A randomized comparative interventional study to assess the efficacy of individualized homoeopathic medicine and Terminalia arjuna in cases of primary hypertension

Abstract

Background: Hypertension is considered to be silent killer as it is largely asymptomatic and patient may have elevated blood pressure for a long time. Hypertension is a grave medical condition, elevating the risks of heart, brain, kidney, and other diseases. Approximately 1.28 billion adults aged 30-79 worldwide grapple with hypertension, with the majority (two-thirds) residing in low-and middleincome countries. Alarmingly, an estimated 46% of adults with hypertension are unaware of their condition. Diagnosis and treatment rates remain low, with less than half (42%) of adults with hypertension being identified and treated. Objective• To assess the extent of improvement in cases of primary hypertension receiving individualized homoeopathic medicines.• To assess the extent of improvement in cases of primary hypertension receiving predefined Homoeopathic medicine Terminalia arjuna.• To compare between extent of improvement in both the cases.Study Design: Comparative interventional study. Methods: In each group, 45 cases of Primary hypertension were selected on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients in Group A were prescribed individualized homoeopathic medicine while those in Group B received predefined homoeopathic medicine Terminalia arjuna. Assessment and reassessments were done by measuring difference in mean arterial pressure before and after treatment. Results: Primary hypertension was found to be more common in age group between 50 -60 years, middle socio-economic and rural population. After treatment in Group A, the overall improvement percentage was 84% in which 26% showed marked improvement; 33.33% showed moderate improvement; and 24.44% showed mild improvement observed through decrease in mean arterial pressure. In group B, the improvement percentage was 68%, in which 22% showed marked improvement, 15% showed moderate improvement and 31% showed mild showed improvement observed through decrease in mean arterial pressure. A Paired samples t-test was conducted in both groups to compare pre and post mean arterial pressure. In Group A significant difference in mean arterial pressure was observed post treatment (M=105.71, SD=4.284), compared to pre-treatment (M=123.79, SD=6.434). Group B receiving predefined medicine Terminalia arjuna, decrease in mean arterial pressure post treatment (M=107.07, SD=3.984), compared to pre-treatment (M=121.38, SD=6.629), also showed significant difference. Thus, statistical result showed that there was significant difference in pre and post mean arterial pressure in both groups. This suggests that homoeopathic medicines were very effective in the treatment of Primary hypertension. An independent t-test war carried out to compare post treatment decrease in mean arterial pressure in both groups showed that extent of improvement was better in constitutional medicines group than second group in which Terminalia arjuna was given. Conclusion:In this study, it was found that there is statistically significant difference in mean arterial pressure before and after treatm...