Individualised Homoeopathy in the Treatment of Onycholysis: An Evidence-Based Clinical Case Report

Abstract

Introduction Onycholysis is a chronic nail disorder characterised by the progressive separation of the nail plate from the underlying nail bed. Apart from causing pain and discomfort, it affects the quality of life of an individual due to its visualised cosmetic appearance. Case Summary A 45-year-old female presented with complete loss of nail plate of the left middle finger for 1 month. At the first visit, homoeopathic medicine Tuberculinum bovinum was prescribed and the patient was followed up periodically for 4 months. A series of photographs captured at the first visit and in subsequent visits objectively document the gradual regrowth of her nail plate. Various aspects of her subjective improvement were documented by three validated outcome measurement scales. The patient herself assessed that, after 4 months of follow-up, she is ‘back to normal’ for her main complaint as well as for the overall well-being, which is documented as a +4 score in ‘Outcome in Relation to Impact on Daily Living’ (ORIDL) scale. The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score was reduced from 20 at the first visit to 1 after 4 months of treatment. Modified Naranjo Criteria for Homeopathy (MONARCH) score recorded at the final visit (+8 in ‘-6 to +13’ scale) is suggestive of a high likelihood that the improvement in the patient can be attributed to the homoeopathic treatment provided. Conclusion This clinical case report is presented here to critically document the effect of individualised homoeopathic treatment in onycholysis within a plausible timeframe.