Abstract:

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), currently classified under disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBI), represent a substantial global health burden characterised by chronic gastrointestinal symptoms without identifiable structural pathology. Conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional dyspepsia (FD), functional constipation, and functional bloating significantly impair quality of life and impose considerable healthcare costs. Contemporary biomedical understanding recognises the multifactorial nature of these disorders, involving alterations in gut motility, visceral hypersensitivity, intestinal permeability, microbiota dysbiosis, psychosocial factors, and neuroimmune mechanisms.

Homoeopathy approaches FGIDs through the principle of individualisation, wherein treatment selection is based upon the totality of characteristic symptoms rather than diagnostic labels alone. This review critically examines the theoretical foundations of homoeopathic individualisation in FGIDs, explores contemporary evidence from clinical studies, and evaluates therapeutic applications in common functional gastrointestinal disorders. Particular emphasis is placed upon constitutional prescribing, miasmatic considerations, patient-centred symptom analysis, and the integration of psychological and somatic dimensions of disease.

The available literature suggests that individualised homoeopathic treatment may contribute to symptomatic improvement, enhanced quality of life, and reduced healthcare utilisation in selected patients. However, methodological limitations, heterogeneity of study designs, and insufficient large-scale randomised controlled trials continue to challenge definitive conclusions regarding efficacy. Future research should focus on standardised outcome measures, pragmatic clinical trial methodologies, and interdisciplinary models integrating conventional gastroenterology and homoeopathic therapeutics.

Keywords:

Homoeopathy, Individualization, Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Functional Dyspepsia, Gut–Brain Axis, Constitutional Prescribing, Integrative Medicine.

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