Journal of the Australian Traditional-Medicine Society September 2007 Volume 13 Issue 3 Update On Research

Journal of the Australian Traditional-Medicine Society September 2007 Volume 13 Issue 3Update On Research In Homœopathy Robert Medhurst Previous issues of this journal contained summaries of some of the more notable pieces of research carried out on homœopathy and as a means of keeping you up to date on this subject, more of these follow. If you use homœopathy in your clinical practice this sort of information is useful to be aware of. Those of us who practise this modality are often asked to justify it by something other than anecdote, and given the difficulty that orthodox medicine and science has in accepting a mechanism for it, controlled clinical evidence in homœopathy is of great help in being able to do this. Human Studies Frass M, Linkesch M, Banyai S et al. Adjunctive homeo- pathic treatment in patients with severe sepsis: a ran- domized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in an intensive care unit. Homeopathy 2005;94(2):75—80. In this study, 70 people admitted to an intensive care unit suffering from severe sepsis were treated either with individ- ualised homœopathic treatment or placebo. On reviewing the signs of sepsis, organ failures, need for mechanical ventila- tion and other parameters at 180 days after beginning treat- ment, 76% of the patients using homœopathy met survival criteria versus 50% of those on placebo. Frei H, Everts R, von Ammon K et al. Homeopathic treatment of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled crossover trial. Eur J Pediat 2005;164(12):758—767. Eighty-three children diagnosed as suffering from ADHD using DSMIV criteria were treated with individually pre- scribed homœopathic medicines. Using the Connor’s Global Index scale it was determined that 63 of these children responded to treatment. These children were then ran- domised to receive either placebo or homœopathic medi- cines for 6 weeks and at this point were crossed over to receive placebo if they had been using the homœopathics or vice versa. At the end of this period it was found that homœopathic therapy provided significantly better results than placebo. Haila S, Koskinen A, Tenovuo J. Effects of homeopathic treatment on salivary flow rate and subjective symptoms in patients with oral dryness: a randomized trial. Homeopathy 2005;94(3):175—181. In this blind, placebo-controlled study, 28 people diagnosed with xerostomia (dryness of the mouth) were randomly assigned to receive either placebo or individually prescribed homœopathic medicines. Assessed using unstimulated and wax-stimulated salivary flow rates and visual analogue scales at the end of the trial, only 26 of those people using homœopathic treatment and none using placebo were found to have had significant relief. Following the assessment of these results those on placebo were switched to homœopath- ic therapy, after which all experienced relief from their xerostomia. Sevar R. Audit of outcome in 455 consecutive patients treated with homeopathic medicines. Homeopathy 2005;94(4):215—221. This study examined the effect of individualised homœo- pathic treatment of 455 consecutive patients in a homœo- pathic medical clinic who had previously had unsuccessful orthodox medical treatment or were considered to be unsuit- able for orthodox medical treatment. Of these, 67% derived benefit from homœopathic therapy, and 33% were able to stop or maintain a substantial reduction in their pharmaceu- tical drug therapy. Baars EW, De Bruin A. The effect of Gencydo injections on hayfever symptoms: a therapeutic causality report. J Altern Complement Med 2005;11(5):863—869. In this study, 13 Dutch medical practitioners submitted patients (who between them had a mean history of hayfever of 9 years) for therapy involving injections of Gyncedo, a combination homœopathic product. All but one patient were given the medication before the onset of the hayfever season and all were given it during the hayfever season. Of these 13, during the course of the trial 9 people found no increase in nasal and non-nasal hayfever symptoms when the hayfever season began or during it and only 1 of the 13 felt compelled to use conventional hayfever medication. Animal Studies Ruiz-Vega G, Poitevin B, Perez-Ordaz L. Histamine at high dilution reduces spectral density in delta band in sleeping rats. Homeopathy 2005;94(2):86—91. Histamine in material doses is a central nervous system stim- ulant operating via H1 receptors. The researchers in this study examined the effects of histamine in 30C homœopath- ic potency on the sleep patterns of rats. Using the spectral density of the delta band in the sleep electroencephalogram to measure the effects of the remedy, which is higher during periods on non-REM sleep, researchers found that histamine 30C produced an increase in wakefulness when compared to controls. Sukul NC, Ghosh S, Sinhababu SP. Reduction in the number of infective Trichinella spiralis larvae in mice by use of homeopathic drugs. Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd 2005;12(4):202—205. Trichinellosis, a disease caused by Trichinella spiralis which occurs in humans and animals, was the subject of this trial. Mice infected with this organism were given Podophyllum mother tincture, Cina 30C, Santonin 30C, or ethanol 30C as 155 Journal of the Australian Traditional-Medicine Society September 2007 Volume 13 Issue 3 a control substance. After 120 days the mice were examined for the presence of the T. spiralis larvae and this was com- pared with the larval load before therapy. At 120 days the mice given Podophyllum had their larval load reduced by 61% when compared to the control, those given Santonin had a reduction of 81% and the mice given Cina had a reduc- tion of 84%. Aziz DM, Enbergs H. Stimulation of bovine sperm mito- chondrial activity by homeopathic dilutions of monensin. Homeopathy 2005;94(4):229—232. Mitochondrial activity is an important marker for the health of sperm. It is linked to sperm motility and in research labo- ratories monensin is commonly used as an inhibitor for sperm mitochondrial activity. The researchers in this study examined the effects of the 5th to the 14th decimal potencies of monensin on the activity of the mitochondria of sperm taken from mature bulls. All of the potencies produced a stimulatory effect on the bull sperm mitochondrial activity, with the 9X producing the strongest of these effects. Plant Studies Brizzi M, Lazzarato L, Nani D, Borghini F, Peruzzi M, Betti L. A biostatistical insight into the As(2)O(3) high dilution effects on the rate and variability of wheat seedling growth. Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd 2005;12(5):277—283. Wheat seedlings previously stressed with sub-lethal doses of arsenic, a substance known to be lethal to this plant, were treated with various potencies of Arsenicum album (5X, 15X, 25X, 35X and 45X), equivalent potencies of water and- equivalent unsuccussed dilutions of arsenic trioxide. The stem lengths of the seedlings was assessed at day 7 and it Medhurst R. Update on Research in Homœopathy. was found that the 45X potencies of Arsenicum and the water but not the diluted arsenic trioxide induced an increase in seedling height. Binder M, Baumgartner S, Thurneysen A. The effects of a 45x potency of Arsenicum album on wheat seedling growth — a reproduction trial. Forsch Komplement- armed Klass Naturheilkd 2005;12(5):284—291. In a repeat performance of the previous trial, wheat seedlings previously exposed to sub-lethal doses arsenic were cultivat- ed in either Arsenicum album 45X, water 45X or unpoten- tised water, and the seedling height measured at 7 days. The experiment was independently reproduced 8 times and after the results were collated the wheat seedlings cultivated in Arsenicum 45X showed a significant reduction in height when compared to the 2 controls. This is a reversal of results seen in previous studies of this type, but does confirm a reproducible effect of this particular homœopathic medicine under these experimental conditions. In Vitro Studies Oberbaum M, Glatthaar-Saalmüller B, Stolt P, Weiser M. Antiviral activity of Engystol: an in vitro analysis. J Altern Complement Med 2005;11(5):855—862. Cultured tissue cells infected with Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), human rhinovirus (HRV), adeno 5 (A5V) and res- piratory syncitial virus were exposed to Engystol, a homœo- pathic combination product. These cells were then assayed for virus clearance using plaque reduction, virus titration and Elisa methods. The results of these assays showed an 80% reduction in HSV-1 specific proteins, a 73% reduction in A5V specific proteins and a reduction in infectivity of RSV by 37% and HRV by 20%.􏰎 The ATMS Simon Schot Education Grants ($10,000) Proudly sponsored by Marsh (ATMS insurance broker) What is the Purpose of the Grants? The purpose of the grants is to encourage and assist 10 ATMS accredited members to undertake further education in complementary medicine. The grants will subsidise a diploma course or higher qualification course at an ATMS recognised course or a research project in com- plementary medicine at an appropriate tertiary institution. How Do the Grants Work? The grants consist of 10 prizes of $1,000 each. The grants will be paid direct- ly to the institution. The ten winners will be decided by a draw to be held in March 2008. For demographic reasons, no less than 5 winners will be residents of NSW. How To Apply for the Grants? The grants are open to all ATMS Accredited members. To apply send a let- ter to ATMS with your name, address, telephone number, ATMS membership number and the name of the ATMS accredited course or research project you wish to undertake if successful. The winners must com- mence the course no later than 2009. Send your letter to: Simon Schot Education Grant, ATMS, PO Box 1027 Meadowbank NSW 2114 Telephone (02) 9809 6800, fax (02) 9809 7570, email: marie@atms.com.au The deadline to apply for the Education Grants is 1 March 2008 156