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Symptomatic COVID-19 positive and likely patients treated by homeopathic physicians - an Italian descriptive study

Authors:
  • SIMO - Società Italiana di Medicina Omeopatica

Abstract

In Italy most positive and probable COVID-19 patients are at home if their clinical situation is mild. A group of homeopathic physicians treated 50 patients.The study describes their hospitalization rate, clinical evolution, homeopathic medicines used and gives an updated picture of use, limitations and perspectives of classical homeopathy in COVID-19 extrahospital patients
Scienc communicaon to medical colleagues
Symptomac COVID-19 posive and likely paents treated by homeopathic physicians - an
Italian descripve study
Introducon1:
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-")'.)
')7"'.'$'
7level of hospitalizaon of COVID-19 paents treated by doctors with
addional experse in homeopathy.14
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U"(('RR'$
6)MUN#(
0'.6")'
($$6
8??'''(((??$?6??22%.$($
9;J2.MN
;G?;;%GFO
8??'''(((??)?.

10 Task Force COVID-19 of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Informatics Service, Istituto Superiore di
Sanità. COVID-19 Epidemic, National Update: 30 March 2020
https://www.epicentro.iss.it/coronavirus/bollettino/Bollettino-sorveglianza-integrata-COVID-19_6-aprile-2020.pdf
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>:)(0)'$)'"
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'"))"'
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Method:
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posive or probable COVID-19"$'$")>"
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$" "suspected", "probable" and "conrmed" cases. 6
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The clinical records '10 6))$
40))(
%$ '(0'77
$7')
$<*(
;I'>)"
'$(
,'$$$
)(
")).
)$(
A$)D06$$
)"$)$$
$(
<)'single homeopathic remedies
M')"<VN
(0$""'6>
(
16A,:)(MN(3$$)'
"+(A,:)(8??('(???55#?--#5
*)"$'7)$
)$)"
(
Inclusion criteria:
))))'M6)N"
))'three )'RRN
"N'))"N)"
6
simultaneous$N$"N'."-N?
?)H$N"N
"-NI))" N(
<))$"
)$I)6
"'$$$(2
)6)6(!0:
$) observaonal method $
)$)$$(
%)"$)"'
)()"""0MY
N"<2H''$$
)(
E6"$5"#$
)(
Results:
A$50 cases "
$'')$$$'(
0#7$$M'
6N(
 M5N"'5(!#H
M$-!N(
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HM$ - N' ((
17 "1Z*:"3Z"3Z2"3(MN(%
6)(01("?(95(
0$$)'+M#N"<M N"EM N"6
M N"DM-N"M-N"0M-N"0MN"M"')
:)*N"<:MN"<MN""E"
E"2"+(
0$$)
6)M$7&N(%
$"$ "'$
(-(
0'))B'H='"
)$$=$$
(
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)'"
9
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M5)NH<VM)NH%M5)NH%)M5
)NH;$M )NH<M-)NH6)B
M-)NH1M-)NH*M-)NH,(M
)NHFM)NH3M)NH+"
I"*"*"<"*"K
"2")"0"*"
)MN(
D'(%$)
)$6(
All paents were symptomac and classied as COVID posive or highly probable; they were all
treated homeopathically in extra-hospital home isolaon regimen.
Under no circumstances, given the favourable clinical trend, was hospitalisaon necessary.
A'
:)(
Discussion and perspecves
06.
$U)(
0"'
$(
18 K7E,
A6')
)(0$$)
)))'
interconnecon between paent and doctor$)(E
76"
$online medical consultaon,)
(
,'.)$$)"'
))T(0)$
$(
0hospitalizaon rate $#)$'(
3)$)7
"'')7'
)(
+"'.'"7:)
$))'7"(())
)")")'
(
0$:)$))"$
M( Q"0.K"N(
Aessenal to collect data on the level of hospitalizaon and clinical course of all
paents in home isolaon for COVID-19.
0.$))"'')$
"$$').
D0)'')")"
)
“The clinical manifestaons of COVID-19 are protean, which include asymptomac carrier, ARD,
and pneumonia of varying degrees of severity. First, asymptomac cases were diagnosed based on
posive viral nucleic acid test results, but without any COVID-19 symptoms, such as fever,
gastrointesnal, or respiratory symptoms, and no signi'cant abnormalies on chest radiograph,
19 ;"13+"E*E(K))(<);(
H9M-N#5((5?I(((( (;K5(<+<+-!!P R)R"
7)$)))$$"
$')))")$7)"
'")')C
20 *A*"/F"DE[2"*2"E.(+
)%+G,L(K
F( HMN ((#?-#9#(; K!(<+<+ 5-55
21 1"1\,"A\"A\,",*"\+\"FA",<2(%)"
"M*%2*NK
(/+$(+ (*59 9MN- (
(5?I(I((((W;$X2'(<+<+-!- H<+<+
<+!9#
However, the transmission of COVID-19 through asymptomac carriers via person-to-person
contact was observed in many reports. Second, paents with ARD de'ned as laboratory-con'rmed
COVID-19 cases had respiratory symptoms; however, chest computed tomography (CT) did not
reveal signs of pneumonia. Third, paents with pneumonia de'ned as COVID-19 cases had both
respiratory symptoms and pneumonia on chest radiograph.
%$diagnosc integraon of the
$6)(
8$)$I)M
-N))(0""$
)6"$
$)(
A much larger sample$)>U
$Hcontrol group must(
'long-term follow-upM)N$
""'.'
)(
,'"$")$)
$(077")
)$U"
)$')
R0)$')$0+'
"$"
R(
22 YL"K1"L,"1/F"A%+",\",Y"\E"A/"1,"]/"1+"1\*"1A/",<"
1A,(W))$$X(L\
YLL(+HMN;((-!5?(I(-!9 (W;$X
(<+<+-#!9 (
23 Chen X, Ling J, Mo P, Zhang Y, Jiang Q, Ma Z, Cao Q, Hu W, Zou S, Chen L, Yao L. Restoration of
leukomonocyte counts is associated with viral clearance in COVID-19 hospitalized patients. medRxiv. 2020 Jan 1.
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?
hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Restoration+of+leukomonocyte+counts+is+associated+with+viral+clearance+in+COVI
D-19+hospitalized+patients.+&btnG=
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... Within Brazil, it has been reported that homeopathy has contributed to decreased incidence rates and reduced the impact on the population's health from Dengue fever epidemics [20][21][22]. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, several studies have been published on possible homeopathic treatments for symptomatic cases of COVID-19 in several countries worldwide, showing a positive effect [23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. ...
... The frequencies and distribution of these medicines were similar in both the intervention and control groups. However, the selection of these drugs differed from those reported in some publications worldwide [23,26,[74][75][76], forming a characteristic symptomatic group specific to the moment and place studied [77]. This suggests that, as Samuel Hahnemann [47] described, the genus epidemics and the homeopathic medicine that best covers the symptoms (IHMP) in an epidemic may vary depending on population characteristics, geographic and climatic conditions, as well as the individual expression of acute epidemic diseases and the characteristics of Sars-Cov-2 virus variants [22,65,77]. ...
Article
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Homeopathy has shown promise in fighting epidemics, leading to potential applications in the COVID-19 clinical cases. To assess the impact of add-on individualized homeopathic medicinal products (IHMP) in improving clinical outcomes and time to medical discharge in COVID-19 patients. A prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group exploratory clinical trial was conducted in a São Paulo state municipality, Brazil, between February and July 2021. 82 (unvaccinated) patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and manageable mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms were randomly assigned to placebo or IHMP groups. Utilizing unique global COVID-19 symptom scores, a symptom assessment was performed. Statistical analysis involved 68 patients (36 IHMP; 32 placebo). No significant initial disparity existed in total COVID-19 symptom scores between the groups. The IHMP group exhibited a significantly shorter mean time from initial appointment to medical discharge compared to placebo (p < 0.05: IHMP 74.5 hours (+/- 57.47, 95% CI: 55.73-93.27); placebo 137.42 hours (+/- 87.85, 95% CI: 106.98-167.86)). Employing the chi-square trend test at selected time points (74.5 and 137.42 hours, corresponding to mean discharge times), COVID-19 scores demonstrated sustained IHMP-associated reductions (p < 0.05). COVID-19 symptom scores and time to medical discharge were significantly reduced by treatment with IHMP compared to placebo, suggesting a potential role for IHMP in managing mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms at home.
... Under no circumstances, because of good clinical practice, hospitalization was required. The hospitalization rate in this group of 50 patients treated homeopathically for COVID-19 was Zero (0) (Valeri, 2020). ...
... In Cuba, homeopathic medicine is an integral part of health care and was incorporated into the National Health System in 1992. At the beginning of the Covid-19 epidemic, in early April 2020, (Valeri, 2020). ...
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Among the seven human coronaviruses (HCoVs), SARS, MERS, and SARS-CoV2 caused the most severe illnesses. Although WHO recommended three vaccines against Covid-19, this does not guarantee complete protection against the human body. Since the virus constantly changes and infects people causing great suffering and death, we must protect ourselves by following specific hygiene rules. This study showed the effectiveness of Homeopathic Remedies as the alternative treatment for Covid-19. Samples (suspected and confirmed patients of Covid-19) were given homeopathic medicines, and the results were recorded. This study aims to demonstrate a global effort to control the coronavirus (COVID-19) through alternative therapies. National health systems should promptly endorse the efficacy of validated homeopathic treatments to treat the Covid-19 disease as alternative medicine.
... The benefits of homeopathy in other disease entities have also been demonstrated. In one systematic review, homeopathy showed positive effects on oral health [70]. Additionally, homeopathy was one of the therapies most commonly sought for rheumatologic diseases such as progressive destruction and disability of joints, and as a patient preference due to intolerance of adverse effects with conventional treatment. ...
Article
Full-text available
Homeopathy was founded some two hundred years ago by Dr Samuel Christian Hahnemann. Over time, it has grown to be among the most frequently used forms of alternative medicine in Europe and the USA. It is underpinned by the principle of ‘like cures like’, where highly diluted substances are used for therapeutic purposes, by producing similar symptoms to when the substance is used in healthy people. Many studies have been published on the value of homeopathy in treating diseases such as cancer, depression, psoriasis, allergic rhinitis, asthma, otitis, migraine, neuroses, allergies, joint disease, insomnia, sinusitis, urinary tract infections and acne, to name a few. We conducted a comprehensive review of the literature on homeopathy and evaluated its effectiveness in clinical practice. While there is evidence of the clinical benefits of homeopathy, its formal application requires more rigorous randomised controlled trials.
... [45] In fact, instances from other countries (China, Iran, Italy) treating COVID-19 cases through homoeopathy and other alternative systems are reported or published in a scientific journal. [14,46,47] The Ebola experience demonstrated the feasibility of rigorously evaluating therapeutic measures during an epidemic. ...
... administration of the homeopathic medicines, a result similar to the study by Valeri et al, 12 with good recovery of all patients. ...
Article
Background The manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can result in several prognoses and lead patients to look for appropriate complementary or alternative treatment options according to their personal situation and available health care. Patients with mild symptoms or those who have not yet reached the maximum severity of their condition are those who seek outpatient care, where homeopathic treatment might be considered, given the well documented history of this medical system in several epidemics in the past. Objective The aim of this study was to compare the homeopathic treatment used for symptomatic cases of COVID-19 in March and April 2020 with cases treated in March and April 2021. Method This is a retrospective observational study based on the analysis of the medical records of symptomatic COVID-19 patients treated on an outpatient basis with homeopathy at the Hahnemanniano George Galvão Institute in São Paulo, Brazil. We analyzed 54 cases, divided into two samples (27 cases in each year), similar in relation to age, gender and origin of the patients. Results The development was distinct in the 2 years, with improvement of symptoms after 3 days of the first homeopathic prescription in 2020 whilst in 2021 the improvement occurred from the sixth day onward. The most frequently prescribed homeopathic medicine also differed in the two samples (Antimonium tartaricum in 2020; Arsenicum album in 2021), which indicates the different disease characteristics at these two moments of the epidemic. Conclusion In 2020, the symptomatology of the cases was mainly acute and the main medicine was Antimonium tartaricum. By comparison, in 2021 a greater interference from individuals' previous chronic miasmatic disease may explain the change in the main medicines used that year, with Arsenicum album being the most prescribed in the cases studied.
... In our study, we found that Arsenicum album, Phosphorus, and Bryonia were the most prescribed medicines. It corroborated with the findings of physicians of Italy [23], though not a systematic study. Similar findings were reported by Michael et al. [24] regarding useful remedies. ...
Article
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Highlights • A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of adjunct homeopathy with standard of care for COVID-19 was conducted on 300 patients. • Primary outcome on total symptom score measured over 10 days decreased significantly favoring Standard of care + Homeopathy. • Recovery was earlier in Standard of care + Homeopathy group by 02 days showing the added benefits of homeopathy. • Resolution of fever was 20 h earlier in Standard of care + Homeopathy. • Arsenicum album, Bryonia alba and Phosphorus were the most frequently prescribed medicines. Visit article http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2022.101602
Article
As evidenced in Hahnemann's writings, Epidemic diseases were successfully managed by homoeopathic system of medicine. In the footnote 17 of aphorism 33, Organon of medicine, where in Hahnemann explained the prevention of scarlet fever using Belladonna. Thereafter, many homoeopaths successfully managed several epidemics, at different points of time and at different parts of the globe. Even though Hippocrates used the notional axiom, Genius Epidemicus, Hahnemann utilized it successfully for the management of epidemics. In this review, all the available homoeopathic literature was searched to find out the historical evidence of the homoeopathic medicines which were successfully utilized during epidemics and pandemics. Presently, the entire world is facing novel COVID-19, as a pandemic disease since its emergence from Wuhan in late 2019. The conventional systems of medicines across the world have been trying to control the pandemic, but none have succeeded. Vaccinations are introduced for prevention of COVID-19, only on Emergency Usage Approvals, as the real data about their efficacy and the collateral damage induced by them, is yet to be studied. However, globally many homoeopaths have reported to have managed COVID-19 disease with different homoeopathic medicines. There have been different approaches towards the prevention, management and treatment of this pandemic, which have been subject of intense scrutiny and discussion, all over. The present review is aimed not only to bring forward the success stories of homoeopathy during the past epidemics, but also about homoeopathy being utilized for prevention, as well as treatment in the current pandemic.
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Covid-19, özellikle solunum sistemi başta olmak üzere tüm vücut sistemini olumsuz etkileyen bir patojendir. Kısa sürede kontrolsüzce artan bu yeni tip koronavirüs salgını, dünya genelinde hızla artan bir yayılım göstermesiyle pandemi olarak ilân edilmiştir. Koronavirüs belirti ve bulguları, diğer viral üst solunum yolu enfeksiyonlarının belirtilerine benzemektedir. Semptomların şiddeti ise hastanın immün sisteminin durumuna, yaşına ve başka kronik rahatsızlıkların varlığına bağlı olarak değişkenlik göstermektedir. Bu salgının henüz kanıtlanabilmiş tedavisinin olmaması, araştırma gruplarını dünya çapında zorlamıştır ve içlerinde homeopatinin de yer aldığı geleneksel ve tamamlayıcı tıp uygulamalarına yönelimi başlatmıştır. Tarih boyunca Dang Humması, Chikungunya ateşi, İspanyol gribi ve sıtma gibi birçok salgın ve bakteriyel/viral hastalıkta homeopatik remedilerden faydalanılmıştır. Bu remedilerin seçiminde, patognomonik (hastalığa özgü) semptomlardan ziyade homeopatik semptomlar dikkate alınmıştır. Doğal ve bütüncül bir iyileştirme yöntemi olan homeopati; koronavirüsün tedavisinde de birçok ülkede kullanılmaya başlanmıştır ve olguların çoğunluğunda yüksek başarı elde edilerek semptomların büyük oranda ortadan kalktığı, hatta bazı olgularda semptomların tamamen yok olduğu saptanmıştır. Ancak bu semptomlar, her hasta için farklılık gösterebilmesi nedeni ile uygun remedinin tespit edilmesi için hastayı bütüncül değerlendirmek gerekmektedir. Salgın durumlarında Genius Epi-demicus; salgın hastalıkla ilişkili ortak semptomlar belirlenerek kişinin semptomlarına göre homeopatik remedi belirlenir. Makalede, yapılan çalışmalar doğrultusunda Covid-19'un semptomlarına yönelik kullanılabilecek olan remedilerin bazıları sunulmuştur. Bu doğrultuda; Covid-19 tanısı almış hastalarda, ayrıntılı anamnez alınarak homeopatik semptomlar tespit edilip bu semptomlara özgü homeopatik remediler kullanılabilir.
Article
Objective: To construct and evaluate a diagnosis process for 2019-Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19). Methods: A continuous cohort of adults and adolescent (≥12 years) who screened COVID-19 was included in Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from January 23 to February 3, 2020 in which cases were divided the test library and the verification library. Their gender, age, onset time were recorded. Take epidemiological history, fever, and the blood lymphocytes decline as clinical indicators, used CT to evaluate the possibility of COVID-19 and range of lung involvement. According to the current national standards, throat swabs of suspected cases were collected and the nucleic acid of COVID-19 was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The Xiangya process was constructed according to multi-index, compared with clinical indicators, CT results and national standards, the efficiency of detecting confirmed cases were verified in the test and verification library. Results: A continuous cohort of 382 adults who screened COVID-19 was included in which 261 cases were in the test library and 121 cases were in the verification library. In the 382 cases, 192 were males (50.3%) and 190 were females (49.7%), with a median age of 35 years (range: 15-92 years). There were 183 cases (47.9%) with epidemiological history, 275 cases (72.0%) with fever, 212 cases (55.5%) with decreased hemolytic lymphocytes, CT positive 114 cases (29.8%), 43 cases (11.3%) with positive CT-COVID-19, and 30 cases (7.9%) with positive throat swab nucleic acid. Compared with clinical indicators, the sensitivity and specificity of CT were 0.950 and 0.704, respectively. The accuracy of CT to make a definite diagnosis was higher than that of epidemiological history, fever, and blood lymph count decline (0.809 vs 0.660, 0.532, 0.596, P=0.001, 0.002, 0.003, respectively). The sensitivity of this process and the program recommended by the Health Commission all were high (all were 1.000) , and the specificity and accuracy of the process were higher than the program recommended by the Health Commission (0.872 vs 0.765, 0.778 vs 0.592, both P<0.001). The CT-COVID-19 would have reduced the missed diagnosis rate caused by false negative of nucleic acid test (31 vs 64, difference rate 51.6%), the positive rate of nucleic acid test was 64.5% (20/31). In validation library, the specificity and accuracy of the Xiangya process was 0.967, the positive rate of nucleic acid test was 76.9% (10/13). Conclusions: The Xiangya process can predict the nucleic acid test results of COVID-19 well, and can be applied as a reliable basis for confirmed cases detection in adults and adolescent (≥12 years) in areas other than Hubei during the epidemic period of COVID-19. The cohort size needs to be increased for further validation.
Restoration of leukomonocyte counts is associated with viral clearance in COVID-19 hospitalized patients. medRxiv
  • X Chen
  • J Ling
  • P Mo
  • Y Zhang
  • Q Jiang
  • Z Ma
  • Q Cao
  • W Hu
  • S Zou
  • L Chen
  • L Yao
Chen X, Ling J, Mo P, Zhang Y, Jiang Q, Ma Z, Cao Q, Hu W, Zou S, Chen L, Yao L. Restoration of leukomonocyte counts is associated with viral clearance in COVID-19 hospitalized patients. medRxiv. 2020 Jan 1. https://scholar.google.com/scholar? hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Restoration+of+leukomonocyte+counts+is+associated+with+viral+clearance+in+COVI D-19+hospitalized+patients.+&btnG=