Conventional Medicine, Industry, and Homoeopathy: Between Scientific Paradigms, Economic Interests, and Structural Prejudices

Authors

• Jozelio F. de Carvalho, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, BrazilFollow

Author ORCID Identifier(s)

Jozelio F. de Carvalho: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7957-0844

Corresponding Author

Jozelio F. de Carvalho

Keywords

Homoeopathy, Complementary medicine, Integrative medicine, Epistemology, Evidence hierarchies, Biomedical science, Marginalisation

Article Type

Perspective

Abstract

This article discusses the key epistemological, economic, and structural factors that contribute to the marginalisation of Homoeopathy within contemporary biomedical science. This integrates information from scientific literature, policy discussions, and historical sources addressing evidence hierarchies, trial design, funding patterns, and institutional determinants of scientific legitimacy in medicine. Examples from systematic reviews, randomised controlled trials, pragmatic studies, and N-of-1 research frameworks are considered to contextualise how methodological models may favour or disadvantage specific therapeutic paradigms. Homoeopathy remains a contested field not only due to conflicting results in clinical studies, but also because classical randomised trial designs may fail to adequately capture individualised prescribing. While randomised controlled trials have historically been regarded as the primary benchmark of clinical validation, contemporary methodological debates increasingly recognise complementary designs—such as pragmatic and N-of-1 trials—as relevant in individualised medicine. Although heterogeneous outcomes have been reported, some evidence suggests effects beyond placebo under specific research frameworks. Comparisons with other complementary medicine systems highlight how institutional acceptance may vary according to cultural and political contexts. In summary, the marginalisation of Homoeopathy should be understood within a broader landscape of methodological constraints, epistemological tensions, and economic asymmetries, reflecting not only ongoing debates about evidence but also unequal structural conditions for evidence production.

Digital Object Identifier

10.53945/2320-7094.2663

Publisher

Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

How to cite this article

de Carvalho JF. Conventional Medicine, Industry, and Homoeopathy: Between Scientific Paradigms, Economic Interests, and Structural Prejudices. Indian J Res Homoeopathy. 2026;20(3):397–405.