Datura metel in Homoeopathy: Novel therapeutic insights from an open-label multicentre clinical verification study

BACKGROUND: Clinical Verification in Homoeopathy is a systematic scientific procedure that confirms the therapeutic utility of homoeopathic medicines. Despite its referencing in homoeopathic literature, Datura metel remains fragmentarily verified and rarely prescribed. To address this gap, the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) conducted clinical verification of the medicine to assess its clinical utility and expand its therapeutic potential. METHODS: A multicentric open-label single-arm study was carried out across the outpatient departments of the 14 health facilities of CCRH situated in various regions of India. 341 participants with atleast three symptoms corresponding to the proven symptomatology of Datura metel were enrolled and prescribed the medicine. Response to treatment was assessed using validated outcome measures, namely, Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile (MYMOP-2) and Outcome in Relation to Impact on Daily Living (ORIDL) scores. Additionally, the emergence of clinical symptoms after medicine administration was documented. RESULTS: A statistically significant improvement was observed in the scores of MYMOP-2 and ORIDL scale (p < 0.0001****) of 211 participants who completed atleast two follow-ups. The therapeutic action of this medicine was clinically verified across a range of common clinical conditions, including rhinitis, arthralgia, dyspepsia, dysmenorrhoea, dermatitis, headache, and sinusitis. CONCLUSION: This study is the first systematic effort to investigate the therapeutic attributes of the homoeopathic medicine Datura metel and contributed to developing preliminary evidence on its clinical profile. Future research with more rigorous, in-depth and controlled methodologies will contribute to build up the therapeutic profile of this medicine.