Individualized Homeopathic Medicines in the Management of Symptomatic Adenotonsillar Hypertrophy in Children: A Prospective Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Globally, adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) is one of the most prevalent upper respiratory tract disorders of children, with associated troublesome symptoms such as sleep apnea and cognitive disturbances. In this study, we evaluated the potential role of individualized homeopathic medicines in the management of symptomatic ATH in children. METHODS: A multicenter prospective observational study was conducted at five institutes under the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, India. Primary and secondary outcomes (symptom score for adenoids, other symptoms of ATH, Mallampati score, tonsillar size, Sleep-Related Breathing Disorder of the Paediatric Sleep Questionnaire [SRBD-PSQ]) were assessed through standardized questionnaires at baseline and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Radiological investigations for assessing the adenoid/nasopharyngeal (A/N) ratio were carried out at baseline, 6 and 12 months. All analyses were carried out using an intention-to-treat approach. RESULTS: A total of 340 children were screened and 202 children suffering from ATH were enrolled and followed up monthly for 12 months. Each patient received individualized homeopathic treatment based on the totality of symptoms. Statistically significant reductions in adenoid symptom score, Mallampati score (including tonsillar size), SRBD-PSQ sleep quality assessment and A/N ratio were found over time up to 12 months (p < 0.001). Homeopathic medicines frequently indicated were Calcarea carbonicum, Phosphorus, Silicea, Sulphur, Calcarea phosphoricum, Pulsatilla, Lycopodium and Tuberculinum. No serious adverse events were recorded during the study period. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that homeopathic medicines may play a beneficial role in the management of symptomatic ATH in children. Well-designed comparative trials are warranted.

Chinese Materia Medica in Treating Depression: The Role of Intestinal Microenvironment.

Depression is a highly heterogeneous mental illness. Drug treatment is currently the main therapeutic strategy used in the clinic, but its efficacy is limited by the modulation of a single target, slow onset, and side effects. The gut-brain axis is of increasing interest because intestinal microenvironment disorders increase susceptibility to depression. In turn, depression affects intestinal microenvironment homeostasis by altering intestinal tissue structure, flora abundance and metabolism, hormone secretion, neurotransmitter transmission, and immune balance. Depression falls into the category of "stagnation syndrome" according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which further specifies that "the heart governs the spirit and is exterior-interior with the small intestine". However, the exact mechanisms of the means by which the disordered intestinal microenvironment affects depression are still unclear. Here, we present an overview of how the Chinese materia medica (CMM) protects against depression by repairing intestinal microenvironment homeostasis. We review the past five years of research progress in classical antidepressant TCM formulae and single CMMs on regulating the intestinal microenvironment for the treatment of depression. We then analyze and clarify the multitarget functions of CMM in repairing intestinal homeostasis and aim to provide a new theoretical basis for CMM clinical application in the treatment of depression.

A Case Report of Multiple Renal Calculi Treated With Individualized Homoeopathy.

Background: Mineral buildups called kidney stones can be free-floating or affixed to the renal papillae and occur in the renal calyces and pelvis. A major morbidity is associated with the widespread problem of renal stone disease. Open surgical lithotomy and minimally invasive endourological procedures are now the standard for the management of kidney stone symptoms. However, individualized homeopathy (iHOM) has greatly improved treatment of Multiple Renal Calculi. Methods: In the OPD of Dr. D. Y. Patil Homoeopathic Medical College and Research Centre, a 26-year-old female patient with multiple renal calculus was treated homeopathically from August 2021 to January 2022. During the follow-up visits outcome was assessed. To assess whether the changes were due to homoeopathic medicine, an assessment using the modified Naranjo criteria was performed. Results: Over an observation period of 5 months beneficial result from iHOM medicine was seen and so can be used by the physicians in the treatment of Renal Calculi as a complementary health practice. Conclusion: Based on the totality of symptoms, individualized Homoeopathic Medicine (iHOM) Lycopodium Clavatum 30C was given and worked well to dissolve and expel all renal stones. Hence, homeopathy is effective in the fragmentation and ejection of renal calculi and remains one of the most popular treatments for urological problems.

Remedies for Kidney Ailments in Physica by Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179).

OBJECTIVES: Hildegard von Bingen (Hildegardis Bingensis; Saint Hildegard), the Sibyl of the Rhine (AD 1098-1179), was a Benedictine abbess, musician, poet, writer, counselor, and healer. As an influential personality of the 12th century, she was advisor of kings, princes, and bishops. Her medical work is collected in 2 books (AD 1152-1163): Physica and Causae et Curae. We aimed to investigate the characteristics of the nephrology-oriented remedies in Physica and compare these with the respective remedies in De Materia Medica (AD 1st century) by Dioscorides Pedanios Anazarbeus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Physica is a collection of 9 volumes with an inventory of plants, trees, elements, stones, animals, and metals and describes the associated natural therapeutic properties. We studied all 293 plants (230 herbaceous plants, and 63 trees) in this treatise and recorded all nephrology-related remedies. In addition, we recorded the treatment indications of the same remedies in De Materia Medica. Nephrology-oriented material was defined as any item with nephrology-related pharmacological action (diuretic) or indication (eg, dysuria, nephritis, stones, sand, dropsy). Our findings are presented as simple descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Among all plants, there were 15 (5.1%) of nephrological interest (11 herbaceous plants and 4 trees). Only some of the natural ingredients mentioned in Physica were found with the same indication in the ancient text, De Materia Medica (9 of 15). The nephrological treatment indications described in Physica included dysuria, nephritic pain, and lithiasis in 87% and dropsy (edema) in 13.0%, which is comparable with 10% in De Materia Medica. CONCLUSIONS: Physica provides a reliable account of medicine in the 12th century as it was practiced by the clergy for generations. It also incorporates Hildegard's personal observations and contemporary folk remedies. This fact is supported by the limited similarity of nephrological remedies in Hildegard's Physica with the respective remedies in De Materia Medica.

Efficacy of Individualized Homeopathic Medicines in the Treatment of Menopausal Syndrome: Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Objectives: Menopausal symptoms are systemic symptoms that are associated with estrogen deficiency after menopause. Although widely practiced, homeopathy remains under-researched in menopausal syndrome in terms of quality evidence, especially in randomized trials. The efficacy of individualized homeopathic medicines (IHMs) was evaluated in this trial against placebos in the treatment of the menopausal syndrome. Design: Double-blind, randomized (1:1), two parallel arms, placebo-controlled trial. Setting: Mahesh Bhattacharyya Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Howrah, West Bengal, India. Subjects: Sixty women with menopausal syndrome. Interventions: Group 1 (n = 30; IHMs plus concomitant care; verum) versus group 2 (n = 30; placebos plus concomitant care; control). Outcome measures: Primary-the Greene climacteric scale (GCS) total score and menopause rating scale (MRS) total score, and secondary-the Utian quality of life (UQOL) total score; all of them were measured at baseline and every month up to 3 months. Results: Intention-to-treat sample (n = 60) was analyzed. Group differences were examined by two-way (split-half) repeated-measure analysis of variance, primarily taking into account all the estimates measured at monthly intervals, and secondarily, by unpaired t tests comparing the estimates obtained individually every month. The level of significance was set at p < 0.025 two-tailed. Between-group differences were nonsignificant statistically-GCS total score (F1, 58 = 1.372, p = 0.246), MRS total score (F1, 58 = 0.720, p = 0.4), and UQOL total scores (F1, 58 = 2.903, p = 0.094). Some of the subscales preferred IHMs significantly against placebos-for example, MRS somatic subscale (F1, 56 = 0.466, p < 0.001), UQOL occupational subscale (F1, 58 = 4.865, p = 0.031), and UQOL health subscale (F1, 58 = 4.971, p = 0.030). Sulfur and Sepia succus were the most frequently prescribed medicines. No harm or serious adverse events were reported from either group. Conclusions: Although the primary analysis failed to demonstrate clearly that the treatment was effective beyond placebo, some significant benefits of IHMs over placebo could still be detected in some of the subscales in the secondary analysis. Clinical trial registration number: CTRI/2019/10/021634.

A Case of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection Successfully Treated during Homeopathic Supportive Care in Oncology.

INTRODUCTION: A 32-year-old patient with colon cancer consulted for homeopathic supportive care (HSC). She had also suffered from recurrent urinary tract infections (RUTIs) for 20 years. Could homeopathy treat these two very different issues with the same medicine? THE PATIENT'S MAIN CONCERNS: Though the main reason for the consultation was a fear of the side effects of chemotherapy, the presence of Escherichia coli-induced RUTIs affected the patient's quality of life. INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOMES: The repertory listing highlighted Pulsatilla as the patient's homeopathic constitutional medicine. It was prescribed both for HSC and also for RUTI. In association with Arsenicum album and Nerves, Pulsatilla enabled a good tolerance to chemotherapy, with rapid recovery from peripheral neuropathies. In combination with Colibacillinum, Pulsatilla provided relapse-free curing of the RUTIs. The MOdified NARanjo Criteria for Homeopathy (MONARCH) Inventory score was +9. CONCLUSION: The one individual's two different clinical complaints were treated with a constitutional homeopathic medicine, Pulsatilla, which covered the whole case. However, in HSC, the use of the constitutional remedy alone is rarely sufficient: it was reinforced by individualised symptomatic medication, organotherapy and isotherapy. For RUTI, isopathic and tubercular miasmatic treatments were each helpful. For both complaints, individualised homeopathy gave rapid, long-lasting and effective results.

A Case Report of Alopecia Areata Treated with Individualized Homoeopathy.

Introduction: Alopecia areata is a dermatological disorder characterized by hair loss. The exact cause is still unknown but is linked with an autoimmune disease. No efficient treatment is known though many studies have been conducted, yet the optimal treatment is not known. Methods: The case was treated in the Dermatological Department at Dr. D. Y. Patil Homoeopathic Medical College and Research Centre. A 42-year-old female patient with alopecia areata was treated with individualized homoeopathic medicine (iHOM) between 2nd May 2019 and 16th January 2020. During the follow-up visits, the outcome was assessed. To evaluate whether the changes were due to homoeopathic medicine, an assessment using the Modified Naranjo criteria was performed. Results: Over an observational period of eight-months, positive results from iHOM medicine were seen. This treatment can be used by the physicians in the treatment of alopecia areata as a complementary health practice. Conclusion: Considering the multi-factorial aetiology of alopecia areata, iHOM along with local treatment may be effective in treating alopecia areata.

Individualized Homeopathic Medicines in Treatment of Hyperuricemia: Evaluation by Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Hyperuricemia (HU) is a major health issue in India and across the globe. It increases the disease burden and hampers quality of life. This study was aimed at exploring the effects of individualized homeopathic medicines (IHMs) against placebo in the treatment of HU. METHODS: This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 60 patients suffering from HU in the outpatient department of D. N. De Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata. Each patient received either IHMs or identical-looking placebos, along with advice on dietary modifications irrespective of codes. Serum uric acid (SUA) level was the primary outcome measure; the HU quality of life questionnaire (HUQLQ) and the Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile version 2 (MYMOP-2) were the secondary outcomes; all measured at baseline, and every month, up to 3 months. Group differences were examined by two-way (split-half) repeated-measures analysis of variance after adjusting for baseline differences. Significance level was set at p ≤0.05, two-tailed. RESULTS: The intention-to-treat sample (n = 58) was analyzed. Between-group differences in SUA levels (F 1, 56 = 13.833, p <0.001), HUQLQ scores (F 1, 56 = 32.982, p <0.001) and MYMOP-2 profile scores (F 1, 56 = 23.873, p <0.001) were statistically significant, favoring IHMs against placebos, with medium to large effect sizes. Calcarea carbonica and Pulsatilla nigricans were the most frequently prescribed medicines. No serious adverse events were reported from either of the groups. CONCLUSION: IHMs showed significantly better results than placebos in reducing SUA levels and improving quality of life in patients suffering from HU. TRIAL REGISTRATION: CTRI/2019/10/021503; UTN: U1111-1241-1431.

Individualized Homeopathic Medicines in the Treatment of Tinea Corporis: Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Tinea corporis (TC; ringworm or dermatophytosis) is a superficial skin infection caused by Microsporum, Epidermophyton and Trichophyton genera of dermatophytes. We compared the effects of individualized homeopathic medicines (IHMs) in fifty-millesimal (LM) potencies against placebo in TC. METHODS: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, two parallel arms trial was conducted on 62 individuals suffering from TC at the National Institute of Homoeopathy, India. Participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either IHMs in LM potencies or identical-looking placebos for a period of 3 months. The primary outcome measure was the number of participants showing complete disappearance of skin lesions after 3 months. Secondary outcomes were a numeric rating scale (NRS) measuring intensity of itching and the Skindex-29 questionnaire (overall, and three sub-scales - degree of symptoms, psychological functioning, emotional status). All were assessed at baseline and every month, up to 3 months. The intention-to-treat sample was analyzed to detect inter-group differences using two-way repeated measures analysis of variance after adjusting for baseline differences. RESULTS: The primary outcome revealed no improvement in either of the groups (χ 2 = 0.012, p = 0.999). Inter-group differences in some of the secondary outcomes favored IHMs against placebo - itching NRS (mean group difference after 3 months: -0.7 (95% confidence interval [CI], -1.1 to -0.4; p = 0.001); Skindex-29 overall (mean group difference after 3 months: 3.2 [95% CI, -0.6 to 7.0; p = 0.009]); Skindex-29 degree of symptoms (mean group difference after 3 months: 0.9 [95% CI, -0.2 to 1.9; p = 0.007]); and Skindex-29 psychological functioning (mean group difference after 3 months: 1.7 [95% CI, 0-3.4; p = 0.002]). CONCLUSION: Results were negative on the primary outcome; however, secondary outcomes included some statistically significant results favoring IHMs against placebo after 3 months. TRIAL REGISTRATION: CTRI/2019/11/021999; UTN: U1111-1242-0070.

Characterization and Comparison Analysis of WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants and ISO Standards of Chinese Materia Medica.

Medicinal plants or Chinese materia medica (CMM) are now attracting worldwide attention as they have increasingly prominent advantages over chemical drugs in disease treatment and healthcare. Since the 1990s, World Health Organization (WHO) and International Organization for Standardization established the Technical Committee of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ISO/TC 249) have carried out the development of quality standards on medicinal plants or CMMs respectively, and a considerable number of monographs and international standards have been published. Since the two international organizations adhere to different principles, the standards they develop naturally have different emphasis. Driven by market demand and international trade, ISO mainly takes quality, efficacy and safety into consideration when developing standards, while WHO pays more attention to clinical practice, quality control and medication guidance. Up to now, there is a lack of comparative analysis on the records, background, principles, basic content, and main requirements of quality standards on medicinal plants or CMMs respectively published by WHO and ISO. Therefore, based on international standards of CMM developed by ISO/TC 249 platform and WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants, this paper systematically compares the purposes, selected principles, standard-developing process, basic content, and main quality requirements to summarize their similarities and differences, and find their merits, aiming to serve as a reference to the development of international standards for CMMs that helps them go global.

Homeopathic Medicines in Second Wave of COVID-19: Prognostic Factor Research.

BACKGROUND: The clinical profile and course of COVID-19 evolved perilously in a second wave, leading to the use of various treatment modalities that included homeopathy. This prognostic factor research (PFR) study aimed to identify clinically useful homeopathic medicines in this second wave. METHODS: This was a retrospective, multi-centred observational study performed from March 2021 to May 2021 on confirmed COVID-19 cases who were either in home isolation or at COVID Care Centres in Delhi, India. The data were collected from integrated COVID Care Centres where homeopathic medicines were prescribed along with conventional treatment. Only those cases that met a set of selection criteria were considered for analysis. The likelihood ratio (LR) was calculated for the frequently occurring symptoms of the prescribed medicines. An LR of 1.3 or greater was considered meaningful. RESULTS: Out of 769 confirmed COVID-19 cases reported, 514 cases were selected for analysis, including 467 in home isolation. The most common complaints were cough, fever, myalgia, sore throat, loss of taste and/or smell, and anxiety. Most cases improved and there was no adverse reaction. Certain new symptoms, e.g., headache, dryness of mouth and conjunctivitis, were also seen. Thirty-nine medicines were prescribed, the most frequent being Bryonia alba followed by Arsenicum album, Pulsatilla nigricans, Belladonna, Gelsemium sempervirens, Hepar sulphuris, Phosphorus, Rhus toxicodendron and Mercurius solubilis. By calculating LR, the prescribing indications of these nine medicines were ascertained. CONCLUSION: Add-on use of homeopathic medicines has shown encouraging results in the second wave of COVID-19 in integrated care facilities. Further COVID-related research is required to be undertaken on the most commonly prescribed medicines.

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.

Individualized Homeopathic Medicines as Adjunctive Treatment of Pediatric Epilepsy: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Epilepsy, one of the most common neurological diseases, contributes to 0.5% of the total disease burden. The burden is highest in sub-Saharan Africa, central Asia, central and Andean Latin America, and south-east Asia. Asian countries report an overall prevalence of 6/1,000 and that in India of 5.59/1,000. We examined whether individualized homeopathic medicines (IHMs) can produce a significantly different effect from placebos in treatment of pediatric epilepsy in the context of ongoing standard care (SC) using anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). METHODS: The study was a 6-month, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (n = 60) conducted at the pediatric outpatient department of a homeopathic hospital in West Bengal, India. Patients were randomized to receive either IHMs plus SC (n = 30) or identical-looking placebos plus SC (n = 30). The primary outcome measure was the Hague Seizure Severity Scale (HASS); secondary outcomes were the Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy (QOLCE-16) and the Pediatric Quality of Life inventory (PedsQL) questionnaires; all were measured at baseline and after the 3rd and 6th month of intervention. The intention-to-treat sample was analyzed to detect group differences and effect sizes. RESULTS: Recruitment and retention rates were 65.2% and 91.7% respectively. Although improvements were greater in the IHMs group than with placebos, with small to medium effect sizes, the inter-group differences were statistically non-significant - for HASS (F 1, 58 = 0.000, p = 1.000, two-way repeated measures analysis of variance), QOLCE-16 (F 1, 58 = 1.428, p = 0.237), PedsQL (2-4 years) (F 1, 8 = 0.685, p = 0.432) and PedsQL (5-18 years) (F 1, 47 = 0.000, p = 0.995). Calcarea carbonica, Ignatia amara, Natrum muriaticum and Phosphorus were the most frequently prescribed medicines. No serious adverse events were reported from either of the two groups. CONCLUSION: Improvements in the outcome measures were statistically non-significantly greater in the IHMs group than in the placebos group, with small effect sizes. A different trial design and prescribing approach might work better in future trials. TRIAL REGISTRATION: CTRI/2018/10/016027.

Homeopathic Treatment in Patients with COVID-19: Analysis of Clinical Evolution and Comparison between Cases in 2020 and 2021.

BACKGROUND: The manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can result in several prognoses and lead patients to look for appropriate complementary or alternative treatment options according to their personal situation and available health care. Patients with mild symptoms or those who have not yet reached the maximum severity of their condition are those who seek outpatient care, where homeopathic treatment might be considered, given the well documented history of this medical system in several epidemics in the past. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the homeopathic treatment used for symptomatic cases of COVID-19 in March and April 2020 with cases treated in March and April 2021. METHOD: This is a retrospective observational study based on the analysis of the medical records of symptomatic COVID-19 patients treated on an outpatient basis with homeopathy at the Hahnemanniano George Galvão Institute in São Paulo, Brazil. We analyzed 54 cases, divided into two samples (27 cases in each year), similar in relation to age, gender and origin of the patients. RESULTS: The development was distinct in the 2 years, with improvement of symptoms after 3 days of the first homeopathic prescription in 2020 whilst in 2021 the improvement occurred from the sixth day onward. The most frequently prescribed homeopathic medicine also differed in the two samples (Antimonium tartaricum in 2020; Arsenicum album in 2021), which indicates the different disease characteristics at these two moments of the epidemic. CONCLUSION: In 2020, the symptomatology of the cases was mainly acute and the main medicine was Antimonium tartaricum. By comparison, in 2021 a greater interference from individuals' previous chronic miasmatic disease may explain the change in the main medicines used that year, with Arsenicum album being the most prescribed in the cases studied.

Characterization and Comparison Analysis of WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants and ISO Standards of Chinese Materia Medica / 中国结合医学杂志

Medicinal plants or Chinese materia medica (CMM) are now attracting worldwide attention as they have increasingly prominent advantages over chemical drugs in disease treatment and healthcare. Since the 1990s, World Health Organization (WHO) and International Organization for Standardization established the Technical Committee of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ISO/TC 249) have carried out the development of quality standards on medicinal plants or CMMs respectively, and a considerable number of monographs and international standards have been published. Since the two international organizations adhere to different principles, the standards they develop naturally have different emphasis. Driven by market demand and international trade, ISO mainly takes quality, efficacy and safety into consideration when developing standards, while WHO pays more attention to clinical practice, quality control and medication guidance. Up to now, there is a lack of comparative analysis on the records, background, principles, basic content, and main requirements of quality standards on medicinal plants or CMMs respectively published by WHO and ISO. Therefore, based on international standards of CMM developed by ISO/TC 249 platform and WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants, this paper systematically compares the purposes, selected principles, standard-developing process, basic content, and main quality requirements to summarize their similarities and differences, and find their merits, aiming to serve as a reference to the development of international standards for CMMs that helps them go global.

Comparative Effectiveness of Pre-Identified Homeopathic Medicines in Asymptomatic COVID-19 Individuals Receiving Standard Care-An Open-Label, Randomized, Controlled Exploratory Trial.

BACKGROUND: Asymptomatic COVID-19 subjects can transmit the infection for as many as 14 days and are regarded as a significant factor in the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. This exploratory study aimed to determine any additional benefits of selected homeopathic medicines compared with placebo in asymptomatic COVID-19 individuals receiving standard care. METHODS: This open-label, randomized, placebo-controlled, exploratory trial was undertaken at a COVID Care Centre (CCC) in Madhya Pradesh, India. Patients (n = 200, 18-65 years, both sexes) having a positive RT-PCR and asymptomatic during admission were enrolled. They were randomly assigned to one of four groups (each n = 50): Arsenicum album 30C (Ars. alb.), Camphora 1M (Camph.), Bryonia alba 30C (Bry. alb.) and placebo (Pl.). All the patients were given standard care. The primary outcome was the number of patients becoming RT-PCR negative for SARS-CoV-2 at days 5, 10 and 15. RESULTS: In total, 200 asymptomatic COVID-19 patients were enrolled. One hundred and seventy-seven patients became RT-PCR negative by day 15; 88%, 80%, 98% and 88% from Ars. alb., Camph., Bry. alb. and Pl. respectively. A Chi-square test of association for the total patients who became RT-PCR negative for SARS-Cov-2 in each group showed a marginal statistical significance (Chi-square: 8.1, p = 0.04). A two-proportion Z-test comparing each pre-identified homeopathic medicine with placebo showed marginal statistical significance (p = 0.05) for Bry alb. only. Median time in days to RT-PCR negative (Kaplan Meier analysis) was 10 days in each of the groups. CONCLUSION: There was some evidence that, compared with Ars alb., Camph. or Pl., Bry. alb. was associated with an increased number of patients who became RT-PCR negative for COVID-19 by day 15. The possible effect exerted needs to be investigated in additional research.

Conventional Homeopathic Medicine and Its Relevance to Modern Medicine.

Context: Homeopathic medicine can be explained as a symptoms-based method of treatment, and it can act as an alternative treatment strategy against allopathy by focusing on the symptoms of illness, as opposed to causative agents as allopathic medicine does. Also, homeopathic medicines are extracted from nature rather than being chemically synthesized as western drugs are. Objective: The review intended to briefly describe the concept of homeopathic medicine, its emergence from a historical point of view, and its broader healing properties, providing examples of key homeopathic drugs and comparing them to modern medicines. Design: The research team performed a narrative review by searching databases like Pubmed, Google Scholar, and other national search engines. The search used the keywords homeopathic medicine, alternate medicine, materia medica, allium cepa, Zingiber officinale, penicillium, Agaricus muscaria, Botulinum toxin. Setting: Dr. D.Y. Patil Homoeopathic Medical College and Research Centre, Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pimpri, Pune. Results: This review highlights the rich sources homoeopathic drugs and their corelation with modern medicine. The current review focuses on the significance of the Homeopathic Materia Medica and on notable remedies in homeopathy that align with allopathy in addressing different pathological conditions, including treatments that the two types of medicine have in in common and that are effective in homeopathy. Conclusions: Many studies are being conducted to prove the mechanism of action of homoeopathic medicines. Droplet Evaporating Method (DEM), Raman, UltraViolet-Visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) are commonly used methods to characterize homeopathic medicines at ultra-low concentration and many such studies will surely indicate how homoeopathic medicines act. Such research results may subsequently lead to the betterment of treatment procedures and the integration of homeopathic principles into mainstream medical practices.

Homeopathy for COVID-19 in primary care: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (COVID-Simile study).

BACKGROUND: Different homeopathic approaches have been used as supportive care for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, but none has been tested in a clinical trial. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of the homeopathic medicine, Natrum muriaticum LM2, for mild cases of COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, AND INTERVENTIONS: A randomized, double-blind, two-armed, parallel, single-center, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted from June 2020 to April 2021 in São-Carlos, Brazil. Participants aged > 18 years, with influenza-like symptoms and positive result from a real-time polymerase chain reaction test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 were recruited and randomized (1:1) into two groups that received different treatments during a period of at-home-isolation. One group received the homeopathic medicine Natrum muriaticum, prepared with the second degree of the fifty-millesimal dynamization (LM2; Natrum muriaticum LM2), while the other group received a placebo. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary endpoint was time until recovery from COVID-19 influenza-like symptoms. Secondary measures included a survival analysis of the number and severity of COVID-19 symptoms (influenza-like symptoms plus anosmia and ageusia) from a symptom grading scale that was informed by the participant, hospital admissions, and adverse events. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to estimate time-to-event (survival) measures. RESULTS: Data from 86 participants were analyzed (homeopathy, n = 42; placebo, n = 44). There was no difference in time to recovery between two groups among participants who were reporting influenza-like symptoms at the beginning of monitoring (homeopathy, n = 41; placebo, n = 41; P = 0.56), nor in a sub-group that had at least 5 moderate to severe influenza-like symptoms at the beginning of monitoring (homeopathy, n = 15; placebo, n = 17; P = 0.06). Secondary outcomes indicated that a 50% reduction in symptom score was achieved significantly earlier in the homeopathy group (homeopathy, n = 24; placebo, n = 25; P = 0.04), among the participants with a basal symptom score ≥ 5. Moreover, values of restricted mean survival time indicated that patients receiving homeopathy might have improved 0.9 days faster during the first five days of follow-up (P = 0.022). Hospitalization rates were 2.4% in the homeopathy group and 6.8% in the placebo group (P = 0.62). Participants reported 3 adverse events in the homeopathy group and 6 in the placebo group. CONCLUSION: Results showed that Natrum muriaticum LM2 was safe to use for COVID-19, but there was no statistically significant difference in the primary endpoints of Natrum muriaticum LM2 and placebo for mild COVID-19 cases. Although some secondary measures do not support the null hypothesis, the wide confidence intervals suggest that further studies with larger sample sizes and more symptomatic participants are needed to test the effectiveness of homeopathic Natrum muriaticum LM2 for COVID-19. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN Clinical Trials Registry ID: JPRN-UMIN000040602.

Efficacy of Individualized Homeopathic Medicines in Treatment of Acne Vulgaris: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Acne is estimated to affect 9.4% of the global population, making it the 8th most prevalent disease worldwide. Acne vulgaris (AV) is among the diseases that directly affect quality of life. This trial evaluated the efficacy of individualized homeopathic medicines (IHM) against placebo in AV. METHODS: In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted at the National Institute of Homoeopathy, India, 126 patients suffering from AV were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either IHM (verum) in centesimal potencies or identical-looking placebo (control). The primary outcome measure was the Global Acne Grading System score; secondary outcomes were the Cardiff Acne Disability Index and Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaires - all measured at baseline and 3 months after the intervention. Group differences and effect sizes (Cohen's d) were calculated on the intention-to-treat sample. RESULTS: Overall, improvements were greater in the IHM group than placebo, with small to medium effect sizes after 3 months of intervention; however, the inter-group differences were statistically non-significant. Sulphur (17.5%), Natrum muriaticum (15.1%), Calcarea phosphorica (14.3%), Pulsatilla nigricans (10.3%), and Antimonium crudum (7.1%) were the most frequently prescribed medicines; Pulsatilla nigricans, Tuberculinum bovinum and Natrum muriaticum were the most effective of those used. No harms, unintended effects, homeopathic aggravations or any serious adverse events were reported from either group. CONCLUSION: There was non-significant direction of effect favoring homeopathy against placebo in the treatment of AV. TRIAL REGISTRATION: CTRI/2018/11/016248; UTN: U1111-1221-8164.