Homeopathic treatment of migraine in adults: A randomized trial
Description
Migraine is a disabling neurological disorder that substantially impairs quality of life. Although individualized homoeopathic medicines (IHMs) are widely used, robust evidence remains limited. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated IHMs selected using Boenninghausen’s Characteristics and Repertory (BCR) guided by Boenninghausen’s hexameter in 99 adults with migraine (IHMs: n = 66; placebo: n = 33) over three months. The primary outcome was migraine-related disability (MIDAS), while secondary outcomes included RAND SF-36, MYMOP-2, headache frequency, pain intensity, and rescue analgesic use. Compared with placebo, IHMs produced statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements across all outcomes, with reduced disability, headache burden, symptom severity, and analgesic use, alongside improved quality of life. Among the 24 prescribed remedies, Nux vomica, Sepia, and Cinchona officinalis were most frequently used, while Magnesium carbonicum and Natrum carbonicum showed the most consistent benefit. Bang’s Blinding Index and Berger–Exner testing confirmed successful blinding and allocation concealment. The systematic application of Boenninghausen’s hexameter provided a structured framework for individualized case analysis and repertorization using BCR. Overall, IHMs selected through this approach were superior to placebo in improving migraine outcomes, warranting confirmation in larger multicentric trials with longer follow-up.
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Institutions
- West Bengal University of Health SciencesWest Bengal, Kolkata