title: Treatment of hemorrhoids with individualized homeopathy: An open observational pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Controversies and disagreement exist on conventional treatment strategies of hemorrhoids due to relapse, inefficacy, and complications. We intend to evaluate the role of individualized homeopathic treatment in hemorrhoids.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective, open, observational trial, hemorrhoids patients were treated using five standardized scales measuring complaints severity and anoscopic score. It was conducted at two homeopathic hospitals in India, during from mid-July 2014 to mid-July 2015. Patients were intervened as per individualized homeopathic principles and followed up every month up to 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total 73 were screened, 52 enrolled, 38 completed, 14 dropped out. Intention to treat population (n: = 52) was analyzed in the end. Statistically significant reductions of mean bleeding (month 3: -21.8, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -30.3, -13.3,P: < 0.00001, d = 0.787; month 6: -25.5, 95% CI -35.4, -15.6,P: < 0.00001, d = 0.775), pain (month 3: -21.3, 95% CI -28.6, -14.0,P: < 0.00001, d = 0.851; month 6: -27.6, 95% CI -35.6, -19.6,P: < 0.00001, d = 1.003), heaviness visual analog scales (VASs) (month 3: -8.1, 95% CI -13.9, -2.3,P: = 0.008, d = 0.609; month 6: -12.1, 95% CI -19.1, -5.1,P: = 0.001, d = 0.693), and anoscopic score (month 3: -0.4, 95% CI -0.6, -0.2,P: < 0.0001, d = 0.760; month 6: -0.5, 95% CI -0.7, -0.3,P: < 0.0001, d = 0.703) were achieved. Itching VASs reduced significantly only after 6 months (-8.1, 95% CI -14.6, -1.6,P: = 0.017, d = 0.586). No significant lowering of discharge VASs was achieved after 3 and 6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Under classical homeopathic treatment, hemorrhoids patients improved considerably in symptoms severity and anoscopic scores. However, being observational trial, our study cannot provide efficacy data. Controlled studies are required. Trial Reg. CTRI/2015/07/005958.
authors.affiliation: Department of Homoeopathic Pharmacy, Midnapore Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Government of West Bengal, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Kaushik Deb
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Mahesh Bhattacharyya Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Government of West Bengal, Howrah, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Shubhamoy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Mahesh Bhattacharyya Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Government of West Bengal, Howrah, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Asim Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Department of Organon of Medicine and Homoeopathic Philosophy, Midnapore Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Government of West Bengal, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Aloke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.affiliation: House Staff, Mahesh Bhattacharyya Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Government of West Bengal, Howrah, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Ramkumar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mondal
authors.affiliation: Internee, Netai Charan Chakrabarty Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Howrah, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Tanapa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.affiliation: House Staff, Midnapore Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Government of West Bengal, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Seikh Sajid
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Undergraduage student, Mahesh Bhattacharyya Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Government of West Bengal, Howrah, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Seikh Swaif
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Independent Researcher, Affiliated to Central Council of Homoeopathy, Hooghly, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Munmun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koley
authors.affiliation: Independent Researcher, Affiliated to Central Council of Homoeopathy, Howrah, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Subhranil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saha
keywords: Hemorrhoids; homeopathy; observational trial; visual analog scales