Research - Addictions
Role of Homoeopathy in Tobacco Addiction A Narrative Review
Renu Bala, Amit Srivastava Research Officer (H)/ Scientist-1,
Regional Research Institute for Homoeopathy, New Checkon, Opposite Tribal Colony, Imphal, Manipur, India.
Use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs is referred to as ‘substance use’. There are wide variations in extent and prevalence of use across different states and between various substances. In adult populations around the world, alcohol, tobacco and cannabis are the most commonly used psychoactive substances. They are associated with a wide range of negative health consequences. Chewing betel nuts with leaves of betel plant and lime paste and smoking tobacco constitute the two most common traditional forms of substance use in almost all NE states of India. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like ischemic heart diseases, cancers, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases are the leading causes of death globally and associated with tobacco use. This narrative review presents an overview of the magnitude of tobacco use, its health consequences and role Homoeopathy can play in addressing disorders related to tobacco use to help people to avoid or delay its addiction and to avert the development of the withdrawal symptoms in case of quitting.
Source : International Journal of Research and Review
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Double-blind evaluation of homeopathy on cocaine craving: a randomized controlled pilot study
ABSTRACT
Background
Brazil is among the nations with the greatest rates of annual cocaine usage. Pharmacological treatment of cocaine addiction is still limited, opening space for nonconventional interventions. Homeopathic Q-potencies of opium and Erythroxylum coca have been tested in the integrative treatment of cocaine craving among homeless addicts, but this setting had not proven feasible, due to insufficient recruitment.
Objective
This study investigates the effectiveness and tolerability of homeopathic Q-potencies of opium and E. coca in the integrative treatment of cocaine craving in a community-based psychosocial rehabilitation setting.
Design, setting, participants, and interventions
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, eight-week pilot trial was performed at the Psychosocial Attention Center for Alcohol and Other Drugs (CAPS-AD), Sao Carlos/SP, Brazil. Eligible subjects included CAPS-AD patients between 18 and 65 years of age, with an International Classification of Diseases-10 diagnosis of cocaine dependence (F14.2). The patients were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: psychosocial rehabilitation plus homeopathic Q-potencies of opium and E. coca (homeopathy group), and psychosocial rehabilitation plus indistinguishable placebo (placebo group).
Main outcome measures
The main outcome measure was the percentage of cocaine-using days. Secondary measures were the Minnesota Cocaine Craving Scale and 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey scores. Adverse events were reported in both groups.
Results
The study population comprised 54 patients who attended at least one post-baseline assessment, out of the 104 subjects initially enrolled. The mean percentage of cocaine-using days in the homeopathy group was 18.1% (standard deviation (SD): 22.3%), compared to 29.8% (SD: 30.6%) in the placebo group (P < 0.01). Analysis of the Minnesota Cocaine Craving Scale scores showed no between-group differences in the intensity of cravings, but results significantly favored homeopathy over placebo in the proportion of weeks without craving episodes and the patients’ appraisal of treatment efficacy for reduction of cravings. Analysis of 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey scores found no significant differences. Few adverse events were reported: 0.57 adverse events/patient in the homeopathy group compared to 0.69 adverse events/patient in the placebo group (P = 0.41).
Conclusions
A psychosocial rehabilitation setting improved recruitment but was not sufficient to decrease dropout frequency among Brazilian cocaine treatment seekers. Psychosocial rehabilitation plus homeopathic Q-potencies of opium and E. coca were more effective than psychosocial rehabilitation alone in reducing cocaine cravings. Due to high dropout rate and risk of bias, further research is required to confirm our findings, with specific focus on strategies to increase patient retention.
Source : Journal of Integrative Medicine
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A Research study showing the efficacy of Homoeopathic and Bio-chemic medicine for removing the habit of tobacco smoking and alcoholism.
Prof (Dr) M Abdul Lethif
Former Principal & Controlling officer of Homeopathy
Government Homoeopathic Medical College,Trivandrum
Abstract
Homoeopathic medicines were given to 652 patients after detailed study. Science, Technology and Environment Committee, Govt. of Kerala had given Rs.50,000/- as grant for a research study for two years from 15th December 1991. Follow up study was conducted on 279 patients while 373 was drop out. 71.43% was the success rate within two weeks and 23.8% after two weeks in alcoholics. In tobacco smoking the success rate was 62.18% within two weeks and 60.78% after two weeks. The success rate was 73.52% for alcoholics and 66.17% in tobacco addict in persons who used to drink and smoke cigarette. After two weeks the result was 33.23% and 38.97% in alcoholism and tobacco smoking respectively.
Source : Similima.com - sorry website cannot be found
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A pilot Study of effectiveness of Homoeopathic Treatment in Management of Alcoholism
Dr.Binimol BHMS Under the Guidance of Dr.S.G.BIJU BHMS, MD (Hom)
Conducted At ATMTHA KENDRAM, Chabganacherry, Kottayam District, Kerala, S.INDIA
Introduction
Alcohol dependence syndrome - a neurological disorder is one of the major health/social/economic problem in Kerala. Alcoholism is a "dual disease" since it includes both mental and physical components. Long-term alcohol abuse produces changes in the brain's structure and chemistry such as tolerance and physical dependence. These changes maintain the person with alcoholism's compulsive inability to stop drinking and result in alcohol withdrawal syndrome if the person stops. Alcohol damages almost every organ in the body, including the brain. The cumulative toxic effects of chronic alcohol abuse can cause both medical and psychiatric problems. So it is a health issue rather than a social issue for any physician of any system of therapeutics. Homoeopathy put this disease under the most virulent and destructive miasmatic disorder, Syphilitic Miasm.
CONCLUSION
In this present study Alcoholism most commonly found in the age groups of 30 - 50 years and the incidence most common in Middle when comparing to the Upper and lower classes. Homoeopathic medicine found most effective in the treatment (67.5 %) is NUX VOMICA in 1M potency 2 doses daily morning and evening. Stramonium 200,Quracus Spiritus Q, Syphilinum 10M, Opium 1M,Medo 10M, Heparsuph 200, Merc Sol 1M, Sepia 1M, Staphisagria 10M, ArsAlb 0/3,Carcinocin 200,Agaricus M 200, Tuberculinum, are other remedies found effective in individual cases.
The selection of potency was done considering the stage of alcoholism, the intensity and frequency of the intake and the sensitivity of the individual patients. Thedose were repeated 2 doses per day as patient is having temptation to take alcohol 2wice a day in majority of cases. Many cases improved within 3 months and majority got relief by the sixth month. Permanent damage to the liver and other affected organs shall also be managed with medicines but proper investigation is necessary to avoid causalities.
This study reveals 3 major findings.
1. Alcoholism shall be treated without consent and knowledge of patient with Homoeopathic medicines..
2. Homoeopathic medicines shall offer 67.5% result in alcoholism within 180 days.
3. NUX VOMICA 1M twice a day is highly effective in management of alcoholism.
Source : similima.com - sorry website cannot be found
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Homeopathic potencies of Opium in alcohol dependence: exploratory open-label study
Ubiratan Cardinalli Adler1, Ana Elisa Madureira Padula1,
Amarilys de Toledo Cesar1, Maristela Schiabel Adler1,
José Carlos Fernandes Galduróz2.
(1) Associated researchers of the project “Translational study with innovative approaches for dealing with problems related to alcohol use, risk and dependence”.
(2) Department of Psychobioloby – Federal University of São Paulo, UNIFESP
ABSTRACT
Background: The conventional pharmacological options for the treatment of alcoholism are limited, which led to the search for solutions in alternative or complementary medicine (CAM). Homeopathy is a CAM modality recognized as medical specialty in Brazil. According to the clinical experience of the early homeopaths, Opium was used to treat patients with alcohol dependence. Aim: to perform a preliminary assessment of the effectiveness and tolerability of fifty-millesimal potencies of Opium in the treatment of alcohol-dependent patients.
Methods: exploratory, prospective, open-label trial, with pre-treatment measures as control. Confidence intervals were used to estimate the magnitude of the clinical differences.
Results: a total of 14 patients were included, from which 12 were evaluated (intention to treat analysis - ITT). There was a significant reduction in the average daily alcohol consumption (-29.37 units of alcohol/day; 95% CI=10.63; 48.11) and in the severity of alcohol dependence, measured by the mean score of the Short Alcohol Dependence Data questionnaire (-10.17; 95% CI= 4.12; 16.22). No serious adverse events were reported. Randomized controlled studies with larger samples are needed.
Source : Int J High Dilution Res 2012; 11(38):19-24
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