PROF. CHATURBHUJA NAYAK,DIRECTOR GENERAL

Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Deptt. of AYUSHGovt. of India

Global review of Research Studies in Homoeopathy for Mother & Child Health

Care

Complaints of Children:

DIARRHOEA

Results of the two larger studies (n=81, n=116)

were just at or near the level of statistical significance. All three studies followed the same basic study design, including

similar entry criteria, treatment assignment, follow-up schedule,

outcome measures and data analysis, Analyzed the combined data from these three studies to obtain

greater statistical power.Place of Study: Leon, Nicaragua - 1990 (pilot) Leon, Nicaragua - 1991 Jorpati, a suburb of Kathmandu, Nepal - 1994

Background:

A total of 247 children, ages 6 months to 5 years, with a history of diarrhea (3 or more unformed stools per day) for not more than 7 days (5 days in Nepal) were enrolled.

Study population:

Jacobs J. et al. Homeopathy for childhood diarrhea: combined results and meta-analysis from three randomized, controlled clinical trials. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 2003 Mar;22(3):229-34

Primary outcome measure:Duration of diarrhea: defined as the number of days until there were 2 consecutive days with less than 3 unformed stools per day.

Results :

Variables Treatment Gr. Placebo gr. P

Duration of diarrhea 3.1 ± 2.0* 3.8 ± 1.9 0.008

No. of stools/day 2.7 ± 2.0 3.4 ± 2.0 0.004

*Mean ± SD

The most common five remedies used in all studies, Podophyllum, Ars. alb., Sulphur, Chamomilla and Calc. carb. Were used in 85% of cases in Nepal and 78% of Nicaraguan cases:

CCRH Study: A Prospective Multicentric Observational Study to Find the Usefulness of the Predetermined Homoeopathic Medicines in the Management of Acute Diarrheal Disease in Children (submitted for publication)

327 children (194 males; 133 females) were followed up and studied.

Scoring of the symptoms was done with Diarrhea index score Podophyllum (n=158), Chamomilla (n=49), Aethusa (n=25), Merc.

sol. (n=23), Calc. carb. (n=21), Sulphur (n=18), and Phosphorus (n=17) were found to be most useful.

Mean score at entry ± SD (n)

Mean score at end ± SD (n)

p-value

Diarrhea index score 6.5±2.2 (327) 0.3±1.7 (327) <0.05

Range in diarrhea index scoreMild (2-7)Moderate (8-18)

5.3±1.3 (218)9.2±1.3 (109)

0.2±1.3 (218)0.5±2.1 (109)*

<0.05

No. of stools per day 7.2±2.7 (327) 0.2±1.1 (327)<0.05

Complaints of Children: RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION

Setting : Paediatric outpatient department of university hospital, Vrije Universiteit, Netherlands. Objective : To investigate the intrinsic effects of individually prescribed homoeopathic medicines in children with recurrent upper respiratory tract infections. Design: Randomized, double blind placebo controlledResults : Mean daily symptom score was 2.61 in Placebo group & 2.21 in Treatment group In both groups: use of antibiotics greatly reduced compared with that in the year before entering trial (from 73 to 33 i.e. 54.79% less in Tt. group and from 69 to 43 i.e.37.68% less in Placebo group). Proportion of children in Tt. gr. having adenoidectomies was lower in Tt. gr. (16%, 8/50) than in the Placebo gr. (21%, 9/42).

Conclusion : Individually prescribed homoeopathic medicines help in reducing daily burden of symptoms, use of antibiotics and need for adenoidectomy of children with recurrent upper respiratory tract infection.

DeLange et al. Effect of homoeopathic medicines on daily burden of symptoms in children with recurrent upper respiratory tract infections. British Medical Journal. 1994: 309

Steinsbekk a. et al Homeopathic care for the prevention of upper respiratory tract infections in children: A pragmatic, randomized, controlled trial comparing individualised homeopathic care and waiting-list controls. Complementary Therapies in Medicine (2005) 13

Objective: To investigate whether individualized treatment by homeopaths is effective in preventing childhood upper respiratory tract infection (URTI).

Design: Open, Pragmatic, randomised, waiting list controlled

Setting: Trondheim, Norway

Result: There was a significant difference in median total symptom score in favour of homeopathic care (24 points) compared to the control group (44 points) (P = 0.026). The difference in the median number of days with URTI symptoms was statistically significant with 8 days in the homeopathic group and 13 days in the control group (P = 0.006).

Conclusion: Child patients receiving homeopathic care experienced fewer days with URTI and fewer symptoms from URTI, indicating that whole package of individualised homeopathic care is beneficial in prevention and treatment of URTI in children.

Complaints of Children: RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION

CCRH Study: A multicentric open clinical trial to evolve a group of efficacious homoeopathic medicines in the management of acute rhinitis in children-A prospective observational study (submitted for publication)

638 children (male 334; female 304) were followed up and studied. Scoring of the symptoms was done with Acute rhinitis symptom score Nux vom. (n=109;17.1%), Merc. sol. (n=106;16.6%), Belladonna

(n=88;13.8%), Dulcamara (n=66;10.3%), Aconite nap. (n=56;8.8%), Sulphur (n=52;8.2%) Calc. carb. (n=40;6.3%), Hepar sulph. (n=40;6.3%), Pulsatilla nigricans 39 (6.1%), Chamomilla 37(5.8%), Carbo veg. and Kali bich. were found to be most useful.

Mean score at entry ± SD (n)

Mean score at end ± SD (n)

P-value

Acute rhinitis symptom score 15.50±6.27 (638) 1.01± 2.11 (638) <0.05

RangeMild (2-13)Moderate (14-24)Severe (26-42)

9.87±2.76 (264)17.49±2.66 (305)28.22±1.64 (69)

0.33±1.10 (264)1.45±2.51 (305)1.64±2.42 (69)

<0.05<0.05<0.05

Setting: Département d'anesthésie-réanimation, CHU de Grenoble,

France

Materials & Methods:

Design: Double-blind, Placebo Controlled;

Children being given either placebo or Aconite.

Study included 50 children with post-operative pain and agitation.

Results:

Aconite proved to be effective for children's postoperative

agitation with 95% good results.

Aconite is an amazing cure when well prescribed, as much for the

speediness of its action as for its efficiency.

Alibeu JP, Jobert J. Aconite in homeopathic relief of post-operative pain and agitation in children. Pediatrie. 1990;45(7-8):465-6.

Complaints of Children: POST- OPERATIVE PAIN AND AGITATION

Place of study

Study design Objective / Methods

Conclusion Journal

Switzerland

Randomised

double blind,

placebo

controlled

crossover

study

Effectiveness of homeopathy in ADHD

Scientific evidence ofeffectiveness of homeopathy in treatment of attentiondeficit hyperactivity disorder, particularly inareas of behavioural and cognitive functions

European Journal of Pediatrics (2005)

USA Double blind placebo controlled, partial cross over study

Effectiveness of homeopathy in ADHD

Homoeopathic treatment is superior to placebo treatment for ADHD.

British Homeopathic Journal (1997)

Switzerland

Cross over study

HomeopathyVSMethylphenidate (MPD)

Homeopathic treatment appears to be similar to the effects of MPD

British Homeopathic Journal (2001)

Complaints of Children: Complaints of Children: ATTENTION DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVE DISORDER

Place of study

Study design

Objective / Methods

Conclusion Journal

Seattle, USA Randomi-

sed

placebo

Controlled trial

Effectiveness of homeopathy in Acute otitis media

Results suggest a positive treatment effect of homeopathy when compared with placebo in acute otitis media.

The Pediatric Infectious Journal (2001)

Laupen, Switzerland

Observational study

Effectiveness of homeopathy in acute otitis media

• Resolution rate 2.4 times faster in Tt. gr. than in placebo controls. • No complications observed in the Tt. group.

British Homeopathic Journal (2001)

Complaints of Children:

OTITIS MEDIA

LABOUR

Aim: To verify the applicability and toxicity of Caulophyllum

during labour.

Setting:

L. Mangiagalli Obstetrics-Gynaecology Clinic, University of Milan, Italy

Method:

Caulophyllum 7c was prescribed to 22 women in their first

pregnancies who had gone into labour spontaneously,

Investigators compared Caulophyllum group with 34 labours

retrospectively selected by the same criteria,

Caulophyllum was administered during active phase of labour

Dose & Repetition: 5 Granules/hour repeated for a maximum of 4

hours

Complaints of Mother:

Results:

17 out of 22 women had normal spontaneous deliveries.

Duration of labour in Caulophyllum-treated women was

227.65 min. while in placebo group it was 314.12 min. (P=0.05).

Conclusions:

Caulophyllum 7c has a eutocic effect on labour. In particular:

It does not produce adverse effects on the mother and foetus

Administration is practicable

The duration of labour is reduced by an amount that is

statistically significant.

P. Eid, E. Felisi, M. Sideri. Applicability of homœopathic Caulophyllum thalictroides during labour. British Homeopathic Journal .October 1993: Vol. 82, (4), pp. 245-248

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Arnica Montana and Bellis perennis on postpartum blood loss.Setting: Department ofGynecology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.Method: Double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, clinical trial

Results:

Conclusion: Treatment with Arnica mon. and Bellis per. may reduce postpartum blood loss, as compared with placebo.

Menachem Oberbaum et al. The effect of the homeopathic remedies Arnica montana and Bellis perennis on mild postpartum bleeding—A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study—Preliminary results, Complementary Therapies in Medicine. (2005) 13, 87—90

Treatment Group Placebo Group

Mean Hb level at 72 hrs of PP

Remained similar

(12.7 vs 12.4)

Significant decrease

(12.7 vs 11.6)

Complaints of Mother:

POSTPARTUM BLEEDING

Berrebi A. Treatment of pain due to unwanted lactation with a homeopathic preparation given in the immediate post-partum period. Journal de Gynécologie, Obstétrique et Biologie de la Reproduction (Paris). 2001 Jun;30(4):353-7.

Complaints of Mother: PAIN DUE TO UNWANTED LACTATION

Objective: to evaluate effect of Homoeopathic combination of Apis & Bryonia in pain due to unwanted lactation.

Study design: Double-blind placebo-controlled study

Setting: Federation of Obstetrics Gynecology, CHU La Grave in Toulouse, France.

Materials: 71 patients

Criteria Treatment Gr. Placebo Gr.

Lactation pain Significant improvement

(on Day 2 & on Day 4)

Not significant

Breast tension Significant improvement on Day 4 -do-

Spontaneous milk flow Significant improvement on Day 4 -do-

Results:

Objective: to identify a group of useful homoeopathic medicines in the treatment of behavioural problems found in mentally challenged children.

Setting: Central Research Institute, Kottayam (Kerala)

Under CCRH

Duration: 1991 to 2001

Response to treatment:

39%

61%

Improved

Not improved

Total no. of patients= 835

BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS OF MENTALLY

CHALLENGED CHILDREN

IMPROVEMENT IN COMMON BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMSIMPROVEMENT IN COMMON BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS

Common behavioural problems

No. of children Medicines found usefulobserved

inImproved

in

Aggressive - Threatens - Pushes and pinches others - Spits at others - Bites and attacks others etc.

137 94 Bell., Calc.carb., Hyos., Nat.mur, Tarent.hisp., Tuberc.,

Destructive - Tears things - Soils things - Breaks and damages objects - Puts things into fire

132 107 Bell., Cham., Cina, Merc.sol., Tarent.hisp.

Disruptive - Pulls things from others- Makes loud noises- Cries and screams - Slams doors and bangs objects

137 89 Bell., Cham., Cina, Nat.mur., Bar. carb.,

Self injury - Biting self- Banging head- Pulling and tearing own hair

157 117 Ars.alb., Bell., Merc.sol.,

Stereotyped behaviour - Thumb sucking- Nail biting- Teeth grinding- Head nodding- Jumping up and down- Repetitive activities

103 28 Bell., Op., Cina, Stram.,

Calc.carb.,

Odd behaviour - Silly, laughs to self- Talks to self- Makes peculiar sounds- Echolalia, echopraxia- Irrelevant talk

62 22 Ant.crud., Sulph., Stram., Hyos.,Bar.carb., Phos., Kali. Brom., Verat.alb.

Anti-social behaviour - Tells lies- Steals things/kleptomania - Makes obscene gestures

- Exposes the person- Masturbates in front of others- Uses vulgar languages

33 24 Bell., Hyos.,Nat.mur., Tarent.hisp.,

Withdrawal behaviour - Sits idle for a long time- Stares blankly- Hides face , timid- Avoids company

59 27 Ars.alb., Bar.carb., Op., Puls., Stram., Syph.

Rebellious behaviour - Disobedient- Poor personal care - Inattentive- Talks rudely - Regressive

93 58 Arg.nit., Bell., Cina, Cham., Nat.mur., Tuberc., Sulph.

Hyperactive - Running - Going up and down - Restless, changes place - Wandering from home/school

79 39 Ars. alb., Bell., Calc.

carb, Hyos., Tarent.hisp.,

Tuberc.

“I have not failed 10,000 times. I have successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work”

--Thomas Edison

You can have brilliant idea, perform an ground

breaking research, and write results with great

proficiency, but if the paper is not published- so

that it can be cited, criticized, or praised- then the

effort has been largely wasted.

Robert B. Taylor

For

&