A comprehensive search of major biomedical databases including Medline, Embase, Cinahl, PsycInfo and the Cochrane Library was conducted. Specialist CAM databases including Amed, CISCOM and Hom-Inform were also searched. Additionally, efforts were made to identify unpublished and ongoing research using relevant sources and experts in the field. Relevant research was categorised by study type and appraised according to study design. Clinical commentaries were obtained for studies reporting clinical outcomes. Two RCTs were identified. One of these, a feasibility study, demonstrated problems with recruitment of patients in primary care. Several uncontrolled and observational studies have reported positive results, including high levels of patient satisfaction, but because of the lack of a control group, it is difficult to assess the extent to which any response is due to the specific effects of homoeopathy.