Plaque Psoriasis Treated Successfully with Individualized Homoeopathic Medicine Ars alb in LM Potency- An Evidence-based Case Report

Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory, proliferative skin condition associated with systemic manifestations in many organ systems. The most characteristic lesions are red, scaly, sharply demarcated, and indurated plaques, particularly over the extensor surfaces and scalp. The psoriasis types are plaque psoriasis, pustular psoriasis, guttate Psoriasis, and erythrodermic psoriasis. Among the common types is plaque psoriasis. Current standard treatments include topical therapies, phototherapy, systemic immune modulators, and biologics, aiming to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life. However, adverse effects, treatment resistance, high costs, and individual response variability pose challenges. Homoeopathy can be effective in alleviating the severity of symptoms and improving the quality of life of persons with psoriasis. A 81-year-old male was consulted at the National Homoeopathy Research Institute in Mental Health, Kottayam, with scaly eruptions and peeling patches on the scalp, back and extensive over extremities. Based on the totality of symptoms and repertorization, a single homoeopathic medicine, Arsenicum album(Ars alb) was given in LM potency. In response to medicine, psoriatic lesions in all locations have disappeared gradually. Pictorial images were taken before and after the intervention for objective evidence. The changes in the psoriatic lesions were assessed with the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), which revealed a remarkable decrease in score from 26.3(before treatment) to 0 (After treatment) within a month of IPD treatment and recurrence of lesions not reported during the follow-up visits. The causal attribution for the outcome changes was assessed using the Monarch Inventory for Homoeopathy(MONARCH). The score was +9, close to the maximum (13), showing the positive relationship between the intervention and the outcome. Therefore, this case emphasizes individualized homoeopathic medicine's positive role in treating psoriasis in LM potency.