Clinical evaluation of homoeopathic medicines in HIV infection

Background & Objectives: Encouraging results obtained from the pilot study (1989-1991) and randomized control trial (1995-1997) in HIV infection at Regional Research Institute (H), Mumbai, prompted Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) to carry out a multi-centric clinical trial with an objective to evaluate the role of homoeopathic medicines in the treatment of HIV infection, to help delay in progression of infection and to see whether objective laboratory changes corroborate with clinical improvement.

Methods: Fifteen hundred twenty three people with HIV infection from different Units/Institutes of CCRH were studied during the period 1989-2005. Cases were enrolled as per the classification given by Centre for Disease Control (CDC) for HIV infection. During each follow-up visit, changes in the body weight, biological functions, presence or absence of minor or major opportunistic infections were recorded. CD4/CD8 counts were done at Mumbai centre from 1995 onwards and at National Institute of Communicable Diseases, New Delhi for the cases enrolled at New Delhi centre.

Results: Six hundred and sixty cases were followed up regularly. Out of these, 332 patients maintained asymptomatic status for a period varying from 3 to 10 years and 215 patients improved in varying degrees. No improvement was seen in 23cases, 52 cases were worsened, 04 cases died and in 34 cases status could not be ascertained since they were registered during last phase of study. It was observed that cases presenting with minor ailments such as oral candidiasis, cough, weakness, diarrhoea, weight loss etc. responded favorably to the homoeopathic medicines. Arsenic alb. (n=102), Bryonia (n=132), Calcarea carbonica (n=44), Lycopodium (n=84), Merc.sol. (n=112), Natrum mur. (n=96), Nux vom.(n=80), Pulsatilla (n=124), Rhus tox. (n=132), Sepia (n=49), Silicea (n=48), Sulphur (n=110) and Tuberculinum (n=88) were the most efficacious medicines. Sustained psychological support influenced the health of the people with HIV infection.

Conclusion: Homoeopathic medicines could help in prolonging the life of asymptomatic cases, delaying or slowing down progress of infection and maintaining the quality of life of the patients. The results obtained suggest a definitive role of homoeopathic medicines in managing people with HIV infection. A further study with additional laboratory parameters like estimation of viral load is needed for scientific validation.

Key words: observational study; homoeopathy; HIV; AIDS; disease related; CCRH; India

Nirupama Mishra, Vikram Singh, S.k.Dey, K.C.Muralidharan, D.B.Sarkar, P.Kameshwar Rao

Regional Research Institute (H), Mumbai

K.Bhanu Murty, Ch.Raveendar, B.S.J.Raja Kumar

Regional Research Institute (H), Gudivada

K.Bhanu Murty, S.Bhuveneswari, S.k.Dey, P.Prasad

Clinical Research Unit (H), Chennai