Objective During the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic, non-pharmacologic interventions were the strategies for the prevention of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The Ministry of Ayush, Govt. of India, had advised Arsenicum album 30C, as a prophylactic to prevent COVID-19. This study was undertaken to evaluate the protective efficacy and safety of the Arsenicum album 30C. Methods We conducted a prospective, multicentre, cluster-randomized, parallel arm, community-based, open-label study involving apparently healthy individuals residing in containment areas of 7 cities of India. Clusters are defined as the population residing in the containment areas, who are under restriction for movement. 42 clusters were randomly assigned at 2:1 to the Arsenicum album 30C group (30 clusters) or to the control group (12 clusters, which received no specific therapy). The medicine was given twice daily for 7 days. The primary outcome was the incidence of COVID-19, as per the case definition notified by the National Centre for Disease Control, Government of India, during three weeks follow-up period. Results The analysis included 32186 individuals residing in 42 clusters (containment areas). A total of 22693 individuals of 30 clusters received Arsenicum album 30C and 9493 individuals of 12 clusters were observed in the control group. Results were similar in the medicine and control groups for age, gender, and comorbidity. The overall protective effect of the Arsenicum album 30C was 80.22% (95% confidence interval [CI], 71.16 to 86.44; 40 cases per 22693 [6.04 per 10000 person-weeks] in the Arsenicum album 30C group vs. 84 cases per 9493 [29.78 per 10000 person-weeks] in the control group). The protective effect of the Arsenicum album 30C against laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 was 68.22% (95% [CI], 49.64 to 80; 32 cases per 22693 [4.83 per 10000 person-weeks] in the Arsenicum album 30C group vs. 42 cases per 9493 [14.93 per 10000 person-weeks] in the control group). Adverse effects observed in both groups were mild and resolved without medication and sequelae. Conclusion Homeopathic medicine Arsenicum album 30C was associated with a decrease in the incidence and provided some protection against COVID-19 as compared to non-treatment. Further, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials may be conducted to validate the results of this study.

Background During primary teething, children suffer from running nose, mild fever, diarrhoea and other mild irritations and inflammations. A public health programme, ‘Homoeopathy for the Healthy Child’, was undertaken on a pilot basis focusing on promotion of healthy teething by provision of home-based care through six pre-identified homeopathic medicines for complaints commonly observed during primary teething. This article assesses the feasibility of this programme and reports the impact of this initiative on teething profile in children and episodes of diarrhoea and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). Materials and Methods Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) were trained in child care and usage of a kit comprising six medicines, namely Calcarea phosphoricum 6X (CP), Ferrum phosphoricum 3X, Magnesium phosphoricum 6X, Belladonna 30C, Chamomilla 30C and Podophyllum 30C. Calcarea phosphoricum was given regularly to each participating child from 6 months to 1 year of age. Home-based care for diarrhoea, URTI and mild fever was provided by ASHAs using the other five medicines in the kit. Dentition pattern and diarrhoea/URTI episodes were recorded over a period of the next 12 months. Results Eleven thousand four-hundred and twenty-six children were followed up regularly. Amongst those who enrolled at 6-7 months, a larger proportion of children were approaching expected teething in successive months as compared with children enrolled at 12 months, thus indicating that teething delays, if any, were overcome during this period. Incidence of diarrhoea and URTI showed decrease in the months after enrolment. Children responded favourably to the medicines given by ASHAs at the time of diarrhoea/URTI episodes, and ASHAs expressed satisfaction with the programme. Conclusion An approach with regular use of CP and home-based care with homeopathy through health workers for common problems in teething children is acceptable to the community and enhances outreach of services to the public at large. Observations in terms of the healthy teething period may be further validated through studies of homeopathy with suitable comparator group.

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