A clinical study to assess the effectiveness of homoeopathic constitutional medicine in the management of influenza
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background Influenza is an acute viral respiratory infection that commonly presents with sudden onset of fever, cough, headache, myalgia, malaise, sore throat and rhinorrhoea. Most uncomplicated cases recover within approximately one week, although influenza may occasionally progress to severe disease and complications. The World Health Organization recommends assessment according to disease severity and appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic management. Homoeopathy employs an individualized approach in which the medicine is selected according to the totality of characteristic symptoms of the individual patient. Clinical research on homoeopathic treatment of influenza-like illness has been reported, including a prospective multicentre Indian study during the 2009 A/H1N1 pandemic. However, further well-designed clinical studies evaluating individualized constitutional prescribing are required. Objective To assess the effectiveness of individualized homoeopathic constitutional medicine in the management of patients with influenza. Methods A prospective observational clinical study was conducted at Bharhavi Homoeo clinic among patients diagnosed with influenza/influenza-like illness who fulfilled predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Detailed homoeopathic case-taking was performed, and constitutional medicines were selected individually according to the totality of characteristic symptoms, reportorial analysis and Materia Medica correlation. Patients were assessed at baseline and at predefined follow-up visits using clinical outcome measures including Influenza Patient-Reported Outcome (FLU-PRO) body temperature and duration/severity of symptoms. Statistical analysis was performed using t – test. Results A total of 50 patients were enrolled and 45 completed the study. The mean age was 40 years. The principal presenting symptoms were fever, cough, sore throat and rhinorrhoea.The most frequently prescribed constitutional medicines were Pulsatilla, bry, ars alba. The mean clinical score changed from 14 at baseline to 6 at final follow-up. The difference was statistically significant with a p-value of 0.05. Conclusion The findings of this study indicate constitutional medicine is most effective in the influenza and significant reduction in the recurrence of symptoms. Further controlled and adequately powered clinical trials are required to determine the effectiveness of individualized homoeopathic constitutional treatment in influenza.
Language: English
Subfield: Complementary and alternative medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7207808152