Homeopathic medicine as health promotion during COVID-19 pandemic period in Niteroi city

Abstract

Background: According to the World Health Organization, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has 36.835.130 reported cases and 1.068.113 deaths worldwide on October 10, 2020. The city of Niterói has declared a public health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic with 13.906 reported cases, 3.03% of lethality, and 445 deaths. In this scenario, it is necessary to search for other forms of treatment such as Integrative Medicine, especially Homeopathy, which was used with excellent results in the great epidemics. Aims: Evaluate the use of the homeopathic medicine composed of Bryonia alba 30CH, China officinalis 30CH, and Metallum album 30CH in the health signs and symptoms of the health professionals of the Dr. Guilherme Taylor March Regional Polyclinic in Niterói. Ethical approval is CAAE 31601020.3.0000.5243. Methodology: The study design was a time series with analysis before and after using homeopathic medicine for eight weeks. Analysis of health signs and symptoms was carried out through a structured questionnaire. Statistical test was used to compare qualitative data paired with a significance level of 5%. Results and discussion: A total of 57 health professionals in face-to-face work used homeopathic medicine. No side effect was observed in all participants. The majority (84.2%) was without any flu-like symptoms before and after treatment. Nine participants (15.8%) had shown initial flu-like symptoms. After using homeopathic medicine, there was an improvement with a significant difference (p <0.05). Among the symptomatic, six participants had a positive result in the covid test with significant improvement (p <0.05) of the symptoms within seven days of using homeopathic medicine. Conclusion: The homeopathic intervention used during the coronavirus pandemic contributed as health promotion and adjunctive measure for symptomatic relief from COVID-19 and a treatment strategy that could be used as an adjunct to all sanitary and therapeutic measures recommended by health authorities.