The efficacy of a homoeopathic protocol as an adjunct to standard care of the post-surgical effects of circumcision

Abstract

Introduction This research study investigated the efficacy of a homoeopathic protocol in the post-surgical wound management of medical male circumcision (MMC) in the KwaZulu-Natal region. The study had 30 male participants from 10 of the 11 district municipalities of the KwaZulu-Natal province. The study consultations took place at the Durban University of Technology Health Sciences Clinic.

Aim of the study The aim of the study was to determine the efficacy of a topical application of a homoeopathic protocol using; Calendula officinalis (mother tincture (M.T.)), Hypericum perforatum (M.T.) and Delphinum staphysagria 30CH (orally) as an adjunct to the standard care of the post-surgical effects of circumcision and to assess the wounds post-surgically in terms of time taken to heal and associated signs and symptoms.

Methodology The data for this study was collected from 30 male participants who had undergone MMC from various hospitals within KwaZulu-Natal. The participants were aged between 18 to 30 years. All participants underwent a medical examination and were given a pain rating scale and a pain and sleep diary. They were instructed to keep a daily record using the data collection tools mentioned above for the study period of six weeks. Descriptive statistics were employed in the form of tables and graphs. The data analysis methods used in the study are: independent samples t-test and the non-parametric Spearman’s Correlation test.

Results Group statistics in relation to ‘time to heal’ showed a statistically significant reduction in the time taken for the group on the homoeopathic protocol. Analysis of ‘time to heal’ by group shows that on average, Group 1 (active group: homoeopathic protocol + standard care) (M = 31.4, SD = 7.49) healed in a significantly shorter time than Group 2 (control group: standard care) (M = 38.6667, SD = 1.99), t (28) = -2.617, p=.014. There was no other statistical significance noted except for the results of the Spearman’s rho, where table 4.8 shows there is a significant positive correlation between average quality sleep until healing and the proportion of days across healing NOT feeling refreshed (rho = .676, p<.0005).