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Homeopathic Medicines for Psoriasis Treatment
According to a study published in Complementary Medicine Research, homeopathic medicines were more effective than placebos in the treatment of psoriasis.
To address this gap, researchers conducted a 6-month, double-blind, randomized trial at the National Institute of Homoeopathy in India. The study involved 51 patients with psoriasis who were randomly assigned to 2 groups. The first group received individualized homeopathic medicines (IHMs) in 50 millesimal, or LM, potencies (n = 25), while the second group received identical-looking placebos (n = 26). The primary outcome measure was the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), and secondary measures included the Psoriasis Disability Index (PDI) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). These measures were assessed at baseline and every 2 months throughout the 6-month intervention period. The data were analyzed using a 2-way repeated measure analysis of variance.
The results of the study showed significant improvements in both groups in terms of the outcome measures. However, the group receiving IHMs demonstrated significantly greater improvements in PASI scores after 6 months of intervention compared with the placebo group (F1, 49 = 10.448; P = .002). Furthermore, the IHM group showed significant improvements in the DLQI daily activity subscale scores after 6 months (F1, 49 = 5.480; P = .023). Although improvements in PDI total, DLQI total, and other subscales were higher in the IHM group, these differences were not statistically significant. The most frequently prescribed homeopathic medicines were calcarea carbonica, mercurius solubilis, arsenicum album, and petroleum.
The authors concluded that further research is necessary to explore the efficacy of homeopathy in treating this chronic skin condition.
Reference
Balamurugan D, Nayak C, Chattopadhyay A, et al. Individualized homeopathic medicines in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris: double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Complement Med Res. Published online June 1, 2023. doi:10.1159/000530180
