Homeopathy and the COVID-19 pandemic: quasi-experimental observational study

Abstract

Background: the number of cases of Covid-19 reached more than 11 million people in Brazil, but mostly in Caxias city (Rio de Janeiro) high death rates are very worrysome. In this scenario, homeopathy therapy, along with sanitary and therapeutic measures, should be recommended by health authorities. Aims: to evaluate the use of homeopathic complex (Bryonia alba, China officinalis and Metallum album 30cH), concerning the severity of the illness, during the coronavirus pandemic. Methodology: the complex was administrated at multiple families from Caxias, with (FW) and without (FWO) symptoms similar to COVID-19’s, therefore qualifying the project as a quasi-experimental longitudinal observational cohort study (applied in 51 families or 128 people). With this, the influence of homeopathic intervention in sick (FW) and health (FWO) groups was estimated. All volunteers used three drops of the medicine, once a day, per 60 days. The medicine was prepared accordingly to the Brazilian Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia1. The follow-up was carried out within seven days, which resulted in a total of 8 weeks, since the first interview. The data was organized and statistically analyzed with a 5% significance level, for categorical variables, by Fisher Exact test, in Excel sheet and SPSS 17.0 platform. The ethical committee approved this project under the code: CAAE 31601020.3.0000.5243. Results and Discussion: the preliminary results showed the absence of deaths in both groups (FW and FWO), without any statistically significant difference related to the severity of illness. Most of the families (98.03%) were thrilled to contribute in this particular homeopathic research and reported to have had general health symptoms’ improvements (84.31%). Despite the previous comorbidities presented in 52.9% of the families and considering that Covid-19 infected 0.020% of them, only 0.098% looked for medical assistance and none needed hospitalization. Conclusion: no differences between previous sick and health groups were detected after homeopathy intervention.

Homeopathy for COVID-19 in primary care: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (COVID-Simile study)

“…Homeopathy has been used in epidemics, but results are mostly historically described [35] , and data were not rigorously tested [36] . In the current COVID-19 pandemic, observational studies have been carried out with homeopathic preparations, such as Arsenicum album , Bryonia alba , Gelsemium sempervirens , Belladonna , Aconitum napellus , Eupatorium perfoliatum , Wyethia helenioides , Pulsatilla nigricans , Nux vomica , Rhus toxicodendron , complex Bryonia alba-China officinalis-Metallum album , Phosphorus , Sulphur , and China officinalis [37] , [38] , [39] , [40] , [41] , [42] , [43] , [44] , [45] , [46] . These studies present relevant data, that should be further tested in clinical trials, but we are not aware of any prior published controlled clinical trial that evaluated homeopathic approaches in the context of COVID-19.…”

Searching for the Genus Epidemicus in Chinese Patients: Findings from the Clificol COVID-19 Clinical Case Registry

“…2 Homeopathy has a long history of use in epidemic disease 3,4,5,6,7 and the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a sharp increase in demand for homeopathy as an adjunctive treatment. This is also borne out by multiple publications of surveys, 8,9,10 case reports, 11 case series, 2,12,13 prospective and retrospective cohort studies, 14,15,16 as well as research projects and initiatives. 17,18,19,20 The foundations for the Clinical File Collection (Clificol) case registry were laid in the 1990s, and in the first stage of the development of the Clificol platform, use was restricted to users of the RadarOpus software platform.…”

“…Homeopathy has a long history of use in epidemic disease 3 4 5 6 7 and the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a sharp increase in demand for homeopathy as an adjunctive treatment. This is also borne out by multiple publications of surveys, 8 9 10 case reports, 11 case series, 2 12 13 prospective and retrospective cohort studies, 14 15 16 as well as research projects and initiatives. 17 18 19 20…”

Sustainability and Environmental Ethics (From the Environmental Primer to the Intercultural Garden)

“…Completed scientific initiations, as they followed methodological rigor, were well received. In the current context of great climate instability and uncertainty, consistent rational methodological investigations are (HOLANDINO et al, 2021). So, among several demands in this period, it was required return to all activities.…”