Abstract
Introduction Standard management of dermatophytosis involves the use of topical antifungals in
limited disease and oral therapy for more extensive cases. Despite the evidences favouring
homeopathy in tinea corporis (TC) is inadequate, patients are increasingly opting
for it. This trial attempts to assess the feasibility of a trial evaluating individualised
homeopathic (IH) medicines in centesimal and 50-millesimal potencies in treating TC.
Methods An open, randomised, pilot feasibility trial was conducted at the dermatology outpatient
of D. N. De Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, West Bengal, India. Patients
were randomised to receive IH medicines in either centesimal potencies (n = 30) or in 50-millesimal potencies (n = 30). Primary outcome measure was intensity of pruritus on a 0 to 10 numeric rating
scale; secondary outcomes were Skindex-29 and dermatology life quality index questionnaires—all
measured at baseline, and after 6 and 12 weeks of intervention. Group differences
were calculated on intention-to-treat (ITT) sample as well as following per protocol
(PP) analysis.
Results Recruitment and attrition rates were 69 and 16.7% respectively. Both ITT and PP analysis
revealed that intra-group changes in both the primary and secondary outcomes to be
statistically significant in both the groups (all p < 0.05, one-way repeated measure analysis of variance). There were no significant
group differences over 6 and 12 weeks (all p > 0.05, unpaired t -tests); thus, indicating similar pattern of improvement in both the groups. Most
frequently used medicines were Natrum sulphuricum (28.3%), Natrum muriaticum (25%), Sulphur (8.3%) and Bacillinum (6.7%). No harms, unintended effects, homeopathic aggravations or any serious adverse
events were reported from either group.
Conclusion An adequately powered trial exploring effectiveness of both scales in TC appeared
to be feasible in future. Though the sample size was too small to arrive at any definite
conclusion, both centesimal and 50-millesimal potencies of IH medicines appeared to
be equally useful in improving pruritus intensity and quality of life in patients
suffering from TC.
Keywords centesimal potency - 50-millesimal potency - homeopathy - pilot trial - randomised
controlled trials - tinea corporis
