrating the ability of the Materia Medica to summarize the complexity of a disease. The converging perspectives of homeopathic and gynaecological semeiologies can enrich and update medical practice.

Odile Tourneur-Bagot

Papers

Therapeutic recommendations of the International Homeopathic Society of Supportive Care in Oncology (IHSSCO)

Recommandations thérapeutiques de la Société Homéopathique Internationale de Soins de Support en Oncologie (SHISSO)

Iconographies supplémentaires de l'article : Vaginismus. The Gynaecologist and the Homeopath: Converging Perspectives

Le vaginisme : regards croisés de la gynécologue et de l’homéopathe

Vaginismus. The Gynaecologist and the Homeopath: Converging Perspectives