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DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1745755
Effectiveness of Arsenicum album 30C in Prevention of COVID-19 in Individuals Residing in Containment Zones of Delhi—A Prospective, Community-based, Parallel Cohort Study
Funding This study was funded by the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, New Delhi, India.![](https://www.thieme-connect.de/media/10.1055-s-00034926/202204/lookinside/thumbnails/10-1055-s-0042-1745755_2100070-1.jpg)
Abstract
Objective This work was undertaken to evaluate the protective effect of Arsenicum album 30C against COVID-19.
Design The work was designed as a prospective parallel cluster cohort study.
Intervention Participants were enrolled in a homeopathy intervention (HI) cohort (who received Arsenicum album) or in a non-intervention (NI) cohort (who received no systematic intervention) from COVID-19 containment areas of Delhi. Individuals of age 5 years or above were given four medicated pills of Arsenicum album 30C, while those from 1 to 5 years old were given two medicated pills in each dose.
Results The analysis included 10,180 individuals residing in 11 COVID-19 containment areas in Delhi, out of which 6,590 individuals were in the HI cohort and 3,590 individuals were in the NI cohort. The overall protective effect of Arsenicum album 30C was 83.43% (95% confidence interval [CI], 76.77 to 88.17): 45 cases per 6,590 (8.34 per 10,000 person-weeks) in the Arsenicum album 30C group versus 143 cases per 3,590 (45.01 per 10,000 person-weeks) in the NI cohort. The protective effect of Arsenicum album 30C against laboratory confirmed COVID-19 was 74.40% (95% CI, 55.08 to 85.41): 18 cases per 6,590 (3.32 per 10,000 person-weeks) in the Arsenicum album 30C group versus 38 cases per 3,590 (11.85 per 10,000 person-weeks) in the NI cohort.
Conclusion The use of Arsenicum album 30C was associated with some protection against probable and laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 in a containment-zone setting. Randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm or refute these results.
Glossary of Indian Medicinal Terms
Giloy
The common name for Tinospora cordifolia, which is a medicinal plant that has been used in folk and Ayurvedic medicines throughout India since ancient times. All the parts of the plant are useful due to the presence of different compounds of pharmaceutical importance, belonging to various groups such as alkaloids, diterpenoid lactones, glycosides, steroids, sesquiterpenoids, and phenolics.[18]
Haldi milk
Otherwise called 'golden milk', it is prepared by mixing turmeric powder with hot milk.[19]
Chyawanprash
An Ayurvedic formulation, considered as a rasayana('rejuvenation' medicine) in Ayurveda, characterized by benefits of maintaining vigor and vitality via antioxidant and immuno-stimulatory action. Chyawanprash is a combination of more than 40 herbs in appropriate proportions, prepared in a base of Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis) fruit pulp.[20]
Herbal tea/Kadha
Made from Tulsi (basil), Dalchini (cinnamon), Kali mirch (black pepper), Shunthi (dry ginger) and Munakka (raisin).[19]
Publication History
Received: 21 July 2021
Accepted: 14 December 2021
Article published online:
29 June 2022
© 2022. Faculty of Homeopathy. This article is published by Thieme.
Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany
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