Homeopathic Hospital Protocol and Research Strategy
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Hospital Protocol and Research Strategy (DEAR EDITOR, LINKED FROM THERAPEUTIC STRATEGIES)
A complete therapeutic strategy based on strong fundamentals is the proverbial house on rock. Various exciting possibilities exist for homeopathy on adequately mastering them. First, they result in therapeutic miracles as one manages serious or chronic disease in a clear direction of cure. Secondly, they allow for scientific observations and standardization of practice. Third, they can be developed and evolved further, while esoteric extensions or qualitative dimensions of homeopathy remain an integral part of, but do not compromise on its scientific potential.
One modern application in line with homeopathy’s scientific potential is in Emergency Medicine – a medical specialty concerned with the care and treatment of acutely ill or injured patients who need immediate medical attention. This relies on well constructed Homeopathic Hospital Protocol (Pavaskar, 2006) to manage medical emergencies on par with and supported by modern medicine, using the indicated simillimum. This requires team work and a principled (homeopathic) approach, along with adequate professional support from expert MD’s of modern medicine. Methodology with evolving homeopathic protocol in emergencies and hospital management is already in development at the ML DHawle Homeopathic Hospital, Palghar, since the last 7 years (Pavaskar, 2006).
When a patient arrives in the ER, one needs … an immediate qualified and experienced medical opinion….. investigations required for monitoring ….. Ancillary measures and supplementary measures … in case the patient requires life saving management…. When this support is available, the homeopath instead concentrates on a good homeopathic prescription by observing the homeopathic characteristics in the case… (Barvalia, 2006:1)
Boger’s perception of disease development and management is the backbone of this emergency protocol. The scope of this application is obvious from the following Cases already documented among many others: i) Cerebro Vascular Accident (Stroke) (Cases, Sept. 2006a; Appendix 1) ii) Surgical Shock with renal failure (Cases, Sept. 2006b; Appendix 2) iii) Acute on Chronic Pancreatitis (Cases, Sept 2006c) iv) Status Epilepticus (Cases, Sept 2006d) v) Neonatal Convulsions (Cases, Oct 2006e) vi) Cardiac failure with Arrhythmia (Cases, Oct 2006f) vii) Poisoning (Cases, Oct 2006g)
The second modern, scientific development that these two methodologies support is Research Strategy. Since both have clear components of symptomatology, direction of cure and clinical observations that could be categorized for quantitative research, to support the creation of various research strategies, protocols and measurements that are essentially homeopathic. Studies on homeopathic symptom response and observation of cure could be done with clear quantitative measurements.
With clear therapeutic strategies, adaptations in RCT could be made combining pragmatic trails (that have high external validity) and factorial design (that has high internal validity), paying adequate attention to assessing appropriate outcome measures (Verhoef et al, 2005). Qualitative method is ideally based on a phenomenological approach (e.g. evolution of disease) that examines phenomena from the individual human’s consciousness, separate from researcher’s preconceptions or presuppositions (Wood, 2001:86). This is compatible with homeopathic philosophy, could be nested within rigorous adaptations of RCT trails.
We enter the realm of whole systems research (WSR) suggested by Verhoef et al (2005), where quantitative and qualitative research methods are held in equal esteem in a mixed method approach.
Prescriptions in a clinical trial would be more precise when formulated on clear totality requirements. One such brilliant idea, in an ADHD Trial in Switzerland (Frei et al, 2006), is Polarity Analysis, developed from Boenninghausen’s concept of contradictory symptoms, considered to be “of inferior worth” (1846: i, ix). Using this idea, a calculation of Polarity Difference is a relative scale of Likelihood Ratio derived to increase the accuracy of simillimum choice in the trial.
Strong and complete therapeutic strategies like the two above, underpin the inspiration for positive future developments.
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