Remedial Effects of Homeopathic Drugs against Chronic Suppuration of Ear Caused by Pathogenic Microorganisms

Abstract

Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) is known as one of the most common infectious disease and is characterized by a persistent discharge from the middle ear through a perforated tympanic membrane. CSOM is considered as one of the most common cause of hearing impairment in the developing countries. Use and misuse of antibiotics for treating CSOM promotes antibiotic resistance leading to accelerated public health risks. Homeopathic medicines are mostly free from side effects, and therefore, this study was performed to evaluate the effects of homeopathic medicines for remedies of CSOM symptoms. A total of 70 subjects were included in this study; among them, 40 were suffering from CSOM and 30 were healthy control. The CSOM patients were randomly assigned for daily administration of homeopathic medicines such as tellurium metallicum in 6C potency (n=17), mercurius solubilis in 200C potency (n=13 ) and calcarea sulphurica in 30C potency (n=10 )for 8 weeks. Aural swab of the patients were examined to assess microbiological infection. Identification of the isolated microorganisms such as Staphylococcus sp., E coli, klebsiella sp. was confirmed with Analytical Profile Index (API ). The homeopathic medicines did not show significant antibacterial activity when assessed by agar disc diffusion; however, they reduced average microbial load significantly. Ear suppuration was prevented in all of the patients treated with the medicines. The patients were also examined with otoscope to observe the level of their tympanic membrane perforation and the healing of the perforated membrane after treatment. Among the seventeen (17) patients suffering from CSOM associated with membrane perforation, 9 patients’ (52.9% ) membranes were healed when treated with tellurium metallicum. Calcarea sulphurica also healed perforated tympanic membranes of 50% patients, however, mercuris solibulis failed to trigger membrane healing in treated patients. It was next examined whether the patients also had hearing impairment compared to healthy control subjects. The average hearing thresholds of the control subjects (n=30) at 1, 4, 8 and 12 kHz frequencies were 13.55 ± 1.57, 15.58 ± 1.12, 27.58 ± 2.00 and 32.57 ± 2.45 dB SPL, respectively. When the average hearing thresholds of the CSOM patients (n=40) were measured at all of the above frequencies, the values became 30.25 ± 1.75, 36.80 ± 3.25, 50.75 ± 2.35, and 59.50 ± 2.96 dB SPL, respectively. This result indicated that the CSOM patients were suffering from hearing loss as the average hearing thresholds of the CSOM patients at all the frequencies tested were significantly higher (p<0.05)than that of the control subjects. To our surprise, treatment for 8 weeks with all three homeopathic medicines significantly reduced (p<0.05) hearing thresholds of the patients at all the frequencies. This result clearly indicated that the patients experienced dramatic improvement in hearing by the homeopathic medicines. This study, therefore, provides conclusive evidence that homeopathic medicines prevent ear suppuration in CSOM patients as well as reduce microbial load, heal perforated membrane and improve hearing.