The scope of homoeopathy in improving the quality of life in patients with end-stage renal disease: A case series

Objectives: Lifestyle disorders such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases eventually affect the kidneys, often causing renal failure. The current gold standard methods for managing renal failure are renal replacement therapy and haemodialysis. Unfortunately, dialysis deteriorates the patient’s quality of life (QOL). Homoeopaths rarely treat cases with such advanced irreversible pathology; the scope of homoeopathy in such cases is, therefore, unclear. We observed the effect of homoeopathy as an adjuvant on the QOL in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The QOL was assessed using the Marathi version of the Kidney Disease QOL Short Form 1.3 (KDQOL SF version 1.3). Materials and Methods: Three Indian patients with ESRD (two men and one woman, individualized ages 38, 50 and 54 years) consented to have their data published. The cases were managed with constitutional homoeopathic remedies in the 50 millesimal (LM) potency as an adjuvant to their current allopathic medications and were observed for 6 months. They were assessed with the Marathi version of the KDQOL SF 1.3 before and after homoeopathic management along with regular haemodialysis. Results: The patients showed significant improvements in the QOL, especially in the areas of sleep, pain, symptoms and problems, cognitive functioning, emotional well-being and social functioning, as assessed based on the increase in scores in their respective domains. Conclusion: The results of the observations are promising and in concurrence with homoeopathic philosophy; the benefits of constitutional medicines were seen. All three patients showed an improvement in their QOL. However, studies with larger sample size and randomised controlled trial study design are suggested. Homoeopathic constitutional treatment has a significant impact on the QOL in patients with ESRD.