In 2020 we wrote New Coronavirus: All Eyes on India following the Indian government’s recommendation to use a homeopathic remedy as a preventative for COVID-19 disease, and the all-too-predictable uproar that followed.

Since then, infections and deaths have escalated worldwide so it seems appropriate to check in on India again – the second most populous country in the world at 1,379 billion – to see how it is progressing in the wake of its contentious recommendation.

What we find is still encouraging.

So far, and in comparison to countries with more advanced healthcare infrastructures, the spread of COVID-19 has been significantly less for India.

At the time of this article being updated (18th February, 2021), Worldometer lists the infections within that country as 7,886 per million. In comparison, infections within the United Kingdom (UK) are 59,773 per million, and within the United States of America (USA), 85,583 per million. Deaths per million attributed to COVID-19 within each country are recorded as: UK – 1,746, USA – 1,510, India – 112.

Also, we are not reading reports from India of overwhelmed hospitals from out-of-control infections that are a feature of many other countries. Many of India’s ICU beds allocated for Covid cases remain empty.

Why the difference? Perhaps the answers are in the following.

Much of the Indian population knows about homeopathy … and they use it. In addition, the Indian government has still not backed down on its January recommendation that homeopathic Arsenicum Album be used as a preventative (prophylactic) for COVID-19 – in spite of the aforementioned uproar.

In another Health Advisory issued last March, it repeated its recommendation for Arsenicum.

Of prevention in general, it said:

“Following system wise preventive and prophylactic simple remedies may be useful which are based on potential and strength of AYUSH systems for promotion of immunity and improvement in respiratory symptoms in similar diseases as documented by the research councils under Ministry of AYUSH.”

Of homeopathic prevention, it said:

“Arsenicum album 30, daily once in empty stomach for three days. The dose should be repeated after one month by following the same schedule till Corona virus infections prevalent in the community.”

Of homeopathic treatment, it said:

“Various medicine which found to be effective in treating flu like illness are Arsenicum album, Bryonia alba, Rhus toxicodendron, Belladonna, Gelsemium, Eupatorium perfoliatum.”

This advisory was supplemented with research papers and records that supported these recommendations, some of which can be read at: Homeoprophylaxis: Human Records, Studies and Trials.

Information from the advisory was further reported and discussed within various publications, the following being two examples: The India Times and Modi govt again advises homoeopathy for COVID-19, suggests sipping water boiled with tulsi and Coronavirus outbreak: Ayush pushes ‘traditional cure’, med council backs modern drugs.

While we continue to watch what happens in India with interest, it would seem foolish for world governments to ignore events happening there.

The answer to safely controlling and preventing devastating diseases, and at minimal cost and disruption, may well be staring them in the face.