Efficacy of Cephalandra indica Mother Tincture (Q) in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Case Series Study

DOI

https://www.doi.org/10.59256/ijrtmr.20260605057

Published In

Volume 6, Issue 5 (2026)

Published Online

September-October 2026

Pages

501-508

Article Type

Thesis

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Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic, progressive metabolic disorder characterised by insulin resistance and declining pancreatic β-cell function, and it accounts for roughly 90–95% of all diabetes worldwide. Sustained glycaemic control remains difficult for many patients, which has stimulated interest in complementary approaches. Cephalandra indica (syn. Coccinia indica / Coccinia grandis), or ivy gourd, is among the mother tinctures most often used in homoeopathic practice for diabetes.Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of Cephalandra indica mother tincture (Q) in the management of T2DM.Methods: A case series was conducted in the institutional outpatient and inpatient departments in Nashik. Thirty consecutive patients with T2DM who met the eligibility criteria were enrolled and treated with Cephalandra indica Q alongside dietary and lifestyle advice. Outcome was assessed by glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) before and after treatment, supported by clinical review at follow-up every 15 days or as required.Results: The 30 patients (19 men, 63.3%; 11 women, 36.7%) were aged 42–68 years, and 27 of 30 (90.0%) were between 41 and 60 years. All were married. Mean HbA1c fell from 8.23% to 6.49%, an absolute reduction of 1.74 percentage points (21.1%). Twenty-two patients (73.3%) improved and 8 (26.7%) did not. Improvement rates were similar in men (73.7%) and women (72.7%), and across the age groups 41–50 (75.0%), 51–60 (73.3%) and 61–70 years (66.7%). The mean fall in HbA1c was 2.14 points in improved patients and 0.64 points in non-improved patients. Conclusion: In this case series, most patients with T2DM showed a lower HbA1c during treatment with Cephalandra indica Q. Because there was no control group, patients were often on conventional drugs, and the sample was small, the findings suggest a possible supportive role but do not establish cause. Larger controlled studies with longer follow-up are needed.