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INTRODUCTION: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is leading to unknown and unusual health conditions that are challenging to manage. Post-COVID-19 fatigue is one of those challenges, becoming increasingly common as the pandemic evolves, as it impairs the quality of life of an individual. This trial attempts to identify the preliminary evidence of the efficacy of individualized homeopathic medicines (IHMs) against placebos in the treatment of post-COVID-19 fatigue in adults. METHODS: A 3-month, single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm trial was conducted at the outpatient department of The Calcutta Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, India. Sixty participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either IHMs (n = 30) or identical-looking placebos (n = 30). The primary and secondary outcome measures were the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) and Outcome in Relation to Impact on Daily Living (ORIDL), respectively, measured every month, for up to 3 months. Comparative analysis was carried out on the intention-to-treat sample to detect group differences. RESULTS: Group differences in both the primary (FAS total: F1, 58 = 14.356, p < 0.001) and secondary outcomes (ORIDL: F1, 58 = 210.986, p < 0.001) after 3 months favored IHMs against placebos. Lycopodium clavatum (11.7%), sulfur (11.7%), Arsenicum album (10%), and Thuja occidentalis (10%) were the most frequently indicated medicines. No harm, unintended effects, homeopathic aggravations, or any serious adverse events were reported from either of the groups. CONCLUSION: IHMs produced significantly better effects than placebos in the treatment of post-COVID-19 fatigue in adults. Definitive robust trials may be undertaken to confirm the findings.
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COVID-19 , Materia Medica , Adulto , Humanos , COVID-19/terapia , India , Calidad de Vida , Método Simple Ciego , AzufreRESUMEN
Background: 'Like cures like' is the principle that is followed in homoeopathy. Substances whichcause disorder in healthy individuals are used as medicines to treat similar patterns of disorder in sick persons. This article aims to find out whether any similarity picture exists at molecular levelalso that can make a selection of medicines based on scientifically measurable parameters. Method: It consisted of getting frequency domain signatures for the dielectric functions of (i) biofluids(blood serums) of six arthritis patients and (ii) medicines selected for them on the basis of macroscopic similarity. Then, they were compared to find existence/absence of similarity betweenthem.Results: Medicines administered to the six patients were Rhus tox 200cH, Thuja 30cH, Medorrhinum 200cH. The dielectric loss at resonance for the bio-fluids of the patients and themedicines are given in the body of the article.Conclusion: It was observed that the patients who had beneficial results with their medicines havea similarity (resonance frequency matching) in spectral signatures of the two groups of substancesi.e. bio-fluids (blood serum) of patients and the indicated remedies. This similarity was not evidentin the cases where medicines failed to benefit the patients. These results are explorative andenthusiastic, but as the research is limited only to patients with arthritis, generalization could notbe drawn. Further work with more rigor is required to establish the facts and apply generalizationsto other disease condition. In future, this might be a new tool to integrate the fundamental researchwith clinical applications in homeopathy. (AU)
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Humanos , Espectroscopía de Resonancia Magnética , Espectroscopía Dieléctrica , Biología MolecularRESUMEN
High prevalence of undiagnosed cases of diabetes mellitus and poor knowledge, awareness, and practice has increased premature death, costly complications, and financial burden. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in November 2014 on 273 diabetics and 355 nondiabetics in 3 government homeopathic hospitals in West Bengal, India. A self-administered questionnaire assessing knowledge, awareness, and practice related to diabetes was used. A total of 17.5% to 29.3% of the participants were aware of the normal blood sugar level. Lack of insulin, frequent urination, hypertension, and poor wound healing were identified most frequently as the cause, symptom, association, and complications. A total of 35.5% to 46.5% said that diabetes was preventable; 14.1% to 31.9% knew that diabetes was controllable rather than curable. Consumption of planned diet, avoiding sugar, and testing blood sugar were the most frequently identified components of healthy lifestyle, diabetic diet, and diagnostic domain. Diabetics had higher knowledge and awareness than nondiabetics (P < .0001); still the latter need to be made aware and knowledgeable to curtail the ever-increasing burden of diabetes.