Homoeopathic treatment of oral leucoplakia: A case report

Introduction: Oral leucoplakia (OL), a premalignant lesion which is more frequently encountered in elderly people, is defined as a white lesion of the oral mucosa. Smoking is one of the most common risk factors. Conventionally, surgical excision is the most recommended treatment option for OL. Case Summary: A 55-year-old male presented with the complaint of a whitish lesion inside the left angle of the mouth (buccal mucosa) for the past 1½ years. The case was clinically diagnosed as OL. He was advised for surgical excision, but he preferred to go for homoeopathic treatment. Based on characteristic symptoms, repertorial analysis and individualisation, homoeopathic medicine Kali iodatum (200C and 1M) followed by Syphilinum 200C was prescribed. Over 14 months of treatment, the patient initially improved with Kali iodatum followed by total remission of the lesion by Syphilinum. Modified Naranjo Criteria for Homoeopathy (MONARCH) was used to evaluate the attribution of recovery to homoeopathic treatment. The MONARCH score was (+8 on a ‘−6 to +13’ scale), which is indicative of the possibility of patient’s improvement resulting from the homoeopathic treatment. This clinical case report demonstrates the beneficial effects of individualised homoeopathic treatment for the management of premalignant lesions like OL

Tinea cruris treated with individualised homoeopathic medicine – An evidence-based case report

Introduction: Tinea cruris, also commonly known as jock itch, is a skin infection caused by dermatophytes which are pathogenic fungi affecting genital, pubic, perineal and perianal areas. Tinea cruris more commonly affects men and affects adults more than children. Conventional management involves the use of topical antifungal agents and oral therapy in extensive cases. Case Summary: A case of tinea cruris in a 30-year-old male patient is reported, which was effectively treated with individualised homoeopathic medicine. Based on the totality of symptoms, the homoeopathic medicine Natrum muriaticum in 200C potency was prescribed as the first dose and improvement was observed in subsequent follow-ups. In this case, the causal attribution to the prescribed medicine was established by the Modified Naranjo Criteria Score. This evidenced-based case suggests that tinea cruris can be successfully managed with individualised homoeopathic treatment

Research highlights

Research highlight

Colloid nodular goitre treated with homoeopathic medicine Natrum muriaticum in LM potency: A case report

Introduction: Colloid goitre is a common, benign lesion in the thyroid gland, involving a diffuse or nodular pattern. It is a clinical entity characterised by subsequent growth, structural or functional transformation of one or more areas within the normal thyroid tissue. A thyroid nodule can grow to be visible, which becomes a cosmetic concern for the patient. Case Summary: A 32-year-old female presented with the complaint of swelling on the right side of her neck for the past 1½ years. The case was diagnosed by ultrasonography as a right-sided colloid nodular goitre with internal cystic degeneration. She was advised by a surgeon for a right hemithyroidectomy. To avoid the surgery, she sought homoeopathic treatment. Based on the characteristic totality and individualisation, homoeopathic medicine Natrum muriaticum was prescribed in LM potencies, after which the nodular goitre’s size was significantly reduced as observed on examination. The causal attribution between the homoeopathic intervention and the outcome of treatment was assessed by the Modified Naranjo Criteria for Homeopathy score which suggested that the improvement in the patient can be attributed to the homoeopathic treatment provided. This clinical case report shows the positive effect of individualised homoeopathic treatment in colloid nodular goitre

Physicochemical standardisation of the Homoeopathic drug, Apis mellifica: A preliminary attempt

Background: Unlike the mainstream biomedical system, honeybees’ therapeutic use has long been well documented in the homoeopathic system. The medicine prepared from the whole honeybee, Apis mellifica, is on the Essential Drug List. Objective: An in-depth physicochemical standardisation of this homoeopathic drug is attempted. Material and Methods: In this study, first the raw drug was authenticated, and then its pharmacopoeial parameters were measured, e.g. moisture content, foreign matter, different ash values, alcohol and water-soluble extractive values. Further, the mother tincture of Apis mellifica was prepared from the authentic raw drug. The pharmacopeial parameters of in-house mother tincture and a commercial mother tincture, e.g. organoleptic parameters, sediment detection, specific gravity measurement, pH measurement, total solids measurement, qualitative ultraviolet-visible spectra determination and high-performance thin layer chromatography were carried out for in-depth standardisation. Results: This study provides the standards for the aforementioned pharmacopeial parameters of Apis mellifica using pharmacopeial procedures. For the first time, the quantitative data obtained here quantifies those pharmacopeial parameters. The comparative study of the parameters of the in-house mother tincture and commercial sample shows the significance of the reported work for maintaining the high quality of the drugs. Conclusion: The data presented here could be used for updating the pharmacopeial standards and limits for the homoeopathic drug Apis mellifica in the future

Homoeopathic management of non-responsive, nodulocystic acne: A case report

Introduction: Nodulocystic acne is a severe form of acne that can significantly damage the skin and impact the quality of life. Although oral isotretinoin is considered an effective conventional treatment for such cases, it often fails. A case of severe facial nodulocystic acne is reported here, where allopathic treatment failed to control the condition. Homoeopathic treatment was administered, and the patient improved. Case Summary: A 16-year-old female patient presented with pustular, nodular, cystic and painful eruptions on the face, which were treated with individualised homoeopathic medicine Tarentula cubensis. The symptoms improved without any relapse. The causal attribution of changes was assessed by modified Naranjo criteria. The case progress was documented photographically at the beginning, during and at the end of treatment. The patient’s quality of life had also improved markedly, along with the presenting complaints. The uniqueness of this case was that the severe acne, which did not respond to conventional treatment, was resolved with homoeopathy

Effectiveness of individualised homoeopathic intervention in warts – A case series

Verruca vulgaris, also known as common warts, is benign lesions caused by the non-malignant human papillomavirus, affecting approximately 10% of the population globally. It may range from 1 mm to several cm, and are mostly seen on the extremities, followed by the face. They may be transmitted by direct or indirect contact and lead to cosmetic concerns, itching and mild to severe pain while doing activities. Conventional treatment has destructive therapies such as salicylic acid, cauterisation and cryosurgery, which induce many adverse effects from local to general. However, an individualised homoeopathic approach can be used to effectively treat these warts, without any need of applying topicals, or recurrence of the complaints. The improvement was assessed through photographic records. This case series provides an insight to individualised homoeopathic intervention in different types of warts and paves the way for pragmatic studies in the future

Homoeopathy in the management of generalised anxiety disorder: A case report

Introduction: Generalised anxiety disorder (G.A.D.) is characterised by excessive, pervasive and uncontrollable worry. G.A.D. is a chronic and recurrent disorder with a low rate of remission with a considerable impact on quality of life. There is a scarcity of literature published on homoeopathy on G.A.D. This case report illustrates an improvement without recurrence of a G.A.D. case treated exclusively with homoeopathic medicine. Case Summary: A 36-year-old man presented with anxiety about least trifles, easily irritable, palpitation, gastric disturbances, tension, excessive sweating, sleep disturbances and difficulty in concentration. After thorough case-taking, homoeopathic treatment with Lycopodium 200C and Sulphur 1000C led to a remarkable improvement. He was free of symptoms from the 10th month of treatment. He was functionally and socially improved, as reflected in the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and there was no relapse for 8 months. Individualised homoeopathic treatment showed a positive result in the treatment of G.A.D. It brought about considerable improvement in the patient’s social, occupational and familial life without any adverse effects

Knowledge, awareness, attitude and practice of Indian Homoeopathic Physicians about pharmacovigilance in homoeopathy: A web-based cross-sectional study

Background: Pharmacovigilance (Pv) is the science and activities relating to detecting, assessing, understanding and preventing adverse effects or any other drug-related problems. The subject is essential for developing reliable information on the safety of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy medicines. Objectives: This study explored the homoeopathic physicians’ knowledge, awareness, attitude and practice (KAAP) towards the Pv programme in homoeopathy. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among 274 Indian homoeopathic practitioners for 2 months. The study team developed the questionnaire in consultation with three subject experts and the same was circulated as a generated link among different social media handles. The interested participants consenting to the study were directed to the data collection format through an online portal. The data were collected in four domains: KAAP. Descriptive statistics were used in data analysis and independent t-tests for the subgroup analysis. Results: A total of 274 homoeopathic practitioners were approached, of which 265 consented to fill out the questionnaire, yielding a response rate of 96.7%. Most of the study participants had obtained low scores in knowledge and awareness of the programme. Statistically significant differences were observed among postgraduates and those with prior training in Pv. The attitude towards acceptance of the programme was relatively high among the participants, but the low awareness led to reduced observations and reporting of the adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in homoeopathy. Conclusion: Despite the good attitude of homoeopathic practitioners to the Pv programme, sufficient hands-on training is required to identify and report ADRs in homoeopathy

Homoeopathy in management of chronic ischaemic ulcer: An evidence-based case report

Introduction: Ischaemic or arterial ulcer occurs when there is an obstruction in the arterial supply to a particular part of the human body leading to necrosis. These are extremely painful types of chronic wounds. Treating arterial ulcers is a difficult task for the physician since supportive measures such as compression therapy and leg elevation are contraindicated. Surgical intervention is the ultimate approach to manage in conventional medicine. The homoeopathic system of medicine offers a wide range of medicines and a holistic approach to treat such cases non-invasively. Case Summary: A case of a 75-year-old woman who suffered from chronic ischaemic ulcer for the past year, successfully managed using frequent doses of homoeopathic medicines Arsenicum album and Calendula officinalis, is reported here. The duration of treatment was 4 months