Leyton, E, Pross, H · Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien · 1992
This study tested whether herbal and homeopathic treatments could help six ME/CFS patients feel better. Researchers tracked symptoms and measured blood markers before and after treatment. The treatments did not produce any measurable improvements in symptoms or immune function.
ME/CFS patients often explore complementary and alternative treatments due to limited conventional options. Rigorous evaluation of these interventions—even negative findings—helps patients and clinicians make informed decisions about time and financial investments in unproven therapies.
This small study does not definitively prove that all herbal or homeopathic preparations are ineffective in ME/CFS, nor does it establish that specific formulations, dosages, or patient subgroups could never benefit. The lack of a control group means natural symptom fluctuation cannot be ruled out as an explanation for observed changes.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
Contribute
Private, reviewed by a human. Not a public comment thread.