Optimising the use of polar symptoms in Homoeopathy: Introduction to a pilot study of prognostic factor research in chronic cough

Authors

Harleen Kaur, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, New Delhi
Chetna Lamba, Homoeopathic Treatment Centre, Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi
Jyoti Sachdeva, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, New Delhi
Lex Rutten, Independent Researcher, Breda
Anil Khurana, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, New Delhi
Praveen Oberai, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, New Delhi
Raj Manchanda, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, New Delhi
Sonia Raizada, Dr. D. P. Rastogi Central Research Institute Homoeopathy, Noida, Uttar Pradesh
Sujata Chaudhury, Regional Research Institute Homoeopathy, Puri, Odisha

Keywords

Cough, Homoeopathy, Polar symptoms, Prognostic factor research, Respiratory tract infections

Article Type

Original Article

Abstract

Background: Polar symptoms represent the most challenging rubrics in the homoeopathic repertories, despite their frequent use. Objective: The study objective was to assess the relationship between 27 polar cough symptoms, 3 non-polar cough symptoms and 30 general polar symptoms and successful response to specific homoeopathic medicines. Materials and Methods: A multi-centre, explorative, prospective, observational study was conducted at ten centres under the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy. Two hundred and sixteen patients were enrolled with chronic cough, lasting >8 weeks. The patients were enrolled as per four underlying diagnoses of chronic upper airway cough syndrome (CUACS), gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD), asthma and related syndromes, and non-asthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis (NAEB). 30 general polar symptoms, 27 polar cough symptoms and 3 non-polar cough symptoms were assessed at the baseline. During enrollment and follow-up consultations, two validated questionnaires (Leicester Cough Questionnaire chronic and EuroQuol (EQ)-5D-5L) were filled for assessing the effect of treatment. If the Physician Assessment Score was >2, the causal relationship between improvement and prescribed medicine was further assessed using Modified Naranjo Algorithm. Results: At the fourth follow-up, three medicines with >10 cases having good result were identified: Phosphorus (n = 20), Pulsatilla (n = 19) and Sulphur (n = 13). For this introductory article, we compare some results with the existing data, reflect on discrepancies between the existing data and research outcome and reflect on future use, especially in respiratory tract infections (RTIs). Conclusion: In improving the homoeopathic method and its practical use, priority should be given to polar symptoms, especially related to RTIs.

Digital Object Identifier

10.4103/ijrh.ijrh_14_20

Publisher

Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd.

How to cite this article

Kaur H, Lamba C, Sachdeva J, et al. Optimising the use of polar symptoms in Homoeopathy: Introduction to a pilot study of prognostic factor research in chronic cough. Indian J Res Homoeopathy 2020;14:200-210. doi: 10.4103/ijrh.ijrh_14_20