Homeopathy最新文献

The Indian government, in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, initiated campaigns to use complementary therapies for its prevention and control, such as large-scale distribution of the homeopathic medicine, Arsenicum album 30C, as potential prophylactic for COVID-19. This study estimates the individual adherence to using this homeopathic prophylactic within the Indian urban population.A multi-center, cross-sectional, study was conducted across 23 cities in 19 Indian states and union territories from September to November 2022. Participants aged 18 years and above, who had received Arsenicum album 30C within the past month, were included. Adherence was assessed through self-reports. Data were collected in a structured data collection form. Factors influencing adherence were analysed using logistic regression.A total of 23,101 participants completed the survey. Among the participants, 79.89% (n = 18,457) completed the prescribed three-dose regimen, demonstrating high adherence. Older adults (≥61 years) exhibited the highest adherence (84.63%), whereas younger individuals had lower adherence rates. Employment status, gender and socio-economic class were significant predictors of adherence. Participants with a lower perceived risk of COVID-19 showed higher adherence (adjusted odds ratio = 1.86; 95% confidence interval, 1.73 to 1.99; p < 0.0001). Adverse events were reported by 0.1% (n = 22) of participants, with no serious effects observed.The high adherence to Arsenicum album 30C highlights the effectiveness of a structured government distribution program and the potential of homeopathy as a welcomed medication in aiming to enhance public health.

Whilst several physico-chemical projects across the world are engaged in research work to understand the fundamental nature of homeopathic potencies, there is often a lack of awareness amongst the scientific community regarding the practice of homeopathy. In particular, information from the manufacture, storage and administering of remedies is not generally integrated into research frameworks, leading to hypotheses about homeopathy that can be questioned or dismissed because they do not fit with known facts about homeopathic practice.Observations from the practice of homeopathy have been amalgamated here with results from various fundamental research studies, together with the writings of Samuel Hahnemann where these focus on the manufacture and administering of homeopathic medicines. By following this approach, it is shown that several restrictions are automatically placed on what hypotheses are possible regarding the physico-chemical nature of homeopathic potencies, while at the same time providing pointers as to what potencies might be.The above approach leads to several basic questions regarding the nature of homeopathic potencies. These questions include whether potencies are some form of exotic matter, whether they are gasiform in nature, whether they self-replicate, and whether they have some form of structure, in particular whether that structure might be fractal.Our approach allows for several possible explanations for the modus operandi of homeopathy to be dismissed, and in so doing narrows down what hypotheses can be put forward. Whilst it is still premature to offer testable hypotheses as to how homeopathy works, we are considerably closer to identifying the fundamental nature of homeopathic potencies than we were.

Clinical verification in homeopathy is a systematic process that aims to validate the therapeutic efficacy of homeopathic medicines. The Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) has been conducting clinical verification studies in lesser known, fragmentarily proved and rare medicines such as Acorus calamus through its Clinical Verification Program, thereby expanding the therapeutic utility of these medicines.The primary objective of the study was to assess the change in intensity of presenting symptoms of the participants after administration of the medicine Acorus calamus by measuring change in Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile-2 (MYMOP-2) profile score. The study also aimed to evaluate overall impact on participants' daily living using the Outcome in Relation to Impact on Daily Living (ORIDL) scale, as well as to identify any new clinical symptoms that were not elicited during the drug proving.A multi-center open-label study was conducted at the outpatient departments of the 14 hospitals/clinics of the CCRH located in different states of India. Participants having a minimum of three symptoms corresponding to the proving symptom of Acorus calamus were included in the study.Improvement in the symptomatology of 321 participants who completed a minimum of two follow-ups suggested the effectiveness of the medicine in treating various clinical conditions, including headache, constipation, respiratory diseases such as rhinitis, acute nasopharyngitis, sinusitis and cough, musculoskeletal disorders such as myalgia, arthralgia and cervical spondylosis, and skin conditions such as eczema. Acorus calamus showed substantial therapeutic potential, with significant improvement (p < 0.0001) in MYMOP-2 and in ORIDL scores. Symptoms that were not previously identified during the drug proving included sneezing and difficulty in breathing.The study successfully verified the symptomatology of Acorus calamus by ascertaining improvement in symptoms after its administration in individuals with various health conditions. Future research can focus on randomized controlled trials to quantify the efficacy of Acorus calamus for the indicated clinical conditions.

Homeopathic consultations complement conventional medicine by emphasizing individualized and specific patient symptoms. While numerous studies have examined the efficacy of homeopathic treatments, very few have explored patients' experiences during these consultations.To analyze and understand how patients perceive this period of care, through a qualitative study conducted at the Integrative Care Day Hospital for oncology outpatients at Toussaint Hospital in Strasbourg, France.Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, we conducted semi-structured interviews between February and April 2022 with patients living with advanced cancer. Participants were referred by oncologists or supportive care providers to the hospital, where they received various integrative therapies, including homeopathy, acupuncture, aromatherapy, dietetics, osteopathy, mindfulness, art therapy, socio-aesthetic care, and psychological support. Interviews focused on patients' lived experiences. Data collection continued until thematic saturation was reached, which occurred after 20 anonymized interviews.Seventeen of the 20 patients spontaneously commented on the homeopathic consultations, revealing seven key themes: attentive listening; sufficient time; trust and understanding; a holistic and person-centered approach; clear and detailed explanations; open-minded dialogue; comprehensive clinical and paraclinical assessment. Consultations were perceived as moments of calm, openness and humanity. The care was described as non-intrusive, providing clarity and meaningful explanations.Findings align with prior qualitative research: homeopathic consultations in integrative oncology were positively received, appreciated for their holistic and empathetic nature. These results highlight the meaningful contribution of homeopathy in integrative oncology.

Gastrointestinal worm infestation, mainly by H. contortus, represents one of the main health challenges in sheep farming, exacerbated by resistance to conventional anthelmintics. This study evaluated the efficacy of two homeopathic complex formulations in reducing parasite load in ewes (not lactating/not pregnant) over a period of 45 days.Thirty Santa Inês and Dorper crossbred sheep were used, distributed in three treatments: T1 (Apis mellifica 15cH + Arsenicum album 11cH + Cina 9cH + Kalium phosphoricum 15cH + Spigelia anthelmia 9cH + Pereskia aculeata 6cH), T2 (the constituents of T1 but replacing Pereskia aculeata by Ferrum metallicum 6cH) and T3 (control group, without homeopathic treatment). The animals were evaluated by counting the EPG (eggs per gram of feces), monitoring level of anemia by the grade of ocular mucosal coloration (FAMACHA^® method) and measuring body weight on each of days 0, 15, 30 and 45.The results showed a significant (p < 0.05) decline in EPG from the 30th day, being more pronounced in group T2, which showed 79% efficacy on the 45th day. There were no significant differences between the treatments related to FAMACHA^® score or daily weight gain.The homeopathic complexes used in this study, particularly T2 which contains Ferrum metallicum 6cH, contributed to the control of gastrointestinal nematode infection in dry ewes.

Homeopathy has always used algorithms, such as giving more weight to peculiar symptoms and repertorisation of symptoms for differential diagnosis of medicines. However, repertory entries are flawed and homeopathic data are liable to heuristic bias. Modernising the homeopathic repertory with statistical tools, such as Bayes' theorem, should be accompanied by handling (confirmation) bias.After systematic collection of 731 'Best Chronic Homeopathic Cases' (BCHC), we analysed patterns in the frequency distribution of likelihood ratios (LRs). We did the same with an existing Bayesian repertory based on historical materia medica data of more uncertain quality. The frequency distributions are assessed with theoretical considerations, mathematical tools such as (exponential) transformations and differentiation, and expert knowledge.The frequency distributions of LRs both showed the same two patterns: the middle part of the frequency distribution showed a loglinear progression, but at both ends there was an increasing slope of the curve. The confirmation bias in the middle part of the LRs can be corrected mathematically with exponentiation (power calculations). Clinical expertise and differentiation of the curve indicate LR = 7 as an eligible maximum for the vast majority of symptoms. There was no clear difference between the BCHC and the historical materia medica data in this respect.It is possible to correct partly for confirmation bias in a repertorisation algorithm by a combination of theoretical consideration, expert knowledge and mathematics. We found a striking similarity between the BCHC and historical data regarding confirmation bias.

Acute anal fissure (AF) causes significant pain and discomfort, sometimes requiring invasive treatment. This study evaluates the usefulness and safety of homeopathic Paeonia officinalis mother tincture (Q) in the management of acute AF.An open-label, prospective, pre-post comparison cohort study was conducted on 34 participants diagnosed with acute AF. Paeonia officinalis Q was administered orally (10 drops in 50 mL of water, once daily) for 12 weeks alongside supportive care that included dietary advice. Outcome measures were: pain intensity assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS; range: 0-10); level of strain during defecation using the Defecation Strain Score (DSS); Outcome Related to Impact on Daily Living (ORIDL) score for main complaint and overall well-being; and degree of healing of fissure (HoF) by visual clinical examination.VAS score reduced significantly from baseline (8.94 ± 0.81) at 12 weeks (0.11 ± 0.32), with a mean decrease of 8.82 ± 0.13 (p < 0.001), while DSS decreased from a median of 3 to 0 (change, 3; inter-quartile range [IQR], 2-3; p < 0.001). ORIDL scores for main complaint increased from 2 to 4 (change, 1; IQR, 1-2) and well-being from 3 to 4 (change, 1; IQR, 1-1; p < 0.001). By 12 weeks, fissures healed completely in 30 (88.2%) participants, with no serious adverse events reported.Homeopathic Paeonia officinalis Q, combined with concomitant care advice, appears useful in reducing pain and straining while promoting fissure healing in acute AF patients. The potential influence of confounders limits attribution of positive outcomes to the homeopathic intervention alone.

Data-driven research stems from the original idea of homeopathy, which can be transferred to the 21st century with modern statistical concepts, especially techniques of data mining.In preparing a statistical approach to Materia Medica, abstraction of symptoms is pivotal. The main works of Materia Medica were indexed, creating the requirements for analyzing existing data.A manifold range of objectives are conceivable for analysis of Materia Medica: e.g., checking the quality of the existing data; assessing the prevalence of symptoms; calculating correlations between symptoms; assessing the discriminating power of symptoms; handling of polar symptoms; analyzing cross-references between medicines; calculating domains for each medicine, such as spheres of action, organs and side localization; building a new repertory from scratch.As a first step, a comparison between data of Materia Medica, prognostic factor research (PFR) and repertories for six selected repertory rubrics was performed, showing moderately high correlations between Materia Medica and PFR.Methods of data mining applied to Materia Medica can help to analyze existing data to a maximum extent and contribute to the further development of the homeopathic method, both scientifically and practically.

Homeopathy was introduced in Brazil with the French doctor Benoît Jules Mure's arrival in 1840 and was officially recognised in 1980 as a medical specialty by Brazilian regulatory authorities. Public health policies played an important role in incorporating homeopathy into the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), emphasising homeopathy's coherence with SUS's fundamental principles and with other national health policies. Homeopathy is supported by the guidelines of the National Primary Health Care Policy and the National Policy on Integrative and Complementary Practices, and its offer in the SUS has been recognised since 2006. Challenges persist, however, such as the low prevalence of the use of homeopathy, lack of investment in professional training and under-reporting of homeopathy outpatient appointments. Investments in disseminating information on homeopathic philosophy and raising awareness among managers and health professionals are essential to strengthen its presence in the Brazilian public health system.

Background:  Arsenicum album, Causticum, Nux vomica, Pulsatilla nigricans, Rhus toxicodendron and Sulphur are frequently prescribed homeopathic medicines; however, their symptoms, as mentioned in different homeopathic literature works, have rarely been investigated systematically. Likelihood ratio (LR), based on Bayesian statistics, may reflect a better estimation of the strengths of symptoms than the existing entries in the homeopathic literature.

Methods:  A prospective, longitudinal, analytical patient outcome study was conducted in the outpatient departments of D. N. De Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, on 1,954 patients over 21 months. The outcomes were recorded at each follow-up using the Outcome Related to Impact on Daily Living (ORIDL) +4 to -4 scale. The average period of treatment for each participant was 3 months. The LRs of four symptoms for each of the six selected medicines were calculated.

Results:  One hundred and two different remedies were prescribed. The prevalence, LR + , and LR - , with respective 95% confidence intervals, of different symptoms were reported. The study found that the following symptoms had particularly high LR+ scores: "intense sympathy for the suffering of others" (Causticum, LR+ = 12.0); "dyspepsia from business anxiety" (Nux vomica, LR+ = 27.4); "burning pain relieved by heat" (Arsenicum album, LR+ = 29.6); "envy" (Pulsatilla nigricans, LR+ = 13.2); "desire for milk" (Rhus toxicodendron, LR+ = 7.5); "very selfish, no regard for others" (Sulphur, LR+ = 20.6). The findings corroborated well with the presentation of the symptoms in different homeopathic materia medica and repertories. ORIDL scores of +2 or greater were identified most prominently for Pulsatilla nigricans (n = 138) and Sulphur (n = 119).

Conclusion:  There was adequate evidence to attribute all the assessed symptoms to the medicines investigated. Further studies with a larger population are warranted to tackle the possible confirmation bias.