Homeopathy最新文献

Dengue, a hyperendemic arbovirus thriving in tropical and sub-tropical climates globally, has seen a significant surge in Brazil over the past 5 years. Presently, the country faces an epidemic, posing a huge challenge to Public Health authorities due to the potentially lethal nature of severe infections. Based on Hahnemannian concepts and on the historically reported efficacy of homeopathy in fighting epidemics, this study aimed to provide supporting evidence for a homeopathic genus epidemicus approach to prevent severe forms of dengue. Symptoms related to the severe phase of the disease were prioritised in the repertorisation: China officinalis (Chin) received the highest total symptoms score (43 points from 21 symptoms) followed by Arsenicum album (31/13) and Phosphorus (29/14). In the asymptomatic population exposed to the etiological agent, the use of Chin might contribute as an additional strategy in the prophylaxis of dengue.

Background:  The Modified Naranjo Criteria for Homeopathy (MONARCH) inventory is a novel and useful tool for assessing the likelihood of a causal relationship between the homeopathic intervention and the ultimate clinical outcome.

Objectives:  To explain and elaborate on the use of the MONARCH inventory to improve its consistency of use and thereby elevate the overall quality and evidentiary value of homeopathy case reports.

Explanation and elaboration:  Each of the 10 MONARCH inventory domains is explained and elaborated with the aid of references from published literature and hypothetical clinical situations. The MONARCH total score can range from -6 to +13; within that range, an arithmetic total of +6 is available from the scores of four critical domains, which should be given prominence in the overall consideration of causality. In reporting a clinical case, great importance should be placed on the narrative of the MONARCH evaluation process, domain by domain.

Conclusion:  The application of MONARCH allows us to evaluate the likelihood of a causal relationship between the intervention and the observed clinical outcomes in successfully treated cases, thereby augmenting their evidentiary value.

Introduction:  In 2020, a 26,849-ha state park in Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil, had 30% of its area damaged by fire. A homeopathic complex formulation was applied at strategic point locations in the park's springs or watercourses, aiming to mitigate the fire damage to the flora and fauna as quickly as possible. The duration of the homeopathic signal at each point was assessed using an established solvatochromic dye technique.

Objective:  To evaluate the timing and the nature of the signal at each of nine point locations. We could thus identify the presence of any signal variations due to specified environmental features within the park.

Methods:  Water samples were harvested from each intervention point at different times, filtered, frozen, and sent to the laboratory, where they were prepared to 1cH using filtered 30% ethanol. Methylene violet was chosen among six dyes since it was found in preliminary tests that it could trace the homeopathic complex used. In addition to simple sample testing, samples were submitted to a static and unidirectional magnetic field of 2400 Gauss (240 mT) for 15 minutes immediately before reading, which enhanced the method's sensitivity. One-way analysis of variance/Tukey test was used to identify dye absorbance changes following the analysis of water samples from the watercourse system. A correlation matrix and the Spearman r test were employed to evaluate any correlation between tracking and the pre-existing anthropic interventions at harvesting points. In all cases, α = 0.05.

Results:  Four tracking patterns using the sample magnetization process were observed in relation to water samples and their effect on methylene violet solutions: no response (P2, P4), early transitory response (P5, P6, P8), late response (P1, P9), and constant response (P3, P7). P2 and P4, which could not be tracked, were correlated with permanent local anthropic disturbance.

Conclusions:  Methylene violet was the best dye to track the homeopathic complex prepared specifically for this case. Tracking was facilitated by prior magnetic treatment of samples, but anthropic disturbances to the environment seem to interfere with it.

Background: Fever is the hallmark of efficient acute inflammatory response, which may be disrupted in chronic inflammatory conditions. The "continuum theory" proposes that the return of acute inflammatory states with high fever predicts improvement in chronic diseases during treatment. Our objective was to investigate the observation made, during classical homeopathic treatment, that such an association exists between chronic inflammation and efficient acute inflammation.

Methods: In a case-control study, the reports of patients diagnosed with chronic inflammatory conditions with at least 6 months of follow-up under homeopathic treatment were retrospectively sampled from homeopathic medical practices from Greece, India, Romania and Russia. Twenty patients who improved under homeopathic treatment and 20 age-matched controls of those who did not improve were selected. The occurrence of common acute infectious diseases with fever during the follow-up period was investigated.

Results: The average age of the cases and controls was 28.4 (SD: 16.64) and 27.9 (SD: 17.19) years respectively. 18/20 cases and 4/20 controls developed common infectious diseases with fever. Cramer's V co-efficient value was found to be 0.551 (p < 0.01), indicating that improvement was more in patients with fever than without. Odds ratio of improving with respect to development of acute infectious diseases was 36.0 (95% CI: 5.8 to 223.5). The binary logistic regression model indicated significant contribution of occurrence of acute infections with fever as a predictor for improvement in chronic inflammatory disease.

Conclusions: Classical homeopathic clinical observations indicate an association between chronic inflammatory status in the body and the ability to mount efficient acute inflammation. In this case-control study, the occurrence of common infections with fever during treatment heralded improvement in chronic inflammatory disease. Further powered studies are necessary to substantiate this finding.

Background: Sickle cell disorder (SCD) is a hereditary blood disease characterized by an abnormality in the oxygen-carrying protein hemoglobin present in red blood cells. Genetic abnormality causes these cells to become sickle-shaped, with shorter lifespan. Vaso-occlusive crisis is a major symptom of SCD: it is a sudden and severe episode of pain, and occurs when sickle-shaped cells block blood flow. This blockage can lead to tissue damage, inflammation and pain.

Objectives: This case series aims to observe the clinical outcomes from prescribing individualized homeopathic medicines along with organopathic supportive medicine in the management of SCD through the analysis of case studies of six patients from a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) in India that manifests genetic predisposition for the disease.

Method: The patients were administered individualized homeopathic and organopathic supportive medicines, after a comprehensive door-to-door survey and subsequent screening, conducted between October 2020 and May 2023 in the Dindori and Mandla districts of the central Indian state, Madhya Pradesh. Clinical symptoms, laboratory parameters including hemoglobin, along with scores from a visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain and from the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQoL) Questionnaire, were determined.

Results: Individualized homeopathic and organopathic supportive management led to improvements in clinical symptoms for all six patients. Laboratory test results showed a statistically significant increase in hemoglobin level associated with treatment. The VAS for pain indicated decreased pain frequency and severity. WHOQoL scores also improved, indicating enhanced well-being for each patient. No adverse effects were reported during treatment.

Conclusion: This study suggests that individualized homeopathic medicine and organopathic supportive management have a beneficial role in managing SCD and may be valuable in the context of PVTGs in India. To establish a more comprehensive understanding of its efficacy, further studies should involve larger cohorts to allow for a thorough evaluation, including comparative analyses with standard therapies.

Background: Prior vaccination is often studied for its impact on individuals' post-infection prognosis. Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) medicines, advised by the Government of India as prophylaxis during the first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, were consumed by the masses in 2020. A study was therefore undertaken to observe any association between the prior usage of AYUSH prophylactic medicines and post-infection severity as reported by recovered COVID-19 individuals.

Methods: This was a retrospective, multi-centre, cohort study conducted in 21 cities of India from 5th August to 30th November 2020. Data from recovered COVID-19 patients, of either sex or any age, captured information about AYUSH prophylactic medicines intake prior to infection, disease severity, symptomatology, duration of complaints, etc. The study participants were grouped into AYUSH intake and non-intake. Primary composite outcome was the disease clinical course. Secondary clinical outcomes were the rate of and time to clinical recovery.

Results: Data of 5,023 persons were analysed. Ayurveda or homeopathic prophylactic medicines were consumed by more than half of the study participants: that is, 56.85% (n = 1,556) and 56.81% (n = 1,555) respectively. The overall adjusted protective effect (PE) of AYUSH prophylactic intake against moderate/severe forms of COVID-19 disease was 56.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 48.7 to 63.50; p < 0.001). Adjusted PE for homeopathy and Siddha was 52.9% (95% CI, 42.30 to 61.50; p < 0.001) and 59.8% (95% CI, 37.80 to 74.10; p < 0.001), respectively. A statistically significant association was found between AYUSH prophylactic medicine intake and clinical recovery more frequently by the 3rd day of illness (χ² = 9.01; p = 0.002). Time to resolution of symptoms in the AYUSH intake group was on average 0.3 days earlier than in the non-intake group (p = 0.002).

Conclusion: AYUSH prophylactics were associated with statistically significant levels of protection against COVID-19 disease severity. Amongst these, previous intake of homeopathy or Siddha medicines was associated with some protection against moderate/severe illness and with a somewhat quicker clinical recovery. Prospective studies with experimental research design are needed to validate the findings of this study.

Study registration: Clinical Trials Registry-India (CTRI/2020/08/027000).

Background: The blowfly Cochliomyia hominivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae) causes traumatic myiasis in farm animals, with deeply embedded larvae that lead to serious tissue damage and sometimes death. Treating this form of myiasis is difficult, often resulting in poor outcomes. As a homeopathic preparation that can mimic traumatic myiasis symptoms, Pyrogenium could potentially supplement treatment. This study aimed to describe the adjuvant effect that a Pyrogenium ointment might have in the treatment of sheep with traumatic myiasis.

Patients: The study reports a homeopathic adjuvant treatment with Pyrogenium 12cH ointment in six sheep with traumatic and infected myiasis. Daily clinical examinations were performed to monitor the evolution of the health of animals. Pyrogenium 12cH ointment was applied topically on the wounds, after cleaning and mechanical removal of the larvae from the lesion. Blood samples were collected for blood counts, and wound exudate samples were obtained for bacteriological examination before and after wound treatment.

Results: The ointment of Pyrogenium 12cH limited the development of parasitic larvae and was associated with the repair of tissue losses resulting from the myiases and with subsequent wound healing, together with control of fever and local inflammation.

Conclusion: Homeopathic Pyrogenium 12cH, formulated as an ointment, may be a useful new and adjuvant therapeutic option for treating traumatic and infected myiasis in animals.

Background: Chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP) lacks identifiable anatomical pathology and effective pharmacological treatment. Alternative approaches in homeopathy, specifically clinical homeopathy, utilize ultra-diluted (potentized) biological products. In Brazil, standardized biotherapics from sheep tissues, particularly fifty-millesimal (LM) potencies of sheep Lumbar Vertebra, have shown promise in alleviating CNSLBP.

Objectives: Our objective is to present the study protocol of a clinical trial that will assess the efficacy and safety of the biotherapic Lumbar Vertebra LM2 in the short-term management of CNSLBP and to estimate its therapeutic duration.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled clinical trial spanning 8 weeks per participant was designed. Participants will include 120 individuals (aged 20 to 60 years) with clinically diagnosed CNSLBP by the study's physiotherapist. Exclusion criteria are radicular pain, signs of radiculopathy, specific lumbar spine disorders, pregnancy, or puerperium (up to 60 days after delivery). The medical intervention includes participants being randomly assigned to one of two treatment sequences: homeopathy-placebo or placebo-homeopathy. The treatments will consist of Lumbar Vertebra LM2 oral solution, topical cream, and indistinguishable placebos. Each treatment period will span 2 weeks, with a 4-week washout interval between them. Primary outcome is the assessment of changes in self-reported pain levels using the numeric rating scale (NRS) score, analyzed with a random effects model across both treatment periods. Secondary outcomes are assessment of changes in self-reported disability levels using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), analyzed with a random effects model across both treatment periods, and pain and disability variations, evaluated by the NRS score and ODI respectively, after the first and second treatment periods. Adverse events will be assessed at weeks 2 and 8. Pain medications will be used concomitantly. Adherence will be evaluated by the weight of medication returned/standard weight.

Discussion: The BIOVERT (Bioactive Vertebra) trial protocol is designed to investigate a homeopathic strategy for short-term CNSLBP treatment. Favorable outcomes for homeopathy could prompt subsequent studies evaluating the long-term effectiveness of LM potencies of Lumbar Vertebra for CNSLBP.

Trial registration: UMIN Clinical Trials Registry - ID: UMIN000051957.