Effect of Individualized Homoeopathic Treatment in Influenza Like Illness

Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of homoeopathic medicines in the treatment of influenza like illness (ILI) as well as to compare the complication rate among the patients receiving homeopathic medicine as compared to the complication rate in patients receiving placebo. The objective of the study is also to compare the efficacy of LM potency vis-à-vis centesimal potency. Method: It was an open multicentre, single blind, randomized, placebo controlled study, carried out by Central council for research in homeopathy, New Delhi at its different Institutes / Units. Total 48 cases were enrolled for study from the general OPD of clinical research Unit (H), Siliguri. The common presenting symptoms of the illness were fever, cough, sore throat, nasal symptoms (discharge/obstruction) and constitutional symptoms like headache, malaise, myalgia, sweat and fatigue (weakness). Each patient was prescribed medicine because of individual totality and reportorial analysis as per the homoeopathic principles. Result: Out of 48 enrolled cases, 40 cases were cured with complete follow up of 30 days and remaining 8 patients did not complete the follow-up. The more frequently prescribed medicines found effective were Arsenicum Alb... Bryonia Alb., Gelsemium and Rhus Tox. Conclusion: The results obtained from the study proved that homeopathic medicines are capable of curing Influenza like Illness as well as unwanted complications may also be avoided with homoeopathic medication. Moreover, spontaneous recovery of the illness has been successfully distinguished from the therapeutic efficacy of the indicated medicines through placebo-controlled study.