Individualized Homeopathic Medicines as Adjunctive to Standard Care for Improving Symptoms of Peripheral Diabetic Neuropathy in Middle-Aged Individuals: Double Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background: Peripheral diabetic neuropathy (PDN) constitutes a heterogeneous spectrum of clinical entities characterized by dysfunction of the peripheral nervous system, manifesting in diverse symptomatology. Patients afflicted with this condition often exhibit a range of sensorimotor disturbances, including paresthesia, dysesthesia, analgesia, and muscular weakness, accompanied by varying intensities of nociception, encompassing superficial, deep-seated, or intractable pain, frequently exacerbated nocturnally. Methods: Three-month, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial on 116 participants was performed at D. N. De Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital to identify the differences between individualized homeopathic medicines and identical-looking placebos in the treatment of PDN. Participants were randomized into either Individualized homeopathic medicinal products (IHMPs; n = 58) or identical-looking placebos ( n = 58) in the mutual context of standard diabetic care. The primary outcome measure was neuropathy total symptom score (NTSS6); secondary outcome measures were Douleur Neuropathique Four Questionnaire (DN4), Short Form-McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), Diabetic Neuropathy Examination score (DNE), and glycosylated hemoglobin percentage (HbA1C%). All were measured at baseline, and every month, up to 3 months, except HbA1C%, which was measured only at baseline and after 3 months. Group differences and effect sizes were calculated on an intention-to-treat sample. Results: Group differences achieved statistical significance favoring IHMPs over placebos, in all the specified outcomes NTSS 6 (F1,114 = 228.470, p < 0.001), DN4 score (F1,114 = 69.008, p < 0.001), SF-MPQ total score (F1,114 = 185.019, p < 0.001), DNE score (F1,114 = 777.153, p < 0.001), and HbA1C% ( p < 0.001, d = 1.467). The most frequently employed remedies included Sulphur (27.1%), Natrum muriaticum (10.2%), Lycopodium clavatum (7.6%), Medorrhinum (7.6%), and Pulsatilla (5.9%). Conclusion: Thus, homeopathic medicines worked significantly better than placebos in reducing the pain of PDN. Replicating multi-centric research with a robust sample is warranted to substantiate the findings.