George Lewith
Encyclopedia
George Lewith is a professor
of health research at the University of Southampton
, with an exclusive interest in the research of complementary medicine.
in medicine and biochemistry. He then went on to Westminster Medical School to complete his clinical studies and began working clinically in 1975. He had completed his membership of the Royal College of Physicians
in early 1977 (elected Fellow in 1992) and completed his training as a General Practitioner and membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners
in 1980.
His two main current jobs are professor of health research in the Department of Primary Care at the University of Southampton and vice-chairman of The College of Medicine
. Lewith has obtained a significant number of institutional peer reviewed fellowships at doctoral and post-doctoral level and has been principal investigator or collaborator in research grants totally over £5 million during the last decade.
used as an adjunct to mainstream medicine. This includes methodological papers which look at how complementary medical techniques may be investigated. The first such paper was published in the early 1980s. Since that time he has published papers looking at the clinical effects of acupuncture
and its mechanisms, the effects of distant and present healing, the clinical effects of homoeopathy
, the effects and activity of herbal medicine
, the clinical effects of the Alexander technique
and the use and effectiveness of a variety of nutritional supplements
and herbs.
He has also investigated how and why people use complementary medicine and is currently involved in two major EU projects. The first is to look at the use, delivery and future research strategy for complementary medicine in Europe and the second relates to the use and investigation of Chinese herbal medicines within a European context.
publications and 16 books including various book chapters. He is the lead editor for the standard textbook on the evaluation of complementary medicines which is now in its third edition.
Some examples of the research that Lewith has been involved with include:
His research demonstrates how acupuncture has significant effects over placebo
in chronic neck pain and his team has also demonstrated through brain imaging techniques that it has clearly defined neurological mechanisms that are different from placebo.
He has researched how homoeopathic consultations are unique and different from conventional care. His clinical trial of homoeopathy in rheumatoid arthritis
indicated that the effect of homoeopathy (almost certainly due to the consultation) is as large as the most powerful conventional drugs available for this condition.
He has also published a number of studies suggesting that various complementary therapies are less effective than placebo for specific conditions. This includes, among many others, acupuncture for disabling breathlessness and a particular homeopathic technique for asthma
.
There are a large number of systematic reviews looking at the clinical effects of real versus placebo in homeopathy and analysing much the same data with slightly different research questions and frames of reference. The conclusions of these systematic reviews are evenly split; some suggest that homeopathy is a placebo while others suggest its effect is greater than placebo. All researchers looking at the primary data in this field thoughtfully comment that there is inadequate data upon which to draw definitive conclusions. When such controversies in data interpretation occur it is almost uniformly the case that there is too little information upon which to draw the definitive conclusions.
As someone who has published high quality randomised controlled trials of real homeopathy versus placebo which demonstrate no specific effect Lewith’s sceptical position in relation to the specific effect of homeopathy is publicly transparent. However all the studies in which he has been involved demonstrate that homeopathy is a very effective treatment even though its efficacy is in doubt. Homeopathy may be exerting these clinical benefits through a variety of mechanisms that have nothing to do with ultramolecular potencies including its unique approach to the consultation.
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of health research at the University of Southampton
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
, with an exclusive interest in the research of complementary medicine.
Background
Lewith graduated from Trinity College, CambridgeTrinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
in medicine and biochemistry. He then went on to Westminster Medical School to complete his clinical studies and began working clinically in 1975. He had completed his membership of the Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
in early 1977 (elected Fellow in 1992) and completed his training as a General Practitioner and membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners
Royal College of General Practitioners
The Royal College of General Practitioners is the professional body for general practitioners in the United Kingdom. The RCGP represents and supports GPs on key issues including licensing, education, training, research and clinical standards. It is the largest of the medical royal colleges, with...
in 1980.
His two main current jobs are professor of health research in the Department of Primary Care at the University of Southampton and vice-chairman of The College of Medicine
The College of Medicine
The College of Medicine is a United Kingdom based organisation founded in 2010 for patients and healthcare professionals. The College states that it aims to "promote a more politically and professionally transparent, patient centred, and sustainable approach to healthcare, using whatever social or...
. Lewith has obtained a significant number of institutional peer reviewed fellowships at doctoral and post-doctoral level and has been principal investigator or collaborator in research grants totally over £5 million during the last decade.
Complementary medicine
Lewith’s publications span a wide range of issues in relation to complementary medicineAlternative medicine
Alternative medicine is any healing practice, "that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine." It is based on historical or cultural traditions, rather than on scientific evidence....
used as an adjunct to mainstream medicine. This includes methodological papers which look at how complementary medical techniques may be investigated. The first such paper was published in the early 1980s. Since that time he has published papers looking at the clinical effects of acupuncture
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a type of alternative medicine that treats patients by insertion and manipulation of solid, generally thin needles in the body....
and its mechanisms, the effects of distant and present healing, the clinical effects of homoeopathy
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine in which practitioners claim to treat patients using highly diluted preparations that are believed to cause healthy people to exhibit symptoms that are similar to those exhibited by the patient...
, the effects and activity of herbal medicine
Phytotherapy
Phytotherapy is the study of the use of extracts from natural origin as medicines or health-promoting agents.Traditional phytotherapy is often used as synonym for herbalism and regarded as "alternative medicine" by much of Western medicine, although effects of many substances found in plants have...
, the clinical effects of the Alexander technique
Alexander Technique
The Alexander Technique teaches the ability to improve physical postural habits, particularly those that have become ingrained and conditioned responses...
and the use and effectiveness of a variety of nutritional supplements
Dietary supplement
A dietary supplement, also known as food supplement or nutritional supplement, is a preparation intended to supplement the diet and provide nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, fiber, fatty acids, or amino acids, that may be missing or may not be consumed in sufficient quantities in a person's diet...
and herbs.
He has also investigated how and why people use complementary medicine and is currently involved in two major EU projects. The first is to look at the use, delivery and future research strategy for complementary medicine in Europe and the second relates to the use and investigation of Chinese herbal medicines within a European context.
Research areas
His main research outputs have been across a large number of fields within complementary medicine. They have involved the development of new research methodology to rigorously evaluate these techniques, the collection of primary research data in a variety of fields and the development of new assessment tools through which to evaluate these therapeutic interventions. He has published over 230 peer-reviewedPeer review
Peer review is a process of self-regulation by a profession or a process of evaluation involving qualified individuals within the relevant field. Peer review methods are employed to maintain standards, improve performance and provide credibility...
publications and 16 books including various book chapters. He is the lead editor for the standard textbook on the evaluation of complementary medicines which is now in its third edition.
Some examples of the research that Lewith has been involved with include:
- How people use complementary medicine interchangeably, safely and in an informed manner with conventional care when they have chronic illness.
- How complementary medicine may help with chronic problems such as back pain. ATEAM papers demonstrated that the Alexander technique is one of the most effective interventions for chronic low back pain. A course of 24 lessons reducing monthly days in pain by 18 and a course of 6 lessons reducing on average monthly days in pain by ten. The Alexander technique also is an effective and a cost effective intervention for this condition.
His research demonstrates how acupuncture has significant effects over placebo
Placebo
A placebo is a simulated or otherwise medically ineffectual treatment for a disease or other medical condition intended to deceive the recipient...
in chronic neck pain and his team has also demonstrated through brain imaging techniques that it has clearly defined neurological mechanisms that are different from placebo.
He has researched how homoeopathic consultations are unique and different from conventional care. His clinical trial of homoeopathy in rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks synovial joints. The process produces an inflammatory response of the synovium secondary to hyperplasia of synovial cells, excess synovial fluid, and the development...
indicated that the effect of homoeopathy (almost certainly due to the consultation) is as large as the most powerful conventional drugs available for this condition.
He has also published a number of studies suggesting that various complementary therapies are less effective than placebo for specific conditions. This includes, among many others, acupuncture for disabling breathlessness and a particular homeopathic technique for asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
.
Controversy
Lewith has been criticised because he prescribed homoeopathic treatments when he ran a private practice and an unevidenced diagnostic method, the Vega test. He has written a paper showing that this test was ineffective for diagnosing contact sensitivity (such as cat hair and dust mites) so ceased to use this approach for contact testing.There are a large number of systematic reviews looking at the clinical effects of real versus placebo in homeopathy and analysing much the same data with slightly different research questions and frames of reference. The conclusions of these systematic reviews are evenly split; some suggest that homeopathy is a placebo while others suggest its effect is greater than placebo. All researchers looking at the primary data in this field thoughtfully comment that there is inadequate data upon which to draw definitive conclusions. When such controversies in data interpretation occur it is almost uniformly the case that there is too little information upon which to draw the definitive conclusions.
As someone who has published high quality randomised controlled trials of real homeopathy versus placebo which demonstrate no specific effect Lewith’s sceptical position in relation to the specific effect of homeopathy is publicly transparent. However all the studies in which he has been involved demonstrate that homeopathy is a very effective treatment even though its efficacy is in doubt. Homeopathy may be exerting these clinical benefits through a variety of mechanisms that have nothing to do with ultramolecular potencies including its unique approach to the consultation.