EFFECTIVENESS OF INDIVIDUALISED HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT AND STRUCTURED YOGA IN MEDICALLY STABLE POST-STROKE HEMIPARESIS: A CASE SERIES

Abstract

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide, frequently resulting in persistent motor weakness and impaired quality of life. Integrative approaches, such as individualised homoeopathic treatment combined with adjunctive yoga practices, may offer supportive benefits in post-stroke rehabilitation. Aim: To assess the clinical outcomes and quality-of-life changes in post- stroke hemiparetic patients managed with individualised homoeopathic treatment with a structured 30-minute daily yoga protocol as an adjunct. Methods: This retrospective, single-centre descriptive case series included three patients (aged 34–56 years) with subacute to chronic post-stroke hemiparesis admitted to the IPD of Dr B.R. Sur Homoeopathic Medical College Hospital & Research Centre. Individualised homoeopathic prescriptions were selected based on the totality of symptoms. A structured yogic intervention comprising selected asanas and pranayama was administered daily for six weeks. Outcome measures included MYMOP (Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile), ORIDL (Outcome Related to Impact on Daily Living), and WHOQOL-BREF (World Health Organisation Quality of Life-BREF) assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Results: All three cases demonstrated clinical improvement. MYMOP scores reduced from 4 to 1 (Case 1), 5 to 2 (Case 2), and 6 to 2 (Case 3). ORIDL assessments indicated major to moderate improvement in daily functioning. WHOQOL-BREF mean scores showed improvement across all domains: physical (39.7 to 68.7), psychological (31.3 to 56.0), social (39.7 to 50.0), and environmental (39.7 to 62.7), with the greatest gains observed in physical and psychological domains. Conclusion: The integrative management of post-stroke hemiparesis using individualised homoeopathy and structured yoga as an adjuvant therapy was associated with symptomatic improvement and enhanced quality of life in all three cases. Despite the small sample size and lack of a control group, the findings suggest a potential complementary role of Homoeopathy and yoga in stroke rehabilitation, highlighting the need for further well-designed randomised controlled trials to confirm efficacy and reproducibility.