Analgesic Efficacy of Arnica Montana in Comparison With Diclofenac Sodium Following a Periodontal Surgical Procedure: A Placebo Control Trial

Introduction:

Homeopathy is a deep healing, comprehensive and distinct system originally developed by Samuel Hahnemann about 200 years ago. Small doses of specially prepared ("potentized") remedies which set the body's systems back in order and stimulate a body's own energies toward a natural healing process. It is entirely distinct in both theory and in practice from other healing systems from ordinary or main-stream ("allopathic") medicine, but also from acupuncture, naturopathy, chiropractics, etc., although some homeopathy often finds its way into these other fields of practice.Homeopathy is based on the concept "similia similibus curentur" which means symptoms, caused by the original substance in healthy subjects, can be reversed by the homeopathic remedy in patients having similar symptoms.Homeopathy has the advantages such as it is inexpensive (the only expense is the homeopath's time and training - the remedies themselves cost practically nothing), non-toxic (although "side affects" which reflect the body's own healing processes may occur - such as fever, discharge, rash, etc.) and non-intrusive (the remedies are carried on tiny sugar granules which are dissolved in water or in the mouth, or swallowed).Arnica is one of the most popular medications in homeopathy medicine. This remedy can be extracted from several plant species belonging to the Aesteraceae family including Arnica montana, Arnica fulgens, Arnica cordifolia, Arnica chamissonis and Arnica sororia, and it is widely sold as tincture, ointment, cream, gel, and tablet. It has been used for the treatment of numerous pathological conditions, including pain, swelling and stiffness associated with trauma, contusions, sprains, myocarditis, angina pectoris, cardiac insufficiency, arteriosclerosis, postoperative clinical conditions, and for symptomatic relief in osteoarthritis.Conventional NSAIDs work by inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX) and prostaglandin synthesis as well as by other less understood mechanisms. Onset of analgesia occurs rapidly with all NSAIDs, usually within one hour.Diclofenac is one of potent, standard and most unique NSAID for the therapy of postoperative pain. Diclofenac inhibits the lipoxygenase pathways, which reduces the formation of the leukotrienes (also pro-inflammatory autacoids) and also inhibit phospholipase A2. These actions explain the high potency of diclofenac.NSAIDs cause a variety of side effects including nausea, diarrhea, constipation, dizziness, headache, confusion, edema, rash, and pruritis. They can also cause more serious toxicities such as gastrointestinal (GI) ulceration/bleeding, hematologic disturbances, bronchospasm, angioedema, renal dysfunction, and hepatotoxicity. Many of these side effects are due to NSAID inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis other than at the desired site of action.Arnica being clinical efficient and high tolerable makes it a potential therapeutic alternative target to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.In this study investigator will compare and evaluate the efficacy of Arnica as a substitute for analgesics such as Diclofenac Sodium, through which side effects of NSAIDS can be avoided and get the same analgesia effect through Arnica without any of the undesirable effects for minor surgical procedures.

AIM:

To compare and evaluate the analgesic effect of Arnica Montana with Diclofenac sodium after crown lengthening procedure with ostectomy.

Objectives:

To assess the analgesic effect on crown lengthening procedure with ostectomy patients of Arnica Montana and Diclofenac Sodium.