Abstract
Background Asymptomatic COVID-19 subjects can transmit the infection for as many as 14 days
and are regarded as a significant factor in the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This exploratory study aimed to determine any additional benefits of selected homeopathic
medicines compared with placebo in asymptomatic COVID-19 individuals receiving standard
care.
Methods This open-label, randomized, placebo-controlled, exploratory trial was undertaken
at a COVID Care Centre (CCC) in Madhya Pradesh, India. Patients (n = 200, 18–65 years, both sexes) having a positive RT-PCR and asymptomatic during
admission were enrolled. They were randomly assigned to one of four groups (each n = 50): Arsenicum album 30C (Ars. alb.), Camphora 1M (Camph.), Bryonia alba 30C (Bry. alb.) and placebo (Pl.). All the patients were given standard care. The primary outcome was the number
of patients becoming RT-PCR negative for SARS-CoV-2 at days 5, 10 and 15.
Results In total, 200 asymptomatic COVID-19 patients were enrolled. One hundred and seventy-seven
patients became RT-PCR negative by day 15; 88%, 80%, 98% and 88% from Ars. alb., Camph., Bry. alb. and Pl. respectively. A Chi-square test of association for the total patients who became
RT-PCR negative for SARS-Cov-2 in each group showed a marginal statistical significance
(Chi-square: 8.1, p = 0.04). A two-proportion Z-test comparing each pre-identified homeopathic medicine with placebo showed marginal
statistical significance (p = 0.05) for Bry alb. only. Median time in days to RT-PCR negative (Kaplan Meier analysis) was 10 days
in each of the groups.
Conclusion There was some evidence that, compared with Ars alb., Camph. or Pl., Bry. alb. was associated with an increased number of patients who became RT-PCR negative for
COVID-19 by day 15. The possible effect exerted needs to be investigated in additional
research.
Keywords
asymptomatic COVID-19 -
Arsenicum album
-
Bryonia alba
-
Camphora
- homeopathy - India - pandemic
