title: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled feasibility study evaluating individualized homeopathy in managing pain of knee osteoarthritis.
abstract: Few homeopathic complexes seemed to produce significant effects in osteoarthritis; still, individualized homeopathy remained untested. We evaluated the feasibility of conducting an efficacy trial of individualized homeopathy in osteoarthritis. A prospective, parallel-arm, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study was conducted from January to October 2014 involving 60 patients (homeopathy, n = 30; placebo, n = 30) who were suffering from acute painful episodes of knee osteoarthritis and visiting the outpatient clinic of Mahesh Bhattacharyya Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, West Bengal, India. Statistically significant reduction was achieved in 3 visual analog scales (measuring pain, stiffness, and loss of function) and Osteoarthritis Research Society International scores in both groups over 2 weeks (P < .05); however, group differences were not significant (P > .05). Overall, homeopathy did not appear to be superior to placebo; still, further rigorous evaluation in this design involving a larger sample size seems feasible in future.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Clinical Trials Registry, India (CTRI/2014/05/004589).
authors: Clinical Research Unit (Homeopathy), Siliguri, under Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, Government of India, Gokhel Road, Arabindapally, Siliguri, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India dr.mkoley@gmail.com.
authors: Munmun
authors: M
authors: Koley
authors: Clinical Research Unit (Homeopathy), Siliguri, under Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, Government of India, Gokhel Road, Arabindapally, Siliguri, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India.
authors: Subhranil
authors: S
authors: Saha
authors: Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Mahesh Bhattacharyya Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Government of West Bengal, Howrah, West Bengal, India.
authors: Shubhamoy
authors: S
authors: Ghosh
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006705:Homeopathy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000503:physiopathology*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement
keywords: homeopathy; osteoarthritis; randomized controlled study; visual analogue scales