Abstract

Background: This study was intended to prove or disprove the accusations that the homeopathic medicines are nothing but placebo by evaluating the reduction in the physical signs in patients with pathological low back pain (LBP). Objectives: The present study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between pain and anxiety, pain and depression, and pain and well-being among patients with somatoform LBP and patients with pathological LBP and also to evaluate the reduction in the physical signs in patients with pathological LBP after treated with homeopathic medicines, placebo, and homeopathic medicines in combination with placebo.
Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 439 patients including patients with pathological LBP and somatoform LBP. The patients in these two categories were further classified into three groups based on the type of intervention used such as patients treated with homeopathic medicines, placebo, and homeopathic medicines in combination with placebo.
Results: From this study, it can be concluded that there is a positive correlation between pain and anxiety and pain and depression, whereas there is a negative correlation between pain and well-being among patients with somatoform LBP and patients with pathological LBP. Conclusion: The study had shown that the homeopathic therapy was capable of improving the physical signs among patients with somatoform LBP and patients with pathological LBP. Homeopathic medicines in combination with placebos too could produce a significant difference in physical signs when compared to the results with that of placebo.