Homoeopathic pathogenetic trial of <i>Blatta orientalis</i>: A multicentric, double blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial

Background: The therapeutic effect of Blatta orientalis in asthma was found accidentally, but apart from the respiratory symptoms, not much is known about this as a drug through proving in Homoeopathy. Thus, homoeopathic drug proving was carried out, which is the first step in finding pathogenetic effect of the drug substance, for suggestive use in a clinical setting. Objective: To elicit the pathogenetic response of Blatta orientalis on healthy human provers. Methods: A multicentre, randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted at three centres under Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy. The trial was conducted on 47 apparently healthy provers after obtaining their written informed consent. In the first phase, all provers were administered a placebo. In the subsequent two phases, after randomisation, 32 provers in the intervention group were given Blatta orientalis in 6C and 30C potencies, and 15 provers in control group were administered unmedicated globules. A maximum of 12 doses were administered in all the phases. The symptoms and signs manifested were noted down by the provers on a structured format, elaborated by the proving masters and the data compilation and analysis were done at proving cum data processing cell. Results: The overall incidence of pathogenetic effects is 0.625, and the incidence of pathogenetic effects per prover is 2.75. Pathogenetic symptoms have shown organ affinity for the head, eye, face, abdomen, female genitalia, respiratory system, extremities, back, and skin. Conclusion: Further clinical verification study of the pathogenetic response elicited shall expand the therapeutic use of homoeopathically potentised Blatta orientalis.