Assessment of the effectiveness of homoeopathic remedies in improving quality of life of chronic urticaria patients in a typical clinical setting

Authors

Rashmi Sharma, Medical Officer Incharge, State Homoeopathic Dispensary, Ahmadpur
Shailendra Kumar, Mechanical Engineering Section, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh
V Vimal, Director (Homeopathy), Government of Uttar Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh
Raj Manchanda, Director General, Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, New Delhi

Keywords

Chronic urticaria quality of life questionnaire, Chronic urticaria, Homoeopathy, Quality of life

Article Type

Original Article

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of homoeopathic remedies in improving quality of life (QoL) of chronic urticaria (CU) patients. Methods: Setting: The study population included patients attending the Outpatient Department of State Homoeopathic Dispensary, Ahmadpur, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India. CU-QoL questionnaire (CU-Q2oL) and average Urticaria Activity Score for 7 days (UAS7) questionnaires were filled questionnaires were filled at baseline and 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th months. The study included both male and female patients clinically diagnosed with CU, screened from January 2015 to June 2016. Eighteen homoeopathic remedies were used. The individualised prescription was based on the totality of each patient's symptoms. Scores were analysed using one-way repeated measures ANOVA with SPSS version 19. Results: A total of 134 patients were screened and 70 were diagnosed with CU and enrolled in the study were analysed under modified intention-to-treat approach. Significant difference was found in baseline and 12th month CU-Q2oL score (mean difference 34.14 with standard error of 1.65, 95% confidence interval, lower bound 29.31, upper limit 38.94, P < 0.001). A one-way repeated measures ANOVA was calculated for comparing CU-Q2oL scores (F [2.45, 169.46] = 260.89, P ≤ 0.000, effect size = 0.791). Apis mellifica (n = 10), Natrum muriaticum (n = 9), Rhus toxicodendron (n = 8) and Sulphur (n = 8) were the most frequently used remedies. Conclusions: Homoeopathic medicines have potential to improve QoL of CU patients by reducing pruritus, intensity of wheals, swelling, nervousness, and improve sleep, mood and concentration. Further studies with more sample size are desirable.

Digital Object Identifier

10.4103/ijrh.ijrh_20_18

Publisher

Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd.

How to cite this article

Sharma R, Kumar S, Vimal V, Manchanda R. Assessment of the effectiveness of homoeopathic remedies in improving quality of life of chronic urticaria patients in a typical clinical setting. Indian J Res Homoeopathy 2018;12:139-148. doi: 10.4103/ijrh.ijrh_20_18