Joint favourite
homoeopathic medicines are an effective cure for rheumatoid arthritis, indicates a study conducted by researchers from the Hyderabad-based Government Research Department (grd). The chronic progressive disease causes inflammation and stiffening of the joints. Current treatments focus on first relieving the pain, reducing inflammation and then slowing down the joint damage. While homoeopathy is widely used by arthritis patients, the scientific community doubts its efficacy. The grd researchers have now bridged the gap.
A total of 125 patients, who had morning stiffness and arthritis in more than three joints, were studied for three years (2000-03). Most of them were given just one dose of any of the 33 homoeopathic medicines analysed. The medicines included thuja, sulphur, pulsatilla, natrum mur, lycopodium, hypericum, china, hypericum, arnica, bryonia and calcarea carb.
There were follow-ups after regular intervals. Factors such as the haemoglobin level (that is low in arthritis patients), presence of an antibody specific to the disease, pain and swelling level, and the period of stiffness in the morning were taken into consideration to judge the efficacy of the treatment. The results showed that all the homoeopathic remedies were effective (see table: Just one dose). "The results were found to be promising. They are now being used to provide better treatment,' says D Sambamurthy, one of the researchers.
JUST ONE DOSE
Is enough to reduce arthritis symptoms | | Symptoms | Before
treatment | After
treatment | | Haemoglobin* | 11.0
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