EEFICACY OF ALTERNATIVE MEDICE (HOMOEOPATHY) FOR THE RELIEF OF CANCER PAIN – A PROSPECTIVE STUDY

AIM OF INVESTIGATION METHOD OF CONDUCTION OF STUDYRESULTS

The aim of this prospective study was to uncover the

efficacy of Homoeopathic drugs in controlling the

pain of the patients suffering from different types of

Cancer for a period of 1 year for 30 patients; 21 Male

and 9 Female.

TYPE OF CANCER PAIN

Acute Pain : 1 Chronic Pain : 29

Nerve Pain : 6 Soft Tissue Pain : 1

Phantom Pain : 2 Bone Pain : 18

Referred Pain : 3

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF PAIN

Burning : 7 Stabbing : 4

Cutting : 7 Shooting : 2

Numbness : 4 Spasmodic : 5

Pricking : 1

CAUSES OF CANCER PAIN

Tumour pain :20 Surgery : 1

Chemotherapy : 4 Radiotherapy : 5

From this study we could positively conclude that Homoeopathic medicines were able to provide the cancer patients with a significant relief in their pain without causing any adverse effects. In fact they were able to improve the overall condition of the patient and give them a sense of well being along with an improvement in their energy levels.• More than 70% felt improvement in their pain. • More than 60% of the patients reduced their pain killers by more

than 75%. • They felt their energy levels and feeling of well being improved by

almost 80%.

Before starting Homoeopathy the total use of painkillers was evaluated.

After the first two weeks the dosage was subsequently reduced to see the effect of Homoeopathic Medicine.

Detailed evaluation of the patient was done, determining his past and family history, physical constitution, physical general symptoms, mental symptoms and life space.

Single homoeopathic drugs were selected in different potencies and administered by a special 5 cup dose and patients were observed over a minimum period of 1 year.

Evaluation after the remedy was done using Karnofsky Performance Scale and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLC -C30 (Version 3).

HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICINES USED

Aurum Mettalicum : 3 Plumbum Met : 2Calcarea Carb : 1 Carcinosin : 7Cuprum Met : 4 Lycopodium : 3Natrum Muriaticum : 2 Sepia : 1Thuja : 1 Nitric Acid : 1Aurum Mur Natronatum : 5

REPITITION

30C :22 1/Day : 4 2/Day : 16200C : 2 3/Day : 2 4/Day : 41M : 2 4 hourly : 1 2 hourly: 310M : 4

POTENCY USED

No

. o

f p

atie

nts

Dose in mg.0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400

Step IIAnalgesicMorphineEquivalentbeforeHomoeopathy

Step IIAnalgesicMorphineEquivalent afterHomoeopathy

STEP II MORPHINE EQUIVALENT

No

. o

f p

atie

nts

Dose in mg.0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400

Step IIIMorphineEquivalent beforeHomoeopathy

Step III MorphineEquivalent afterHomoeopathy

STEP III MORPHINE EQUIVALENT

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Pain ScoreQuality of Life

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Karkofsky’s Scale

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

BeforeHomoeopathy

AfterHomoeopathy

Dr. Farokh Master M.D. (Hom) F.H.M.A.(U.K.) F.R.C.H. (U.K.) Kamalnayan Bajaj Cancer Centre, Ruby Hall Hospital, Oncology Dept., Consultant Bombay Hospital, K.E.M. Hospital

Dr. P. N. Jain Professor, Department of Anaesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain, Tata Memorial Hospital Parel, Mumbai