Homeopathic treatment of COVID-19 caused by novel coronavirus SARS CoV2-a real-world experience
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3933.ijam20223399Keywords:
COVID-19, Homoeopathy, Genus epidemicus, Individualised homoeopathy, PandemicAbstract
Background: The unprecedented healthcare challenge of COVID-19 uncovered a new set of challenges for therapy and management of infective conditions. The aim of the study was to established efficacy and safety homoeopathic medicines, which works on principles of similar symptomatology of the disease and the drug, individualization of therapy and hyper-attenuated prescriptions.
Methods: The present study was a single centre, OPD based, prospective real-world, all-comer study that included 94 patients of COVID-19, diagnosed based on criteria advised by the Ministry of AYUSH).
Results: In all, 94 all-comer, real-world patients of COVID-19 were included in the study, diagnosed on this basis of the MoH guidance criteria. All patients were symptomatic. The overall age of the patients was 40.98 ±19.98 years. Few patients [n=21 (16.84)] had comorbidities while a majority of patients [n=79 (83.16%)] had no notable comorbidity. All the patients were relieved to be asymptomatic in maximum 6 days. In the reversed calculation of Cohen’s D, indicated that the effect of therapy was significantly large. However, pertaining to the data volume, the effect size was not statistically significant.
Conclusions: Individualized homeopathic medicine were effective in treatment of COVID-19. However, Bryonia alba and arsenic album were most commonly indicated medicines p overall <0.0001 (Chi square for equal distribution of top 10). Another trend observation established that Bryonia alba was most commonly indicated and effective medicine; hence a potential homeopathic medicine for epidemic (genus: Epidemicus).
References
Peeri NC, Shrestha N, Rahman MS, Zaki R, Tan Z, Bibi S et al. The SARS, MERS and novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemics, the newest and biggest global health threats: what lessons have we learned? Int J Epidemiol. 2020;49(3):717-26.
World Health Organisation. Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) Situation Report 2020. Available at: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/events-as-they-happen. Accessed on 6 July, 2022.
World Health Organisation. Situation Report -22 2020. Available at: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200211-sitrep-22-ncov.pdf?sfvrsn=fb6d49b1_2. Accessed on 6 July, 2022.
Hasan SS, Capstick T, Ahmed R, Kow CS, Mazhar F, Merchant HA et al. Mortality in COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome and corticosteroids use: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Expert review of respiratory medicine. 2020;14(11):1149-63.
Su S, Wong G, Shi W, Liu J, Lai ACK, Zhou J et al. Epidemiology, Genetic Recombination, and Pathogenesis of Coronaviruses. Trends Microbiol. 2016;24(6):490-502.
Zhu N, Zhang D, Wang W, Li X, Yang B, Song J et al. A Novel Coronavirus from Patients with Pneumonia in China, 2019. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(8):727-33.
Cascella M, Rajnik M, Cuomo A, Dulebohn SC, Di Napoli R. Features, evaluation and treatment Coronavirus (COVID-19). Stat Pearls. 2022.
Xu YH, Dong JH, An WM. Clinical and computed tomographic imaging features of novel coronavirus pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2. J Infect. 2020;80:394-400.
Siemieniuk RA, Bartoszko J, Zeraatkar D, Kum E, Qasim A, Dìaz Martinez JP et al. Drug treatments for COVID-19: living systematic review and network meta-analysis. BMJ. 2020;370:m2980.
Bodnar W, Aranda-Abreu G, Slabon-Willand M, Kotecka S, Farnik M, Bodnar J. The efficacy of amantadine hydrochloride in the treatment of COVID-19-a single-center observation study. Pol Merkur Lekarski. 2021;49(294):389-93.
Al-Tannak NF, Novotny L, Alhunayan A. Remdesivir-bringing hope for COVID-19 treatment. Scientia Pharmaceutica. 2020;88(2):29.
Wang J, Yang W, Chen P, Guo J, Liu R, Wen P, Wang Y. The proportion and effect of corticosteroid therapy in patients with COVID-19 infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PloS one. 2021;16(4):e0249481.
Chiu L, Lo CH, Shen M, Chiu N, Aggarwal R, Lee J, Shin HJ. Colchicine use in patients with COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PloS one. 2021;16(12):e0261358.
Ang L, Song E, Lee HW, Lee MS. Herbal medicine for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Clin Med. 2020;9(5):1583.
Jethani B, Gupta M, Wadhwani P, Thomas R, Balakrishnan T, Mathew G, Manchanda RK. Clinical characteristics and remedy profiles of patients with COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study. Homeopathy. 2021;110(02):086-93.
Franchini M, Cruciani M. How safe is COVID-19 convalescent plasma? In Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2021;96(8):2279-81.
Cheng P, Zhu H, Witteles RM. Cardiovascular Risks in Patients with COVID-19: Potential Mechanisms and Areas of Uncertainty. Curr Cardiol Rep. 2020;22(5):34.
Harper L, Kalfa N, Beckers GMA, Kaefer M, Nieuwhof-Leppink AJ, Fossum M, ESPU Research Committee. The impact of COVID-19 on research. J Pediatric urol. 2020;16(5):715-6.
Mehra MR, Desai SS, Kuy S, Henry TD, Patel AN. Retraction: cardiovascular disease, drug therapy, and mortality in COVID-19. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(26):2582.
Garg SK. Antibiotic misuse during COVID-19 pandemic: A recipe for disaster. Indian J Crit Care Med. 2021;25(6):617.
Dolgin E. The pandemic is prompting widespread use-and misuse-of real-world data. Proceedings National Academy of Sci. 2020;117(45):27754-8.
Sarzani R, Spannella F, Giulietti F, Di Pentima C, Giordano P, Giacometti A. Possible harm from glucocorticoid drugs misuse in the early phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection: A narrative review of the evidence. Internal Emergency Med. 2021;1-10.
Priya R, Sujatha V. AYUSH for COVID-19: Science or Superstition? Indian J Publ Heal. 2020;64(6):105.
Ali I, Alharbi OM. COVID-19: Disease, management, treatment, and social impact. Science of the total Environment. 2020;728:138861.
Bopaiah J, Garimella K, Kavuluru R. Opinions on Homeopathy for COVID-19 on Twitter. In 14th ACM Web Sci Conference. 2022;359-63.
Ministry of Ayush Government of India, Guidelines for Homoeopathy Practitioners for Prophylaxis and Symptomatic Management of COVID-19 Patients in Home Isolation. Available at: https://www.ayush.gov.in/docs/homeopathy-guidelines.pdf. Accessed on 25 Oct, 2022.
DR. SUMAIYA SHAIKH,
Homeopathic drugs such as Arsenic album 30, promoted by AYUSH, do not boost immunity against COVID. Available at: https://www.altnews.in/homeopathic-drugs-such-as-arsenicum-album-30-promoted-by-ayush-do-not-boost-immunity-against-covid/. Accessed on 25 Oct, 2022.
Hahnemann S. The lesser writings of Samuel Hahnemann. B. Jain Publishers.
Hahnemann S, O'Reilly W, 1996. Organon of the medical art. Aphorism 3, homoeopathe international English. 2015, Available at: http://www.homeoint.org/books/hahorgan/organ001.htm#P3. Accessed on 25 Oct, 2022.
Albert NDH. Homeopathy and Its Role in Treating Mental and Emotional Problems. Alternative Mental Health. 2015. Available at: http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/homeopathy-and-its-role-in-treating-mental-and-emotional-problems/. Accessed on 25 Oct, 2022.
Phansalkar SK, Pacharne TD, Somawanshi NH, Parekh BR. A randomized control study for evaluating the efficacy of individualized Homeopathic medicine as an adjuvant therapy in mild to moderate cases of COVID-19. J Intgr Stand Homoeopathy. 2021;4(2):40-8.
Ministry of health, India, Clinical Management Protocol for COVID-19 (in adults), Ver 6. 2021. Available at: https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/UpdatedDetailedClinicalManagementProtocolforCOVID19adultsdated24052021.pdf. Accessed on 25 Oct, 2022.
Pradeep KG. Randomized, Parallel Group, Placebo Controlled trial: Homoeopathy as adjuvant in management of COVID-19 infection Trial CTRI/2020/05/024969.
CTRI Registry Search Result on Homeopathy and COVID. Available at: http://ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/. Accessed on 17 July, 2022.
Shang A, Huwiler-Müntener K, Nartey L, et al. Are the clinical effects of homoeopathy placebo effects? Comparative study of placebo-controlled trials of homoeopathy and allopathy. Lancet 2005; 366:726–732.
Waisse S. The science of high dilutions in historical context. Homeopathy. 2012;101:129-37.
Nunes LAS. Homeopathy and dengue: Macaé, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2007-2012. Rev Homeopatia 2016;79:1-16.
Prass-Santos C, Brina NT, Magalhães IL. Report on the use of homeopathic medication in the prophylaxis of dengue in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, in 2010. Rev Homeopatia. 2012;75:1-12.
Bracho G, Varela E, Fernández R. Large-scale application of highly-diluted bacteria for leptospirosis epidemic control. Homeopathy. 2010;99:156-66.
Chakraborty P, Lamba C, Nayak D. Effect of individualized Homeopathic treatment in influenza like illness: a multicenter, single blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Indian J Res Homoeopath. 2013;7:22-30.
Aparecida L, Nunes S. Contribution of homeopathy to the control of an outbreak of dengue in Macaé, Rio de Janeiro. Int J High Dilution Res. 2008;7:186-92.
Oberai P, Varanasi R, Padmanabhan M. Effectiveness of homeopathic medicines as add-on to institutional management protocol for acute encephalitis syndrome in children: an openlabel randomized placebo-controlled trial. Homeopathy. 2018;107:161-71.
Arora GR, Goyal A. Role of Homeopathic Genus Epidemicus in Epidemic and Pandemic Perspective." Advancements in Homeopathic Res. 2021;55-61.
Teixeira MZ. Homeopathy: a preventive approach to medicine? Int J High Dilution Res. 2009;8(29):155-72.
Theruvath AH, Raveendran R, Philips CA. Dangerous Placebo During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Series of Homeopathic Arsenic album-Induced Liver Injury. Cureus. 2022;14(6):e26062.
