Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy
Article Title
Treating Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in elderly men with Homoeopathy- a series of eleven cases.
Abstract
Background & Objectives: Benign prostatic hyperplasia is rarely life threatening, but often affects the individual's quality of life in varying degrees. The success rate in treating this condition with conventional therapy is limited and sometimes, treatment follows with side effects. If medical treatment fails, the physician determines the patient as a candidate for surgery. Though a few case records are documented in the past about the success of homoeopathic medicines in treating patients suffering from BPH, yet they lack proper quantitative assessment. Therefore, an observational study was undertaken with an objective to ascertain the usefulness of predefined homoeopathic medicines in the treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. Methods: An open observational study was conducted by Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy including its Clinical Research Unit (Homoeopathy) at Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh) from Oct 05 to May '09. Clearance of the Ethical Committee and informed consents from the patients were obtained before initiation of the study. Eleven cases suffering from benign prostatic hyperplasia who followed up for one year were assessed on American Urological Association Symptom Index (AUASI) to quantify the severity of illness and assess the outcome. Results: Seven cases were relieved of their urinary symptoms with Pulsatilla nigricans and four cases with Thuja. In all the cases, reduction in AUA score was found. In 6 cases prostate volume was reduced; in 3 cases prostate size and volume increased, while in 2 cases prostate volume remained unchanged. Conclusion: The results of the study to determine the usefulness of the homoeopathic remedies in the treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, although encouraging, are preliminary and the final analysis of the data of the multicentre study will help in reaching at a definitive conclusion.
