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Introduction There is some evidence that homeopathic treatment has been used successfully in previous epidemics, and currently some countries are testing homeoprophylaxis for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. There is a strong tradition of homeopathic treatment in India: therefore, we decided to compare three different homeopathic medicines against placebo in prevention of COVID-19 infections. Methods In this double-blind, cluster-randomized, placebo-controlled, four parallel arms, community-based, clinical trial, a 20,000-person sample of the population residing in Ward Number 57 of the Tangra area, Kolkata, was randomized in a 1:1:1:1 ratio of clusters to receive one of three homeopathic medicines (Bryonia alba 30cH, Gelsemium sempervirens 30cH, Phosphorus 30cH) or identical-looking placebo, for 3 (children) or 6 (adults) days. All the participants, who were aged 5 to 75 years, received ascorbic acid (vitamin C) tablets of 500 mg, once per day for 6 days. In addition, instructions on healthy diet and general hygienic measures, including hand washing, social distancing and proper use of mask and gloves, were given to all the participants. Results No new confirmed COVID-19 cases were diagnosed in the target population during the follow-up timeframe of 1 month—December 20, 2020 to January 19, 2021—thus making the trial inconclusive. The Phosphorus group had the least exposure to COVID-19 compared with the other groups. In comparison with placebo, the occurrence of unconfirmed COVID-19 cases was significantly less in the Phosphorus group (week 1: odds ratio [OR], 0.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.06 to 0.16; week 2: OR, 0.004; 95% CI, 0.0002 to 0.06; week 3: OR, 0.007; 95% CI, 0.0004 to 0.11; week 4: OR, 0.009; 95% CI, 0.0006 to 0.14), but not in the Bryonia or Gelsemium groups. Conclusion Overall, the trial was inconclusive. The possible effect exerted by Phosphorus necessitates further investigation. Trial registration: CTRI/2020/11/029265.

Background: Dioscorea villosa is a popular herbal remedy for pains. Early Americans used this to treat colic which is also established in homoeopathic proving and verified clinically along with other important phenomena. Diosgenin is its primary active ingredient. It has been investigated that all possible revealed actions of this plant are due to this ingredient. Objective: The aim of this study is to understand pathological background and prescribing areas of D. villosa by correlating and analyzing Homoeopathic pathogenesis with the knowledge of pathophysiological activities of Diosgenin. Study Method: Information was collected from various researches on animal and human models regarding actions of Diosgenin. Homoeopathic pathogenesis of D. villosa have been studied and analyzed from 'The Guiding Symptoms of our Materia Medica' by C. Hering and also from the experiences of different authors to find pathological background as well as prescribing areas of D. villosa by correlating with the actions of Diosgenin. Result: Diosgenin has prominent action on cholesterol metabolism, hormones (oestrogen and dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA]), inflammations, and allergic activities on animal and human models. These pathological actions of Diosgenin have similarity with the pathological background of homoeopathic pathogenesis of D. villosa . Conclusion: Actions of Diosgenin reflect in the homoeopathic pathogenesis of D. villosa such as altered cholesterol metabolism, irregularity of hormonal (DHEA and estrogen) functions, and anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic phenomena with their related manifestations. Moreover, these might be the underlying pathological essence of this drug.