KNOW
Homoeopathy Journal Vol–3 & Issue-1, 15 March 2023, Published at https://www.knowhomoeopathyjournal.com/2023/03/volume-3-issue-1.html,
Pages: 9 to 13 , Title: Effectiveness of homoeopathy in treatment of influenza-A
study, Authored By: Dr. Sunil Anand (Honorary Advisor-KNOW Homoeopathy Journal,
Co-founder Anand wellness, Canada & India, Honorary teaching faculty at
Ontario college of homoeopathic medicine , Toronto, Canada, Honorary teaching
faculty at Northwestern academy of homoeopathy, Minnepolis, USA, Honorary
teaching faculty at the Other song academy, Mumbai, India, Associate
professor-D S Homoeopathic Medical College, Pune, India. )
EDITORIAL
Effectiveness of homoeopathy in treatment of influenza – A study
Received: 11/02/2023 Published: 15/03/2023
© 2023 KNOW Homoeopathy Journal https://www.knowhomoeopathyjournal.com/p/copyright-policy.html
How to cite this article:
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Influenza symptoms comprises fever, nasal discharge, sore throat, bodyache, headache, cough & general debility. As the outbreaks were seen more commonly during weather changes and patients treated with homoeopathy along with symptom enlistment were shown here.
METHODS: This article reviews common indicated remedies with symptoms for influenza. A total of 86 patients were treated from 22 November 2022 to 23 January 2023 at two different clinics i.e. Mumbai (56 patients) & Pune (30 patients). 13 remedies found to be commonly indicated in the mass treated for influenza.
RESULTS: 10 remedies were found to be indicated commonly in the mass. 15 patients were treated with Arsenicum Album, 8 patients were treated with Antimonium Arsenicosum, 8 patients were treated with Belladonna, 7 patients were treated with Bryonia Alba, 5 patients are treated with Drosera, 1 patient was treated with Gelsemium, 15 patients were treated with Hepar Sulph, 4 patients were treated with Nux Vomica, 19 patients were treated with Pulsatilla, 4 patients were treated with Spongia.
CONCLUSION: The study concludes that homoeopathic medicines have potential in treatment of influenza. As the study is conducted on only two places so further such studies are needed at different locations.
INTRODUCTION
Seasonal influenza viruses are acute respiratory infections that can result in serious illness or death, especially in high-risk populations including the very young, the elderly, pregnant women, healthcare professionals, and those with major medical problems.
Acute symptoms of seasonal influenza include a high temperature, sore throat, runny nose, headache, muscle and joint discomfort, and a severe malaise. The cough can linger for two weeks or more.[1]
MATERIAL & METHODOLOGY
10 homoeopathic medicines Arsenicum album, Antimonium arsenicosum, Belladonna, Bryonia alba, Drosera, Gelsemium, Hepar sulph, Nux vomica, Pulsatilla, & Spongia were given to 86 patients of Mumbai & Pune orally after clinically diagnosing symptoms.
DISCUSSION
Influenza incubation period is 1–4 days, most commonly 1–2 days. Symptoms including fever, chills, headaches, muscleache, a feeling of discomfort, loss of appetite, lack of energy fatigue, and confusion. These symptoms are usually accompanied by respiratory symptoms such as a dry cough, sore or dry throat, hoarse voice, and a stuffy or runny nose. Coughing is the most common symptom.[2]
Gastrointestinal symptoms may also occur, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and gastroenteritis, especially in children. The standard influenza symptoms typically last for 2–8 days. A 2021 study reveals COVID & Influenza cause long lasting symptoms.[3]
Infected individuals can transmit viruses through breathing, talking, coughing, and sneezing. Transmission through contact with a person, bodily fluids, or intermediate objects (fomites) can also occur. Influenza is usually transmissible from one day before the onset of symptoms to 5–7 days after symptoms onset.[4]
The virus can remain shed in healthy persons for up to three days. The virus may be spread for several weeks in children and others with impaired immune systems.[5]
Whereas influenza viruses that infect the lower respiratory tract, like H5N1, tend to produce more severe disease but are less communicable, those that infect the upper respiratory tract, like H1N1, tend to be more mild but more transmissible. Swabs taken from nose, throat to detect viral antigen.
Treatment includes Neuraminidase inhibitors. Antiviral drugs are currently resistant to virus.[6]
Homoeopathy showed effectiveness in treatment of influenza.[7] Below mentioned indications of individual remedies collected from patients and treated effectively.
1. ARSENICUM ALBUM
A/F cold weather, cold food and drinks, alcohol abuse
Periodic fevers, extreme exhaustion as if from septic infections, associated with anxiety and restlessness
Burning pains – Burning in the eyes, nose, throat, stomach etc
Thirst increased, drinks frequently but in small quantity/sips as drinking causes nausea and retching
Allergic sneezing +++, runny nose with burning sensation
Cough asthmatic/suffocative, scanty expectoration, worse midnight, worse lying on the back
Better heat, better warm drinks, better from head elevated
2. ANTIUM ARSENICOSUM
Wet cough with profuse expectoration, severe breathlessness, wheezing and rales +++
<lying down
< eating
Wants to lie down which aggravates
+++ Restlessness
Thirst ++
Prostration+++
3. BELLADONNA
A/F - head getting wet, draft of air
First stage of infection
Fever accompanied with throbbing headache
< light, noise
Thirstlessness with fever
Burning pain in throat especially right sided agg on swallowing
Sensation of lump in throat with constant inclination to swallow.
Inflammed throat with tonsils enlarged.
Tickling dry cough at night. Child cries before cough
Irritability and acuteness of senses
4. BRYONIA ALBA
A/F sudden change from cold to hot weather
Slow onset and gradual progress of symptoms
Fever with intense muscle and joint pains
Dry painful cough++ with pain in chest
Dry cough associated with headache, coughing aggravates the headache
All aches and pains including headache better with tight bandaging or pressure
Respiratory complaints associated with constipation
Thirst increased for cold water
Posterior yellow coating of tongue
Desire to rest
All complaints better by rest and agg least motion
Irritable, aversion to being disturbed or asked questions, yet continues with his business
5. DROSERA
Lingering viral cough not responding to other indicated remedies.
Spasmodic Dry cough more at night on lying down. Has to sit up
Dryness or irritation in throat causing cough. Hoarseness of voice with cough.
Deep cough causing pain in chestchest and vomiting
< talking, singing, laughing
> open air
6. GELSEMIUM
A/F Anxiety (exams, interview), emotional excitement or fright, Cold damp weather
Fever with shaking chills, especially up and down the spine, Feeling weak and dizzy
Dullness, heaviness and soreness of the body
Clouded thinking, disoriented feeling, can’t focus when asked questions
Clumsy, Drowsiness, can’t get enough sleep
Heaviness of eyelids, pain in the back of the head, Thirstless, Profuse runny nose, dryness and
roughness of the throat, dry cough
7. HEPAR SULPH
A/ F - cold dry winds, eating or drinking cold thing
Sharp pain in throat < swallowing.
Pain extending to ears especially on swallowing
Sensation as of mucus or lump in throat.
Dry hacking cough. Cough with choking ; has to rise up and bend head backwards
Cough with much rattling in chest but cannot expectorate
Yellowish expectoration
< least uncovering, cold room
Thermally chilly
8. NUX VOMICA
A/F Over work, insufficient sleep, stimulating spicy food and drinks
Very irritable, sensitive to noises
Fluent coryza with sneezing in the daytime, stuffy nose at night, alternate nostril blocked, scraped raw
sensation in the throat
Cough with bursting headache and fullness of stomach, cannot tolerate tight clothing
Fever with violent chills < least uncovering
Associated with gastric derangement, bloating, sharp cramping pains and ineffectual desire to vomit/move the bowels/pass urine
9. PULSATILLA
A/ F - ice cream, fatty food
Thick yellowish discharge from nose. Noseblock with frontal pains.
Cough < at night. Has to sit up in bed.
Greenish yellow expectoration
Dryness of mouth and lips with Thirstlessness
Involuntary urination when coughing
Weeping, clinginess in children
Fears to be alone, wants sympathy
> open air < warm room
> lying with head high, erect posture
10. SPONGIA
A/ F - Mental excitement
Dryness and tickling in throat causing cough. Cough with hoarseness.
Cough - hollow, barking wakes the patient up
Burning pain in chest with cough
Pain in throat with constant Inclination to swallow
Weeping with cough
Cough < inspiration, sweets, cold drinks
< warm room, singing, talking
> warm drinks
RESULT
10 remedies were found to be indicated commonly in the mass. 15 patients were treated with Arsenicum Album, 8 patients were treated with Antimonium Arsenicosum, 8 patients were treated with Belladonna, 7 patients were treated with Bryonia Alba, 5 patients are treated with Drosera, 1 patient was treated with Gelsemium, 15 patients were treated with Hepar Sulph, 4 patients were treated with Nux Vomica, 19 patients were treated with pulsatilla, 4 patients were treated with spongia.
CONCLUSION
The study concludes that homoeopathic medicines have potential in treatment of influenza. As the study is conducted on only two places so further such studies are needed at different locations to establish strong evidences.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
NIL
REFERENCES
1. Influenza (seasonal) [Internet]. Who.int. Available from: https://www.who.int/health-topics/influenza-seasonal?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-an0ovDE_QIVozdyCh2gnwSaEAAYASAAEgIQy_D_BwE
2. Krammer F, Smith GJ, Fouchier RA, Peiris M, Kedzierska K, Doherty PC, et al. Influenza. Nature Reviews Disease Primers [Internet]. 2018;4(1). Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41572-018-0002-y.PMC7097467
3.Triggle N. People also suffer “long flu”, study shows. BBC [Internet]. 2021 Sep 28; Available from: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-58726775
4. Ghebrehewet S, Macpherson P, Ho A. Influenza. The BMJ [Internet]. 2016;355. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i6258.PMC5141587
5. Dharmapalan D. Influenza. Influenza" Indian Journal of Pediatrics [Internet]. 2020;87(10):828–32. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12098-020-03214-1.PMC7091034
6.Influenza (seasonal) [Internet]. Who.int. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/influenza-(seasonal)?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0PfvsPjE_QIV5JNmAh323ARjEAAYASAAEgKwSPD_BwE
7. Boericke W., Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia medica with Indian medicine and Repertory; 9th revised and enlarge edition; indian books and Periodical publishers: Delhi, 2013
ABBREVATIONS
A/F – Ailments from
< - Aggravation
> - Amelioration
+ - Intensity of Symptoms
