Role of individualized homoeopathic medicine in the treatment of gout - An observational study

The objectives of the study were to evaluate the effects of homoeopathic treatment on patient distress, sociodemographic factors and outcomes in patients with gout. This was an observational study conducted using secondary data from hospital records, pathological reports, patient prescription sheet and the sociodemographic data from computerised records in Mahesh Bhattacharyya Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital. A total of 150 patients (94 men and 56 women) were included in the study. Gout was diagnosed based on clinical symptoms and laboratory reports. All patients were prescribed homoeopathic medicines along with dietary management. The patients were prescribed Lycopodium (n=22, 14.67%), Colchicum (n=17, 11.38%), Natrum sulph (n=18, 12%) and nitric acid (n=14, 9.38%) on the basis of totality and symptoms and individualisation. Improvement was assessed in four different categories: Marked, moderate, mild and no improvement. The patients improved clinically as well as pathologically. Uric acid (UA) reduction was marked in 26 (17.33%) patients, moderate in 67 (44.67%) patients and mild in 25 (16.67%) patients. Almost 125 (83.33%) among the 150 reported reduction in physical discomfort and have been doing well after treatment. This study showed that homoeopathic treatment is very effective in reducing clinical symptoms and serum UA levels in subjects having gout.