Individualized Homeopathy in the Treatment of Subungual Onychomycosis: An Evidence-based Case Report

Abstract Onychomycosis is a condition where a fungal infection develops in the nails. Dermatophytes, especially Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton rubrum , are responsible for about 90% of toenail and 75% of fingernail onychomycosis cases. It is marked by nail discoloration, onycholysis, nail plate thickening, and buildup of debris under the nail. It is a common nail condition, accounting for over 50% of all nail-related issues. Antifungal therapy is the standard treatment for onychomycosis. A 23-year-old unmarried, middle-class female person presented to the outpatient department of a Research Institute for Homeopathy, complaining of painful swelling of the nail bed and decaying nail on the middle finger of her left hand in the last 1 month. The case was diagnosed as subungual onychomycosis. The patient was prescribed Thuja occidentalis 200, chosen following a detailed individual case analysis. In the primary outcome, the patient exhibited marked progress and the reduction of the swelling on the nail bed and gradual regrowth of the nail plate were observed. The secondary outcome, The Dermatology Life Quality Index diminished from 16 in baseline to 0 in the 5 th follow-up. Assessment with Modified Naranjo Criteria for Homeopathy was made at the final visit (+8 in “−6 to +13” scale), which suggests that it is highly probable that the patient’s improvement is likely due to the homoeopathic intervention. The present case report indicates that individualized homeopathic treatment effectively managed subungual onychomycosis within a plausible timeframe. Additional case reports, case series, and randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the efficacy of homoeopathy in managing subungual onychomycosis.