Efficacy and safety of homeopathic medicines in acute respiratory viral infections from the standpoint of evidence-based medicine (international experience)

The need to understand the basis of the effectiveness and safety of homeopathic medicines in acute respiratory viral infections from the standpoint of evidence-based medicine is discussed in this review article. Homeopathic medicines are considered in terms of a component of nanomedicine in view of the discoveries being made in recent decades in this field of know­ledge, as well as in view of the fact that the course of acute respiratory viral infections is mostly manifested by functional disorders. The expediency of using some components of homeopathic medicines in low/homeopathic/nanoconcentrations is indicated, ta­king into account their dose-dependent safety profile. As an example, French drugs — Oscillococcinum, Coryzalia, Homeovox and Stodal — were analyzed. Over many decades of practical use of these drugs, a fairly substantial scientific basis has been deve­loped. There is a number of articles confirming their effectiveness and safety, which were published in various countries around the world. Not only clinical studies on the above-mentioned drugs are considered, but also the mechanism of their action which is based on the pharmacodynamic properties of some components. The need to consider any drug is noted, including homeopathic medicine, both from the standpoint of evidence-based medicine and in a broader sense, given the modern approach to value-based healthcare. Based on the analyzed information, it is concluded that the above-mentioned drugs — Oscillococcinum, Coryzalia, Homeovox, Stodal — meet these requirements and should be more widely implemented in clinical practice.