Abstract
M. Tech.
Influenza is a highly infectious viral illness with an incubation period of one to four days with an infection period that can last up to seven days. During the past century there have been seven pandemics, which have been responsible for over twenty million deaths worldwide. In a typical year, influenza can cause illness in 10-20% of the adult population and up to 40% of children (Schoub, 2000). Common symptoms include a fever, rhinitis, sore throat, cough, headaches, myalgia and a general feeling of malaise (Beers et al., 2003). Influenza is a self-limiting illness with no specific treatment. It is usually treated palliatively or with antibiotics to prevent a secondary bacterial infection. Homoeopathy offers an alternative option of stimulating the body’s own defence mechanism to heal itself. A homoeopathic remedy manufactured by Pegasus Homeopathics, Cold & Flu 30C®, consists of a complex of remedies to accelerate recovery and relieve typical symptoms associated with influenza.
The aim of this study is to determine the efficacy of a homoeopathic complex remedy, Cold & Flu 30C®, in the treatment of Influenza according to the amelioration of symptoms described; namely chills, shivering, sore throat, cough, headache, lachrymation, myalgia, malaise and rhinitis.
The research participants represented a convenience sample of the population suffering from influenza. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study thirty participants consisting of both males and females between the ages of 18 and 50 years were recruited. Participants were recruited from the Homoeopathic Health Centre at the University of Johannesburg and at the Weleda Pharmacy in Fourways.
The inclusion and exclusion criteria were dealt with by completion of a Questionnaire and Participant Profile (Appendix A). All participants were required to have a minimum of five of the ten symptoms represented on the questionnaire (Appendix A), in order to gain entry into the study. Prospective participants suffering from any chronic illnesses, who were on medication, pregnant or lactating, and patients who were immunised with the influenza vaccine, as well as immunocompromised patients were all excluded from the trial. The trial was conducted over a period of 3 days and each participant was given a daily questionnaire (Appendix D) to rate the severity/intensity of their symptoms according to a 5-point rating system for each of their influenza symptoms experienced on a daily basis.
On completion of the study, the codes on the medication bottles were revealed by Pegasus Homeopathics so that the researcher could determine which participants belonged to the control group and the experimental group. The influenza-like symptoms being investigated were analysed separately and according to their decrease in severity over the set period of time. The extent of the decrease in severity of symptoms between the experimental group and the control group were statistically analysed by the use of Chi-square tests. The severity of symptoms and decrease thereof was determined by the use of individual and total scores. Data was statistically analysed with the SPSS (statistical package for social sciences) programme. Chi square graphs as well as frequency and cross tabulations were used.
After analysis of all the results, it can be concluded that the Pegasus Cold & Flu 30C® had a statistically significant difference on two of the symptoms experienced during an influenza infection, namely tiredness and weakness and interference on daily activities. Due to the small sample size used in this study the chi-square tests indicated insignificant p-values in the majority of symptoms experienced. Therefore statistically it cannot be proven that Cold & Flu 30C is an effective remedy to treat all influenza symptoms. Participants in both groups however did experience a substantial relief in the following symptoms over the three days: Headache, sore throat, nasal discharge, cough and body aches and pains.