The homeopathic treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of homeopathic treatment on primary dysmenorrhoea in terms of patient's perception to the treatment. A sample of thirty patients was randomly chosen from the greater Durban area in response to advertisements that had been placed in various advertising media. They were then screened for the delimitations and sent to a registered gynaecologist for an internal examination and confirmatory diagnosis of primary dysmenorrhoea. Each patient then underwent a medical and homeopathic consultation and examination on the first day of their menstrual cycle, and a patient perception questionnaire was completed with the researcher so as to establish a baseline. The study followed a double-blind protocol with a neutral member dividing the sample into a control and treatment group. The treatment group received simillimum treatment in the form of a chronic remedy taken twice a week and one or two symptomatic remedies taken on a daily basis. The control group received placebo. For the duration of the eight month trial period, each patient was reassessed on their first day of their menstrual cycle to allow for any needed changes to their treatment regimen, and to allow for the patient's perception to the treatment to be recorded in the researcher's presence.