Homeopathy for COVID-19 in primary care: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (COVID-Simile study).

BACKGROUND: Different homeopathic approaches have been used as supportive care for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, but none has been tested in a clinical trial. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of the homeopathic medicine, Natrum muriaticum LM2, for mild cases of COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, AND INTERVENTIONS: A randomized, double-blind, two-armed, parallel, single-center, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted from June 2020 to April 2021 in São-Carlos, Brazil. Participants aged > 18 years, with influenza-like symptoms and positive result from a real-time polymerase chain reaction test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 were recruited and randomized (1:1) into two groups that received different treatments during a period of at-home-isolation. One group received the homeopathic medicine Natrum muriaticum, prepared with the second degree of the fifty-millesimal dynamization (LM2; Natrum muriaticum LM2), while the other group received a placebo. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary endpoint was time until recovery from COVID-19 influenza-like symptoms. Secondary measures included a survival analysis of the number and severity of COVID-19 symptoms (influenza-like symptoms plus anosmia and ageusia) from a symptom grading scale that was informed by the participant, hospital admissions, and adverse events. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to estimate time-to-event (survival) measures. RESULTS: Data from 86 participants were analyzed (homeopathy, n = 42; placebo, n = 44). There was no difference in time to recovery between two groups among participants who were reporting influenza-like symptoms at the beginning of monitoring (homeopathy, n = 41; placebo, n = 41; P = 0.56), nor in a sub-group that had at least 5 moderate to severe influenza-like symptoms at the beginning of monitoring (homeopathy, n = 15; placebo, n = 17; P = 0.06). Secondary outcomes indicated that a 50% reduction in symptom score was achieved significantly earlier in the homeopathy group (homeopathy, n = 24; placebo, n = 25; P = 0.04), among the participants with a basal symptom score ≥ 5. Moreover, values of restricted mean survival time indicated that patients receiving homeopathy might have improved 0.9 days faster during the first five days of follow-up (P = 0.022). Hospitalization rates were 2.4% in the homeopathy group and 6.8% in the placebo group (P = 0.62). Participants reported 3 adverse events in the homeopathy group and 6 in the placebo group. CONCLUSION: Results showed that Natrum muriaticum LM2 was safe to use for COVID-19, but there was no statistically significant difference in the primary endpoints of Natrum muriaticum LM2 and placebo for mild COVID-19 cases. Although some secondary measures do not support the null hypothesis, the wide confidence intervals suggest that further studies with larger sample sizes and more symptomatic participants are needed to test the effectiveness of homeopathic Natrum muriaticum LM2 for COVID-19. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN Clinical Trials Registry ID: JPRN-UMIN000040602.

Homeopathy for COVID-19 in primary care: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (COVID-Simile study) / 中西医结合学报

BACKGROUND@#Different homeopathic approaches have been used as supportive care for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, but none has been tested in a clinical trial.@*OBJECTIVES@#To investigate the effectiveness and safety of the homeopathic medicine, Natrum muriaticum LM2, for mild cases of COVID-19.@*DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, AND INTERVENTIONS@#A randomized, double-blind, two-armed, parallel, single-center, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted from June 2020 to April 2021 in São-Carlos, Brazil. Participants aged > 18 years, with influenza-like symptoms and positive result from a real-time polymerase chain reaction test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 were recruited and randomized (1:1) into two groups that received different treatments during a period of at-home-isolation. One group received the homeopathic medicine Natrum muriaticum, prepared with the second degree of the fifty-millesimal dynamization (LM2; Natrum muriaticum LM2), while the other group received a placebo.@*OUTCOME MEASURES@#The primary endpoint was time until recovery from COVID-19 influenza-like symptoms. Secondary measures included a survival analysis of the number and severity of COVID-19 symptoms (influenza-like symptoms plus anosmia and ageusia) from a symptom grading scale that was informed by the participant, hospital admissions, and adverse events. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to estimate time-to-event (survival) measures.@*RESULTS@#Data from 86 participants were analyzed (homeopathy, n = 42; placebo, n = 44). There was no difference in time to recovery between two groups among participants who were reporting influenza-like symptoms at the beginning of monitoring (homeopathy, n = 41; placebo, n = 41; P = 0.56), nor in a sub-group that had at least 5 moderate to severe influenza-like symptoms at the beginning of monitoring (homeopathy, n = 15; placebo, n = 17; P = 0.06). Secondary outcomes indicated that a 50% reduction in symptom score was achieved significantly earlier in the homeopathy group (homeopathy, n = 24; placebo, n = 25; P = 0.04), among the participants with a basal symptom score ≥ 5. Moreover, values of restricted mean survival time indicated that patients receiving homeopathy might have improved 0.9 days faster during the first five days of follow-up (P = 0.022). Hospitalization rates were 2.4% in the homeopathy group and 6.8% in the placebo group (P = 0.62). Participants reported 3 adverse events in the homeopathy group and 6 in the placebo group.@*CONCLUSION@#Results showed that Natrum muriaticum LM2 was safe to use for COVID-19, but there was no statistically significant difference in the primary endpoints of Natrum muriaticum LM2 and placebo for mild COVID-19 cases. Although some secondary measures do not support the null hypothesis, the wide confidence intervals suggest that further studies with larger sample sizes and more symptomatic participants are needed to test the effectiveness of homeopathic Natrum muriaticum LM2 for COVID-19.@*TRIAL REGISTRATION@#UMIN Clinical Trials Registry ID: JPRN-UMIN000040602.

Líquen plano cutâneo tratado com Natrum muriaticum: relato de caso / Cutaneous lichen planus treated with Natrum muriaticum: case report

Trabalho realizado a partir do relato de caso de paciente com líquen plano cutâneo, sem resposta ao tratamento padrão com corticoides orais e tópicos, tratada com Natrum muriaticum, com remissão do quadro clínico. Realizado tratamento homeopático respeitando os princípios da homeopatia e a individualidade da paciente. (AU)

Case Reports of Acne and Homeopathy.

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.

Efeitos in vitro de Natrum muriaticum nas linhagens renais MDCK e LLC-PK1K1 / In Vitro Effects of Natrum muriaticum in Kidney Cell Lines MDCK and LLC-PK1

Trabalhos prévios têm indicado que soluções homeopáticas modificam os aspectos celulares e bioquímicos de células mantidas em cultura. No presente estudo, os efeitos de Natrum muriaticum, medicamento usado na clínica homeopática para o tratamento de hipertensão, foram avaliados em células renais das linhagens MDCK e LLC-PK1. Os seguintes parâmetros celulares foram analisados: viabilidade, morfologia e expressão da (Na+-K+)-ATPase e dos receptores AT1 e AT2 da angiotensina II. As linhagens celulares foram plaqueadas (5,0 x 104 células/mL) em DMEM suplementado com 10% de soro fetal bovino (SFB). Após 24 horas a 37°C, o meio DMEM foi substituído com a adição de 10% (v/v) e 1% (v/v) das seguintes amostras: Natrum muriaticum 30CH, água dinamizada 30CH e água destilada estéril, para a medida de viabilidade celular por MTT. As absorbâncias quantificadas em leitor de ELISA (490 nm) foram comparadas entre si e com os valores obtidos com o grupo controle (células isentas de tratamento) Os valores obtidos de quatro experimentos independentes realizados em quintuplicata foram tabulados e analisados estatisticamente pelo Software Sigma Plot v.11 (Jandel Scientific). A morfologia das células MDCK foi avaliada por microscópio óptico após coloração de Giemsa e a expressão da (Na+-K+)-ATPase e AT1/AT2 de células LLC-PK1 por Western Blot (WB). Para ambos experimentos, 5,0 x 104 células/mL foram incubadas em DMEM suplementado com 10% SFB sendo o meio de cultura diariamente substituído por um novo, contendo 1% de Natrum muriaticum 30CH e água dinamizada 30CH, por 5, 10 e 15 dias. A quantificação de proteínas totais foi realizada pelo método de Lowry, após lise celular. As amostras foram analisadas por eletroforese em SDS-PAGE (12%) e transferidos para membrana de nitrocelulose. Esta membrana foi incubada com anticorpos específicos primário (anti-(Na+-K+)-ATPase, anti-AT1 e AT2 ou anti-anti-beta-actina). A detecção foi realizada utilizando o sistema ECL e Hyperfilm. Os ensaios de MTT mostraram uma redução estatisticamente significativa na atividade mitocondrial celular (p <0,001), indicando um efeito osmótico decorrente da incubação com as soluções teste na concentração de 10% (v/v) Não foram detectadas alterações morfológicas significativas quando ambas as linhagens foram submetidas aos diferentes tratamentos . A análise por WB indicou um aumento proporcional da quantidade (Na+-K+)-ATPase expressa na linhagem LLC-PK1 em função do número de estímulos homeopáticos aplicado. Embora preliminares estes resultados evidenciam, pela primeira vez, que o estímulo homeopático parece modificar a expressão de importantes marcadores fisiológicos da linhagem LLC-PK1 que estão diretamente envolvidos na gênese da hipertensão arterial.(AU)

Previous papers have indicated that homeopathic solutions modify the cellular and biochemical aspects of cells maintained in culture. In this study, the effects of Natrum muriaticum, a medicine used in the homeopathic clinic for the treatment of hypertension, were evaluated in kidney MDCK and LLC-PK1 cell lines. The following cellular parameters were analyzed: viability, morphology and expression of the (Na+-K+)-ATPase and the angiotensin II receptors AT1 and AT2. The cell lines were plated (5.0 x 104 cells/mL) in DMEM supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS). After 24 hours at 37°C, DMEM was re-fed with the addition of 10% (V/V) and 1% (V/V) of the following samples: Natrum muriaticum 30CH, water 30CH and non-dynamized sterile distilled water to do the MTT assay. The results obtained from these groups were compared to those obtained by incubation of the cells in culture medium free of these solutions (Control). Cell viability was assessed by a colorimetric MTT ELISA assay (490nm). The values from four independent experiments performed in quintuplicate were plotted and statistically analyzed by Sigma Plot v.11 (Jandel Scientific). The morphology of MDCK cells was evaluated by optical microscope after Giemsa?s staining. The expression of the (Na++K+)-ATPase and AT1/AT2 of LLC-PK1 cells was evaluated by Western Blot (WB) analysis. For this experimental set, 5.0x104 cells/mL were incubated in DMEM supplemented with 10% FCS and daily culture medium was replaced by a new one, containing: Natrum muriaticum 30CH and water 30CH. Additionally, cells were treated for 5, 10 and 15 days with 1% of specific solutions and the total protein was measured by the Lowry method, after cell lysis. The samples were analyzed by electrophoresis in SDS-PAGE (12% gel) and transferred to nitrocellulose membrane. This membrane was incubated with specific primary antibodies (anti-(Na++K+)-ATPase, anti-AT1 and AT2 or anti-anti-beta-actin). The detection was performed using ECL system and Hyperfilm. MTT assays showed a statistically significant reduction in cellular mitochondrial activity (p<0.001) probably attributed to an osmotic effect due to the use of 10% (V/V) concentration rather than 1% (V/V). The optical microscopy analysis revealed no significant morphological changes in MDCK and LLC-PK1 cells submitted to the different treatments when compared to controls groups. The WB analysis indicated a proportional increase in (Na++K+)-ATPase content according to an increase in the homeopathic stimuli. Although preliminary, these results show for the first time, that the homeopathic medicine is able to modify the expression of important physiological markers for LLC-PK1 cells, which are directly involved in the genesis of hypertension.(AU)

A pilot study of the influence of Natrum muriaticum 6cH and 30cH in a standardized culture of Phaseolus vulgaris L

The use of highly diluted and agitated solutions is widespread. Its use extends to all living beings including plants, acting effectively in the latter's primary and secondary metabolism. Aims: this is a pilot study designed to assess the action of Natrum muriaticum in dilutions 6 CH and 30 CH in comparison to the action of 5.0% NaCl solution administered separately to a population of Phaseolus vulgaris L. (common bean). Materials and methods: it was determined the relative growth rate (RGR) of the bean population treated for 6 weeks and subdivided into 4 groups (5 vases each): P1 (control) treated with 30% alcohol solution only; P2, treated with aqueous 5.0% NaCl solution; P3, treated with Nat-m 6 CH; P4, treated with Nat-m 30 CH. Results: it was seen an increase in the salinity of the soil that caused the inhibition of the development of the bean population P2. In addition, the use of Nat-m promoted a significant increase in vegetable growth, chiefly in dilution 6 CH (P3), causing a significant increase in the RGR of the bean population. Conclusion: high dilutions of Nat-m showed to be efficient to stimulate the growth of common bean.