The Efficacy of Individualised Homeopathic Treatment on Constipation

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2015-08-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

Constipation is an umbrella term encompassing either infrequent bowel movements, difficult evacuation of stool, hard stool or a sensation of incomplete defecation. It affects 10-15% of the global population. Constipation may negatively impact physical health, moods and social life. There exists a 50% dissatisfaction with traditional approach of laxative use. Conventional laxatives only offer a temporary solution and may cause dependency. Side-effects of conventional laxatives include nausea, vomiting, flatulence, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, electrolyte imbalance and skin eruptions. Homeopathy is a potential treatment option for constipation, however further research is needed in this regard.

The aim of this study is to determine the efficacy of individualised homeopathic treatment on constipation using case studies, an adapted Bowel Function Diary and the Bristol Stool Form Scale.

• Phase: Phase 2
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Details

• Lead Sponsor: University of Johannesburg
• Treatments: Ethanol

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Between ages 18-50 years,

• meet the Rome II criteria for constipation which lists:

• have a bowel evacuation for 3 or less times in a week, for the last 3 months OR

• have to strain, have hardened stool, or have incomplete bowel evacuation for at least 25% of the time, for the last 3 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

• People currently on treatment for their constipation,

• who have used laxatives more than three times in the past month,

• are on medications which have constipation as a side effect,

• with pre-diagnosed colon cancer, irritable bowel syndrome- constipation dominant, spastic colon or diverticulitis, and those who had a stroke, and,

• pregnant females.