Homeopathy
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1775815
Clinical Case Report

Successful Treatment of a Fibromyalgia Patient Using a Homeopathic Preparation of Cannabis sativa

1   Institute for Health Sciences, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
2   Núcleo de Pesquisa em Doenças Crônicas não Transmissíveis (NUPEN), School of Nutrition, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
,
Maria Fernanda Leal dos Santos Ribeiro
3   UNEX University Center School of Medicine, Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil
› Author Affiliations
Fundings None.

Abstract

Background Homeopathy has been used in observational and controlled studies to treat patients with fibromyalgia (FM), but none has previously used the remedy Cannabis sativa.

Case History A 51-year-old female patient presenting with diffuse pain and sleep disorder was diagnosed with FM using the relevant American College of Rheumatology criteria. She reported having 18 tender points, a pain score (visual analog scale, VAS) of 9.0, and a well-being VAS of 5.0. She was prescribed Cannabis sativa 6 cH, five drops sublingually thrice a day.

Results After 2 months, she returned asymptomatic, with 0 tender points, pain VAS of 0, and well-being VAS of 9.0. The Modified Naranjo Criteria for Homeopathy score was equal to +9, suggesting the clinical outcome was causally attributable to the medicine prescribed.

Conclusion This case study reveals the positive role of homeopathic treatment in FM. Studies using a randomized controlled design, including pragmatic trials to determine treatment effectiveness in real-world clinical practice, are indicated in this field.

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 12 May 2023

Accepted: 13 July 2023

Article published online:
30 October 2023

© 2023. Faculty of Homeopathy. This article is published by Thieme.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 
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