Calcutta Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital

Stroke remains a major global health burden and a leading cause of long-term disability. Although advances in acute stroke care have improved survival, many individuals continue to suffer from persistent neurological deficits such as hemiplegia, spasticity, aphasia, cognitive decline, emotional disturbances, and reduced quality of life. This highlights the need for comprehensive, integrative rehabilitation strategies. Homoeopathy, based on individualized prescribing and holistic assessment, has been explored as an adjunct to conventional post stroke care. Emerging evidence from observational studies, preliminary clinical research, and classical homoeopathic literature suggests potential improvements in motor recovery, speech function, spasticity, emotional stabilization, and overall well‑being in stroke survivors when homoeopathic treatment is individualized and used alongside standard rehabilitation. This review summarizes the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and conventional management of stroke, and provides an updated overview of homoeopathic philosophy, miasmatic understanding, reportorial guidance, therapeutic indications, and available research related to post stroke rehabilitation.

Introduction: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) stands as a prevalent and diverse endocrine disorder affecting women in their reproductive years. It manifests through various clinical symptoms such as oligo-anovulation, polycystic ovaries, and symptoms due to elevated serum androgen levels. Amidst the frequent side effects and limited long-term efficacy of conventional treatments, there is a growing interest in complementary therapies that can alleviate PCOS symptoms without adverse impacts. Homoeopathy, known for its individualised approach and success in treating various conditions, including PCOS, emerges as a hopeful solution. This case report aims to showcase the favourable results attained through individualised homoeopathic treatment not only in the PCOS symptoms but also the overall complaints of the patient. Case summary: A 25-year-old female visited the outpatient department of The Calcutta Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, West Bengal, India, with complaints of irregular and scanty menstrual cycles for the past two years. She was diagnosed with PCOS based on both clinical symptoms and ultrasonographic findings. An individualised homoeopathic remedy, Calcarea carbonica, was prescribed in fifty millesimal (LM) potency, taking into consideration the symptoms of both particular and general spheres. Follow-ups revealed gradual improvement. The remarkable clinical progress, along with a score of (+10) on the Modified Naranjo Criteria for Homeopathy (MONARCH) tool, highlights the usefulness of individualised homoeopathic medicine in improving the symptoms of PCOS.

Abstract Background Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of death, especially among the elderly. This bacterium produces several surface membrane proteins, with staphylococcal protein A (SpA) being particularly important. Despite its prevalence, there are no targeted treatments available for geriatric patients. In homeopathy, Rhus toxicodendron (RT) is frequently used in various dilutions-Mother Tincture (MT), 6CH, 30CH, and 200CH- for conditions like skin infections, soft tissue disorders, and joint ailments. Methods In this study, we evaluated the effects of Rhus toxicodendron (RT) at different concentrations on Staphylococcus aureus through bacterial plate cultures and compared the outcomes with Nano-RT. Notably, Nano-RT MT is not commercially available. This research is the first to showcase both the efficacy and biosafety of the innovative nano-ZnO RT MT homeopathic formulation. Results This study examined the inhibitory effects of Rhus toxicodendron in its Mother Tincture (MT) form and in 6CH, 30CH, and 200CH dilutions against Staphylococcus aureus. Nano-ZnO was synthesized from Rhus toxicodendron MT and combined to create Nano-MT. Both Rhus Tox MT and Nano-RT MT demonstrated significant inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus within 24 h of application. Conclusions Rhus Tox MT and Nano-RT MT present promising new options for treating Staphylococcus aureus infections in elderly patients. Furthermore, studies have demonstrated that Nano-RT MT is completely biologically safe in mice.

Background: : Hemiparesis is a serious motor impairment following stroke and affecting around 65% of stroke patients. This trial attempts to study the efficacy of individualized homeopathic medicines (IHMs) in comparison with identical-looking placebos in treatment of post-stroke hemiparesis (PSH) in the mutual context of standard physiotherapy (SP).Methods: : A 3-months, open-label, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (n = 60) was conducted at the Organon of Medicine outpatient departments of National Institute of Homoeopathy, West Bengal, India. Patients were randomized to receive IHMs plus SP (n = 30) or identical-looking placebos plus SP (n = 30). Primary outcome measure was Medical Research Council (MRC) muscle strength grading scale; secondary outcomes were Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) version 2.0, Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), and stroke recovery 0-100 visual analogue scale (VAS) scores; all measured at baseline and 3 months after intervention. Group differences and effect sizes (Cohen's d) were calculated on intention-to-treat sample.Results: : Although overall improvements were higher in the IHMs group than placebos with small to medium effect sizes, the group differences were statistically non-significant (all P>0.05, unpaired t-tests). Improvement in SIS physical problems was significantly higher in IHMs than placebos (mean difference 2.0, 95% confidence interval 0.3 to 3.8, P = 0.025, unpaired t-test). Causticum, Lachesis mutus, and Nux vomica were the most frequently prescribed medicines. No harms, unintended effects, homeopathic aggravations or any serious adverse events were reported from either group.Conclusion: : There was a small, but non-significant direction of effect favoring homeopathy against placebos in treatment of post-stroke hemiparesis.Trial registration: : CTRI/2018/10/016196; UTN: U1111-1221-7664

Background Pre-diabetes (PD) contributes importantly to the disease burden worldwide and is a precursor to stroke, cardiovascular diseases, as well as type-2 diabetes mellitus. Objective In this project, the efficacy of individualized homeopathic medicines (IHMs) was explored against placebos in the treatment of PD. Methods A 6-month, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted at the outpatient departments of a homeopathic medical college and hospital in India. Sixty participants with PD were randomized to receive either IHMs (n = 30) or identical-looking placebos (n = 30). Concomitant care measures were advised to both groups of participants in terms of dietary advice, yoga, meditation and exercise. The primary outcome measures were fasting blood sugar (FBS) and the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT); the secondary outcome was the Diabetes Symptom Checklist-Revised (DSC-R) score. All the outcomes were measured at baseline and after 3 and 6 months of treatment. Inter-group differences and effect sizes (Cohen's d) were calculated using two-way repeated measures analysis of variance models after adjusting baseline differences using analysis of co-variance on the intention-to-treat data. Results Between-group differences in FBS were statistically significant, favored IHMs against placebos (F-1,F-58 = 7.798, p = 0.007) but not for OGTT (F-1,F-58 = 1.691, p = 0.199). The secondary outcome, DSC-R total score, favored IHMs significantly compared with placebos (F-1,F-58 = 15.752, p<0.001). Calcarea Carbonicum, Thuja occidentalis and Sulphur were the most frequently prescribed medicines. No harm or serious adverse events were recorded from either of the participant groups. Conclusion IHMs produced significantly better results than placebos in FBS and in DSC-R scores but not in OGTT. Independent replications with larger sample sizes are warranted to substantiate the findings.