Effectiveness of the homeopathic preparation Neurexan compared with that of commonly used valerian-based preparations for the treatment of nervousness/restlessness - an observational study.

Mild anxieties, nervousness, and restlessness are common in the general population and are commonly treated by complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies. A prospective, nonrandomized, noninterventional, observational study, using conventional or CAM practices, was conducted in 49 German practices. Each practice could include up to 15 subjects treated with either the homeopathic preparation Neurexan or with combination formulations based on valerian extracts. There was no placebo group. Choice and doses of study therapies were at the respective physician's discretion. The planned treatment duration was 2 weeks. A total of 826 subjects were included in the study and 777 (553 Neurexan and 224 valerian) subjects were available for the final examination. Subjects receiving Neurexan tended to weigh less, to have fewer concomitant illnesses and slightly milder severity of nervousness/restlessness, and were likelier to be female than the subjects receiving valerian therapies. The summary score for nervousness/restlessness was reduced from 19.0 +/- 6.1 at baseline to 7.4 +/- 6.8 at the end of the observation period in the Neurexan group, a reduction of 11.5 +/- 7.3 score units. In the valerian group, the summary score was reduced from 21.4 +/- 6.0 to 12.6 +/- 7.3, a reduction of 9.0 +/- 6.6 score units. The changes from baseline and the differences between the groups were statistically significant. Similar significant differences in effects were seen on the subscores and on the subjects' assessments of effectiveness. Both study therapies were well tolerated. Neurexan appears to be an effective and well-tolerated alternative to valerian-based combination therapies for the treatment of nervousness/restlessness in subjects favorable towards a CAM-based therapy.

The homeopathic preparation Neurexan vs. valerian for the treatment of insomnia: an observational study.

Insomnia is prevalent and complementary therapies are common, but data are lacking on the effectiveness and tolerability of preparations beyond valerian. Here we report on an open-label, prospective cohort study in 89 German centers offering both conventional and complementary therapies. Subjects received the homeopathic preparation Neurexan or valerian for 28 days. Doses were at physicians' judgments. Sleep duration and latency were evaluated based on patients' sleep diaries over 14 days; sleep quality was evaluated at 28 +/- 1 days. A total of 409 subjects were enrolled. The groups were balanced at baseline for age, sex, weight, and sleep disturbances. At day 14, both groups reported improved sleep latency and duration; latency was reduced from baseline by 37.3 +/- 36.3 min with Neurexan and by 38.2 +/- 38.5 min with valerian. The duration of sleep increased by 2.2 (+/-1.6) h in the Neurexan group and by 2.0 (+/-1.5) h in the valerian group. Differences between the groups in improvement on sleep duration were significantly in favor of Neurexan therapy at days 8, 12, and 14. At day 28, quality of sleep was improved in both groups with no significant differences between the treatments. Significantly more patients reported lack of daytime fatigue with Neurexan than with valerian therapies (49% vs. 32%; p < 0.05 for the comparison). For patients favorable towards a CAM-based therapy, Neurexan might be an effective and well-tolerated alternative to conventional valerian-based therapies for the treatment of mild to moderate insomnia.

A clínica da similitude / The clinical practice of similarity

Agradecemos a gentileza do convite para proferir esta conferência no interessante momento em que, por iniciativa da comissão organizadora deste XXII Congresso Brasileiro de Homeopatia, são convidados observadores e palestrantes da área não homeopática com a intencionalidade de nos questionar e quebrar a assim chamada auto referência. Trazemos aqui algumas considerações sobre a Clínica da Similitude, que esperamos possam contribuir para a compreensão do nosso modelo e levantar questionamentos sobre a nossa prática. Foi-nos ensinado que a ciência começa na filosofia clássica como um projeto de conhecimento do homem, valendo-se inicialmente apenas da razão, incorporando posteriormente o trabalho experimental para a sua evolução e aperfeiçoamento. Nesse contexto observamos que, como consequência do resgate acidental de Hahnemann, a Homeopatia nasce bem dentro da proposta de experimentação buscando, a seguir, valer-se da razão para tentar compreender o conhecimento que ali se mostrava. (AU)

Assessing the risks and benefits of herbal medicine: an overview of scientific evidence.

The use of herbal medicine is widespread and growing, with as many as 3 in 10 Americans using botanical remedies in a given year. Because many herbal medicines have significant pharmacological activity, and thus potential adverse effects and drug interactions, healthcare professionals must be familiar with this therapeutic modality. This article summarizes the history and current use of plant-based medicine and highlights the evidence of the risks and benefits associated with 6 plants: echinacea, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, St John's wort, and valerian. Therapies outside the medical mainstream tend to suffer from a dearth of research and critical evaluation. Critics and supporters alike note the conceptual and practical difficulties in studying many complementary and alternative therapies such as acupuncture, homeopathy, and meditation. Herbal medicine, however, lends itself well to standard evaluation methods. This article summarizes and evaluates evidence from randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses. We present the results of meta-analyses and subsequent randomized controlled trials for garlic and St John's wort; a comprehensive critical review and subsequent randomized controlled trials for ginkgo; and summaries of all identified randomized controlled trials for echinacea, ginger, and valerian.

Anxiolytic and antidepressive effects of the homeopathic complex Homeo-pax® (pre-clinical study) / Anxiolytic and antidepressive effects of the homeopathic complex Homeo-pax® (pre-clinical study)

The homeopathic complex Homeo-Pax® has been used as an antidepressant and anxiolytic homeopathic medicine available in Brazil. It is a complex mixture prepared with Aconitum nap.6cH, Aurum met. 6cH, Phosphorus 6cH, Argentum nitricum 6cH, Arsenicum alb. 6cH, and Valeriana officinalis 3cH. This study had evaluated the behavior in rats after treatment with Homeo-Pax® in pre-clinical models of depression and anxiety. Elevated Plus Maze Test (EPM), Forced Swimming Test (FST), Open Field Test (OFT) and the Rota Rod Test (RRT) behavior assays were used to confirm its activity. In the EPM, the animals treated with Homeo-pax® on the 1st day and until the 20th day of treatment remained longer in the open arms of the maze than on 30th day. This result was statistically significant compared with the control group (p < 0.05). In the FST, the treatment with Homeo-pax® (0.5 ml, p.o) increased the swimming time, compared to the control group. This effect was dependent on treatment time, resulting in a similar effect to that presented by amfepramone (10 mg/kg, p.o). In the OFT, crossing by the animals was significantly increased by the treatment with amfepramone (10mg/kg, p.o), and also with the 30- day treatment with Homeo-pax® . In the RRT, the 30-day treatment with Homeo-pax® (0.5 ml, p.o) did not affect the animals? motor coordination, compared with the control group, which presented the same behavior. Based on the results obtained, it can be suggested that the homeopathic complex Homeo-pax® has anxiolytic and antidepressant properties without affecting motor coordination capacity.

O complexo homeopático Homeo-Pax® tem sido usado no Brasil como um medicamento homeopático de ação antidepressiva e ansiolítica. O Homeo-Pax® é um complexo preparado com Aconitum nap. 6cH, Aurum met. 6cH, Phosphorus 6cH, Argentum nitricum 6cH, Arsenicum alb. 6cH e Valeriana officinalis 3cH. Este estudo avaliou o comportamento de ratos após o tratamento com Homeo-Pax® em modelos pré-clínicos de depressão e ansiedade. Testes de labirinto em cruz elevado (EPM), nado forçado (FST), campo aberto (OFT) e Rotarod (RRT) foram usados para avaliar a atividade dos animais. No EPM, os animais tratados com Homeo-pax® permaneceram mais tempo nos braços abertos do labirinto, durante do 20 primeiros dias de tratamento, em relação ao 30º dia. Este resultado foi estatisticamente significativo quando comparado com o grupo controle (p < 0.05). No FST, o tratamento com Homeo-pax® (0.5 ml, p.o) aumentou o tempo de nado, comparado ao grupo controle. Este efeito foi dependente o tempo de tratamento, resultando similar ao efeito da amfepramona (10 mg/kg, p.o). No OFT, o movimento dos animais foi significativamente aumentado pelo tratamento com amfepramona (10mg/kg, p.o) e também no 30º dia de tratamento com Homeo-pax® . No RRT, o tratamento por 30 dias com Homeo-pax® (0.5 ml, p.o) não afetou a coordenação motora dos animais, em relação ao grupo controle. Baseado nesses resultados, pode ser sugerido que o complexo homoepático Homeo-pax® tem propriedades ansiolíticas e antidepressivas sem afetar a coordenação motora.

El complejo homeopático Homeo-pax® viene siendo usado en Brasil como un medicamento homeopático de acción antidepresiva y ansiolítica. El Homeo-pax® es un complejo preparado con Aconitum nap 6cH, Aurum Met 6cH, Phosphorus 6cH, Argentum Nitricum 6cH, Arsenicum Alb 6cH y Valeriana officinalis 3cH. Este estudio evaluó el comportamiento de camondongos después del tratamiento con Homeo-pax® en modelos preclinicos de depresión y ansiedad. Testes de laberinto en cruz elevado (EPM) nado forzado (FST), campo abierto (OFT) y Rotarod (RRT) fueron usados para evaluar la actividad de los animales. En el EPM los animales tratados com Homeo-pax® permanecieron mas tiempo en los brazos abiertos del laberinto durante los 20 primeros dias de tratamiento en relación al 30º dia. Este resultado fue estadísticamente significativo si comparado con el grupo control (p<0.05). En el FST, el tratamiento con Homeo-pax® (0.5 ml,p.o) aumentó el tiempo de nado, comparado al grupo control. Este efecto fue dependiente del tiempo de tratamiento, resultando similar al efecto de la anfepramona (10 mg/kg, p.o). En el OFT, el movimiento de los animales fue significativamente aumentado por el tratamiento con anfepramona (10mg/kg, p.o) y tambien en el 30º dia de tratamiento con Homeo-pax® . En el RRT el tratamiento por 30 dias con Homeo-pax® (0.5 ml, p.o) no afectó la coodinación motora de los animales, en relación al grupo control. Basado en esos resultados puede ser sugerido que el complejo homeopático Homeo-pax® tiene propiedades ansiolíticas y antidepresivas sin afectar la coordinación motora.

Top-10 list of herbal and supplemental medicines used by cosmetic patients: what the plastic surgeon needs to know.

BACKGROUND: Widespread use of herbal medications/supplements among the presurgical population may have a negative effect on perioperative patient care. Thus, the authors' goal was to identify the prevalence of such use in a cosmetic surgery patient population compared with use among the general public; to assess physician awareness of proper management of these herbal medications/supplements; and to review the literature to provide rational strategies for managing perioperative patients taking these remedies. METHODS: To assess patient (n = 100) and general public (n = 100) usage rates, open-ended lists of (1) the most common herbal medications/supplements and (2) homeopathic treatments were compiled. Board-certified plastic surgeons (n = 20) were then given the same list of herbs/supplements and surveyed on their awareness of these treatments and perioperative side effects. RESULTS: The usage rate for cosmetic versus public surveys for herbal medicines/supplements was 55 percent versus 24 percent (p < 0.001), with 35 percent versus 8 percent (p < 0.001) engaging in homeopathic practices, respectively. Cosmetic patients' top four herbal/supplements of usage were chondroitin (18 percent), ephedra (18 percent), echinacea (14 percent), and glucosamine (10 percent). The top four used by the general public were echinacea (8 percent), garlic (6 percent), ginseng (4 percent), and ginger (4 percent). The physician survey demonstrated awareness of 54 percent of the listed supplements/herbal medicines, 85 percent of which were not suggested to be discontinued preoperatively, with only ephedra achieving 100 percent physician discontinuation preoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Herbal medicines and supplements displayed greater prevalence in the cosmetic surgery population than in the population at large. Furthermore, side effects and potential complications warrant addressing these remedies as pharmaceuticals rather than as safe and "natural." Thus, a descriptive "top-10" list with perioperative recommendations was compiled for the plastic surgeon.

Evaluación de la calidad físico-química de cinco plantas medicinales más utilizadas en la industria fitofarmacéutica / Evaluation of the physical-chemical quality of five medicinal plants most used in the phytopharmaceutical industry

El presente trabajo se desarrolló con el objetivo de evaluar la calidad fisico química de cinco plantas medicinales más utilizadas en la industria fitofarmacéutica de la ciudad de Guatemala: Valeriana (Valeriana officinalis) angelica (Angelica archangelica) Lúpulo (Humulus lupulus) Boldo (Peumus boldus) Passiflora (Passiflora incarnata), analizando 5 muestra de tres diferentes industrias fitofarmacéuticas, evaluando un total de 15 muestras. Los resultados se presentaron mediante tablas y gráficas, donde se indica si las muestras cumplen con las especificaciones requeridas por la USP XXVI, y farmacopea japonesa. El 83.00% de las muestras analizadas cumple todos los ensayos realizados y el 17.00% restante no, ya que no cumplen en uno o dos ensayos, entre los cuales están aceites esenciales, fungicidas y determinación de cenizas. En función de lo anterior se concluye que, como se planteó en la hipótesis, si se cumplió con las especificaciones de la USP XXVI y farmacopea japonesa, lo cual indica que las industrias fitofarmacéuticas cumpliendo con las Buenas Prácticas de Manufactura, garantizando la calidad de la materia prima que utilizan.

Enfermedades crónicas, reflexión y formación de subjetividad / Chronic illnesses, reflection and formation of subjectivity

En el arduo trabajo de conceptualizar una epistemología homeopática, uno de los temas a tratar debe ser el de la formación de la subjetividad homeopática, ésta es parte importante y supuestamente natural en el acto médico-paciente. Una manera de no naturalizarla y por ende ignorarla, es su estudio crítico, como intenta en este artículo

Efeitos de um concentrado de valepotriatos de valeriana sobre a sonolência diurna e parâmetros de sono noturno em voluntários sadios / The effects of a valepotriate concentrate on daytime sleepiness and nocturnal sleep pattern in healthy volunteers

A valeriana é uma planta popularmente conhecida por sua possível açäo sedativa, sendo empregada na medicina natural e na homeopatia. Um composto de concentrado de valepotriatos de valeriana foi administrado (100 mg VO) a voluntários sadios (i) durante o dia, verificando-se seu efeito na sonolência diurna, segundo o Teste de Latência Múltipla, e (ii) durante a noite, avaliando-se as alteraçöes observadas na arquitetura e nos diversos parâmetros do sono, segundo polissonografia noturna. Os resultados demonstraram que o composto de valepotriatos näo induziu sonolência excessiva diurna e tampouco alterou os parâmetros do sono noturno