Clinical evaluation of homoeopathic medicines
in the management of
essential hypertension
Objectives: The objectives of the study were to evolve a group of most
effective homoeopathic medicines in the management of essential hypertension
and to identify their reliable indications, most useful potencies, frequency of
administration and their relationship with other medicines.
Methods: Central Council for
Research in Homoeopathy conducted this study at its Drug Standardization Unit,
Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh) from 1990 to 2003. An observational clinical trial
was conducted on 317 cases involving 117 males and 200 females. The cases of
both sexes and of all age groups were included in the study on the basis of
subjective and/or objective symptoms, guiding to the diagnosis of essential
hypertension and other predefined parameters. The prescriptions were made after
detailed case taking as per homoeopathic principles.
Results: Two hundred and fifty two cases$ were followed up
regularly. Improvement of varying degree were observed in 219 cases i.e. marked
improvement in 49 cases (19.4%), moderate improvement in 39 cases (15.4%), mild
improvement in 111 cases (44%) and no improvement was seen in 33 cases
(13%). Medicines found to be most effective for alleviating the symptoms
associated with hypertension are: Allium
sativa (n=6), Bryonia alba (n=41), Lycopodium clavatum
(n=37), Nux vomica (n=7), Rauwolfia serpentina (n=67) and Strophanthus (n=20). Indicated medicines were found to be
effective in both lower and higher potencies i.e. Q, 3X, 6X, 6, 30, 200, 1M or
LM potencies.
Conclusion: Positive role of
homoeopathic medicines in the management of Essential hypertension has been
established in the study. The study also shows that the symptomatic relief is
not associated with proportionate fall in blood pressure and improvement in
corresponding laboratory parameters. Therefore, an elaborate study on revised
protocol with high quality parameters and predefined biochemical markers should
be conducted to reach at definitive conclusion.
Keywords:
homoeopathy;, essential hypertension; diastolic blood pressure; systolic
blood pressure; Rauwolfia serpentina;
Strophanthus
$Above data includes 20 cases that were included in the later
phase of study.
Hafezullah Baig
Drug Standardization Unit, Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh)