Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy
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Pharmacognostic and physicochemical standardization of homoeopathic drug: Rumex crispus L.
Background: Rumex crispus L., commonly called as yellow dock in English, patience frisee in French, and Ampfer in German, and ′aceda de culebra′ in Spanish is a well-known herb belonging to Polygonaceae. Roots of the herb are used as medicine in homoeopathy. Objective: The pharmacognostic and physicochemical studies on roots have been carried out to enable the use of correct species and standardize the raw material. Materials and Methods: Pharmacognostic studies on roots of authentic raw drug have been carried out; physicochemical parameters, namely, extractive value, ash values, formulation besides weight per mL, total solids, alcohol content along with high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) and ultraviolet studies for mother tincture have been worked out. Results: Roots are blackish-brown, wiry, rounded with irregular striations, tortuous; internally, it is softwood, light-yellow, and fracture fibrous. Phellem is 8-10 layered, discontinuous, and tanniniferous. Phellogen is two-layered and contains inulin crystals in few. Outer phelloderm is 12-16 layered often containing spherocrystals and associated with stone cells. Secondary phloem is up to 25 layered. Xylem is in the form of strips. The physicochemical properties and HPTLC values of the drug are standardized and presented. Conclusion: The powder microscopic features and organoleptic characters along with anatomical and physicochemical studies are diagnostic to establish standards for the drug
Learning from the past: Review of the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy Quarterly Bulletin 2000 (volume 22) and 2001 (volume 23)
Learning from the past: Review of the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy Quarterly Bulletin 1998 (volume 20) and 1999 (volume 21)
A multicentric, double-blind randomized, homoeopathic pathogenetic trial of Allium sativum
Background: Homoeopathic drug proving is an integral part of Homoeopathic System of Medicine. It is the first step in finding out the pathogenetic powers of a drug. Objective: To elicit the pathogenetic response to Allium sativum in homoeopathic potencies on healthy human provers. Materials and Methods: A multi-center randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial was conducted at two centers of the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH). Proving was conducted on 33 healthy provers after the pretrial medical examination. All the provers were given 12 doses of placebo divided in 4 doses/day for 3 days during the first phase of the trial. After randomization, in the intervention group (21 provers), Allium sativum (A. sativum) was proved in 6C and 30C potencies, in two phases. In the placebo group, 12 provers were administered placebo in the same manner. The symptoms manifested during the trial period were noted down by the provers and then elaborated by the proving masters. The generated data on A. sativum were then compiled and analyzed at proving-cum-data processing cell at CCRH headquarters. Results: Out of 21 provers who were on actual drug trial, only nine provers manifested symptoms. Drug was able to manifest symptoms in both the potencies, in more or less every part of the body. Conclusion: The pathogenetic response elicited during the proving trial expands the scope of use of the drug A. sativum and will benefit the research scholars and clinicians. The generated symptoms of this drug will carry more value when verified clinically
Revisiting the past: Review of Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy Quarterly Bulletin volume 17 (1-4) 1995
Homoeopathic management of Schizophrenia: A prospective, non-comparative, open-label observational study
Objectives: To evaluate the usefulness of homoeopathic intervention in Schizophrenia, in untreated cases and antipsychotic treatment resistant cases, to verify indications of medicines, and to assess relapse, if any. Materials and Methods: A prospective, non-comparative, open-label observational study was carried out from October 2005-September 2010 by CCRH at Central Research Institute (H), Kottayam, Kerala, India. Patients between 20 and 60 years of age, presenting with symptoms of Schizophrenia were screened for inclusion and exclusion criteria. The patients who were on antipsychotic drugs were allowed to continue the same along with homoeopathic medicine, the dose of antipsychotics was monitored by the Psychiatrist. The symptoms of each patient were repertorized, and medicine was initially prescribed in 30C potency after consulting Materia Medica. Patients were followed up for 12 months. Outcome of treatment was assessed with Brief Psychiatric Rating Scales (BPRS). Analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences SPSS Version 20.0. Results: Out of 188 enrolled patients, 17 cases did not complete the baseline information. Total 171 patients were analysed as per modified Intention to Treat Principle. Significant difference (P = 0.0001, P \u3c 0.05) in the mean scores of BPRS, using paired t test was observed at end of the study. Sulphur, Lycopodium, Natrum muriaticum, Pulsatilla and Phosphorus were found to be the most useful medicines in treating schizophrenic patients. Conclusion: The study reflects the positive role of homoeopathic medicines in the management of patients suffering from schizophrenia as measured by BPRS
Anxiety and its impact on quality of life among urban elderly population in India: An exploratory study
Background: Persistent suffering in anxiety can cause various health problems in old age and impairment of quality of life (QOL). Objectives: The objectives of this study are to assess the pattern of covert and overt anxiety among elderly population, to study the nature of relationship between the pattern of anxiety and domains of World Health Organization-QOL (WHO-QOL) among elderly population, to study the gender difference on the pattern of anxiety and WHO-QOL among elderly population. Materials and Methods: An exploratory cross-sectional survey under a health camp approach was conducted by using two types of questionnaire, i.e., Institute for Personality and Ability Testing self-analysis questionnaire and WHOQOL-BREF. Results: The gender wise comparative profile of covert and overt anxiety with total, standard, and sten score shows that covert anxiety is higher in male in different background characteristics, except male group educated between 5 th and 12 th standard showing higher overt anxiety, whereas female group shows higher overt anxiety in different background characteristics. Spearman′s rank correlation shows that overt anxiety has an inverse relation with domain-1 in both sexes, a negative relationship is found between domain-2 of WHO-QOL and the covert and overt anxiety among female, a significant negative relationship in domain-3 of WHO-QOL with covert and overt anxiety among male, and also a significant negative association between the domain-4 of WHO-QOL and overt anxiety in female. Conclusion: The functional ability of both male and female elderly on various domains is related and influenced by the pattern of anxiety
A randomized comparative trial in the management of Alcohol Dependence: Individualized Homoeopathy versus standard Allopathic Treatment
Objectives: This study was undertaken to compare the effects of IH with standard allopathic (SA) treatment. Methods: A randomized controlled, open-label, comparative trial, was conducted, in which alcohol dependents were screened verbally using the CAGE scale. The participants 80 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were randomized either IH (n=40) or SA (n=40) and treated cum followed up for 12 months. The primary outcome was more than 50% reduction in the Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire [SADQ] rating scale at 12 th month. Data analysis was done for both intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) populations. Results: ITT analysis reflected 80% (n = 32) of the patients in IH and 37.5% (n = 15) of the patients in the SA responding to CI before 2.4 treatment with absolute difference was 42.5% (42.5 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 23.0, 61.6]) and estimated effect: 6.6 (95% C.I: 2.4, 18.2), P = 0.0002. A significant difference favoring IH was also observed in three out of four domains of WHO QOL-BREF. Statistically significant difference was found in the number of drinking days (median difference: −24.00; CI: −39.0-−8.0; P = 0.001) and number of drinks per drinking day (median difference: −6.3 [95% CI: −11.3-−1.9]; P = 0.004), favoring IH. The results showed a similar trend in PP analysis. Medicines found useful were Sulphur, Lycopodium clavatum, Arsenicum album, Nux vomica, Phosphorus, and Lachesis. Conclusion: The results conclude that IH is not inferior to SA in the management of AD patients. More rigorous studies with large sample size are however desirable