Homeopathic Therapy for Chronic Sinusitis

Abstract

The study aims to evaluate the outcome of homeopathic therapy in adult patients suffering from chronic sinusitis (at least three months). The research method was subgroup analysis including all patients with chronic sinusitis presented in the outpatient clinic for homeopathic therapy. The patients were registered in the study consecutively and the scales of complaints’ severity, health-related quality of life, and use of other therapies were regularly recorded, with a 2-year follow-up analyzed in this paper. The study included 34 adults (mean age 37.2, 75.2% women), with sinusitis symptoms for at least 3 months. The effect size (effect divided by standard deviation at baseline) was for sinusitis 1.55 at three months, 2.10 for one year, and 2.39 for two years. The quality of life improved as well, with final SF-36 changes in physical component score of 0.41 and a final mental component score of 0.62. The study showed relevant improvement in sinusitis and the general physical and mental status of the patient. Further studies and a longer follow-up of the patients in this study are requested to establish if the improvement is due to lifestyle changes, placebo effects, other context effects, or homeopathic therapy.