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Homeopathy
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1776758
Original Research Article

Homeopathic Medicines in Third (Omicron) Wave of COVID-19: Prognostic Factor Research

Raj Kumar Manchanda
1   Health and Family Welfare Department, Directorate of AYUSH, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, Secretary for Information and Communication, Liga Medicorum Homeopathica Internationalis, New Delhi, India
,
Anjali Miglani 
2   Health and Family Welfare Department, Directorate of AYUSH, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, New Delhi, India
,
Amrit Kalsi
2   Health and Family Welfare Department, Directorate of AYUSH, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, New Delhi, India
,
Smita Brahmachari
2   Health and Family Welfare Department, Directorate of AYUSH, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, New Delhi, India
,
Kamsali Nadigadda Rama
2   Health and Family Welfare Department, Directorate of AYUSH, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, New Delhi, India
,
Pawan Goel
2   Health and Family Welfare Department, Directorate of AYUSH, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, New Delhi, India
,
Pallavi Kaushik
2   Health and Family Welfare Department, Directorate of AYUSH, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, New Delhi, India
,
Anju Jethani
2   Health and Family Welfare Department, Directorate of AYUSH, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, New Delhi, India
,
Cheshta Nagrath
2   Health and Family Welfare Department, Directorate of AYUSH, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, New Delhi, India
,
Nirmal Yadav Pangtey
2   Health and Family Welfare Department, Directorate of AYUSH, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, New Delhi, India
,
Jithesh Thavarayil Kannoth
2   Health and Family Welfare Department, Directorate of AYUSH, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, New Delhi, India
,
Kavita Sharma
2   Health and Family Welfare Department, Directorate of AYUSH, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, New Delhi, India
,
Shelly Arora
2   Health and Family Welfare Department, Directorate of AYUSH, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, New Delhi, India
,
B. Amitav
2   Health and Family Welfare Department, Directorate of AYUSH, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, New Delhi, India
,
Pradip Kumar Roy
2   Health and Family Welfare Department, Directorate of AYUSH, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, New Delhi, India
,
Ram Kumar Kudiyarasu
2   Health and Family Welfare Department, Directorate of AYUSH, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, New Delhi, India
,
Lex Rutten
3   Independent Practitioner, Breda, The Netherlands
› Author Affiliations Funding Government infrastructure was used for the study. No special funding was provided as all the contributors are full-time staff employed by the Government of NCT of Delhi.
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Abstract

Background With the emergence of new variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, such as the Omicron variant, during the third wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there was a need to identify useful homeopathic medicines. This study aimed to identify such medicines and their indications using prognostic factor research (PFR).

Methods This was an open-label, multi-centred observational study conducted in January 2022, on confirmed COVID-19 cases. The data were collected from integrated COVID Care Centres in Delhi, India, where homeopathic medicines were prescribed along with conventional treatment. Only those cases that met a set of selection criteria were considered for analysis. The likelihood ratio (LR) was calculated for the frequently occurring symptoms of the frequently prescribed medicines. An LR of 1.3 or greater was considered meaningful.

Results Out of the 362 COVID-19 cases, 263 cases were selected for analysis after applying selection criteria. Common symptoms included fatigue, cough, sore throat, myalgia and headache. Twenty-one medicines were prescribed, of which nine medicines – Gelsemium sempervirens, Bryonia alba, Hepar sulphuris, Rhus toxicodendron, Pulsatilla nigricans, Arsenicum album, Belladonna, Nux vomica and Phosphorus – were frequently used. By calculating LRs, the study identified meaningful indications for these medicines.

Conclusion Homeopathic medicines have shown promising results in the third wave of COVID-19 as an adjunct therapy. The medicines that were used in the first and second waves were found useful in the third wave also, and their indications were analogous to those found in the earlier waves. Certain new indications of some medicines were elicited in this wave, which warrant further research. However, it is important not to restrict to these medicines only and to continue data collection on COVID-19 in future waves for the improvement of the COVID-19 mini-repertory.

Keywords

COVID-19 - third wave - homeopathy - prognostic factor research - likelihood ratio

Author Contributions

This study was conducted under the mentorship of L.R. and R.K.M. Author R.K.M. provided overall guidance in planning, study design and ensuring logistic support. Co-authors A.M. and L.R. helped in the training of the team, development of the Excel sheet, statistical analysis and manuscript writing. Cases were treated and data sheets were completed by all the co-authors. All authors are responsible for and agree to the content of the submitted manuscript.




Publication History

Received: 02 June 2023

Accepted: 18 August 2023

Article published online:
29 December 2023

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