Research - Skin Disease
Case Reports of Acne and Homeopathy
Lawrence C. Nwabudike N. Paulescu
Institute of Diabetes, Bucharest, Romania
Summary
Background: Acne vulgaris is a self-limiting disorder of the pilosebaceous unit. The aesthetic aspect of the disorder may provoke depression and diminish the quality of life. A number of agents are used for acne treatment, e.g., retinoids, antibiotics, benzoic acid, azelaic acid, and hormones. These agents have side-effects, sometimes severe ones.
Case Reports: Presented are 2 cases of severe acne treated with individualized homeopathic medicines. Both patients were treated using the classical method of homeopathy, i.e., a single medicine based on the patient’s individual characteristics was prescribed. The cases were documented photographically at onset and during the course of treatment. Both patients went into remission following treatment, and long-term follow-up suggested that the therapy remained efficacious long after cessation of treatment. No significant side effects were noted.
Conclusions: Homeopathic medicines may be useful as stand-alone treatment of patients with severe acne vulgaris. A case series suggested a remission rate of more than 80% using individualized homeopathic treatment. The treatment remained efficacious long after cessation and is not accompanied by significant side-effects. It is to be hoped that this presentation will stimulate research interest into homeopathic medicines as stand-alone or adjunct treatments of acne.
Source Complement Medicine Research 2018;25:52–55
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Prospective, non-randomised, open-label study of homeopathic Zingiber officinale (ginger) in the treatment of acne vulgaris
- Anjali Miglani Senior Medical Officer1,* and
- Raj K Manchanda Director General2
Abstract
Background Zingiber officinale (ginger) has a long history of use in traditional medicine, including homeopathy. Studies carried out so far have validated some of the ethno-medicinal observations.
Objective To determine the effectiveness of homeopathic Z. officinale for the treatment of acne vulgaris and to identify its prescribing indications.
Methods A prospective, non-randomised open-label study was conducted on human participants with acne vulgaris. Homeopathic Z. officinale was prescribed in different potencies (6C up to 1M) over a period of 6 months. Outcomes included changes in lesion counts, Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) score, and Acne-Specific Quality of Life (Acne-QoL) score. Data were analysed using paired t-tests, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and Pearson's correlation tests.
Results Thirty-two participants enrolled in the study; data for 31 participants were analysed. Statistically significant (P<0.001) changes in lesion counts, GAGS scores and Acne-QoL scores were observed.
Conclusion Homeopathic Z. officinale demonstrates encouraging results in the treatment of facial acne. Further investigation, using a randomised placebo-controlled trial design and a larger sample size is now required to draw firmer conclusions about the effectiveness of this intervention.
Source : Focus on Complementary and Alternative Therapies
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Observational study of Arctium lappa in the treatment of acne vulgaris
Abstract
IntroductionArctium lappa (Lappa) is used in traditional Western and Chinese medicine for acne. It is mentioned in homeopathic literature for acne, but its effect has not previously been evaluated.
ObjectiveTo determine the effectiveness of homeopathic medicine Lappa in treatment of acne vulgaris.
MethodsAn uncontrolled observational interventional study was conducted on human subjects who fulfilled the inclusion criteria and gave written informed consent. Lappa was prescribed in potencies starting from 6c rising to 1M as required, over a period of 6 months. Objective assessment was change in acne lesion counts supplemented with Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) and subjective assessment by using Acne-Specific Quality of Life questionnaire (Acne-QoL).
ResultsOut of 34 human subjects, 32 completed the follow-up. Statistical significant results were seen in lesion counts, GAGS and Acne-QoL score (p value <0.001).
ConclusionLappa has shown positive effects in the treatment of acne especially of inflammatory type. Further controlled, randomized studies with larger sample size are desirable.
Source : Journal Homeopathy
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Homeopathic treatment of vitiligo : an open observational pilot study
Subhasish Ganguly1, Subhranil Saha2, Munmun Koley2, Ramkumar Mondal 11Mahesh Bhattacharyya
1 Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital, West Bengal, India
2 Clinical Research Unit (Homoeopathy), Siliguri, CCRH, Govt. of India
ABSTRCT
Background:
Vitiligo is a common hypopigmentation disorder with significant psychological
impact. An evaluation of homeopathic treatment was performed in individuals with vitiligo in a hospital outpatient clinic in West Bengal, India
Methods
Thirty participants (median age 27 years old, 57% female) were recruited
for a prospective open-label pilot study and treated with individualized homeopathic medicines for 6 months. Efficacy was assessed after 3 months and 6 months using Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI) score, Vitiligo European Task Force (VETF) score, and Dermatological Life Quality Index (DLQI) score, which are validated outcomemeasures evaluating thearea, intensity, spread of
depigmentation of vitiligo lesions and quality of life (QoL).
Results:
A total of 27 participants completed the trial; 3 dropped out. After 6 months of treatment, the
median VASI total score improved significantly by 0.1 units (p=0.003), from 0.8 (0.5, 1.5) to 0.7 (0.3, 0.8) on a scale from 0 (no depigmentation) to 100 (completely depigmented). Similarly, the VETF median score improved by 2 units (p=0.0001) from 1 (0, 1) to – 1 (–1, 0) and the staging score changed from 1 (1, 2) to 1 (0, 1), p=0.002. The total DLQI median score exhibited significant reduction from 21 (17, 22) to 13.6 (10, 17), change 7.4 (p=0.0001), as also did its components.
Conclusions
Individualized homeopathic treatment associated with significant improvement of VASI, VETF and DLQI scores. The extent to which the observed effects were due to placebo needs clarification in future randomized double-blind clinical studies preceded by feasibility studies.
Source : IJHDR
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PSORIASIS AND HOMEOPATHY
L.C. NWABUDIKE1
1National Institute of Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases ”N.C. Paulescu”, Romania
Abstract
Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disorder which may affect the skin, nails and joints. It is fairly common and affects individuals of all ages. It frequently manifests in the skin overlying the joint, elbow and lumbosacral areas. Lesions may be brought on by trauma also (the Koebner phenomenon). There are periods of quiescence of varying length, when the disease is in apparent remission and periods of flare. Psoriasis is associated with a number of comorbid conditions such as cardiovascular disease, uncomplicated diabetes, hepatitis B and C, renal failure, asthma and peptic ulcers. A number of treatment modalities exist for psoriasis, including topical and systemic treatments and new modalities continue to appear, all with varying effects and also with risks of complications. Four cases of psoriasis (generalised, scalp and nail involvement) treated homeopathically are presented
Conclusion
Psoriasis is a disorder in which up to 78% of cases have a strong underlying stress connection. Homeopathy relies chiefly on the individual personality traits of the patient to make a diagnosis and treat. It would therefore appear thatpsoriasis is suited to a majority of cases treated by homeopathy. The cases presented received individualised remedies. A case of scalp and a case of nail psoriasis appeared to benefit from the
same remedy, which underscores the need for individualisation, rather than a focus on the physical pathology, when one approaches a case homeopathically. Homeopathy is predominantly an outpatient method of treatment, which fits with the preference of patients for treatment modalitiesthat cause minimal disruption to their personal and professional lives11. Research needs to be done into the role homeopathy may play in the therapy of this disorder, as this may open up the possibility to another treatment modality and it ishoped that this paper will be a step towards this.
Source : National Institute of Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases ”N.C. Paulescu”, Romania
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Effect of homeopathic treatment of 60 Japanese patients with chronic skin disease.
Itamura R.
Department of Dermatology, Obitsu Sankei Hospital, 1-4 Namikinishi-machi, Kawagoe-city, Saitama-ken 350-0025, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Many individuals who appear to suffer from incurable chronic skin disease use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Homeopathy has recently increased in popularity among patients with skin disease. The effects of homeopathic treatment have yet to be fully investigated in patients for whom conventional dermatological treatment is not sufficiently effective.
OBJECTIVES: To describe patient-reported and clinically observed effects of individualized homeopathic treatment of chronic skin disease.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: The effectiveness of individualized homeopathic treatment was measured using the patients' own assessments of seven elements (overall impression, improvement of skin condition, reduction of itchiness, reduction of sleep disturbance, satisfaction in daily life, fulfillment at work and satisfaction in human relations) using a nine-point scale similar to the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital Outcome Scale (GHHOS). Sixty patients with chronic skin disease were included in the study: atopic dermatitis (AD) (n=25), eczema other than AD (n=20), severe acne (n=6), chronic urticaria (n=6), psoriasis vulgaris (n=2) and alopecia universalis (n=1). These patients received individualized homeopathic treatments in addition to conventional dermatological treatments for a period of from 3 months to 2 years 7 months.
RESULTS: Six patients reported a score of 4 (complete recovery), 23 patients a score of 3 (75% improvement), 24 patients a score of 2 (50% improvement) and 7 patients a score of 1 (25% improvement). A total of 88.3% of patients reported over 50% improvement. Around one-half the patients with AD and eczema reported greater satisfaction in daily life, greater fulfillment at work and greater satisfaction in human relations.
CONCLUSIONS: The psychological, physical and psychosomatic symptoms and effects of chronic skin diseases are inextricable. Individualized homeopathic treatment can provoke a good response in patients with chronic skin disease; therefore, the holistic approach used in homeopathy may be a useful strategy alongside conventional treatment.
Source : Complement Ther Med. 2007 Jun;15(2):115-20
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