Homeopathy. 2016 Nov;105(4):299-308. doi: 10.1016/j.homp.2016.05.004. Epub 2016 Aug 9.
- 1Centre Hospitalier de Troyes, 101, Avenue Anatole France, 10000 Troyes, France. Electronic address: jckarp001@rss.fr.
- 2Cabinet Médical, 7 bis rue du Chêne, 10430 Rosières Près Troyes, France.
- 3Institut Jean Godinot, 1 rue du général Koenig, CS 80014, 51056 Reims, France.
- 4Centre Hospitalier de Troyes, 101, Avenue Anatole France, 10000 Troyes, France.
- 5Cabinet Médical, 21, Place du Chapitre, 51100 Reims, France.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To
determine the possible effect of two homeopathic medicines, Ruta
graveolens 5CH and Rhus toxicodendron 9CH, in the prevention of
aromatase inhibitor (AI) associated joint pain and/or stiffness in women
with early, hormone-receptor positive, breast cancer.
METHODS:
This
prospective, unrandomized observational study was carried out between
April and October 2014. Women were recruited in two groups, according to
which of the two study centres they attended: one receiving homeopathy
in addition to standard treatment (group H) and a control group,
receiving standard treatment (group C). All women were treated with an
AI. In addition, women in group H also took Ruta graveolens 5CH and Rhus
toxicodendron 9CH (5 granules, twice a day) up to 7 days before
starting AI treatment. The homeopathic medicines were continued for 3
months. Demographic and clinical data were recorded using a
self-assessment questionnaire at inclusion (T0) and 3 months (T3).
Primary evaluation criteria were the evolution of scores for joint pain
and stiffness, the impact of pain on sleep and analgesic consumption in
the two groups after 3 months of treatment.
RESULTS:
Forty
patients (mean age 64.9±8.1 years) were recruited, 20 in each group.
Two-thirds of the patients had joint pain before starting AI treatment.
There was a significant difference in the evolution of mean composite
pain score between T0 and T3 in the two groups (-1.3 in group H vs. +3.4
in group C; p=0.0001). The individual components of the pain score
(frequency, intensity and number of sites of pain) also decreased
significantly in group H. Nine patients in group C (45%) vs. 1 (5%) in
group H increased their analgesic consumption between T0 and T3
(p=0.0076). After 3 months of treatment, joint pain had a worse impact
on sleep in patients in group C (35% vs. 0% of patients; p=0.0083). The
differences observed in the evolution of morning and daytime stiffness
between the two groups were smaller (p=0.053 and p=0.33, respectively),
with the exception of time necessary for the disappearance of morning
stiffness which was greater in group C (37.7±23.0 vs. 17.9±20.1 min;
p=0.0173).
CONCLUSION:
These
preliminary results suggest that treatment with Ruta graveolens 5CH and
Rhus toxicodendron 9CH may decrease joint pain/stiffness in breast
cancer patients treated with AIs. A larger-scale randomized study is
required to confirm these results.
Copyright © 2016 The Faculty of Homeopathy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS:
Aromatase inhibitor; Breast cancer; Homeopathy; Joint pain; Joint stiffness