Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, pilot trial of individualized homoeopathic medicines in perennial allergic rhinitis

Perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR) is characterized by sneezing, rhinorrhoea, nasal stuffiness, and conjunctival, nasal, and pharyngeal itching and lacrimation, resulting from exposure to allergens throughout the year. An increasing prevalence of PAR has also been reported in India. Homeopathy is claimed to be beneficial in PAR, but evidence remains scarce. In this trial, the efficacy of individualized homeopathic medicines (IHMs) was compared against placebos in the treatment of PAR. This 3-month, double-blind, randomized (1:1), placebo-controlled trial was conducted at the outpatient department of The Calcutta Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata with 60 participants with PAR. Each of the participants received either IHMs or identical-looking placebos, along with concomitant care. The primary outcome measure was Juniper’s rhino-conjunctivitis quality-of-life questionnaire (RQLQ); secondary outcome measures were visual analog scales (VAS) measuring symptom severities, all measured at baseline, and after 3 months. Group differences were calculated on the intention-to-treat sample. The significance level was set at p less than 0.05, two-tailed. Between-group differences in RQLQ total (mean difference: 29.5, 95% CI 18.9 to 40.0, p < 0.001), total nasal symptom severity VAS (mean difference 17.8, 95% CI 11.5 to 24.1, p < 0.001), non-nasal eye symptom VAS (mean difference: 9.3, 95% CI 1.0 to 17.7, p = 0.029), non-nasal mental symptom severity VAS (mean difference: 16.1, 95% CI 1.0 to 22.2, p < 0.001), global assessment VAS (mean difference: 20.5, 95% CI 14.2 to 26.9, p < 0.001), and QoL VAS (mean difference: 20.3, 95% CI 14.4 to 26.1, p < 0.001) were statistically significant favoring IHMs against placebos, with large effect sizes. Tuberculinum bovinum and Natrum muriaticum were the most frequently prescribed medicines. No serious adverse events were reported from either of the groups. Thus, IHMs performed significantly better than placebos in the treatment of PAR.