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. 2017 Jan 3;6(1):1-8.
doi: 10.5455/jice.20161229055245. eCollection 2017 Jan-Mar.

Is there a role for homeopathy in breast cancer surgery? A first randomized clinical trial on treatment with Arnica montana to reduce post-operative seroma and bleeding in patients undergoing total mastectomy

Luca Sorrentino  1 , Salvatore Piraneo  1 , Eliana Riggio  1 , Silvia Basilicò  2 , Alessandra Sartani  1 , Daniela Bossi  3 , Fabio Corsi  4
Affiliations

Is there a role for homeopathy in breast cancer surgery? A first randomized clinical trial on treatment with Arnica montana to reduce post-operative seroma and bleeding in patients undergoing total mastectomy

Luca Sorrentino et al. J Intercult Ethnopharmacol. .

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the benefits of Arnica montana on post-operative blood loss and seroma production in women undergoing unilateral total mastectomy by administering Arnica Montana 1000 Korsakovian dilution (1000 K).

Materials and methods: From 2012 to 2014, 53 women were randomly assigned to A. montana or placebo and were followed up for 5 days. The main end point was the reduction in blood and serum volumes collected in drainages. Secondary end points were duration of drainage, a self-evaluation of pain, and the presence of bruising or hematomas.

Results: The per-protocol analysis revealed a lower mean volume of blood and serum collected in drainages with A. montana (-94.40 ml; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 22.48-211.28; P = 0.11). A regression model including treatment, volume collected in the drainage on the day of surgery, and patient weight showed a statistically significant difference in favor of A. montana (-106.28 ml; 95% CI: 9.45-203.11; P = 0.03). Volumes collected on the day of surgery and the following days were significantly lower with A. montana at days 2 (P = 0.033) and 3 (P = 0.0223). Secondary end points have not revealed significant differences.

Conclusions: A. montana 1000 K could reduce post-operative blood and seroma collection in women undergoing unilateral total mastectomy. Larger studies are needed with different dilutions of A. montana to further validate these data.

Keywords: Arnica montana; breast cancer; homeopathy; mastectomy; seroma.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Changes in volume collected by drainage from day 1 to each following day per treatment: (a) Intention-to-treat population and (b) per-protocol population; *P < 0.05
Figure 2
Figure 2
Duration of drainage (a) and time to drainage volume below 10 mL (b) per treatment (intention-to-treat and per-protocol datasets)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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