The efficacy of lacticum acidum homaccord in the treatment of chronic tension-type headaches

M.Tech. (Homoeopathy)Chronic tension-type headaches (CTTHs) affect 30-40% of the population and account for a number of absences from, and decreased performances at, work and school as well as recreational activities. CTTHs typically occur at least 15 times a month or at least every second day, and present as an achey or tight sensation that is felt around the head. The pain may last from 30 minutes to several days and varies in intensity. Conventional treatment is palliative, consisting of analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which may produce adverse effects and analgesic rebound headaches. Lacticum acidum 30CH is a homoeopathic remedy that has been shown to have potential benefits in the treatment of CTTHs. Homaccords are the preparation of one remedy in multiple increasing potencies in a single vehicle. There has been no research done to date on Lacticum acidum Homaccord in the treatment of CTTHs. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of Lacticum acidum Homaccord in the treatment of CTTHs, using the modified Headache Diary and the Headache Disability Inventory. The study was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled matched pair study which took place at the Homoeopathic Health Centre at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Doornfontein campus, over a period of four weeks. A randomised sample of 34 male and female participants between the ages of 18 and 45 years who suffered from CTTHs were recruited by means of purposive sampling via advertisements placed on the UJ campus. At the initial consultation (day 0), prospective participants were requested to sign the Participant Information and Consent Form. The participants were then requested to complete the Screening Questionnaire to assess their eligibility for participating in the study. Participants’ meeting the diagnostic criteria for CTTHs, and those whose symptoms matched at least eight out of the twelve Lacticum acidum headache-related symptoms, were eligible to participate in the study. Participants’ were placed into matched pairs, according to gender and age. Participants in both groups received one 30 mL bottle of their respectively dispensed and labelled medication. On days 1-28 the participant was requested to complete the modified Headache Diary at the end of each day and to take 5 pillules of the medication in the morning and in the evening of each day. The first follow-up visit occurred on day 14; here participants completed the Headache Disability Inventory; the completed headache diaries were exchanged with new ones, a physical examination with vital signs was conducted and an additional bottle of medication was given. The second and final follow-up vi visit occurred on day 28, where the participant completed the Headache Disability Inventory, and a physical examination with vital signs was conducted. The average duration (time), intensity, frequency of headaches, and medication use was recorded on a daily basis and the level of perceived disability from CTTHs was measured weekly. This was conducted by completing the modified Headache Diary and the Headache Disability Inventory respectively. The data from the study was evaluated and analysed using frequencies and descriptive tests, cross tabulations, the Shapiro Wilk test, the Mann-Whitney test, and the Friedman and Wilcoxon signed ranks tests ..