Objective During the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic, non-pharmacologic interventions were the strategies for the prevention of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The Ministry of Ayush, Govt. of India, had advised Arsenicum album 30C, as a prophylactic to prevent COVID-19. This study was undertaken to evaluate the protective efficacy and safety of the Arsenicum album 30C. Methods We conducted a prospective, multicentre, cluster-randomized, parallel arm, community-based, open-label study involving apparently healthy individuals residing in containment areas of 7 cities of India. Clusters are defined as the population residing in the containment areas, who are under restriction for movement. 42 clusters were randomly assigned at 2:1 to the Arsenicum album 30C group (30 clusters) or to the control group (12 clusters, which received no specific therapy). The medicine was given twice daily for 7 days. The primary outcome was the incidence of COVID-19, as per the case definition notified by the National Centre for Disease Control, Government of India, during three weeks follow-up period. Results The analysis included 32186 individuals residing in 42 clusters (containment areas). A total of 22693 individuals of 30 clusters received Arsenicum album 30C and 9493 individuals of 12 clusters were observed in the control group. Results were similar in the medicine and control groups for age, gender, and comorbidity. The overall protective effect of the Arsenicum album 30C was 80.22% (95% confidence interval [CI], 71.16 to 86.44; 40 cases per 22693 [6.04 per 10000 person-weeks] in the Arsenicum album 30C group vs. 84 cases per 9493 [29.78 per 10000 person-weeks] in the control group). The protective effect of the Arsenicum album 30C against laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 was 68.22% (95% [CI], 49.64 to 80; 32 cases per 22693 [4.83 per 10000 person-weeks] in the Arsenicum album 30C group vs. 42 cases per 9493 [14.93 per 10000 person-weeks] in the control group). Adverse effects observed in both groups were mild and resolved without medication and sequelae. Conclusion Homeopathic medicine Arsenicum album 30C was associated with a decrease in the incidence and provided some protection against COVID-19 as compared to non-treatment. Further, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials may be conducted to validate the results of this study.

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Fear of an infection is posing a major threat in the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis. Although nothing novel but still when we see historically over the times, fear of infection in any pandemic crisis remains the same even after the advent of modern medical advancements. This morbid fear of risk of infection has more traumatic effect psychologically than reality of succumbing to an infection and its recovery. Nevertheless, the cause of the fear and its management is very important in this COVID-19 crisis situation. Homoeopathy system of medicine offers a safe, palatable, economical and an eco-friendly management solution to tackle this morbid fear. Homoeopathy is being used by the public since a very long time and people continue to experience its overall health benefits with utmost trust and diligence. Two cases of morbid fear of COVID-19 infection treated homoeopathically with positive outcome are presented here.

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Background & Objectives: Psychological fragility caused to human life has been the largest aftermath of the pandemic posing a raised public health concern globally. This psychological impact is identified as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) which was the most commonly diagnosed psychological disorder during this pandemic. These cases, if left untreated and unidentified may take a devastating transformation into psychotic disorders and cause gross damage to the individual and the community by disrupting human relations. Keeping in view the beneficial role of Homoeopathy in dealing with psychological disorders based on its philosophy and previous studies, a clinical case series of 10 PTSD cases successfully treated with Homoeopathy during this pandemic are presented here. Method: 10 cases of PTSD consulted during the first wave of pandemic diagnosed based on the clinical picture analogous to PTSD cluster symptomatology from Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM-5) and objectively through Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) were treated with Homoeopathic intervention. Homeopathic medicine was prescribed based on the totality of each case through repertorization and in consultation with the sourcebooks of Homoeopathic Materia Medica (HMM). The cases were followed monthly for clinical improvement and every three months using the CAPS-5 score. The outcome was assessed after six months clinically and objectively through the CAPS-5 score. At the end of one year, further to assess the casual attribution of clinical outcome to homoeopathic intervention, validated MONARCH (Modified Naranjo Criteria for Homoeopathy) tool was utilized. Results: The 10 diagnosed PTSD cases showed marked improvement assessed after one year of Homoeopathic treatment. Significant improvement was found in the clinical picture affirmed through CAPS-5 score and MONARCH tool. Conclusion: Homoeopathic medicines showed a significantly beneficial role in the management of PTSD during the pandemic in the presented 10 cases. Further validation through well-designed clinical trials is warranted.