Prevalence of COVID-19 Complications during a Program of Homeopathic Camphora Officinalis Distribution to City Populations of Santa Catarina, Brazil: An Ecological Study

Edgard Costa de Vilhena; Nicolle R. Telles Coutracos; Ednar N. Coimbra; Karen Berenice Denez; Adriana Passos Oliveira; Carla Holandino; Vânia Emerich Bucco de Campos; Giovanni Bravin Peres; Leoni Villano Bonamin

doi:10.1055/s-0044-1786511

Homeopathy, Table of Contents

Homeopathy 2025; 114(02): 085-094
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1786511

Original Research Article

Prevalence of COVID-19 Complications during a Program of Homeopathic Camphora Officinalis Distribution to City Populations of Santa Catarina, Brazil: An Ecological Study

Edgard Costa de Vilhena

¹Commit Medical Consulting, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

,

Nicolle R. Telles Coutracos

²Research Center, University Paulista – UNIP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

,

Ednar N. Coimbra

³University Hospital, Federal University of Alagoas – UFAL, Maceió, AL, Brazil

,

Karen Berenice Denez

⁴Department of Homeopathic Pharmacy, Brazilian Association of Homeopathic Pharmacists – ABFH, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

,

Adriana Passos Oliveira

⁵Department of Pharmaceuticals and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro – UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

,

Carla Holandino

⁵Department of Pharmaceuticals and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro – UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

,

Vânia Emerich Bucco de Campos

⁶Faculty of Biology and Health Sciences, State University of Rio de Janeiro – UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

,

Giovanni Bravin Peres

²Research Center, University Paulista – UNIP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

,

Leoni Villano Bonamin

²Research Center, University Paulista – UNIP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, was declared a pandemic in March 2020, posing significant challenges globally. Homeopathy has historical relevance in epidemic management. In response, the government of the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, distributed Camphora 1M as a potential prophylactic intervention for COVID-19.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the possible effects of Camphora 1M as an adjunctive prophylactic measure in managing COVID-19, focusing on mortality and hospitalization rates, during the period April 28 to July 31, 2020, within designated COVID-19 in-patient units in Santa Catarina.

Methods An ecological study design was applied to this epidemiological research. Five case municipalities (Itajaí, Atalanta, Entre Rios, Rio do Campo, Trombudo Central) were compared with five control municipalities (São José, Galvão, Pedras Grandes, Grão-Pará, Ascurra).

Results No statistically significant differences were observed in predictor variables between municipalities that received Camphora 1M and the respective controls. Similarly, no statistically significant differences were observed in outcomes: deaths (p = 0.879), hospitalized cases (p = 0.537), daily ward admissions (p = 0.730) and ICU admissions (p = 0.072).

Conclusion For the first wave of the pandemic in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, city-wide distribution of Camphora 1M was not associated with reduced numbers, severity or mortality among the population hospitalized in designated public hospitals for COVID-19.

Keywords

Camphora - COVID-19 - homeopathy - pandemic

Full Text

References

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Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material