Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy
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Proposed checklist for standardising homoeoprophylaxis interventions
Get PDFBackground: Results from large homoeoprophylaxis (HP) interventions support the effectiveness of HP, but their variable methodology means that meaningful summaries of the combined data are difficult to produce. Objective: The aim of this article is to develop possible ways of standardising and improving the quality of data from HP interventions. Methods: Evidence collected from some large HP interventions is summarised. A previously suggested pre- and post-intervention checklist intended to help standardise the evidence from HP interventions is critically examined. Results: A summary of HP evidence from large interventions shows that there is a growing body of data suggesting a level of HP effectiveness between 85% and 90%. However, the type and quality of the evidence is variable. A previously developed checklist for researchers to use is modified and examples are given from actual interventions. Conclusion: There is a growing body of evidence supporting claims that HP interventions are effective. The evidence base needs to be improved in a range of ways. Requiring a standardised checklist to be completed by researchers before and after an intervention offers one method to improve the quality and consistency of evidence collected. HP has much to offer governments, health officials and citizens globally. It is safe, relatively effective, flexible, easily delivered and highly cost-effective. Yet, it is supported by very few governments. The quantity of evidence is growing, but the onus is on proponents to strengthen the quality of the evidence base supporting HP to the point where the inevitable critics of Homoeopathy are silenced
Homoeopathy in the management of infectious diseases: Different facets of its use and implications for the future
Get PDFBackground: Infectious diseases are a major challenge to humanity and public health at large. Objective: The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic narrative review of the clinical research evidence for homeopathy in the management of infectious diseases. Methods: A comprehensive search of major biomedical databases: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Pubmed, Core-Hom, AYUSH Research Portal) and other individual journal sites were conducted. Relevant research published between 1999 and 2019 was categorised by study type, clinical condition and causative pathogen. Results: The literature search of two decades (1999–2019) gathered 86 articles: Meta-analysis (n = 1), systematic reviews (n = 4), randomised controlled trials (n = 30), comparative cohort/observational studies (n = 16), cohort/observational studies (single arm) (n = 25), case series (n = 7) and case reports (n = 3). The review demonstrated the beneficial evidence of homeopathy in infectious diseases is large. Both controlled and uncontrolled studies reported positive results, early recovery, reduction of hospital stay, less use of antibiotics and satisfaction of patients. Prophylactic studies on dengue, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis/acute encephalitis syndrome and leptospirosis have shown the potential role of homeopathy in preventing the disease outbreaks. Homoeopathy as an add-on treatment for these conditions has shown added benefits in reducing mortality, morbidity and sequelae. Homoeopathy has a possible and viable role as standalone and as an integrative medicine for different infectious diseases. Conclusion: Homoeopathy offers beneficial role in combating infections. Due to the heterogeneity of approaches, more studies in different research settings are warranted to add to the existing evidence and validating it for enhancing the self-healing power of the body against infections
Homoeopathic treatment of chronic urticaria – A case series
Get PDFIntroduction: Urticaria is a kind of skin complaint with red, raised and itchy bumps. Urticaria frequently occurs after an infection or as a result of an allergic response to some medication, insect bites or food. Psychological stress, exposure to cold or vibration may also trigger urticaria. Urticaria occurs with a lifetime prevalence of around 20%. In around 30% patients of urticaria, attacks often recur for months or years. Cases summary: This is a case series of five patients suffering from chronic urticaria having erythematous lesions, intense itching, redness and swelling treated at the Dermatology outpatient department of Dr D. P. Rastogi Central Research Institute for Homoeopathy, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India. The patients were prescribed indicated constitutional Homoeopathic medicines. Changes in haematological and serological tests, Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile 2 and Urticaria Activity Score summed over 7 days at baseline and at the end of treatment showed reasonable improvement in disease as well as in the quality of life. Homoeopathic medicines such as Apis mellifica, Calcarea carbonica, Rumex crispus, Pulsatilla and Histamine were found useful
Homoeopathy in pandemic Spanish flu 1918
Get PDFThe mankind has been under the wrath of various H1N1 viruses tracing back to the Spanish flu (SF) in 1918 down to pandemics in 1957 H2N2, 1968 H3N2, 2009 H1N1 and COVID 19 in 2020. Despite a lot of advancements in genomic viral studies, laboratory techniques, medical advancement and treatment options in the form of antiviral and antibiotics, the threat of pandemics is hovering on mankind with a challenge at global and national level to fight against it. Homoeopathy has played a contributory role in the treatment and prevention in various epidemics in the past. In this overview, the role of homoeopathic medicines used in the treatment of Pandemic SF 1918, in reducing the mortality is highlighted
Optimising the use of polar symptoms in Homoeopathy: Introduction to a pilot study of prognostic factor research in chronic cough
Get PDFBackground: Polar symptoms represent the most challenging rubrics in the homoeopathic repertories, despite their frequent use. Objective: The study objective was to assess the relationship between 27 polar cough symptoms, 3 non-polar cough symptoms and 30 general polar symptoms and successful response to specific homoeopathic medicines. Materials and Methods: A multi-centre, explorative, prospective, observational study was conducted at ten centres under the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy. Two hundred and sixteen patients were enrolled with chronic cough, lasting \u3e8 weeks. The patients were enrolled as per four underlying diagnoses of chronic upper airway cough syndrome (CUACS), gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD), asthma and related syndromes, and non-asthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis (NAEB). 30 general polar symptoms, 27 polar cough symptoms and 3 non-polar cough symptoms were assessed at the baseline. During enrollment and follow-up consultations, two validated questionnaires (Leicester Cough Questionnaire chronic and EuroQuol (EQ)-5D-5L) were filled for assessing the effect of treatment. If the Physician Assessment Score was \u3e2, the causal relationship between improvement and prescribed medicine was further assessed using Modified Naranjo Algorithm. Results: At the fourth follow-up, three medicines with \u3e10 cases having good result were identified: Phosphorus (n = 20), Pulsatilla (n = 19) and Sulphur (n = 13). For this introductory article, we compare some results with the existing data, reflect on discrepancies between the existing data and research outcome and reflect on future use, especially in respiratory tract infections (RTIs). Conclusion: In improving the homoeopathic method and its practical use, priority should be given to polar symptoms, especially related to RTIs
Psychological implications during the outbreak of COVID-19 and its homoeopathic management
Get PDFBackground: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is rapidly spreading across the globe and is creating dread among all people irrespective of their socioeconomic status. To tackle the rapid spread of the disease, social distancing has been found to be the only measure. However, such distancing creates a lot of mental stress, as evident from previous studies. Objectives: The objective of the study was to assess the psychological implications during quarantine and isolation and to find the homoeopathic remedies that may be suitable. Methods: We have tried to collect the mental symptoms from the available literature and from the recent studies in China on COVID-19. Based on these, repertorisation outcome was analysed to evolve a group of medicines that can be used in the scenario. Results: Based upon the symptoms collected from the previous studies, repertorisation outcome [Figure 1] was analysed to evolve a group medicine which can be used in the scenario. The medicines Arsenic album, Calcarea carbonica, Lachesis, Ignatia andPulsatilla obtained the highest marks in the analysis. The symptoms of these medicines were collected after referring the Hering\u27s Guiding Symptoms of Materia Medica[31] and Desktop Guide to Keynotes and Confirmatory Symptoms by Roger Morrison[32] and are presented in the paper. Conclusion: We hope that these medicines will prove to be beneficial for prescription to those suffering from the psychological impacts of COVID-19
