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AMG study on Hypericum perforatum

Potentised St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) for the improvement of post-operative pain after monosegmental spinal sequestrectomy

Project overview

In homeopathy, Hypericum perforatum is known as a remedy for the relief of pain caused by nerve damage. This monocentric, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study investigated whether homeopathic Hypericum leads to a reduction in post-operative pain and a reduction in pain medication compared to placebo.

For this purpose, 100 inpatients undergoing lumbar sequestrectomy were assigned to homeopathic treatment or placebo as an adjuvant to usual pain management. The primary endpoint was pain relief measured using a visual analogue scale. Secondary endpoints were the reduction in inpatient postoperative pain medication and the change in sensory and affective pain perception.

The baseline characteristics were comparable between the groups. Pain perception between baseline and day 3 did not differ significantly between the study arms. With regard to pain medication, the total morphine equivalent doses also did not differ significantly. However, a statistical trend and a moderate effect (d=0.432) was observed in the decrease in pain medication consumption in favour of the Hypericum group. The analysis of the pain medication substance classes showed differences in the amount of pain medication consumption in favour of the Hypericum group.

Further information

  • Duration: since 2015, patent recruitment and evaluation completed
  • Responsible: Gerhard Kienle Chair of Medical Theory, Integrative and Anthroposophic Medicine
  • Funding: self-initiated clinical trial (IIT)
    We would like to thank Petra Klement, Head of Clinical Research, DHU Karlsruhe, for kindly providing C-potencies and placebos.
  • Cooperation partners: 
    Integrative Neuromedicine, Prof. Dr Dipl. Phys. Wolfram Scharbrodt, Herdecke Community Hospital 
    Chair of Research Methodology and Statistics in Psychology, Prof. Dr Thomas Ostermann, Witten/Herdecke University

Publications

  • Hypericum perforatum to improve post-operative Pain Outcome after monosegmental spinal microdiscectomy (HYPOS): A study protocol for a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Trials 2018. DOI: 10.1186/s13063-018-2631-6
  • Raak CK, Scharbrodt W, Berger B, Büssing A, Schönenberg-Tu A, Martin DD, Robens S, Ostermann T. Hypericum perforatum to Improve Postoperative Pain Outcome After Monosegmental Spinal Sequestrectomy (HYPOS): Results of a Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. J Integr Complement Med. 2022 Feb 15. doi: 10.1089/jicm.2021.0389. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35171041.

Project management