ARTICLE randomised study design , women were included if they were > 3 months pregnant and had a clinical diagnosis of malaria confirmed by a positive thick blood smear . The study population was divided into two groups : ( i ) patients who presented between the 1st and 15th of each month and who received China rubra 7C plus quinine ( China group ); and ( ii ) patients who presented from the 16th to the end of each month and who received treatment with quinine only ( Standard group ). The aim was to compare the frequency of side-effects of quinine in the two groups until day 6 after the start of treatment . Neither the patients nor the care givers were blinded to the study treatment . A statistical comparison of the two groups was carried out with an alpha risk fixed at 5 %. Two hundred and eleven women were recruited , of whom 105 received quinine plus China rubra 7C ( China group ) and 106 received quinine only ( Standard group ). A decrease in proportion of patients presenting with side-effects was observed in the China group from day 0 to day 6 of follow-up ( 53.9 % to 23.3 %), whereas the proportion of patients with side-effects in the Standard group did not change significantly ( 85.9 % on day 0 vs . 82.5 % on day 6 ). Ninety-six ( 72.4 %) patients in the China group and 103 ( 97.2 %) in the Standard group reported at least one sideeffect during follow-up ( p < 0.0001 ). The most frequently reported side-effects were tinnitus , dizziness and asthenia .
5 . Chauhan VK , et al . Efficacy of Homeopathic Intervention in Subclinical Hypothyroidism With or Without Autoimmune Thyroiditis in Children : An Exploratory Randomized Control Study . Homeopathy , 2014 , 103 , 224-231 . This Indian study was an exploratory , randomised , placebo-controlled , single blind trial . Out of 5059 Indian school children ( 6-18 years ) screened for thyroid disorders , 537 had subclinical hypothyroidism / autoimmune thyroiditis ( SCH / AIT ) and 194 consented to participate in the study . Based on primary outcome measures ( TSH and / or antiTPOab ) three major groups were formed : Group A- SCH + AIT ( n = 38 ; high TSH with antiTPOab +), Group B- AIT ( n = 47 ; normal TSH with antiTPOab +) and Group C- SCH ( n = 109 ; only high TSH ) and were further randomised to two subgroups- verum and control . Individualised homeopathy and identical placebo respectively were given to the subgroups . One hundred and sixty-two patients completed 18 months of the study . Baseline characteristics were similar in all the subgroups . The posttreatment serum TSH ( Group A and C ) returned to normal limits in 85.94 % of verum and 64.29 % of controls ( p < 0.006 ), while serum AntiTPOab titres ( Group A and B ) returned within normal limits in 70.27 % of the verum group and 27.02 % of the controls ( p < 0.05 ). Eight children ( 10.5 %) progressed to overt hypothyroidism ( OH ) from the control group . In conclusion , statistically significant declines in serum TSH values and antiTPOab titres indicates that the homeopathic intervention has not only the potential to treat SCH with or without antiTPOab but may also prevent the progression to OH .
6 . Frei H . Homeopathic Treatment of Multimorbid Patients : A Prospective Outcome Study with Polarity Analysis . Homeopathy , 2015 , 104 , 57-65 . This study reports on the work of Swiss researcher Heiner Frei , who used polarity analysis ( PA ) in the homeopathic treatment of patients with multimorbidity . PA came to prominence through a Swiss homeopathic ADHD double blind study , which successfully demonstrated a significant difference between homeopathic medicines and placebo . PA enables homeopaths to calculate a relative healing probability , based on Boenninghausen ’ s grading of polar symptoms . After its evaluation in the treatment of a variety of acute and chronic disease , which showed improved results compared to a conventional homeopathic approach , PA was tested with multimorbid patients . Since such patients almost invariably have multiple symptoms , the question was whether PA is appropriate or whether the method is rendered ineffective by the , multiplicity of symptoms . PA was used with 50 multimorbid patients and they were followed over one year . Forty-three patients ( 86 %) completed the observation period , achieving an average improvement of 91 % in their initial symptoms . Six patients dropped out , and one did not achieve an improvement of 80 %, and was therefore also counted as a treatment failure . The cost of homeopathic treatment was 41 % of the projected equivalent conventional treatment .
7 . Saha S , et al . Obstetrics and Gynecology Outpatient Scenario of an Indian Homeopathic Hospital : A Prospective , Research-Targeted Study . Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine , 2015 , 3 , 1-4 . The authors of this study aimed to document prescriptions and clinical outcomes in routine homeopathic practice to short-list promising areas of targeted research and efficacy trials of homeopathy in obstetrics and gynaecology ( O & G ). Three homeopathic physicians participated in methodical data collection over a 3-month period in the O & G outpatient setting of The Calcutta Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital , West Bengal , India . A specifically designed Excel spreadsheet was used to record data on consecutive appointments , including date , patient identity , socioeconomic status , place of abode , religion , medical condition / complaint , whether chronic or acute , whether a new or follow-up case , patient-assessed outcome ( 7-point Likert scale ), prescribed homeopathic medication , and whether other medication / s were being taken for the condition . These spreadsheets were submitted monthly for data synthesis and analysis . Data on 878 appointments ( 429 patients ) were collected , of which 61 % were positive , 20.8 % negative , and 18.2 % showed no change . Chronic conditions ( 93.2 %) were chiefly encountered . A total of 434 medical conditions and 52 varieties were reported overall . The most frequently treated conditions were leucorrhoea ( 20.5 %), irregular menses ( 13.3 %), dysmenorrhoea ( 10 %), menorrhagia ( 7.5 %), and hypomenorrhoea
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