- 1Department
of Homoeopathic Pharmacy, Midnapore Homoeopathic Medical College and
Hospital, Government of West Bengal, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal,
India.
- 2Department of Pathology and Microbiology,
Mahesh Bhattacharyya Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital,
Government of West Bengal, Howrah, West Bengal, India.
- 3Department
of Surgery, Mahesh Bhattacharyya Homoeopathic Medical College and
Hospital, Government of West Bengal, Howrah, West Bengal, India.
- 4Department
of Organon of Medicine and Homoeopathic Philosophy, Midnapore
Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Government of West Bengal,
Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India.
- 5House Staff,
Mahesh Bhattacharyya Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital,
Government of West Bengal, Howrah, West Bengal, India.
- 6Internee, Netai Charan Chakrabarty Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Howrah, West Bengal, India.
- 7House
Staff, Midnapore Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Government
of West Bengal, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India.
- 8Undergraduage
student, Mahesh Bhattacharyya Homoeopathic Medical College and
Hospital, Government of West Bengal, Howrah, West Bengal, India.
- 9Independent Researcher, Affiliated to Central Council of Homoeopathy, Hooghly, West Bengal, India.
- 10Independent Researcher, Affiliated to Central Council of Homoeopathy, Howrah, West Bengal, India.
Abstract
AIM:
Controversies
and disagreement exist on conventional treatment strategies of
hemorrhoids due to relapse, inefficacy, and complications. We intend to
evaluate the role of individualized homeopathic treatment in
hemorrhoids.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
In
this prospective, open, observational trial, hemorrhoids patients were
treated using five standardized scales measuring complaints severity and
anoscopic score. It was conducted at two homeopathic hospitals in
India, during from mid-July 2014 to mid-July 2015. Patients were
intervened as per individualized homeopathic principles and followed up
every month up to 6 months.
RESULTS:
Total 73 were screened, 52 enrolled, 38 completed, 14 dropped out. Intention to treat population (n:
= 52) was analyzed in the end. Statistically significant reductions of
mean bleeding (month 3: -21.8, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -30.3,
-13.3, P: < 0.00001, d = 0.787; month 6: -25.5, 95% CI -35.4, -15.6, P: < 0.00001, d = 0.775), pain (month 3: -21.3, 95% CI -28.6, -14.0, P: < 0.00001, d = 0.851; month 6: -27.6, 95% CI -35.6, -19.6, P: < 0.00001, d = 1.003), heaviness visual analog scales (VASs) (month 3: -8.1, 95% CI -13.9, -2.3, P: = 0.008, d = 0.609; month 6: -12.1, 95% CI -19.1, -5.1, P: = 0.001, d = 0.693), and anoscopic score (month 3: -0.4, 95% CI -0.6, -0.2, P: < 0.0001, d = 0.760; month 6: -0.5, 95% CI -0.7, -0.3, P: < 0.0001, d = 0.703) were achieved. Itching VASs reduced significantly only after 6 months (-8.1, 95% CI -14.6, -1.6, P: = 0.017, d = 0.586). No significant lowering of discharge VASs was achieved after 3 and 6 months.
CONCLUSION:
Under
classical homeopathic treatment, hemorrhoids patients improved
considerably in symptoms severity and anoscopic scores. However, being
observational trial, our study cannot provide efficacy data. Controlled
studies are required. Trial Reg. CTRI/2015/07/005958.
KEYWORDS:
Hemorrhoids; homeopathy; observational trial; visual analog scales
