Abstract
M.Tech.
This research was conducted to determine the effect of homoeopathic treatment
on acute gout patients. Putterman (1994) conducted a research study on the effect
of the homoeopathic remedy Colchicum autumnale in gout, and found partial
improvement in the clinical picture of gout. No research has been conducted in
South Africa on the efficacy of homoeopathic medicines in acute gout patients.
This study focused on the homoeopathic Law of Similars, where a single most
similar homoeopathic remedy was chosen according to the unique characteristic
symptoms displayed by each participant suffering with acute gout.
This was a qualitative study that used ten subjects who presented within five days
of acute gout and participated in the fifteen-day study period. Participants that
complied with the American College of Rheumatology (formerly American
Rheumatism Association, ACR) criteria for gout were selected. Serum uric acid
tests were taken on day 0 and day 6 to assess hyperuricemia. On day 0 a thorough
case history and examination was taken followed by administration of the
indicated remedy. Treatment efficacy was evaluated on day 1, 3 and 6, based on
daily subjective impression of participant involvement, objective analysis and
comparative analysis of serum uric acid. Re-examination for relapses or rebound
attacks followed on day 15.
In a study using allopathic remedies in acute gout, resolution of all acute gout
symptoms occurred at an average of 8 days using indomethacin and 7 days using
triamcinolone (Alloway et. al., 1993). In this study using homoeopathic
similimum treatment, resolution of all acute gout symptoms occurred at an
average of 6 days. One episode of a rebound gout attack occurred and serum uric
acid decreased in 80% of patients. Homoeopathic similimum prescribing is an
effective alternative treatment for acute gout. Although more research is required,
the preliminary findings of this study suggest that the correct homoeopathic
similimum treatment is an effective treatment for the symptoms of acute gout.