Guidelines for Homoeopathic Practitioners for COVID-19

Diagnosis

Clinical presentation

Patients with COVID19 infection exhibit a wide range of symptoms. Most cases reported have mild disease, and nearly 20% appear to progress to severe disease, including pneumonia, respiratory failure and in some cases death . Fever (98%), cough (82%), shortness of breath (55%), fatigue (70%), myalgia (44%) and sputum production (33%) are most common symptoms reported whereas less common symptoms include headache (13%), diarrhoea (10%), nausea and vomiting (10%) and haemoptysis (5%).

Warning Signs

• Pre-existing underlying serious illness such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, end stage renal disease, vacuities
• Greater severity of pneumonia at presentation
• Radio opacity and/or pulmonary infiltrates in chest X-ray
• Older age group
• Immunocompromised medical condition
• Organ failure

Homoeopathic Approach

It is advised that before taking up for homoeopathic medicines for prophylaxis, Amelioration and mitigation, physician must acquaint himself of above sections.

In case of epidemics or pandemics, first approach is to follow preventive measures and educate people about general measures and to provide such interventions which will keep their immunity enhanced. Homeopathy therefore recommends issuing of public notice for Genus epidemicus identified by the designated experts for immunity enhancement and practitioners may suggest the same to the people and as per the Advisory issued by Ministry of AYUSH.

Second approach is to provide homoeopathic symptomatic mitigation to affected persons. Homoeopathic medicines are also useful in the treatment of communicable diseases like Influenza Like Illness, dengue, acute encephalitis syndrome. Several studies are also published which shows the immune modulatory potential of homoeopathic medicines in preclinical studies. These medicines can be prescribed in an integrated manner or standalone depending on the severity on a case to case 

Therapeutic Aid

As a system with wholistic approach medicine were selected based on the presenting signs and symptoms of each patients. The medicines given here are suggestive based on their use and studies in the past in diseases of similar presentation like COVID-19. Patients of COVID-19 are to be treated with adjuvant Homoeopathic medicines with the permission from local health authorities and Medical Superintendent of the Hospital. Homoeopathic doctors must follow all preventive measures (using PPEs) as are required for dealing with COVID 19 patients.

The remedies according to different stages of disease are given below:

Mild Disease (Symptomatic Amelioration and Mitigation Approach): Medicines like Aconite napellus, Arsenicum album, Bryonia alba, Gelsemium sempervirens, Rhus tox. Eupatorium perfoliatum, Ipecacaucunha, Belladonna, Camphora,may be used depending upon the symptoms similarities.

Severe disease but not in critical condition:

It is defined by following criteria (Dyspnoea, respiratory frequency ≥ 30/min, blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂) ≤ 93%, PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio < 300, and/or lung infiltrates > 50% within 24 to 48 hours)/)

• Suggested medicines are as adjuvant to Standard Management guidelines in the hospital setting only with the approval of authorities and willingness of the patient/guardian.
• The prescription is to be given only by institutionally qualified practitioner.
• Medicines like Phosphorus, Chelidonium, Veratrum Viride, Iodum, Camphora, Cinchona officinalis, Lycopodium, Ars. iod., Antim ars., Stannum met, Carbo veg., can be prescribed on symptomatic indication.

Posology

The medicine selected for each patient is tailored to person specific, taking into consideration, his/her mental make-up, physical symptoms, and characteristic particulars etc. In case of long term illness, besides the above mentioned factors, age, occupation, previous illnesses and life circumstance unique to that individual irrespective of the disease which he/she is suffering from, are also taken into consideration; thus the dictum “Homoeopathy treats the patient but not the disease”.

After the appropriate medicine is selected, it is essential to decide the requisite potency, dose and repetition which is imperative for optimum response and faster recovery in each case. Different types of potencies such as decimal or centesimal potencies can be employed for treatment as are required for acute diseases. However, selection of potency of the remedy is dependent on various factors like susceptibility of the patient (high or low), type of disease (acute/chronic), seat/ nature and intensity of the disease, stage and duration of the disease and also the previous treatment of the disease(24).

Source : Ministry of AYUSH