Homoeopathic medicine Gettysburg water in osteoarthritis: A case series

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Rheumatism alludes to various painful medical conditions which influence joints, bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles. It is also called musculoskeletal disease which is portrayed by pain and a gradual diminishing in the range of motion and function, in one or more areas of the musculoskeletal structure. In a few specific diseases, there are indications of inflammation, swelling, redness and warmth in the influenced zones like in osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis, etc. Cases Summary: Four cases of Osteoarthritis were treated with Gettysburg water (Get.) as a potentised homoeopathic medicine. Each case was followed up with clinical observation and reported according to the criteria of the HOM-CASE guidelines. Assessment of homoeopathic treatment and its effect was carried out using the visual analogue scale (VAS) during every visit. Improvement in all cases was evident from the reduction of pain in the affected joints and relief in other associated symptoms within 2–6 months of treatment. VAS scores for the cases ranged from 8 to 4 in all cases. Complaints associated with chronic OA were relieved by potentised Get. This case series has shown promising outcomes and a further high-quality clinical trial is needed for the establishment of effectiveness data for the said medicine. Abstract OA is a chronic degenerative disease, which progresses because of multifactorial causation presented by the loss of articular cartilage, hypertrophy of bone at the edges, subchondral bone sclerosis, and scope of biochemical and morphological alterations of the synovial membrane and joint capsule clinically. The condition is portrayed by joint pain, tenderness, limitation of movement, crepitus, and occasional effusion along with variable degrees of local inflammation. [1,2] Although OA can involve any joint containing hyaline cartilage, troublesome symptoms most often occur in the weight-bearing joints of the lower extremities. The most common medical conditions which influence joints, bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles. It is also called musculoskeletal disease which is portrayed by pain and a gradual diminishing in the range of motion and function, in one or more areas of the musculoskeletal structure. In a few specific diseases, there are indications of inflammation, swelling, redness and warmth in the influenced zones like in osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis, etc. Cases Summary: Four cases of Osteoarthritis were treated with Gettysburg water (Get.) as a potentised homoeopathic medicine. Each case was followed up with clinical observation and reported according to the criteria of the HOM-CASE guidelines. Assessment of homoeopathic treatment and its effect was carried out using the visual analogue scale (VAS) during every visit. Improvement in all cases was evident from the reduction of pain in the affected joints and relief in other associated symptoms within 2–6 months of treatment. VAS scores for the cases ranged from 8 to 4 in all cases. Complaints associated with chronic OA were relieved by potentised Get. This case series has shown promising outcomes and a further high-quality clinical trial is needed for the establishment of effectiveness data for the said medicine.