Add-on Bach flower remedies to individualized homeopathic medicines in mild to moderate depression: An open, randomized factorial pilot trial
Description
This pilot randomized controlled trial assessed Bach flower remedies (BFR), individualized homeopathic medicines (IHMs), and their combination against placebo in 100 adults with mild-to-moderate depression over three months, using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) as primary outcome and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) as secondary, revealing significant symptom reductions in active arms (HDRS mean differences vs. placebo: IHMs -7.12, combined -6.54, BFR -5.14; all p<0.001) with 88-92% responder rates (NNT 1.1), rapid onset (40% in IHMs/combined by month 1), 100% Bayesian superiority probability, and 36.8% IHMs effect mediated via somatic relief, confirmed robust across subgroups via GEE, mixed models, and sensitivity analyses, with only seven mild transient adverse events and no serious issues, supporting these safe complementary therapies as promising adjuncts warranting larger blinded confirmatory trials.
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Institutions
- West Bengal University of Health Sciences