VIDEO: Homeopathic injectables topped placebo for knee osteoarthritis

MAUI, HAWAII – Two homeopathic injectables, as well as the familiar combination of glucosamine and chondroitin, showed promise in two studies of alternative treatments for osteoarthritis.

In an interview at the 2015 Rheumatology Winter Clinical Symposium, Dr. Martin J. Bergman, of the department of rheumatology at Drexel University in Philadelphia, shared the recent results from the two investigations.

The first pitted intra-articular injections of two homeopathic products, Traumeel and Zeel, against placebo saline injections for knee osteoarthritis; the work was sponsored by the products’ German maker, Biologische Heilmittel Heel.

In the second trial, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate went head to head against celecoxib (Celebrex), also for knee OA. The work was sponsored by Bioibérica, a Spanish company that makes chondroitin and glucosamine, and the investigators reported financial ties to the company.

Traumeel and Zeel may sound exotic, but they aren’t unknown in the rheumatology world – some U.S. rheumatologists are using them, Dr. Bergman, also chief of rheumatology at Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park, Pa., said.

Dr. Bergman disclosed that he has served as an advisor, speaker, or consultant for AbbVie, Amgen, Celgene, and Roche, and holds shares in Bristol-Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer.

[email protected]

MAUI, HAWAII – Two homeopathic injectables, as well as the familiar combination of glucosamine and chondroitin, showed promise in two studies of alternative treatments for osteoarthritis.

In an interview at the 2015 Rheumatology Winter Clinical Symposium, Dr. Martin J. Bergman, of the department of rheumatology at Drexel University in Philadelphia, shared the recent results from the two investigations.

The first pitted intra-articular injections of two homeopathic products, Traumeel and Zeel, against placebo saline injections for knee osteoarthritis; the work was sponsored by the products’ German maker, Biologische Heilmittel Heel.

In the second trial, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate went head to head against celecoxib (Celebrex), also for knee OA. The work was sponsored by Bioibérica, a Spanish company that makes chondroitin and glucosamine, and the investigators reported financial ties to the company.

Traumeel and Zeel may sound exotic, but they aren’t unknown in the rheumatology world – some U.S. rheumatologists are using them, Dr. Bergman, also chief of rheumatology at Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park, Pa., said.

Dr. Bergman disclosed that he has served as an advisor, speaker, or consultant for AbbVie, Amgen, Celgene, and Roche, and holds shares in Bristol-Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer.

[email protected]

MAUI, HAWAII – Two homeopathic injectables, as well as the familiar combination of glucosamine and chondroitin, showed promise in two studies of alternative treatments for osteoarthritis.

In an interview at the 2015 Rheumatology Winter Clinical Symposium, Dr. Martin J. Bergman, of the department of rheumatology at Drexel University in Philadelphia, shared the recent results from the two investigations.

The first pitted intra-articular injections of two homeopathic products, Traumeel and Zeel, against placebo saline injections for knee osteoarthritis; the work was sponsored by the products’ German maker, Biologische Heilmittel Heel.

In the second trial, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate went head to head against celecoxib (Celebrex), also for knee OA. The work was sponsored by Bioibérica, a Spanish company that makes chondroitin and glucosamine, and the investigators reported financial ties to the company.

Traumeel and Zeel may sound exotic, but they aren’t unknown in the rheumatology world – some U.S. rheumatologists are using them, Dr. Bergman, also chief of rheumatology at Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park, Pa., said.

Dr. Bergman disclosed that he has served as an advisor, speaker, or consultant for AbbVie, Amgen, Celgene, and Roche, and holds shares in Bristol-Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer.

[email protected]