Interim Management of COVID-19 by Repurposed Homeopathic Medicines

Basu, N; Das, Bhudev C.; Tandon, Simran

doi:10.1055/s-0040-1713004

Cited by 11 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Medicines such as Bryonia alba, Calendula officinalis and Passiflora incarnata might prove to be inhibitors of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, and are worth investigating for the treatment of COVID-19. 7 Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are considered to be the gold standard in clinical research and assume the highest importance in evidence-based medicine. A well-designed randomized placebo-controlled study requires prior experience and outcome documentation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Homeopathic Remedies in COVID-19: Prognostic Factor Research

et al. 2021

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Background/Objective Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new disease; its clinical profile and natural history are evolving. Each well-recorded case in homeopathic practice is important for deciding the future course of action. This study aims at identifying clinically useful homeopathic remedies and their prescribing symptoms using the prognostic factor research model. Methods This was an open-label, multi-centric, observational study performed from April 2020 to July 2020 at various public health care clinics. The data were collected prospectively from clinical practice at integrated COVID-19 care facilities in India. Good-quality cases were selected using a specific set of criteria. These cases were analyzed for elucidating prognostic factors by calculating the likelihood ratio (LR) of each frequently occurring symptom. The symptoms with high LR values (>1) were considered as prescribing indications of the specific remedy. Results Out of 327 COVID-19 cases reported, 211 met the selection criteria for analysis. The most common complaints were fatigue, sore throat, dry cough, myalgia, fever, dry mouth and throat, increased thirst, headache, decreased appetite, anxiety, and altered taste. Twenty-seven remedies were prescribed and four of them—Arsenicum album, Bryonia alba, Gelsemium sempervirens, and Pulsatilla nigricans—were the most frequently used. A high LR was obtained for certain symptoms, which enabled differentiation between the remedies for a given patient. Conclusion Homeopathic medicines were associated with improvement in symptoms of COVID-19 cases. Characteristic symptoms of four frequently indicated remedies have been identified using prognostic factor research, findings that can contribute to accurate homeopathic prescribing during future controlled research in COVID-19.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Homeopathic Remedies in COVID-19: Prognostic Factor Research

et al. 2021

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“…Basu et al 14 suggested potential drug targets based upon the source material of homeopathic medicines and to use those selected for repurposing in COVID-19 treatment. Basic research for targeting a candidate drug to inhibit the cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2 and its subsequent multiplication in the human body is a part of a conventional drug discovery process.…”

Section: Repurposing Of Homeopathic Medicinesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical Repurposing of Medicines is Intrinsic to Homeopathy: Research Initiatives on COVID-19 in India

2021

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As at mid-October 2020, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been continuing on the rise across the globe, including in India. Historically, homeopathy has been used in a number of epidemics/pandemics. The development of homeopathic medicines is approached uniquely through “drug provings” and clinical verification; these two intrinsic processes establish the background for the application of homeopathic medicines, regardless of nosological diagnosis. This article reflects research initiatives on COVID-19 in India and identifies studies listed in the Clinical Trial Registry–India database. We identified 29 studies being undertaken in different settings, including those in conventional medicine: 20 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 9 observational studies. Fifteen studies are aimed at prophylaxis and 14 are aimed at treatment. Amongst the treatment studies, 11 are focused on efficacy or comparative effectiveness. The findings might provide evidence for clinically repurposing some of homeopathy's medicines, an approach that is intrinsic to the therapy, enabling their use in COVID-19 as an adjuvant or stand-alone to help reduce costs and improve patient recovery.

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“…3 Other possible criteria could derive from fundamental research, such as the finding that Bryonia alba contains flavonoids which have an inhibitory effect on peroxidase-catalysed oxidation, 4 relating this to the possible role of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor and protease inhibitors in this disease. 5 The most important question, however, is this: What works in daily practice? All over the world, patients have been treated with homeopathy, and case descriptions can be a valuable source of information, particularly if they show us which medicines have been used successfully and which symptoms indicate specific medicines.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Data Collection during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Learning from Experience, Resulting in a Bayesian Repertory

et al. 2021

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Background A novel pandemic disease offered the opportunity to create new, disease-specific, symptom rubrics for the homeopathic repertory. Objective The aim of this study was to discover the relationship between specific symptoms and specific medicines, especially of symptoms occurring frequently in this disease. Materials and Methods Worldwide collection of data in all possible formats by various parties was coordinated by the Liga Medicorum Homeopathica Internationalis. As the data came in, more symptoms were assessed prospectively. Frequent analysis and feedback by electronic newsletters were used to improve the quality of the data. Likelihood ratios (LRs) of symptoms were calculated. An algorithm for combining symptom LRs was programmed and published in the form of an app. The app was tested against 18 well-described successful cases from Hong Kong. Results LRs of common symptoms such as ‘Fatigue’ and ‘Headache’ provided better differentiation between medicines than did existing repertory entries, which are based only on the narrow presence or absence of symptoms. A mini-repertory for COVID-19 symptoms was published and supported by a web-based algorithm. With a choice of 20 common symptoms, this algorithm produced the same outcome as a full homeopathic analysis based upon a larger number of symptoms, including some that are traditionally considered more specific to particular medicines. Conclusion A repertory based on clinical data and LRs can differentiate between homeopathic medicines using a limited number of frequently occurring epidemic symptoms. A Bayesian computer algorithm to combine symptoms can complement a full homeopathic analysis of cases.

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Interim Management of COVID-19 by Repurposed Homeopathic Medicines

Cited by 11 publications

References 16 publications

Homeopathic Remedies in COVID-19: Prognostic Factor Research

Homeopathic Remedies in COVID-19: Prognostic Factor Research

Clinical Repurposing of Medicines is Intrinsic to Homeopathy: Research Initiatives on COVID-19 in India

Data Collection during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Learning from Experience, Resulting in a Bayesian Repertory

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