Unmasking Warts: A Critical Review of Homoeopathic Research

Harpreet Kaur; Neha Pandey

Harpreet Kaur Research Officer/Scientist-1, Dr. D. P. Rastogi Central Research Institute for Homoeopathy, Noida, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, India https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5059-5181
Neha Pandey S.R.F (H), Dr. D. P. Rastogi Central Research Institute for Homoeopathy, Noida, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, India https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5059-5181

Abstract

Background: Warts are benign proliferations caused by human papilloma virus (HPV), affecting a substantial portion of the population and frequently resistant to conventional therapies. Homoeopathy has long been employed in their management. This review synthesizes clinical evidence from randomized controlled trials, observational studies, case series, and case reports on homoeopathic interventions for warts.

Materials and Methods: A structured search of published literature was undertaken. Thirteen studies met the criteria, including randomized controlled trials, observational studies, case series, and individual case reports. Data on study design, patient profile, remedies prescribed, potencies, treatment duration, outcome assessment, and follow-up were extracted and analyzed.

Results: Thirteen studies were reviewed. Early observational research documented high clearance rates with individualized prescriptions. A large randomized trial using a fixed combination of remedies found no difference compared to placebo, while a later pilot randomized trial employing individualized prescribing showed encouraging trends. Numerous case series and reports documented consistent and rapid resolution with individualized prescriptions such as Thuja, Causticum, Natrummuriaticum, Calcareaphosphorica, Medorrhinum, and others. Several recent cases employed MONARCH causality assessment, confirming definite or probable causal relationships. Reported treatment durations ranged from one to three months, with many studies noting absence of recurrence on long-term follow-up.

Conclusion: Homoeopathy appears promising in the management of warts, with encouraging results in observational and case-based literature. However, randomized controlled evidence remains limited and inconsistent. Larger multicenter trials using individualized prescribing and standardized outcome measures are essential to establish definitive efficacy.

Keywords: Warts, Human papilloma virus, Homoeopathy, Clinical trials, Case reports

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