Background: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common condition in ageing men, associated with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS). Being a cause of significant morbidity in ageing man, various observational studies were conducted by the Council with a positive outcome. This protocol has been prepared to further ascertain the usefulness of constitutional/organ remedies in LUTS for men with BPH in a randomized control setting. Objectives: The primary objective is to compare the changes in IPSS (International Prostate Symptom Score) within the three groups enrolled for the study (Constitutional remedy/Constitutional + Organ remedy/Placebo). The secondary objectives are to compare the changes in Prostate volume, Post Void Residual Urine (PVRU), Uroflowmetry and in WHOQOL-BREF. Material and Methods: It is an open randomized placebo controlled clinical trial. The prescription of the constitutional remedies/organ remedies/placebo is done as per the randomization chart and the selection of these remedies is done as per the guidelines laid in the Organon of Medicine. The outcome measures including IPSS (monthly), prostate volume, post void residual urine, uroflowmetry and the WHOQOL-BREF are assessed at baseline, three and six months interval. Discussion: Results from this trial will help in constructing treatment strategy for BPH patients with lower urinary tract symptoms in improving their quality of life. Trial Registration: Clinical Trial Registry - India: CTRI/2012/05/002649.

Background: Mother tinctures are commonly prescribed in day to day practice as therapeutic agents by homoeopathic practitioners. However, being the base preparation of medicines, safety of mother tinctures still remains a challenge because of the high variability of chemical components involved.The present study investigated the acute and sub-acute oral toxicity of different homoeopathic mother tinctures (Bellis perennis, Curcuma longa, Rauwolfia serpentina, Ricinnus communis, Tribulus terrestris and Terminalia arjuna) in experimental models. Methods: Toxicity studies were conducted to assess the level to which substances are toxic for humans and animals. In acute oral toxicity study, different homoeopathic mother tinctures were administered orally (a single dose of 4 ml/kg)and animals were observed for toxic symptoms till 14 days as per OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) - 423 guidelines. For sub-acute toxicity study, 28 day oral toxicity of mother tinctures (4 ml/kg daily) was carried out according to the OECD guidelines for testing of chemicals - 407. At the end of 28 days, the animals were sacrificed and toxicity was assessed on parameters such as blood, biochemistry and histopathology. Results: Results indicate that there were no toxic symptoms observed in tested animals. Results of sub-acute toxicity study did not show any change in body weight, haematological and biochemical parameters as compared to control. The histopathological examination of kidney and liver also did not reveal any organ toxicities.

Aims: The objective of the study was to assess the therapeutic usefulness of Homoeopathy in the management of LD, viz., dyslexia and dysgraphia, to ascertain the role of homoeopathic medicines and verify their characteristic symptoms in the management of various types of LD to establish verified characteristic symptoms of medicines used in the management of various types of LD. Settings and Design: A 3-year randomised double blind case control study was carried out on 67 children between ages 8-12 years fulfilling the criteria of LD (ICD-10) for dyslexia and dysgraphia with a minimal observation period of one year. The study was conducted in three Marathi-medium schools in Mumbai. Material and Methods: 67 children between ages 8-12 years fulfilling the criteria of LD (ICD-10) for dyslexia and dysgraphia were studied for a minimal observation period of one year. All received remedial education as it is the standard mode of management. 32 children constituted Group I and were administered the indicated homoeopathic medicine in the 200 ^th potency in infrequent repetition while 35 children from Group II were given placebo. The children and the Remedial Educators who were the assessors were blinded for the study. Statistical Analysis Used: t-test was done for statistical analysis. Results: The children under homoeopathic treatment with remedial education showed an early response to remedial inputs and a statistically significant change in the indicators of dyslexia and dysgraphia. There was also a significant change in the co-morbid behavioural condition notably Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The study not only helped verify the characteristic symptoms of the remedies from Materia Medica useful in LD but also was able to report clinical symptoms which have not been reported in source books. 53.12% of children needed Calcarea salts. The other significant remedy indicated in 9.3% children was Medorrhinum, Argenticum nitricum, Calc-flour, and Natrum salts were indicated in 6.25% children. Conclusion: Homoeopathic intervention when combined with standard remedial education has a definite role in bringing about an early change in all parameters of LD. It also assists in bringing about a change in treating the co-morbid conditions, commonly Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD). The improvements started simultaneously in most of the areas except in speed of reading and reading comprehension, repetition in reading and omission of punctuation in writing.

Background: In Homoeopathy, plastic containers/vials are used for the storing/dispensing of ethanol-based medicines instead of glass. Various studies have suggested that plastic components that leach out in stored substances tend to cause contamination and may produce adverse effects in living systems. The present study was aimed to find out chemical composition and leaching behaviour of commonly used plastic vials (PVs) if any during the storage of ethanol-based homoeopathic medicines in optimal environment. Material and Methods: The experiments were conducted on two sample sets of PVs. Chemical properties of PV were assessed by Fourier Transform Infrared Attenuated Total Reflectance (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy. PV were cut separately [sample-1 (S-1) and sample-2 (S-2)] and immersed in Homoeopathic Grade Ethanol (HGE) in conical flask and stored for 7 days at ambient temperature (25° ± 5C) with constant rotary shaking. After 7 days, S-1 and S-2 of PV in Homoeopathic Grade Ethanol (HGE) were decanted and filtered. Aliquots (A1 and A2) were analysed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H ¹ NMR). The spectral graph obtained by FTIR-ATR spectroscopy for PV compositions and spectral graph obtained by H ¹ NMR spectroscopy for PV ethanol aliquots were examined for PVs material and PV leaching effect in HGE. Results: FTIR-ATR spectra showed that PV are made up of two types of polyolefin's compounds i.e. Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE). Aliquots of PV in HGE showed the presence benzophenone and its methyl derivative, heat and light stabiliser (2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidine and amino derivative), antioxidant (4, 4'- thiobis and 2-tertbutyl-5-methylphenol) and plasticizer bis 2-Diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) or Dioctyl phthalate (DOP). Results of study suggest that PVs leach out plastic polymers in HGE. Conclusion: This preliminary experiment suggests that it is not safe to use LDPE/LLDPE plastic for storing/dispensing ethanol based homoeopathic medicines. Further study with other grades of plastic is desirable.

A Borderline Lepromatous (BL) leprosy case was treated with Mercurius solubilis, a homoeopathic medicine for two years. The clinical, immunological and histological assessment of the patient before and after treatment was recorded. The patient showed appreciable improvement in clinical signs and symptoms. Lesions on the skin almost disappeared; no swelling of hand and feet was noted along with disappearance of infiltration on eye brows. Nodular lesions on both the ear lobes diminished remarkably. Regain of sensation to touch, pain and pressure were noted and their test responses were normal. Slit skin smears were negative from all sites with 0 Bacteriological Index [BI] which was positive for acid fast bacilli [AFB] with an average of 4+ BI before treatment. Histologic study revealed absence of granuloma in dermis except the presence of occasional clusters of lymphocytes. Lepromin reaction which was negative before treatment was positive with 14 mm after 2 years of treatment. Estimation of different cytokines after completion of treatment showed appreciable changes with remarkable reduction in the levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IFN and TNF).

India hosted its first National Conference of Liga Medicorum Homoeopathica Internationalis (LMHI) in New Delhi on 24 ^th -25 ^th May 2014. "Homoeopathy Success Stories through Basic and Fundamental Research and in Paediatric Disorders" was the premise of the conference. With 37 oral presentations, the conference brought around 350 delegates and eminent speakers from all over the nation to a common platform. The leading speakers deliberated on topics which demonstrated the sound progress being made in the field of Homoeopathy. Researchers, academicians and practitioners got the opportunity to share their experiences, ideas and information through this venture. The present report is a synopsis of the key findings reported during the conference highlighting some of the important researches in the field.