Efficacy of Individualised Homeopathic Medicine in the Management of Allergic Rhinitis: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Abstract

ABSTRACT Allergic rhinitis, characterised by IgE-mediated mucosal inflammation of the nasal passages, is among the most prevalent atopic conditions in India, affecting an estimated 20–30% of the urban population and imposing substantial quality-of-life and healthcare burden. Despite the widespread use of homeopathic medicine for allergic rhinitis in clinical practice, rigorous placebo-controlled evidence remains limited. This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolled 122 patients with perennial allergic rhinitis (61 per arm after withdrawal adjustment: homeopathy n = 62, placebo n = 60) from two homoeopathic medical college outpatient departments in Maharashtra and compared the effect of individually prescribed homoeopathic single remedies against an identically prepared placebo on the Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) assessed weekly over 12 weeks. The homeopathy group showed a significantly greater mean reduction in TNSS from baseline to week 12 (?6.14 points) compared with the placebo group (?2.26 points), a between-group difference of 3.88 points (95% CI: 3.12–4.64; p < 0.001). Nasal peak flow rate improved significantly more in the homeopathy group, and patient-reported quality of life on the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire also showed greater improvement. No serious adverse events were recorded in either arm. These findings provide rigorous placebo-controlled evidence supporting the efficacy of individualised homeopathic treatment in perennial allergic rhinitis.

KEYWORDS: - Homeopathic therapeutics, Allergic rhinitis, Randomised controlled trial, Total Nasal Symptom Score, Individualised homoeopathy, Placebo-controlled, Atopy, Nasal inflammation