Homoeopathic Interventions in Experimental models of Breast Cancer: A Narrative Review

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has become the cornerstone of treatment worldwide for its effective control over a variety of diseases. In the United States, it was reported that nearly 38% of adults (roughly 4 in 10) and roughly 12% of children (roughly 1 in 9) are using some form of CAM. Homoeopathy, one of the most popular forms of CAM in many European and Asian countries, was introduced by Samuel Hahnemann and the medicines employed are dynamized to activate the body’s spontaneous healing mechanisms to stimulate symptom or disease resolution. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), including homeopathy, is frequently used to support cancer patients by improving their well-being and reducing the side effects of conventional treatments. In the last two decades experimental researches have been seeking its tumor suppressive and cytotoxic effects on breast cancer models. Methodology: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to identify peer-reviewed experimental studies published between 2000 and 2024. Studies focused on in vitro and in vivo effects of homoeopathic medicines on breast cancer. Results: 19 studies met the inclusion criteria— 14 in vitro, 2 in vivo, and 3 using both models. Findings highlight cytotoxic effects through apoptosis induction, induce cancer cell anti proliferation, oxidative stress modulation, cell cycle arrest, ROS generation and tumor growth suppression. Conclusion: Homoeopathy’s role in breast cancer treatment remains in its early stages, with limited investigations. The need for focused studies is on the rise to identify the best, indicated, scientifically-based action potential of homoeopathic drugs. Initial evidence suggests that it may have anti-cancer properties, but more independent validation and rigorous experimentation are required.