Final Research Report (June 2nd, 2020 to October 28th, 2020)

Project title: Evaluating the Efficacy of Homeopathic Combinations for Prophylaxis and treatment of Viral Fevers including COVID 19

CTRI registry no: CTRI/2020/06/025530 dated 2^nd June 2020

Principal Investigator: Dr. Anil Agarwal, HOD Anaesthesiology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences

Co-Investigators:

1. Dr. Piyush Gupta, Secretary PEO Cancer Aid Society & Secretary NAPCAIM

2. Dr. AK Gupta, (Retd. Assistant Director & Scientist 4^th, Homeopathic Drug Research Institute), Assistant Vice President National Association of Palliative Care For AYUSH & Integrative Medicine UP Chapter

3. Dr Prateek Singh Bais, Assistant Professor Anaesthesiology (ATC), Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow

Start Date    :  2^nd June 2020

End Date      :  28th October 2020

Status          :  Finished

Objectives   :  To conduct evidence based scientific research in evaluating efficacy of Homeopathic Combinations for Prophylaxis and treatment of Viral Fevers including COVID 19. 

Since most of these medicines are used as a single remedy for associated symptoms hence the study focused on evaluating their combined efficacy in mixtures to provide prophylaxis/ handle viral fevers/ covid19 with multiple symptoms.

Methodology: An open non randomized interventional trial was conducted on the consenting participants (employees of various Government Departments by distributing the combinations of existing homeopathic medicines already being used mostly singly for associated symptoms such as Arsenicum Album, Allium Cepa, Aconitum Napellus, Influenzinum, Gelsmium Sempervirens, Eupatorium Perfoliatum all in 30 CH potency and Tinctures of Thuja Occidentalis, Echinacea Angustifolia.

Sealed bottles of SBL were procured and mixed in equal quantities in an empty bottle and resulting mixture was shaken to prepare a homogeneous solution of the medicines. One packet (450 gms) of 20 No.Globules were put in an air tight plastic container with lid and 30 ml of the above mixture of medicines was poured on the globules and mixed by shaking so that all the globules absorbed the liquid. The Globules soaked with Medicines were packed in Half Dram Bottles containing about 225 Pills.

The starting dose prescribed was set as 3 pills BD for 3 Days for all family Members (the morning dose to be taken before breakfast and night dose before sleeping).  The Medicine was to be repeated every 10 Days to continue the prophylactic effect. 1 bottle of pills was given to each family head for the entire family with instructions as above. Since the data and sample size was huge and movement and contact was restricted hence supervisors were allotted for managing the group of participants and a whatsapp group of all supervisors was formed so as to share the feedback information and reporting of COVID19 Infection or Viral Fever in persons who were taking medications.

Summary on progress:  Medications approved in trial were distributed to a large subset of consenting participants in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh to about 17500 families and the feedback response was collected.  

Medicines were distributed in as follows:

No. of Families, Date, Place Lucknow

200, 3^rd June, Jal Sansthan

250, 4^th  June, Gautampalli Police Station 

300, 5^th  June, Government Railway Police

400, 15^th June, Railway Protection Force

300, 15^th June, Hazratganj Police Station

12000, 18th June, Lucknow Nagar Nigam 

500, 22^nd June, UP Nirman Nigam

2750, 11^th July, Reserve Police Lines

500, 26^th August, Health Directorate of UP

300 families on various dates between from June 2^nd  2020 till October 26^th 2020.

Initial feedback and response has been very encouraging with good acceptance in the society in terms of participants and positive outcomes in terms of feedback.

15 patients who were having undiagnosed Fever when they took the Medicine were advised to take three globules every ten minute for three times and repeat it TDS for a week, it was observed that the Fever got cured within 1 Day, however they were advised to continue it for a week to prevent relapse.

In one family Husband and Wife were already having fever, the husband took medicine under trial however the wife refused, on being advised to take COVID19 test both of them went to a private hospital, where husband who took medicine was negative for COVID19 however the wife tested positive for COVID19 pointing towards its efficacy in prevention.

Other findings/ data collected is recorded and is being evaluated statistically.

Research Work which remains to be done under the project: Finished

Any publications: Annual Report of Cancer Aid Society 2020 - 21

Any patents applied for: None

IF additional budget / staff is required for remaining part of project, pls give justifications and details: Nil

Conclusion: The study has been successful in prophylaxis from Viral Fever / COVID19 however more research is required to check its efficacy in treatment of COVID19 patients.

Relevance and usefulness of the study:

a) IPR values: Homeopathic combination developed above has high IPR Value as no such combination exists presently. This research has established the scientific use of Homeopathic combinations generating Intellectual Property Right in favour of the Sponsor Cancer Aid Society.

b) Translational Value: This research has 100% translational value establishing the fact that by using the existing Homeopathic Medicines being used safely since hundreds of years in health care are effective in prophylaxis / treatment of Viral Fevers/ Covid19 as the Scientists Globally are busy in fighting the invisible enemy weather in its prevention or cure. As several Homeopathic Medicines are available we need to explore further about the efficacy of Homeopathic Medicines in Treatment of COVID19 patients including their role in advance symptom management as several medicines are indicated for managing the symptoms associated with co-morbidities as well as caused due to COVID19 infection.

In spite of contacting all concerned departments who are controlling COVID19 patients we were not successful in using the developed combination in Treatment as we were not permitted to have an access to the COVID19 patients.

Whereas scientific use of Homeopathic Medicines is lacking, some team members have exclusive research on. We now plan to.

 c) Utilization of outcomes of project: The successful research outcome has instilled confidence empowering us to conduct the scientific research on homeopathic interventions in chronic pain where substantial relief up to 50% was reported in several patients within a week; during an inhouse study conducted by the Homeopathic Dispensary of Cancer Aid Society which has been validated through the patient’s interviews. Fast/ immediate response of Homeopathic combinations has been noted even in accidental, post operative, acute and chronic pain management of different ailments.

Homeopathic combinations of dilutions if  developed and used shall unfold a new dimension in providing effective and economical health care across the Country,  as integration of Allopathy and Homeopathy shall address the existing shortage of Medical infrastructure.

Prepared  on 1st of November 2020 by Dr. Piyush Gupta, Secretary & PEO of Cancer Aid Society and National Secretary of National Association of Palliative Care for AYUSH & Integrative Medicine.