Bibliography of Homeopathic Intervention Studies (HOMIS) in Human Diseases.

Objectives: Homeopathy (HOM) is a therapeutic method, which is widely used by patients and medical professionals. The medical conditions as well as the homeopathic medical products investigated vary strongly. There is an extensive amount of research, and this necessitates a bibliography that comprehensively presents the entire body of clinical evidence grouped according to medical conditions. Design: Thirty-seven online sources as well as print libraries were searched for HOM and related terms in eight languages (1980 to March 2021). We included studies that compared a homeopathic medicine or intervention with a control regarding the therapeutic or preventive outcome of a disease (classified according to International Classification of Diseases-10). The data were extracted independently by two reviewers and analyzed descriptively. Results: A total of 636 investigations met the inclusion criteria, of which 541 had a therapeutic and 95 a preventive purpose. Seventy-three percent were randomized controlled trials (n = 463), whereas the rest were non-randomized studies (n = 173). The leading comparator was placebo (n = 400). The type of homeopathic intervention was classified as multi-constituent or complex (n = 272), classical or individualized (n = 176), routine or clinical (n = 161) and isopathic (n = 19), or various (n = 8). The potencies ranged from 1X (dilution of -10,000) to 10 M (100-10.000). The included studies explored the effect of HOM in 223 medical indications. We present the evidence in an online database. Conclusions: This bibliography maps the status quo of clinical research in HOM. The data will serve for future targeted reviews, which may focus on the most studied conditions and/or homeopathic medicines, clinical impact, and the risk of bias of the included studies.

An Assessment of a Public Health Initiative of Homeopathy for Primary Teething.

BACKGROUND: During primary teething, children suffer from running nose, mild fever, diarrhoea and other mild irritations and inflammations. A public health programme, 'Homoeopathy for the Healthy Child', was undertaken on a pilot basis focusing on promotion of healthy teething by provision of home-based care through six pre-identified homeopathic medicines for complaints commonly observed during primary teething. This article assesses the feasibility of this programme and reports the impact of this initiative on teething profile in children and episodes of diarrhoea and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) were trained in child care and usage of a kit comprising six medicines, namely Calcarea phosphoricum 6X (CP), Ferrum phosphoricum 3X, Magnesium phosphoricum 6X, Belladonna 30C, Chamomilla 30C and Podophyllum 30C. Calcarea phosphoricum was given regularly to each participating child from 6 months to 1 year of age. Home-based care for diarrhoea, URTI and mild fever was provided by ASHAs using the other five medicines in the kit. Dentition pattern and diarrhoea/URTI episodes were recorded over a period of the next 12 months. RESULTS: Eleven thousand four-hundred and twenty-six children were followed up regularly. Amongst those who enrolled at 6-7 months, a larger proportion of children were approaching expected teething in successive months as compared with children enrolled at 12 months, thus indicating that teething delays, if any, were overcome during this period. Incidence of diarrhoea and URTI showed decrease in the months after enrolment. Children responded favourably to the medicines given by ASHAs at the time of diarrhoea/URTI episodes, and ASHAs expressed satisfaction with the programme. CONCLUSION: An approach with regular use of CP and home-based care with homeopathy through health workers for common problems in teething children is acceptable to the community and enhances outreach of services to the public at large. Observations in terms of the healthy teething period may be further validated through studies of homeopathy with suitable comparator group.

Patients' Preference for Integrating Homoeopathy Services within the Secondary Health Care Settings in India: The Part 3 (PPIH-3) Study.

Indian patients' preference for integrated homoeopathy services remains underresearched. Two earlier surveys revealed favorable attitude toward and satisfaction from integrated services. The objectives of this study were to examine knowledge, attitudes, and practice of homoeopathy and to evaluate preference toward its integration into secondary-level health care. A cross-sectional survey was conducted during May to October 2015 among 659 adult patients visiting randomly selected secondary-level conventional health care setups in Kolkata, Mumbai, Kottayam, and New Delhi (India) using a self-administered 24-item questionnaire in 4 local vernaculars (Bengali, Marathi, Malayalam, and Hindi). Knowledge and practice scores were compromised; attitude scores toward integration and legal regulation were high. Respondents were uncertain regarding side effects of homoeopathy and concurrent use and interactions with conventional medicines. A total of 82.40% (95% confidence interval = 79.23, 85.19) of the participants were in favor of integrating homoeopathy services. Preference was significantly higher in Delhi and lower in Kottayam. Probable strategic measures for further development of integrated models are discussed.

Homeopathic treatment in addition to standard care in multi drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis: a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Multi drug resistant-tuberculosis (MDR-TB) [resistant to Isoniazid and Rifampicin] is a major global public health problem. In India the incidence is rising in spite of implementation of Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program. Standard MDR-TB drugs are second generation antibiotics taken for 24-27 months. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of add on homeopathic intervention to the standard MDR-TB regimen (SR). METHODS: A randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study was conducted from 2003 to 2008. 120 diagnosed MDR-TB patients (both culture positive and negative) were enrolled and randomized to receive Standard Regimen + individualized homeopathic medicine (SR + H) or Standard Regimen + identical placebo (SR + P). The medicines have been used in infrequent doses. The outcome measures were sputum conversion, changes in chest X-ray (CXR), hemoglobin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), weight gain, and clinical improvement. RESULTS: There was an improvement in all the outcome measures as per intention to treat (ITT) and per protocol (PP) analyses. ITT analyses revealed sputum culture conversion from positive to negative in 23 (38.3%) in SR + H; 23 (38.3%) patients in SR + P group; (p = 0.269) and 27 (55.1); 21 (42.8%), p = 0.225 as PP analyses. The mean weight gain in SR + H group was 2.4 ± 4.9 and in SR + P was 0.8 ± 4.4; [p = 0.071], reduction in ESR in SR + H was -8.7 ± 13.2; SR + P was 3.9 ± 15.4 [p = 0.068]. The mean increase in hemoglobin was by 0.6 ± 1.7 in SR + H & 0.3 ± 2.3 [p = 0.440] in SR + P group at 95% confidence interval. Statistically significant improvement was seen in CXR in 37 (61.7%) in SR + H and 20 (33.3%) patients in SR + P group (p = 0.002). Subgroup analyses of culture positive patients showed statistically significant improvement in CXR (p = 0.0005), weight gain (p = 0.026), increase in hemoglobin (p = 0.017) and reduction in ESR (p = 0.025) with add on homeopathy. The cure rate was 11.4% more in SR + H group as compared to placebo group. Change in sputum culture conversion, was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Add on homeopathy in addition to standard therapy appears to improve outcome in MDR-TB. Larger scale studies using a standardized homeopathic treatment regime should be conducted.

Homeopathy in the treatment of tubercular lymphadenitis (TBLN)--an Indian experience.

Tuberculosis (TB) has been known since antiquity. In spite of effective antibiotic treatment, it is still a major worldwide public health problem. Endogenous factors are important in the development of active disease. Homeopathic medicines have the potential for immune-modulation and hence to influence endogenous factors in disease. In India, patients with tubercular lymphadenitis (TBLN) often consult homeopaths but such cases are seldom documented. The objective of the present study is to document such experience. A retrospective exploratory study of 25 positively diagnosed cases of TBLN has lead to the development of a homeopathic regime consisting of a patient specific constitutional medicine, one disease specific biotherapy (Tuberculinum) and Silicea 6x as supportive medicine. Homeopathy can be used as a complement to conventional anti tubercular treatment (ATT) with beneficial results. Further validation in controlled trials with immunological markers is required.