As the spread of COVID-19 has slowed its burn through the Navajo Nation, several Indigenous filmmakers and creators have managed to complete part of the production of a documentary. (Copy)

Healing Modality

Through pandemic, Indigenous creators film documentary about the parallels of homeopathy and traditional methods for holistic healing on Navajo Nation Donald Denetdeal is the primary consultant for the documentary on the Navajo holistic perspective of healing. | Jai Antonio

By Katherine Lewin

| September 29

Help keep local journalism fighting for you. Donate today to Friends of the Reporter.

As the spread of COVID-19 has slowed its burn through the Navajo Nation, several Indigenous filmmakers and creators have managed to complete part of the production of a documentary. Its focus is even more relevant in today's modern pandemic life: the striking parallels between homeopathy and traditional Navajo healing practices and how homeopathy could be used as another mode of healing on the reservation.

Hózhóogo Iiná—Homeopathy for Indigenous America, directed and produced by Leahn Cox and funded by donations to GoFundMe and a John Pinto Grant from the New Mexico Film Office, is both a personal and professional endeavor.

Cox is a member of the Navajo Nation who grew up in Gallup, though she now lives and works in Santa Fe. Her upbringing as a Diné woman and her experience and education in homeopathy and other healing arts drove her to start the project, which she plans to screen in chapter houses across the Navajo Nation, as well as in Albuquerque and border towns.

"I definitely have had interest in bringing homeopathy and making it more available in places with limited access to these types of alternative resources, particularly now in the Navajo Nation," Cox tells SFR. "I have been trying to offer [homeopathy] where I live, where I'm from, and to family members. But there's so much confusion and so that's one reason the film, I think, could put it in terms of understanding it in the sense of talking about ancient Indigenous knowledge."

Read more

x

The GoFundMe has raised $2,475 of a $20,000 goal. The state grant named after a late Navajo senator gave the project $5,000, which has funded the bulk of the work. Cox aims to raise at least another $5,000 to pay for an animator for a portion of Hózhóogo Iiná. She also hopes to turn it into a larger project where she explores the use of homeopathy in other Indigenous communities across North America.

Germans developed homeopathic medicine over 200 years ago, and based it on two main premises: that a disease can be cured by a substance that produces similar symptoms in healthy people and that the lower the dose of the medication, the greater its effectiveness, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. The medicines used in homeopathy come from plants, animals and minerals.

The fundamentals of homeopathy tie in neatly with Navajo traditional healing practices, Cox says.

"Homeopathy is about this vibrational signature of substances in the environment and you take it and inspire your own vitality to heal," Cox says. "So through ancient knowledge you have…this understanding there's an inner spirit form in our environment and that when you really understand that you use that knowledge for healing."

Cox interviews several people in Hózhóogo Iiná to get the connection across to viewers. Donald Denetdeal, one of the interviewees, is also the primary consultant for the project on the Navajo holistic perspective. Denetdeal is a retired professor of Navajo Studies from Diné College. In the documentary, he discusses the Navajo idea that an inner spirit existing within everything in nature is what's doing the healing, just as homeopathy recognizes an energy form in plants and other elements.

But Hózhóogo Iiná is about more than just the parallels between the two healing modalities, one formed many thousands of miles away and another here in the Southwest. The documentary intends to explore, in a practical way, the potential of the use of homeopathy on the Navajo Nation as well as to increase Indigenous peoples' interest in their own traditional healing.

"In this time of increasing health inequality and especially now, in quarantine, we have had to start thinking of utilizing the wisdom of our heritage when it comes to healing our communities," says project photographer and editor Dax Thomas, whose heritage is of Acoma and Laguna pueblos and who now lives and works in Laguna Pueblo.

"With homeopathy there is an inherent respect for nature and a holistic perspective that is certainly compatible with our traditional methods of healing. It could provide safe and effective solutions, especially in our rural areas where there are less options and a primary reliance on [Indian Health Service]. It supports self sufficiency—as we return to healing with nature around us—using
herbs, prayers."

As the spread of COVID-19 has slowed its burn through the Navajo Nation, several Indigenous filmmakers and creators have managed to complete part of the production of a documentary. (Copy)

Healing Modality

Through pandemic, Indigenous creators film documentary about the parallels of homeopathy and traditional methods for holistic healing on Navajo Nation Donald Denetdeal is the primary consultant for the documentary on the Navajo holistic perspective of healing. | Jai Antonio

By Katherine Lewin

| September 29

Help keep local journalism fighting for you. Donate today to Friends of the Reporter.

As the spread of COVID-19 has slowed its burn through the Navajo Nation, several Indigenous filmmakers and creators have managed to complete part of the production of a documentary. Its focus is even more relevant in today's modern pandemic life: the striking parallels between homeopathy and traditional Navajo healing practices and how homeopathy could be used as another mode of healing on the reservation.

Hózhóogo Iiná—Homeopathy for Indigenous America, directed and produced by Leahn Cox and funded by donations to GoFundMe and a John Pinto Grant from the New Mexico Film Office, is both a personal and professional endeavor.

Cox is a member of the Navajo Nation who grew up in Gallup, though she now lives and works in Santa Fe. Her upbringing as a Diné woman and her experience and education in homeopathy and other healing arts drove her to start the project, which she plans to screen in chapter houses across the Navajo Nation, as well as in Albuquerque and border towns.

"I definitely have had interest in bringing homeopathy and making it more available in places with limited access to these types of alternative resources, particularly now in the Navajo Nation," Cox tells SFR. "I have been trying to offer [homeopathy] where I live, where I'm from, and to family members. But there's so much confusion and so that's one reason the film, I think, could put it in terms of understanding it in the sense of talking about ancient Indigenous knowledge."

Read more

x

The GoFundMe has raised $2,475 of a $20,000 goal. The state grant named after a late Navajo senator gave the project $5,000, which has funded the bulk of the work. Cox aims to raise at least another $5,000 to pay for an animator for a portion of Hózhóogo Iiná. She also hopes to turn it into a larger project where she explores the use of homeopathy in other Indigenous communities across North America.

Germans developed homeopathic medicine over 200 years ago, and based it on two main premises: that a disease can be cured by a substance that produces similar symptoms in healthy people and that the lower the dose of the medication, the greater its effectiveness, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. The medicines used in homeopathy come from plants, animals and minerals.

The fundamentals of homeopathy tie in neatly with Navajo traditional healing practices, Cox says.

"Homeopathy is about this vibrational signature of substances in the environment and you take it and inspire your own vitality to heal," Cox says. "So through ancient knowledge you have…this understanding there's an inner spirit form in our environment and that when you really understand that you use that knowledge for healing."

Cox interviews several people in Hózhóogo Iiná to get the connection across to viewers. Donald Denetdeal, one of the interviewees, is also the primary consultant for the project on the Navajo holistic perspective. Denetdeal is a retired professor of Navajo Studies from Diné College. In the documentary, he discusses the Navajo idea that an inner spirit existing within everything in nature is what's doing the healing, just as homeopathy recognizes an energy form in plants and other elements.

But Hózhóogo Iiná is about more than just the parallels between the two healing modalities, one formed many thousands of miles away and another here in the Southwest. The documentary intends to explore, in a practical way, the potential of the use of homeopathy on the Navajo Nation as well as to increase Indigenous peoples' interest in their own traditional healing.

"In this time of increasing health inequality and especially now, in quarantine, we have had to start thinking of utilizing the wisdom of our heritage when it comes to healing our communities," says project photographer and editor Dax Thomas, whose heritage is of Acoma and Laguna pueblos and who now lives and works in Laguna Pueblo.

"With homeopathy there is an inherent respect for nature and a holistic perspective that is certainly compatible with our traditional methods of healing. It could provide safe and effective solutions, especially in our rural areas where there are less options and a primary reliance on [Indian Health Service]. It supports self sufficiency—as we return to healing with nature around us—using
herbs, prayers."

As the spread of COVID-19 has slowed its burn through the Navajo Nation, several Indigenous filmmakers and creators have managed to complete part of the production of a documentary. (Copy)

Healing Modality

Through pandemic, Indigenous creators film documentary about the parallels of homeopathy and traditional methods for holistic healing on Navajo Nation Donald Denetdeal is the primary consultant for the documentary on the Navajo holistic perspective of healing. | Jai Antonio

By Katherine Lewin

| September 29

Help keep local journalism fighting for you. Donate today to Friends of the Reporter.

As the spread of COVID-19 has slowed its burn through the Navajo Nation, several Indigenous filmmakers and creators have managed to complete part of the production of a documentary. Its focus is even more relevant in today's modern pandemic life: the striking parallels between homeopathy and traditional Navajo healing practices and how homeopathy could be used as another mode of healing on the reservation.

Hózhóogo Iiná—Homeopathy for Indigenous America, directed and produced by Leahn Cox and funded by donations to GoFundMe and a John Pinto Grant from the New Mexico Film Office, is both a personal and professional endeavor.

Cox is a member of the Navajo Nation who grew up in Gallup, though she now lives and works in Santa Fe. Her upbringing as a Diné woman and her experience and education in homeopathy and other healing arts drove her to start the project, which she plans to screen in chapter houses across the Navajo Nation, as well as in Albuquerque and border towns.

"I definitely have had interest in bringing homeopathy and making it more available in places with limited access to these types of alternative resources, particularly now in the Navajo Nation," Cox tells SFR. "I have been trying to offer [homeopathy] where I live, where I'm from, and to family members. But there's so much confusion and so that's one reason the film, I think, could put it in terms of understanding it in the sense of talking about ancient Indigenous knowledge."

Read more

x

The GoFundMe has raised $2,475 of a $20,000 goal. The state grant named after a late Navajo senator gave the project $5,000, which has funded the bulk of the work. Cox aims to raise at least another $5,000 to pay for an animator for a portion of Hózhóogo Iiná. She also hopes to turn it into a larger project where she explores the use of homeopathy in other Indigenous communities across North America.

Germans developed homeopathic medicine over 200 years ago, and based it on two main premises: that a disease can be cured by a substance that produces similar symptoms in healthy people and that the lower the dose of the medication, the greater its effectiveness, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. The medicines used in homeopathy come from plants, animals and minerals.

The fundamentals of homeopathy tie in neatly with Navajo traditional healing practices, Cox says.

"Homeopathy is about this vibrational signature of substances in the environment and you take it and inspire your own vitality to heal," Cox says. "So through ancient knowledge you have…this understanding there's an inner spirit form in our environment and that when you really understand that you use that knowledge for healing."

Cox interviews several people in Hózhóogo Iiná to get the connection across to viewers. Donald Denetdeal, one of the interviewees, is also the primary consultant for the project on the Navajo holistic perspective. Denetdeal is a retired professor of Navajo Studies from Diné College. In the documentary, he discusses the Navajo idea that an inner spirit existing within everything in nature is what's doing the healing, just as homeopathy recognizes an energy form in plants and other elements.

But Hózhóogo Iiná is about more than just the parallels between the two healing modalities, one formed many thousands of miles away and another here in the Southwest. The documentary intends to explore, in a practical way, the potential of the use of homeopathy on the Navajo Nation as well as to increase Indigenous peoples' interest in their own traditional healing.

"In this time of increasing health inequality and especially now, in quarantine, we have had to start thinking of utilizing the wisdom of our heritage when it comes to healing our communities," says project photographer and editor Dax Thomas, whose heritage is of Acoma and Laguna pueblos and who now lives and works in Laguna Pueblo.

"With homeopathy there is an inherent respect for nature and a holistic perspective that is certainly compatible with our traditional methods of healing. It could provide safe and effective solutions, especially in our rural areas where there are less options and a primary reliance on [Indian Health Service]. It supports self sufficiency—as we return to healing with nature around us—using
herbs, prayers."

Flu pandemics: homeopathic prophylaxis and definition of the epidemic genius (Copy)

Int J High Dilution Res 2009; 8(28): 100-109

Original Article

Flu pandemics: homeopathic prophylaxis and definition of the epidemic genius

Renan Marino

Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, FAMERP, São Paulo, Brazil

ABSTRACT

Recent studies on viral genetics establish swine-H1N1 – responsible for the ongoing pandemics – as a remainder or continuation of the agent causing the flu epidemics of 1918. This study aimed at analyzing whether this common etiology also result in significant correlations of clinical manifestations. To do so, data were collected to compare the clinical evolution of cases in the 1918 and 2009 epidemics. This historical revision was the ground for evaluating the response to treatment including homeopathy in the former epidemics. It is discussed the convenience of including homeopathic prophylaxis grounded on the diagnosis of the epidemic genius among public health actions.

Keywords: Homeopathy; Collective health; Epidemics; Influenza A – H1N1. Introduction

The Italian term Influenza was first used in 1743 to indicate the probable etiology (“Influenza del freddo”: Influence of coldness) of a respiratory illness that fast affected a large number of people during the winter. Grippe (French), Greifen (German), Flu (English) and Cripu (Russian) are used to designate this universal, severe pandemic infectious disease that bursts out after irregular and relatively long periods of time (20-40 years or more). [1]

Recent data indicate that ongoing Hog Flu actually had its epicenter in the United States in 1918 from where it spread to Europe to become known as Morbus ibericus or Spanish Flu. Its viral etiology could only be established in 1933, when Smith, Andrews and Laidlaw were able to verify Koch’s postulates reproducing the picture of flu in ferrets and white mice after nasal instillation of clinical materials of human origin. [2]

The new subtype of Influenza virus A-H1N1 was classified by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) as A/California/04/2009, a representative of a triple rearrangement of human, aviary and swine genes. [3] Genetic analysis of isolated California virus showing the direct relationship between swine variant H1N1 and the 1918 epidemics certainly results in clinical developments and implications that are discussed below. [4]

Characteristic symptoms of Influenza A-H1N1 then and now: piecing the puzzle together

Retrospective studies show that pandemic cycles present high mortality in their remission or second wave, which appears 6 months – 1 year after the occurrence of the initial, and usually moderated, cases [5]. Regarding the clinical manifestations observed during the Spanish Flu, our reference are the archives researched by Coutinho [1], which include the detailed description of signs and symptoms that he classified as described in Table 1.

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The search for common points can be achieved from the comparison of the clinical characteristics of the former epidemics as described above and the clinical manifestations of the ongoing epidemics as described in June 2009. To do so, data supplied by SINAN (Information System of Disease Notification) of the Brazilian Ministry of Health (MS) were analyzed, using as sample 378 confirmed cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome due to Influenza A-H1N1 occurring until the epidemiologic week 29/2009. [6] As relevant, we highlighted sudden fever of 39oC, with dry and continual cough leading to intense dyspnea and facial cyanosis, chills, general muscle and joint pain, besides contuse headache, extreme prostration fast progressing into cardiovascular failure with hypotension and shock.

Table 1: Symptoms of Spanish Flu [1]

Int J High Dilution Res 2009; 8(28): 100-109

Stage/ Organs or systems affected

Synoptic description of signs and symptoms of human Influenza, 1918

Prodrome

Lassitude, the body feels as after prolonged and exhausting exertion, with physical and mental depression, sudden high fever and intense headache. Joints and muscular pain, mainly in the calves and lumbar area, sweating and morbiliform rash in 30% of cases.

Eyes and rhinopharynx

Frequent sneezing with nasal obstruction and discharge, dryness and itch in the throat with dry, whooping, frequent and painful cough. Slight catarrhal conjunctivitis, pale face and cyanosis around the mouth; frequent epistaxis.

Respiratory and thorax

Lung congestion especially in the base, bilateral, with dyspnea due to intense bronchospasm, intense whooping-like cough with hemoptysis.

Gastrointestinal

Hiccups, nausea and incoercible vomiting, sialorrhea, abdominal pain around the navel with mucous/bloody diarrhea.

Neurological

Headache, vertigo, neuralgia; modification of the level of consciousness in different degrees, mental confusion, torpor, somnolence.

In order to manage data arising from different sources and to better understand the global dimension of the clinical parameters of the pandemics, we included the report of 18 Mexican cases from which 7 died (39%), where there was fever, cough and dyspnea in 100% of cases, sudden onset (72%), hemoptysis (33%), hypotension and hypoventilation (more than 50%), stressing furthermore the occurrence of diarrhea only in children (22%). Lymphocytopenia with less than 1,000 cells (61%), increase of CPK (creatine phosphokinase) (72%) and LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) (100%) were the main laboratory parameters verified. [7]

We also sought to define the 5 main risk factors among the Brazilian population, on the grounds of the 222 patients monitored until epidemiologic week 28/2009/MS/SINAN [8]: 1) pregnancy – representing the group with higher mortality risk associated with hemorrhagic phenomena, placental abruption, hypoventilation and shock; 2) lung disease; 3) arterial hypertension; 4) heart disease; 5) immune depression.

The clinical comparison of Spanish Flu (1918), Mexico (2009) and Brazil (2009) makes evident the strict correlation of symptoms among them, a fact of high relevance as it also allows making a retrospective evaluation of the outcomes of homeopathic treatment between 1918 and 1920 which can supply reliable criteria to face the ongoing pandemics.

Foundations of homeopathic prophylaxis

Preventive use of homeopathy was first applied in 1801 during an epidemics of scarlet fever in Königslütter, Germany, when Samuel Hahnemann – the founder of homeopathy – prescribed a single dose of Belladona, as the remedy of the epidemic genius to susceptible children in the town with 100% success [9]. Homeopathic

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prophylaxis is grounded on the ability of homeopathic remedies to avoid or attenuate manifestations of disease when chosen according to the principle of similarity. According to authors such as Trousseau and Tetau it is also grounded on the notion of “terrain” and inheritance that would include the set of individual factors related to the constitution, predisposition and refractoriness to disease and metabolism[10]. Eizayaga sustains that homeopathic remedies increase individual unspecific resistance to infections, whereas nosodes increase specific immunity regarding definite etiologic agents[11]. Ullman attributes the prestige of homeopathy in Europe and the United States in the 19th century to its success in the treatment of epidemics. [12]

Antecedents of the use of homeopathy in the pandemics Influenza A-H1N1 (1918)

Pandemics continued to cause high mortality in the 20th century: the Spanish Flu claimed 20-40 million victims, the Asiatic Flu – H2N2 (1957), 1 million and the Hong Kong Flu – H3N2 (1968), 700 thousand. [13]

In this study, we restricted historical revision of the use of homeopathy in epidemics to pandemics of human Influenza. As sources, we employed Winston’s major study on the use of homeopathy in 1918 epidemics [14], while establishing as criteria the selection of rigorously verified data - through historic and scientific documents and ratified by official sources – we focused on Dewey’s paper (cited in Winston) [15], published in 1921 in the Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy with the title “Homeopathy in Influenza: A Chorus of Fifty in Harmony”.

At that time, Dewey was professor of materia medica and therapeutics at Michigan University, which acquainted him with academic standards, so that he recorded with utmost care data highly significant for our research as exhibited in Table 2.

Table 2: Data mentioned by Dewey

Int J High Dilution Res 2009; 8(28): 100-109

Cases of human Influenza treated with homeopathy in 1918

Source

Place

Total number of patients

Mortality rate

Pearson, W. A.

Philadelphia

26.795

1,05%

30 doctors from several cities

Connecticut

6.602

1%

Wieland, F.

Chicago

8.000

0,01%

Sappington, E. F. (Homeopathic Medical Society)

District of Columbia (Washington)

50.000

0,01%

McCann, T.A.

Dayton, Ohio

1.000

0%

Outcomes of patients treated with homeopathy are remarkable, especially when compared with those of patients treated exclusively with conventional remedies, as e.g. a group of 24,000 patients in Ohio, where mortality was 28.2%. It is particularly noteworthy the comment of F. Wieland, from Chicago, on the use of Gelsemium during the epidemics, which according to him “was virtually the only remedy prescribed” [16].

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Int J High Dilution Res 2009; 8(28): 100-109

Hughes’ contribution: a map leading to the “eye of the hurricane”, or how to actually find the epidemic genius

Although to find the epidemic genius repertory analysis of the most remarkable, rare, strange and peculiar symptoms present in most cases during an epidemics may have some success, it is needed to resist the seduction of simple arithmetic additions, as this perhaps is the chief reason of mistakes in the diagnosis of the epidemic genius.

Richard Hughes, a leading representative of 19th century homeopathy believed that the selection of a remedy ought not to be grounded only on subjective symptoms, but rather on the characteristic nucleus of the symptomatic picture that was mandatorily expressed in the pathological effects experimentally verified in human beings and animals [17]. By the same token, he sustained that together with the principle of similarity, also pathology ought to be taken into account. For this reason, between 1884 and 1890, with the collaboration of Dake, he subjected the homeopathic materia medica to revision and depuration, which resulted in his 4-volume A Cyclopaedia of Drug Pathogenesy. Besides excluding purely clinic symptoms he emphasized provings conducted with low dilutions, i.e. below 6cH in order to obtain highly reliable data [17].

“Hughes’ filter” – a tool seeking to ensure that the selected remedy is necessary and sufficient to pharmacologically minimize the physiopathology of an illness sought to prevent or heal – is extremely useful when candidates for epidemic genus are many, as in the case of the ongoing flu epidemics, were possible remedies include Aconitum napellus, Bryonia alba, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Influenzinum, Phosphorus and Rhus toxicodendron among others besides Ipecacuanha. Application of “Hughes’ Filter” results in the peremptory indication of Ipecacuanha, on the grounds of the unmistakable specificity of its pattern of medicinal dynamics as it is shown below.

Grounds for the diagnosis of Ipecacuanha as epidemic genius in the ongoing Influenza A-H1N1 pandemics

Data on Ipecacuanaha agree among the different sources of the homeopathic materia medica beginning from Hahnemann’s initial Fragmenta de viribus medicamentorum... published in 1805 [18]. Phatak’s materia medica was selected as an example to deepen the study of the general action of this remedy, which includes: continual nausea, hemorrhages and frightening respiratory disturbs always accompanying most symptoms, such as bleeding gastrointestinal disorders; severe prostration with alteration of the level of consciousness; seizures and tetanus-like spasms complete the picture of symptoms. [19] It must be highlighted that aggravation occurs by both cold and heat, whereas this extraordinary hypersensitiveness to extreme modalities of temperature [20], although uncommon, has a direct relationship to the persistence of cases of Influenza A-H1N1, even in the lack of low temperatures, which leads us to conclude that these are instances not only of “Influenza del freddo” but also of “Influenza del caldo”, manifesting a recently acquired ability of the present time mutant virus.

Regarding the high mortality rate among pregnant women, Phatak highlights profuse hemorrhages gushing out, with nausea, tachypnea, constant abdominal pain in the hypogastrium, stitches from the navel to the uterus, placenta previa and uterine prolapse.

The objective sequence of symptoms composing the physiopathologic and pathogenetic picture of Ipecacuanha must be seen as a dynamic picture, comprehending the extension of symptoms such as intense headache from the nape to the root of the tongue, with sensation as from a wound, as if the head had been beaten by blows, with nausea and cold sweating on the face, constriction of the chest and the larynx, with incessant, exhausting and violent cough at each breath, which makes the patient become stiff and cyanotic on the face,

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with uncontrollable hemoptysis, extenuated and almost unconscious, febrile and often evolving to bronchopneumonia, shock and death [19].

For reasons we ignore, Ipecacuanha is not listed anymore among the best remembered remedies by homeopaths. However, it was included in the first list of 24 polycrest remedies made by Hahnemann, i.e. remedies “which have many indications” [10].

The contribution of experimentation of Ipecacuanha in animals

Uraoga, ou Cephaelis ipecacuanha Swartz (Figure 1) is a plant native to center-west Brazil; a small shrub of 20-40 cm height, its chemical composition includes catechols (ipecacuanic acid), nitrogen heterosides, glycoproteins with allergenic properties and mainly about 3% isoquinoline alkaloids, among which emetine (60-75%). Its active principles are mainly concentrated in the dried root, which is the part used in the preparation of the remedy [21].

Figure 1: Uragoga Ipecacuanha [22]

Records of experimentation of Ipecacuanha in animals (frogs and rabbits) mainly express disorders attributed to emetine, such as hemorrhage, depression of the myocardium, pulmonary congestion, pneumonia and vomiting, among others. [23] (Figure 2)

Int J High Dilution Res 2009; 8(28): 100-109

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Int J High Dilution Res 2009; 8(28): 100-109

Figure 2: Records of experimentation of Ipecacuanha in animal [23]. 105

Use of remedies synergically associated in epidemics constitutes an interesting resource and besides acknowledged by experienced practitioners, it is justified in order to widen the scope of action resulting in higher effectiveness [10]. Therefore, in the current circumstance, it seems pertinent to add to Ipecacuanha – selected as epidemic genius – a second remedy arising from the application of the criterion of etiopathogenic similarity, viz. nosode Influenzinum – in fact nosode of H1N1 would be better indicated. Despite it is prepared from antigenic variant H2N2 (Asiatic Flu, 1958), it is still indicated according to Kent’s remark in Lection XXIX: “prophylaxis requires a lesser degree of similarity than the one needed to heal” [24].

Gelsemium sempervirens can also be added, as a complementary of Ipecacuanha [25] in order to strengthen the effect of the prescription during the prodrome, increasing in this way the prophylactic value of the complex.

Moreover, in a paper presented to the I Panamerican Congress of Homeopathy in 1977 dealing with “Prophylaxis of infectious diseases in the first months of life with homeopathic nosodes”, Castro mentioned that during the 1918 flu epidemics, Gelsemium was the epidemic genius, whereas during the 1957 epidemics, Influenzinum prepared by Nelson Laboratory in London was prescribed with success [26].

Table 3 describes more details of the abovementioned remedies.

Table 3: Basic data of the remedies included in the complex [27]

Int J High Dilution Res 2009; 8(28): 100-109

Validity of the use of homeopathic complexes in epidemics

Influenzinum (nosode)

Gelsemium sempervirens

Ipecacuanha

Source:

Flu vaccination prepared by Pasteur Institute, consisting in a mixtre of 3 parts of culture of Asian virus A- Singapour I-1957 and 1 part of culture of European virus APR-8

Source:

Fresh rhizome.

Original habitat:

North America Famíly: Loganiaceae

Vulgar names: Yellow Jessamine, Evening Trumpetflower

Source:

Dry root collected before blossoming. Original habitat: Brazil
Famíly: Rubiaceae

Scientific name: Cephaelis ipecacuanha Swartz

Pathogenetic trial [33]

Pathogenetic trial [34]

Pathogentic trial [35]

Regarding indications found in homeopathic repertories related to the use of Influenzinum, Gelsemium sempervirens and Ipecacuanha in Influenza, we found mentions in Boericke [28] and Farias Dias [29].

106

Prejudice or ignorance are not valid reasons to rule out homeopathic prophylaxis as an adjuvant tool in the fight against resurgent epidemics but conversely, rejection implies in dismissing logic, evidence and scientific neutrality itself.

The scope and effectiveness of application of homeopathy in collective health has been strongly hinted at, more recently in the control of dengue in Macaé, Rio de Janeiro and São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil [32].

The Brazilian health system is in state of alert facing the impact of the flu pandemics; to approach successfully this crisis it is legitimate to include the homeopathic model in the strategy adopted by the Ministry of Health.

In public health, when a homeopathic remedy is preventively prescribed in single doses, the choice of the dilution is a significant technical factor, strictly dependent on the projected repetition of the medicinal stimulus. In the current condition, for the effect of the stimulus to last at least 3 months, the most indicated dilution is 12cH.

References:

[1] Coutinho E. Tratado de Clínica das Doenças Infectuosas e Parasitárias. Rio de Janeiro: Livraria Pimenta de Mello & C; 1939.

[2] Bier O. Bacteriologia e Imunologia. 18th ed. São Paulo: Edições Melhoramentos; 1977.

[3] US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Swine-origin influenza A-H1N1 virus infections in a school - New York City. MMWR. 2009 Apr; 58 (Dispatch): 1-3.

[4] Mossad SB. The resurgence of swine-origin influenza A (H1N1). Cleve Clin J Med. 2009; 76(6): 337-343. [5] Jordan EO. Epidemic influenza: A survey. Chicago: American Medical Association; 1927.

[6] Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Informe Epidemiológico: Influenza A (H1N1). 2nd ed. [cited 2009 jul]. Available from: www.portal.saude.gov.br/portal/arquivos/pdf/informe_influenza_a_h1n1_31_07_2009.pdf.

[7] Padilla RP, Zamboni DR, Leon SP, Hernandez M, Falconi FQ, Bautista E, Venegas AR, Serrano JR, Ormsby CE, Corrales A, Higuera A, Mondragon E, Villalobos JAC. Pneumonia and Respiratory Failure from Swine-Origin Influenza A (H1N1) in Mexico. N Engl J Med. 2009; 361(7): 680-689

[8] Boletim Eletrônico Epidemiológico. Situação epidemiológica da nova influenza A (H1N1) no Brasil, Influenza – Edição Especial. 2009 Jul 23; Ano 09: no 02. Available from: www.portal.saude.gov.br/portal/arquivos/pdf/boletim_epidemiologico_influenza_23_072009.pdf

[9] Hahnemann S. Organon da arte de curar. 6th ed. Ribeirão Preto: Museu de Homeopatia Abrahão Brickmann; 1996.

[10] Kossak-Romanach A. Homeopatia em 1000 conceitos. São Paulo: Elcid; 1984.

[11] Eizayaga FX. Tratado de Medicina Homeopática. 3th ed. Buenos Aires: Ediciones Marecel; 1992.

[12] Ullman D. Homeopatia: medicina para o século XXI. São Paulo: Cultrix; 1988.

[13] Zimmer SM, Burke DS. Historical Perspective - Emergence of Influenza A (H1N1) Viruses. N Engl J Med. 2009 jul 16; 361(3): 279-285.

[14] Winston J. The Faces of Homeopathy: An Illustrated History of the First 200 Years. Tawa: Great Awk Publishing; 1998.

[15] Dewey WA. Homeopathy in Influenza: A Chorus of Fifty in Harmony. Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy. 1921; 13: 1028-1043

[16] Grimes M. Important for Swine Flu Epidemic: Homeopathy Successfully Treated Flu Epidemic of 1918 [homepage]. 2009-[publish in 2009 Apr 28, cited 2009 Sep 21]. Available from: www.naturalnews.com/z026148_homeopathy_epidemic_flu_epidemic.html.

Int J High Dilution Res 2009; 8(28): 100-109

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107

[17] Campbell A. As duas faces da homeopatia. Rio de Janeiro: Matéria Médica; 1991.

[18] Galhardo JER. Iniciação Homeopática. Rio de Janeiro: Typ E Sondermann; 1936.

[19] Phatak SR. Matéria Médica de Medicinas Homeopáticas. New Delhi: B Jain Publishers; 1994.

[20] Duprat H. A Teoria e a Técnica da Homeopatia. Rio de Janeiro: Gráfica Olímpica Editora Ltda; 1974.

[21] Guermonprez M, Pinkas M, Torck M. Matière médicale homeopathique. Paris: Doin; 1985.

[22] Schultz A R. Introdução ao Estudo da Botânica Sistemática. 2nd ed. Porto Alegre: Livraria do Globo; 1943.

[23] Hughes R, Dake JP. Cyclopaedia of drug pathogenesy. Vol III. London/New York: British Homeopathic Society/Boericke & Tafel; 1888.

[24] Kent JT. Filosofia Homeopática - Trad de Ruth Kelson. São Paulo: Robe Editorial; 1996.

[25] Cairo N. Guia de Medicina Homeopática. 21th ed. São Paulo: Livraria Teixeira; 1984.

[26] Castro D. Homeopatia e profilaxia. São Paulo: Cultrix; 1988.

[27] Soares AAD. Dicionário de Medicamentos Homeopáticos. São Paulo: Livraria Santos Editora; 2000.

[28] Boericke W. Repertório Homeopático do Dr. Boericke. 4th ed em Português. Rio de Janeiro: Copyright Benjamim B Fraenkel; 1991.

[29] Dias AF. Repertório Homeopático Essencial. Rio de Janeiro: Cultura Médica; 2001.

[30] IPCC, 2007: Summary for Policymakers. In: Parry ML, Canziani OF, Palutikof JP, van der Linden PJ, Hanson CE, editors. Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Camvridge: Cambridge University Press. 2007. 7-22.

[31] Janeway Jr, Charles A. Imunobiologia: o sistema imunológico na saúde e na doença. 2nd ed. Porto Alegre: Artes Médicas; 1997.

[32] Nunes LAS. Contribution of homeopathy to the control of an outbreak of dengue in Macaé, Rio de Janeiro. Int J High Dilution Res [online]. 2008 [cited 2009 Sep 22]; 7(25): 186-192. Available from: http://www.feg.unesp.br/~ojs/index.php/ijhdr/article/view/315/374.

[33] Cartier F. Traité complet de thérapeutique homéopathique. Paris: Baillière et fils; 1929. [34] Douglas JS. West Journal of Homeopathy, 1: 1, 1853.

[35] Hahnemann CFS. Fragmenta de viribus medicamentorum positivis in sano corpore humano observatis, 2 teile. Leipzig: J A Barth; 1805.

Pandemia de gripe: homeoprofilaxia e definição do gênio epidêmico

RESUMO

Estudos recentes de genética viral estabelecem o vírus H1N1 suíno – responsável pela atual pandemia – como remanente ou continuação do agente que produziu a epidemia de gripe de 1918. Este estudo visou analisar se esta etiologia comum também se acompanha de correlação significativa das manifestações clínicas. Para tanto, foram coletados dados a fim de comparar a evolução clínica nos casos nas epidemias de 1918 e 2009. Esta revisão histórica foi a base para avaliar a resposta ao tratamento, incluindo o homeopático, na epidemia passada. Discute-se a conveniência de incluir homeoprofilaxia entre as medidas de saúde pública, com base no diagnóstico do gênio epidêmico.

Palavras chave: homeopatia; saúde coletiva; epidemias; influenza A-H1N1.

Int J High Dilution Res 2009; 8(28): 100-109

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RESUMEN

Pandemia de gripe: profilaxis homeopática y definición del genio epidémico

Estudios recientes de genética viral establecen el virus H1N1 porcino – responsable por la pandemia actual – como remanente o continuación del agente que provocó la epidemia de gripe de 1918. Este estudio buscó analizar si esta etiología en común también se acompaña por correlación significativa de las manifestaciones clínicas. Con este fin, fueron recogidos datos con el propósito de comparar la evolución clínica en casos de las epidemias de 1918 y 2009. Esta revisión histórica sirvió como base para evaluar la respuesta al tratamiento, incluyendo homeopatía, en la epidemia anterior. Se discute la conveniencia de incluir profilaxis homeopática entre las medidas de salud pública, basada en el diagnóstico del genio epidémico.

Palabras llave: homeopatia; salud pública; epidemias; influenza A-H1N1

Licensed to GIRI
Support: authors declare that this study received no funding.

Conflict of interest: authors declare there is no conflict of interest.
Received: 01 September 2009; Revised 25 September 2009; Published: 30 September 2009.
Correspondence author: Renan Marino, renanmarino@uol.com.br.
How to cite this article: Marino R. Flu pandemics: homeopathic prophylaxis and definition of the epidemic genius. Int J High Dilution Res. 2009 [cited YYYY Month dd]; 28 (8): 100-109. Available from: http://www.feg.unesp.br/~ojs/index.php/ijhdr/article/view/354/399.

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https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:AAMT9bw9KVQJ:https://highdilution.org/index.php/ijhdr/article/view/354/399+&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca&client=firefox-b-ab

Spanish Flu Pandemic

During the 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic homeopathy shone brightly for its success. Those treated by conventional medicine had a 28% mortality rate. The mortality rate of those treated with homeopathy was a mere 0.8%.

Fraudulent Australian 'Research'

This Australian Review which is quotes often as 'proving' homeopathy couldn't possibly work - is FRAUDULENT research. This type of research fraud happens more than the most skeptical mind would ever imagine. Especially in any corporate-run health/research system.

http://www.nhmrchomeopathy.com/procedural.html

Does additional antimicrobial treatment have a better effect on URTI cough resolution than homeopathic symptomatic therapy alone?

A real-life preliminary observational study in a pediatric population.

Zanasi A1, Cazzato S2, Mazzolini M3, Ierna CM3, Mastroroberto M4, Nardi E4, Morselli-Labate AM4.
Author information
Abstract
BACKGROUND:

The effectiveness of a homeopathic syrup on cough has been demonstrated in an adult population in a previous double-blind randomized study. The present prospective observational study investigated children affected by wet acute cough caused by non-complicated URTIs, comparing those who received the homeopathic syrup versus those treated with the homeopathic syrup plus antibiotic.
OBJECTIVES:

The aims were: 1) to assess whether the addition of antibiotics to a symptomatic treatment had a role in reducing the severity and duration of acute cough in a pediatric population, as well as in improving cough resolution; 2) to verify the safety of the two treatments.
METHODS:

Eighty-five children were enrolled in an open study: 46 children received homeopathic syrup alone for 10 days and 39 children received homeopathic syrup for 10 days plus oral antibiotic treatment (amoxicillin/clavulanate, clarithromycin, and erythromycin) for 7 days. To assess cough severity we used a subjective verbal category-descriptive (VCD) scale.
RESULTS:

Cough VCD score was significantly (P < 0.001) reduced in both groups starting from the second day of treatment (-0.52 ± 0.66 in the homeopathic syrup group and -0.56 ± 0.55 in children receiving homeopathic syrup plus oral antibiotic treatment). No significant differences in cough severity or resolution were found between the two groups of children in any of the 28 days of the study. After the first week (day 8) cough was completely resolved in more than one-half of patients in both groups. Two children (4.3 %) reported adverse effects in the group treated with the homeopathic syrup alone, versus 9 children (23.1 %) in the group treated with the homeopathic syrup plus antibiotics (P = 0.020).
CONCLUSIONS:

Our data confirm that the homeopathic treatment in question has potential benefits for cough in children as well, and highlight the strong safety profile of this treatment. Additional antibiotic prescription was not associated with a greater cough reduction, and presented more adverse events than the homeopathic syrup alone.
KEYWORDS:

Anti-bacterial agents; Antitussive agents; Cough; Homeopathy; Respiratory tract infections

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26251722

Evidence in support of gene regulatory hypothesis: Gene expression profiling manifests homeopathy effect as more than placebo

Abstract

Background: Use of ultra-high diluted remedies in homeopathy and their claimed efficacy in curing diseases has been challenged time and again by non-believers despite many evidence-based positive results published in favor of their efficacy in curing/ameliorating disease symptoms. Aims: To test the ability of ultra-high diluted homeopathic remedies beyond Avogadro's limit, if any, in manifesting gene modulating effects in controlled in vitro experimental model. Methods: Since cancer cells manifest aberrant epigenetic gene expressions, we conducted global microarray gene expression profiling of HeLa cells (an established epigenetic model of HPV18 positive cell line) treated with two different potentized homeopathic remedies, namely, Condurango 30c and Hydrastis canadensis 30C (used in the treatment of cancer), as compared to that of placebo (succussed alcohol 30c). Results: Data revealed distinctly different expression patterns of over 100 genes as a consequence of treatment with both homeopathc remedies compared to placebo. Conclusion: Results indicate that action of the potentized drugs was "more than placebo" and these ultra-highly diluted drugs acted primarily through modulation of gene expression.

Evidence in support of gene regulatory hypothesis: Gene expression profiling manifests homeopathy effect as more than placebo (PDF Download Available). Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279711806_Evidence_in_support_of_gene_regulatory_hypothesis_Gene_expression_profiling_manifests_homeopathy_effect_as_more_than_placebo [accessed Nov 15 2017].

Gene expression profiling manifests homeopathy

effect as more than placebo

Santu Kumar Saha

1

, Sourav Roy

2

and Anisur Rahman Khuda-Bukhsh

1

1

Cytogenetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Univ. of Kalyani, West Bengal, India.

2

Depart. Entomology and Inst. Integrative Genome Biology, Univ. of California, USA.

ABSTRACT

Background: Use of ultra-high diluted remedies in homeopathy and their claimed efficacy in

curing diseases has been challenged time and again by non-believers despite many evidence-

based positive results published in favor of their efficacy in curing/ameliorating disease

symptoms. Aims: To test the ability of ultra-high diluted homeopathic remedies beyond

Avogadro?s limit, if any, in manifesting gene modulating effects in controlled in vitro

experimental model. Methods: Since cancer cells manifest aberrant epigenetic gene expressions,

we conducted global microarray gene expression profiling of HeLa cells (an established epigenetic

model of HPV18 positive cell line) treated with two different potentized homeopathic remedies,

namely, Condurango 30c and Hydrastis canadensis 30C (used in the treatment of cancer), as

compared to that of placebo (succussed alcohol 30c). Results: Data revealed distinctly different

expression patterns of over 100 genes as a consequence of treatment with both homeopathc

remedies compared to placebo. Conclusion: Results indicate that action of the potentized drugs

was ?more than placebo? and these ultra-highly diluted drugs acted primarily through

modulation of gene expression.

Key words: Gene regulatory hypothesis, DNA microarray profile, potentized remedies.

Introduction

Homeopathy is one of the most widely practiced controversial modes of treatment as it uses extremely diluted

remedies in micro-doses to alleviate patients? complaints. Despite being used for centuries with great effect,

non-believers of homeopathy mainly ask two questions: (a) as drugs diluted beyond Avogadro?s limit (6.023 x

10

23

) are not expected to contain even one single molecule of the original drug substance, how can the

homeopathic medicines then be physical-chemically different from ?vehicle? ethanol, and claimed to be

effective in curing many diseases? (b) What might the mechanism of action of these ultra-highly diluted

remedies be?

In this report, we present gene expression profiling results that give strong support to a hypothesis proposed

by Khuda-Bukhsh [1, 2], to wit, that potentized homeopathic drugs act through regulation of gene expression.

Thangapazham et al. [3], in turn, apparently failed to find changes in gene expression induced by

homeopathic drugs used in in vitro experiments with human breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231, human

prostate cancer cells DU-145 and LNCaP, and rat prostate cancer cells MAT-LyLu treated with some

potentized homeopathic remedies like Conium maculatum, Sabal serrulata, Thuja occidentalis, Asterias

rubens, and Phytolacca decandra in dilutions 30c, 200c and 1,000c, and Carcinosinum (1,000 c) although they

Int J High Dilution Res 2013; 12(45):162-167

163

had found in an earlier in vivo study reduction in the number and size of cancer nodules supported by

histological analysis in prostate cancer MAT-LyLu cell?injected Copenhagen rats given homeopathic

treatment containing Thuj, Con, Sabal serrulata, and in MAT-LyLu cell with Carc [4]. However, the authors

did not conduct gene expression studies of any signal proteins in these rats in vivo, where modulation of

certain gene expression would be expected.

The controversy surrounding research in homeopathy moves along two different directions. On the one hand,

the mechanism of action of the potentized homeopathic remedies diluted beyond Avogadro's limit remains an

open research problem, which has received widespread attention from the research community, and many

competing hypotheses have been proposed. On the other hand, some studies that indicate homeopathy is no

better than placebo, which thus makes any claim about the mechanism of action of homeopathic drugs null

and void. There have been many results highly critical of homeopathy. For example, The Lancet of August 27,

2005 featured an article that was highly dismissive of homeopathy [5] along with a press release:

?homeopathy is no better than placebo?. The meta-analysis was accompanied by a short, anonymous editorial

entitled ?The end of homoeopathy?. This resulted in the eruption of a ravaging controversy: whether

homeopathy is really better than placebo or not, culminating in a debate in the British Parliament

[6].

Homeopathy was decried and its use as a beneficial and scientifically proven mode of treatment was voted

against. However, most clinical research conducted with homeopathic medicines has shown positive results

[7]. Biological activities of ultra-high diluted potentized homeopathic remedies have also been confirmed by

basic research studies with respect to a multitude of scientifically accepted protocols, both in animals and

plants in vivo and in vitro

[8]. Nevertheless, the argument persisted, as ultra-highly diluted homeopathic

medicines are supposed to possess "nothing" in terms of the original drug molecules, and as such their effect

on biological systems was unacceptable until recently. During the last few years, presence of ?nanoparticles?

of the starting materials, even at extremely high dilutions, has been reported [9, 10]. Moreover, Montagnier

[11] countered through experiments that ?high dilutions of something are not ?nothing?, they are water

structures which mimic the original molecules".

We decided to use one of the most modern tools, global microarray profiling of genes, to verify whether the

effects of ultra-highly diluted homeopathic drugs on the expression profile of genes were distinctly different

compared to ?placebo?. DNA microarrays are widely used to measure the expression levels of large numbers of

genes simultaneously, with the aid of selective probes under highly stringent conditions. Gene expression

profiling experiments are specially effective for monitoring the expression levels of thousands of genes to

study the effects of certain treatments, for example, to identify genes whose expression changes in response to

pathogens or drugs, by comparing the gene expression in the infected and drug-treated cells or tissues [12].

Materials and methods

The aim of the present study was, therefore, to find out whether the global gene expression profiles in cancer

cell line, HeLa (an established epigenetic model of HPV18 positive cell line) differed significantly, in

quantitative as well as qualitative terms, after treatment with 2 homeopathic remedies used against cancer

[13-15], namely, Condurango 30c and Hydrastis canadensis 30c (both diluted 10

-60

times, much above

Avogadro?s limit) compared to ethanol 30c, (placebo, prepared from the same stock of 70% alcohol giving 10

jerks at each step in the same manner as the verum was potentized). Affymetrix Gene Chip Human

Primeview gene expression arrays were used for this purpose.

Cervical cancer cell line HeLa was obtained at National Centre for Cell Science, Pune. The cells were

routinely maintained in Dulbecco?s Modified Eagle?s Medium supplemented with 10% FBS and 1% antibiotic

at 37 ?C in a humidified incubator containing 5% CO

2

. The cells were plated one day before treatment. 4%

(v/v) of drugs and ?placebo? (succussed ethanol 30c, 10 jerks at each step of dilution) were added to the cell

Int J High Dilution Res 2013; 12(45):162-167

164

cultures and kept for 48 hr. Cells without any treatment in the normal medium were considered as negative

control.

Separate groups of cells were subjected to treatment with Cond 30c, Hydr 30c, and succussed alcohol placebo.

The cells were sent to iLife Discoveries, Gurgaon, India for providing us global microarray data conducted on

Affymetrix platform, using 25-mer probes. The total number of probes detected for the experiment was

49,395; hybridization was performed at 45

o

C for 16 hrs at 60 rpm.

Slides were scanned with 3000 7G microarray scanner and raw data sets were extracted from the Cel (raw

intensity) files. Microarray data analysis, differential gene expression analysis, fold change analysis and

cluster analysis were performed using GeneSpring GX12.5 software.

Results and discussion

Microarray data analyses showed that out of a total of 40,678 genes, for which probe sets remained after data

processing, normalization and quality control, 6,024 were differentially expressed at a p-value cutoff of 0.05,

in a one-way ANOVA. The expression levels of the genes in the cells were treated with Hydr 30c (Set I) and

Cond 30c (Set II) were compared to the levels in the untreated (control) as well as succussed ethanol 30c

(placebo) treated cells (Set III). Using a cutoff of 1.5 folds it was observed that in Set I, 3 genes each were up-

and down-regulated when compared to the control as well as Set III samples. Similarly, there were 2 genes in

Set II that were up-regulated by at least 1.5 folds when compared to the two sets mentioned above, whereas

122 genes were down-regulated by ?1.5 folds. Two and 10 genes were up- and down-regulated by ? 1.5 folds,

respectively, in both sets (Set I and Set II) when compared to the control as well as Set III. In addition, there

were another 23 genes in Set I and 12 genes in Set II that were differentially expressed by ? 1.5 folds, when

compared to Set III. Upon comparing the expression levels of genes in Set I and Set II, it was observed that

for 36 genes, there were ? 1.5 fold differences in expression between the 2 treatments. These findings suggest

that the drugs did not only affect the gene expression, but also that the effect of one drug was different from

the other in a number of genes.

The findings of the present study clearly demonstrate that the expression profiles of certain genes of the drug-

treated HeLa cells were significantly different from that of the placebo treated cells. This suggests that both

drugs and placebo differed in their ability to trigger gene responses, some of which were implicated in cancer.

Thus, although the drugs were ultra highly diluted, they still retained the ability to trigger gene responses in

a cascade of reactions, diving support to Khuda-Bukhsh?s hypothesis[1-2]. Epigenetic modifications are a

hallmark of cancer, and a large number of genes remain in modified state of expression in cancer cells. Both

Hydr [13, 15] and Cond

[14, 15] had been previously reported to induce apoptosis in cancer cells, while

?placebos? do not exhibit this property. Therefore, it is logical to infer that homeopathic remedies contain

some form of molecular imprints of the original drug substance [16], while the ?placebo?, in the absence of

such imprints, fails to elicit the required effect.

Incidentally, ultra-highly diluted preparations of glucose 30c, Arsenicum album 30c, and Arnica montana 30c

were shown to induce gene modulatory effects in bacteria, E. coli and yeast Saccraromyces cerevisiae, either

subjected to insult with sodium arsenite or UV-irradiation [17-19]. Those authors [17-19] explained that the

potentized homeopathic remedies carry specific "signals"/"information" that can be identified by certain cell

receptors. Those "signals" may act as a "trigger" for turning "on" or "off" some relevant genes, initiating a

cascade of gene actions, while the ?placebo? failed to elicit any such favorable responses. It has been

previously documented that administration of a potentized homeopathic drug altered the expressions of a

large number of signal proteins in mice induced to develop skin cancer

[20].

Int J High Dilution Res 2013; 12(45):162-167

165

The results of the present study, therefore, contribute to support the gene regulatory hypothesis proposed by

Khuda-Bukhsh [1, 2]. Further studies are needed to ascertain the ability of Cond 30c, if any, to modulate

activities like DNA methylation/demethylation and histone acetylation/deacetylation, 2 hallmarks of

epigenetic modifications, to produce additional support to the gene regulatory hypothesis.

Author contributions

ARK-B conceptualized and designed the experiments, SS performed the experiments, SR analyzed and

interpreted the microarray data, ARK-B and SR wrote the manuscript.

References

[1] Khuda-Bukhsh AR. Potentized homeopathic drugs act through regulation of gene expression: a hypothesis

to explain their mechanism and pathways of action in vivo. Comp Ther Med 1997; 5: 43-46.

[2] Khuda-Bukhsh AR. Towards understanding molecular mechanisms of action of homeopathic drugs: an

overview. Mol Cell Biochem 2003;253: 339-45.

[3] Thangapazham RL, Gaddipati JP, Rajeshkumar NV, et al. Homeopathic medicines do not alter growth and

gene expression in prostate and breast cancer cells in vitro. Integr Cancer Ther 2006; 5:356-61.

[4] Jonas WB, Gaddipati JP, Rajeshkumar NV, et al. In vitro and in vivo assessment of homeopathic

treatment for prostate cancer. Paper presented at: Society of Integrative Oncology First International

Conference; November 18, 2004; New York, NY.

[5] Shang A, Huwiler-M?ntener K, Nartey L, et al. Are the clinical effects of homoeopathy placebo effects?

Comparative study of placebo-controlled trials of homoeopathy and allopathy. Lancet 2005; 366:726-32.

[6] U.K. Parliamentary Committee on Science and Technology: Evidence 2. 2010, available at

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmsctech/45/4502.htm.

[7] Clausen J, van Wijk R, Albrecht H. Review of the use of high potencies in basic research on

homeopathy.Homeopathy 2011; 100:288-92.

[8] The HomBRex database 2012.http://www.carstens-stiftung.de/hombrex/index.php.

[9] Chikramane PS, Suresh AK, Bellare JR, et al. Extreme homeopathic dilutions retain starting materials: A

nanoparticulate perspective. Homeopathy 2010; 99: 231-42.

[10] Bhattacharyya SS, Mandal SK, Biswas R, et al.In vitro studies demonstrate anticancer activity of an

alkaloid of the plant Gelsemium sempervirens.Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2008; 233:1591-601.

[11] Montagnier L. Newsmaker interview: Luc Montagnier. French Nobelist escapes 'intellectual terror' to

pursue radical ideas in China. Interview by Martin Enserink.Science 2010; 330:1732.

[12] Adomas A, Heller G, Olson A, et al. Comparative analysis of transcript abundance in Pinus sylvestris

after challenge with a saprotrophic, pathogenic or mutualistic fungus". Tree Physiol 2008;28: 885?897.

[13] Saha SK, Sikdar S, Mukherjee A, et al. Ethanolic extract of Goldenseal, Hydrastis canadensis has

demonstrable chemopreventive effects on HeLa cells in vitro: Drug-DNA interaction with calf thymus DNA as

target. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 2013; 36: 202-214.

Int J High Dilution Res 2013; 12(45):162-167

166

[14] Mitsuhashi H et al. Condurango glycoside compounds processes for their preparation, antitumor agents

comprising them and compositions. United States Patent 1984.

[15] Boericke W. Pocket manual of homeopathic material medica & repertory. reprint edn 2004. B. Jain

Publishers (P) Ltd, India. 2002: 514.

[16] Davenas E, Beauvais F, Amara J, et al.Human basophil degranulation triggered by very dilute antiserum

against IgE.Nature1988; 333:816-8.

[17] Saha SK, Das S, Khuda-Bukhsh AR.Phenotypic evidence of ultra-highly diluted homeopathic remedies

acting at gene expression level: a novel probe on experimental phage infectivity in bacteria. Zhong Xi Yi Jie

He Xue Bao 2012; 10:462-70.

[18] Das S, Saha SK, De A, et al. Potential of the homeopathic remedy, Arnica Montana 30C, to reduce DNA

damage in Escherichia coli exposed to ultraviolet irradiation through up-regulation of nucleotide excision

repair genes.Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao 2012;10:337-46.

[19] Das D, De A, Dutta S, et al.Potentized homeopathic drug Arsenicum Album 30C positively modulates

protein biomarkers and gene expressions in Saccharomyces cerevisae exposed to arsenate.Zhong Xi Yi Jie He

Xue Bao 2011;9:752-60.

[20] Khuda-Bukhsh AR, Bhattacharyya SS, Paul S, et al. Modulation of Signal Proteins: A Plausible

Mechanism to Explain How a Potentized Drug SecaleCor 30C Diluted beyond Avogadro's Limit Combats Skin

Papilloma in Mice. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2011;2011:286320.

Evidence in support of gene regulatory hypothesis: Gene expression profiling manifests homeopathy effect as more than placebo (PDF Download Available). Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279711806_Evidence_in_support_of_gene_regulatory_hypothesis_Gene_expression_profiling_manifests_homeopathy_effect_as_more_than_placebo [accessed Nov 15 2017].https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279711806_Evidence_in_support_of_gene_regulatory_hypothesis_Gene_expression_profiling_manifests_homeopathy_effect_as_more_than_placebo

Free Arnica with every New Patient First Appointment

Free vials of Arnica 6C, 30C, 200C with every New Patient First Homeopathic Consultation.

Book your First Homeopathic Consultation between November 6th and December 22nd and receive a free vials of Arnica 6C, 30C and 200C.

Book first to get your preferred appointment times while they're available.

Just One Drop - the story behind the homeopathy controversy by Health Action Network Society (HANS)

Just One Drop - In Vancouver, October 17th, 2017

by Health Action Network Society (HANS)

Description

Part of the Health Action Film Series, JUST ONE DROP tells the little known story of homeopathy: the most controversial system of medicine. To many, homeopathy seems implausible. They fear it is purely a placebo effect or worse, a form of deception or quackery. Yet, homeopathy has been around for over 200 years and is used by millions of people around the world. The film explores the controversy, reveals the rich history, dispels myths and misconceptions, and asks whether or not homeopathy been given a fair shake.

Panel discussion to follow screening.

The Just One Drop trailer may be viewed here.

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/just-one-drop-the-story-behind-the-homeopathy-controversy-tickets-37436307002

An Alternative Approach in The Treatment of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), using Classical Homeopathy by Pierre Fontaine RSHom CCH.

Introduction

MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a bacteria that is resistant to most common antibiotics. Aside from methicillin the bacteria is also resistant to other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin. 1 Staph infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently in patients who have recently been hospitalised for long periods, who have had invasive medical procedures or who have weakened immune systems. Individuals treated in long term healthcare facilities such as nursing homes or dialysis centres have been considered most at risk. In a healthcare setting can cause serious and potentially life threatening infections such as bloodstream infection, infections at a surgical site, or pneumonia. However, MRSA infections also occur in otherwise healthy people who have not recently been hospitalised or undergone an invasive medical procedure. These infections usually present as skin infections, pimples, boils or other pus-filled lesions but can rapidly progress to more life threatening infections. In this otherwise healthy population they are known as community associated (CA)-MRSA infection; according to a recent study2 MRSA has become the most frequent cause of skin

1 Centres for Disease Control. Overview of healthcare related MRSA

2 Invasive Methicillin-Resistant Staphyloccus aureus infections in the United States. R. Monina Klevens, DDS, MPH et al. www.jama.com at CDC-Information Center.

and soft tissue infections presenting at emergency rooms in the USA. During the period from 1999 to 2005 the estimated number of hospitalizations involving S.aureus-related infections increased 62% from 294,570 to 477,927. In 2005, there were 11,406 S. aureus– related deaths of which 6,639 were MRSA-related3.

Current medical treatment for MRSA usually involves removing the infected person to an isolation ward and the use of the intravenous antibiotic vancomycin. The hospital stay can be several days. The patient is usually sent home with wound care instructions and a prescription for the ointment bactroban which is applied to the internal nasal passages. The infection can be controlled this way, but in many cases the patient will remain colonised. While vancomycin is currently effective against MRSA it is clear that increased resistance exists and some hospitals are already reporting strains that are less sensitive to vancomycin. 4

Homeopathy

In this light, it seems important to examine the potential of alternative therapies that do not make use of costly drugs or hospital stays, to combat such infections and prevent the risk of developing further antibiotic resistant bacterial strains. Homeopathy is widely practiced throughout Europe and Asia and is increasing in use in the US. In the UK the NHS (National Health Service) operates 5 dedicated homeopathic hospitals. According to a 2005 study, 70% of 6544 follow-up patients reported improvements in their health. Among the ailments most commonly treated were eczema, asthma, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome and

3 Klein E, Smith DL, Laxminarayan R.

Hospitalizations and deaths caused by methicillin-

resistant Staphylococcus aureus, United States,

1999–2005. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet].

2007 Dec [25 Sept 08]. Available from

http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/13/12/1840.htm

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http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mrsa/DS00735/DSECTION=tr eatments-and-drugs

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chronic fatigue.5 In the modern day context there is unfortunately little data on the use of homeopathy in acute outbreaks of infectious disease but historically it has been effectively applied in outbreaks of cholera, influenza and scarlet fever. During the 1918 Spanish Influenza epidemic data collected by the Hahnemann College of Medicine in Philadelphia showed a mortality rate of only 1.05% amongst a group of 26,795 cases treated by homeopaths. The mortality rate in the general population treated medically was 30%.6

Homeopathy is symptom driven and based on careful observation of the individual signs and symptoms as exhibited by the patient. It is experiential and the homeopath pays extremely close attention to the use of language by the patient in relating how the ailment is affecting him. A remedy acts as a reversing trigger on the self-healing vital force of the body that is being challenged. It is described as working at a vitalistic level, similar to acupuncture. It is bio- dynamic in nature rather than bio-chemical, as western medicine is.

Homeopathy is very effective in chronic illnesses but as the case below illustrates, homeopathy can also be extremely effective in acute infections that require daily monitoring and frequent re-evaluation of remedy selection.

Case Presentation History

James, an otherwise healthy 40 year old man entered our care in late November 2007. He had sustained a minor scratch on his finger at the end of September 2007 while clearing away vegetation in upstate New York. Despite thorough wound care at the time James’ finger

5 Spence DS, Thompson EA, Barron SJ. Homeopathic treatment for chronic disease: a 6-year university-hospital outpatient observational study. Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine 2005; 11: 793-798. http://www.trusthomeopathy.org/csArticles/articles/000001/000 164.htm

6 Homeopathy for Epidemics. Eileen Nauman, DHM (UK). Pg 11

began swelling up during the night of the scratch and within 3 days had progressed to a severe infection. James sought advice at a walk in clinic near his home and was prescribed antibiotics. He had no improvement over the next two days at which point he visited the Emergency Room at Columbia Presbyterian hospital in New York City. His finger was red, edematous and showed clear signs of infection. His wound was lanced in the ER and the exudates sent for analysis. As a precaution James was admitted to the hospital overnight and received an IV antibiotic and analgesics. On discharge the next day he was instructed about wound care and hoped the infection would clear. However, he received a message 2 days later informing him that the culture grown from his lab specimen was not responding to antibiotics and was confirmed as being MRSA.

James was immediately readmitted to the hospital, this time in an isolation ward to avoid exposure to any other patients. Vancomycin was prescribed and he was sent home with bactroban ointment for his nose 2 days later. He was advised that the infection could re- occur and to be vigilant about skin lesions.

Two months later, just after Thanksgiving, James noticed a large, fleshy bulge on the back of his thigh. He was concerned it might be a recurrent MRSA skin infection but as an uninsured patient was forced to seek an alternative to another costly hospitalisation. On the recommendation of a friend he sought homeopathic treatment.

Homeopathic findings

When I first spoke with James he described how the wound on his middle finger in September “blew up” within a day to a hard swelling. His fever spiked to 102F. Now, two months later, the presenting symptom was a large swelling on the back of his right thigh just below his buttock. He described how it “came right out” close to 1 inch in thickness and then

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reverted to a very large “bite-like,” dark dot within a day. Light red discolouration of the skin was seen almost down to his knee. The lump was sharply7 painful and causing him concern. It was constricting his leg and felt very hard. He felt as if an iron band was preventing movement. He was concerned because he thought it might be the same, incurable infection as the first one on his finger.

Based on the sensation of constriction that he repeated in many different ways and the other symptoms listed in italics I prescribed Cactus Grandiflora. I also stressed the importance of being seen by a medical doctor. James however steadfastly refused to return to the hospital.

At this stage about five dozen remedies were identified as being valid homeopathic remedies for this individual. Careful differentiation and research would clarify final remedy selection, according to homeopathic repertories and Materia Medicas.

24 hours later (from initial consultation)

After one day the sensation of constriction was significantly diminished. The pain had lessened but the infection was not improving. The central area of induration was growing

7 Italicized words in this description of finding represent qualities specifically used in selecting the proper homeopathic rememdy.

larger but he described marked improvement in the sensation of his most prevalent symptom, i.e. the swelling and the constricting. The discolouration that had spread to his knee was more localised. At this stage I repeated the same remedy.

2 days later

Though the infection seemed contained the central area now resembled a large boil and had grown rapidly to a darker red circle of about 4 inches. At this point he complained of severe “burning pains”, and the infection was described (and looked) as ‘angry’. He was also extremely restless with a constant need for motion. At this point I had several remedies in mind that might have fit the symptom picture, but the degree of anger and burning in the case led me to Cantharis.

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3 days later

James reported that the Cantharis had addressed the burning pains which now felt much better. He was happy that he did not have to take pain medication as he had with the first infection. The outward progression of the infection had clearly stopped and the boil turned even darker red with a congested, shiny appearance and blood seeping through the pores in the centre of the mass. According to these symptoms, Crotalus Horridus was given, as it is often used for dark, haemorrhagic wounds. I had previously researched this remedy in regards to Ebola type infections several years ago.

All along James was repeatedly advised to seek medical care and have the wound lanced. There was concerned about a systemic blood infection. James pointed out that he had no fever at all and that the swelling had stopped.

His pain was manageable and was not requiring the high doses of narcotics he had needed during his first MRSA infection. He was confident that the lesion was healing and could not afford the high cost of another hospitalisation so he was not willing to seek medical attention.

During this time James did stay in his apartment to avoid any possibility of secondary infection.

4 days later

24 hours after the Crotalus the boil began changing colour. Yellow and light green pus could be seen in the border. His pain was manageable and he had no fever.

At this point James described intense anxiety over the possibility of MRSA occurring over and over and over again in his life. He felt he was poisoned for life. The increased anxiety along with the idea that his body was poisoned and that he had an incurable disease indicated the remedy Arsenicum Album.

6 days later

Clearly the infection was no longer spreading. James’ anxiety was much diminished. The boil was filled with pus and began oozing but there was no way to know what was going on underneath the mass of pus and necrotic tissue. He felt very good about his

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progress but I remained concerned about systemic infection and necrosis at the infection site. Secale was given as a prophylactic for blood poisoning. Within half a day his anxieties and restlessness came back. It was clear this remedy was not having an effect and I reverted to Arsenicum.

Continuing Progress

On the 7th day the mass opened and began oozing. At this point James was able to manually squeeze the lesion and exude a large amount of dark green, almost black pus. At this stage James collected several of the cotton balls he had used to drain the exudate and on the 6th December 2007 he had them analysed at the same laboratory facility as his earlier sample. The exudate was confirmed as positive for MRSA.

Later on the wound stopped seeping and began to dry up. I continued to prescribe Arsenicum daily and James remained vigilant about cleaning the wound with hydrogen peroxide. I was encouraged that at the time the lesion burst there was already evidence of granulation on the borders. This was evidence to me that the infection had been fully isolated.

Over the next two weeks the wound continued to slowly heal from the outside edges towards the centre and from the bottom of the ulcer to the surface of the skin. Within 3 weeks

the lesion had healed over completely. James continued to take Arsenicum several times a day as he still had some level of anxiety regarding re-infection. We were gradually able to reduce the frequency of repetition as the wound continued to heal and his anxiety diminished.

5 months later

James continues to do well and on the 9th of April 2008 he returned to Columbia for another nasal swab analysis. Remarkably the tests came back negative for MRSA, meaning that not only was his local infection cured but his body was no longer colonised by the bacteria. In other words, his wound was completely healed and he is no longer a carrier of MRSA in the general population.

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Conclusion

Given the growing number of antibiotic resistant infectious agents, a treatment for MRSA that avoids all use of antibiotics has enormous potential in the general population. Furthermore, the treatment above is reproducible in a hospital setting using the basic five dozen remedies that fit the MRSA symptom picture. There is also the possibility of using other homeopathic remedies prophylacticaly. To that end we recommend and hope to undertake further research on this approach in a traditional medical facility.

http://homeopathicservices.com/resources/explore-nov-dec-2009/

Dr. Iris Bell M.D. Ph.D. does it again!

Research in Homeopathy:

If anyone is ever asking you to back up your interest in homeopathy with 'Evidence-based Research' or 'clinical proof' or RCT (Random Control Trials) scientific research, please help them by referring to this list or also by sharing this email. Here is a link that displays a pdf of a Reference List of 138 pages worth of Homeopathic Research. This list was curated by Dr. Iris Bell M.D. Ph. D. and Peter Gold in 2015. Much more research has been published since this collection almost two years ago. Hope this helps lead anyone to any type of research with regards to the use of homeopathy and homeopathic remedies. Anyone is welcome to download this pdf file and use it or pass it on. http://www.homeopathy.ca/pdf/HomeopathyResearchEvidenceBase_10-29-15.pdf

Homeopathic Remedies for your Hot Summer Holidays

Emergency Remedies to bring to your beach days:

For sensitive skin:

Calendula can be used internally as a homeopathic remedy for sunburns that do not blister but feel hot, burning and itches. Urtica is another commonly used homeopathic remedy that can be taken internally for a typical sunburn with no blisters but itching and burning.

Cantharis is an excellent homeopathic remedy for burns that blister or are about to blister. For any serious burn, cantharis is a potent healing to relieve the pain and promote the healing of second degree burns.

For sunstroke or heat exhaustion; If you've gotten more direct sun than your body could handle at a time you may have headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea, fever, flushed skin, dry skin and even confusion or fainting. You would definitely need to re-hydrate as much and as soon as possible. Belladonna is a powerful homeopathic remedy that can restore your strength. Belladonna can act fast if it is the correctly indicated remedy. Glonione is another potent homeopathic remedy to have on hand in case of sunstroke. Cuprum metallicum if there is some cramping of your muscles that develops along with the sunstroke.