Increasing Blood Oxygen Saturation following 6 minutes’ Walk Test in Healthy Human Volunteers with Coca erythroxylon 6CH and Vanadium metallicum 6CH: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Pilot Trial

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Abstract Background: Oxygen saturation (SpO2) is an essential component during patient care and management because a variety of acute negative consequences on specific organs and systems can result from hypoxemia. Aim and Objective: The effects of two homeopathic medicines, Coca erythroxylon 6CH and Vanadium metallicum 6CH, were explored against placebos on blood SpO2 following a 6-min walk test (6MWT) in apparently healthy human volunteers after 3 days of intervention. Subjects and Methods: A 3-day, randomized (1:1:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial was conducted on 60 healthy human volunteers. Participants were randomized to Coca erythroxylon (n = 20), Vanadium metallicum (n = 20), and identical-looking placebos (n = 20). Blood SpO2% (primary), peak expiratory flow (PEF; mL), and breath holding timing (s) were measured at baseline once preintervention and postintervention and again before and after a 6MWT. Interventions were administered 4 times a day for 3 consecutive days. Group differences were estimated using a one-way analysis of variance. Significance levels were set at P < 0.05 two-tailed. Results: Statistically significant differences in pre- and postintervention mean changes were observed in blood SpO2% in the Coca erythroxylon group in comparison with the others (F 2,57 = 3.815, P = 0.028); however, no such significant differences could be observed in PEF and breath holding time. No adverse events were reported. Conclusion: Coca erythroxylon significantly increased blood SpO2% following a 6MWT in healthy human volunteers. It is necessary to conduct definitive trials to validate the findings. Trial Registration: CTRI/2022/08/044810; UTN: U1111-1281-3263.