HOMEOPATHY PLUS

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Lateline: Can homeopathy safely protect against epidemic and infectious diseases? Can homeopathy treat serious diseases such AIDS and cancer?

Note: Incomplete compilation. More comments and references to be added to this page in coming days.

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Can homeopathy safely protect against infectious and epidemic diseases?

Any homeopathic remedy can be used for treatment or prevention when the relevant symptomatology is known. Historical records and accounts of medical practitioners from the great epidemics speak of homeopathy’s ability to protect against serious infectious diseases. More recently trials have demonstrated prophylactic effects for epidemics such as meningococcal disease and leptospirosis. Veterinary homeopathy has demonstrated prophylactic effects for animal diseases and disorders. Agricultural homeopathy has demonstrated prophylactic effects against plant diseases and pests.

Can homeopathy safely treats AIDS?

Homeopathy has been shown in the following trials and studies to safely treat AIDS – and without toxic side-effects. Knowing that homeopathic remedies also have the capacity to prevent symptoms they can treat, there is also reason to think that homeopathy is capable of protective effects against AIDS. Ongoing research is essential.

Brewitt, B, Bioelectomagnetic medicine and HIV/AIDS treatment: Clinical data and hypotheses for mechanism of action, in Standish LJ, Calabrese C, Galantino ML (eds): AIDS and Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Current Science and Practice, Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone, 2002, pp 207-231.
Brewitt, B, Traub, M, Hangee-Bauer, C, et al., Homeopathic growth factors as treatment for HIV: Recovery of homeostasis and functional immune system, in Standish LJ, Calabrese C, Galantino ML (eds): AIDS and Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Current Science and Practice, Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone, 2002, pp. 126-146.
Brewitt, B, Traub, M, Patrick, L, Hangee-Bauer, C, Standish, C, Homeopathic growth factors: A low cost survival strategy for functional immunity and improved metabolism. XIII International AIDS Conference. Appendix to the volume of the extended versions of the abstracts, Monduzzi Editore, Italy, July 2000, pp. 81-87.
Brewitt, B, Standish, L, High dilution growth factors/cytokines: Positive immunologic, anabolic, hematologic and clinical effects in HIV/AIDS patients. XI International AIDS Conference, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada July 1996b.
Colebunders, R, The use of complementary and alternative medicine by persons with HIV infection in Europe. International Journal of STD and AIDS, 2003;14(10):672-674).
Danniger, T, Gallenberger, K, Kraelling, J, Considerations Relating to the Epidemiology of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: The Impact of Bacterial Antigens and Consequences for Treatment,” Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, April 2003,9,2:299-309.
Jaeger H, Eger J, Koegl C, et al. Healthy unrest: Canova stimulates CD4 cells in ART treated virologically suppressed but immunologically unresponsive HIV patients, XVII International AIDS Conference, August 3-8, 2008, Mexico City. http://www.aids2008.org/Pag/Abstracts.aspx?AID=15800
Ombaka James H, van Gelder Leo, Scholten Jan, Omole Linnet. Aquilai: Homeopathic Therapy for HIV/AIDS — Report on the Pilot Study. http://aidsremedyfund.org/files/arf_info.pdf
Rastogi, DP, Singh, VP, Singh, V, et al., Homeopathy in HIV Infection: A Trial Report of Double-blind Placebo Controlled Study, British Homeopathic Journal, 88,2,April, 1999:49-57.
Rastogi, DP, Singh, V, Dey, SK, et al., “Research Studies in HIV Infection with Homoeopathic Treatment,” CCRH (The Indian Government’s Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy) Quarterly Bulletin, 1993, 15, 3/4:1-6.
Singh, V, Rastogi, DP, Dey, SK, et al., “Homoeopathic Drugs as Immunomodulators: A Study of 34 HIV Subjects,” International Conference on AIDS, August 7-12, 1994:10(1):218 (abstract PB0301) Singh, V, Rastogi, DP, Dey, SK, et al.
Ullman, D, Controlled Clinical Trials Evaluating the Homeopathic Treatment of People with HIV or AIDS, Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, February 2003,9,1:133-142 (A copy of this article is available at http://www.homeopathic.com)

See ebook: Homeopathic Family Medicine: Connecting Research to Quality Homeopathic Care by Dana Ullman MPH for further discussion on this subject.

Can homeopathy safely treat cancer?

Homeopathy has been shown in the following trials and studies to be effective for cancer – and without toxic side-effects.

Banerji P, Campbell DR, Banerji P. Cancer patients treated with the Banerji protocols utilising homoeopathic medicine: a Best Case Series Program of the National Cancer Institute USA. Oncology Report 2008 Jul;20(1):69-74
Biswas, JB, Khuda-Bukhsh, AR, Effect of a Homeopathic Drug, Chelidonium, in Amelioration of p-DAB Induced Hepatocarcinogenesis in Mice, BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2002, 2:4.
Biswas SJ, Khuda-Bukhsh AR. Evaluation of protective potentials of a potentized homeopathic drug, Chelidonium majus, during azo dye induced hepatocarcinogenesis in mice. Indian J Exp Biol. 2004 Jul;42(7):698-714. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15339035
De Gerlach, J. and Lans, M “Modulation of Experimental Rat Liver Carcinogenesis by Ultra Low Doses of the Carcinogens,” in M. Doutremepuich, Ultra Low Doses, ashington, D.C./London: Taylor and Francis, 1991.
Es S, Kuttan G, Kc P, Kuttan R. Effect of homeopathic medicines on transplanted tumors in mice. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2007 Jul-Sep;8(3):390-4.
Jonas WB, Gaddipati JP, Rajeshkumar NV, Sharma A, Thangapazham RL, Warren J, Singh AK, Ives JA, Olsen C, Mog SR, Maheshwari RK. Can homeopathic treatment slow prostate cancer growth? Integr Cancer Ther. 2006 Dec;5(4):343-9.
MacLaughlin BW, Gutsmuths B, Pretner E, Jonas WB, Ives J, Kulawardane DV, Amri H. Effects of homeopathic preparations on human prostate cancer growth in cellular and animal models. Integr Cancer Ther. 2006 Dec;5(4):362-72.
Pathak S, Multani AS, Banerji P, Banerji P., Ruta 6 selectively induces cell death in brain cancer cells but proliferation in normal peripheral blood lymphocytes: A novel treatment for human brain cancer. Int J Oncol. 2003 Oct;23(4):975-82.
Preethi K, Kuttan G, Kuttan R Anti-tumour activity of ruta graveolens extract. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2006 Jul-Sep;7(3):439-43.
Ramakrishnan, AU, and C. Coulter, A Homeopathic Approach to Cancer. St. Louis: Quality Medical Publishing, 2001.
Sunila ES, Kuttan R, Preethi KC, Kuttan G. Dynamized Preparations in Cell Culture. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. eCAM 2009;6(2)257-263 doi:10.1093/ecam/nem082.http://ecam.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/6/2/257?etoc
Thompson, EA, Reilly D. The Homeopathic Approach to Symptom Control in the Cancer Patient: A Prospective Observational Study, Palliative Medicine, May 2002,16(3):227-33.

See ebook: Homeopathic Family Medicine: Connecting Research to Quality Homeopathic Care by Dana Ullman MPH for further discussion on this subject.

Are homeopathic patients gullible, poorly educated, and not helped? Are they at risk of having serious complaints go undiagnosed, or missing the best that ‘evidence based’ medicine can offer them?

Not according to these reports and studies. Patients generally report a high degree of satisfaction and the majority experience improvement in their symptoms or complaint even when conventional medicine has not been able to help. Most people who make an initial appointment with a homeopath do so when conventional medicine has been unable to help them or the side-effects of treatment are intolerable. Medical practitioners may also refer their patients to homeopathic treatment or use it as a treatment modality themselves.

1. A study of 6,544 consecutive patients at the NHS Bristol Homeopathic Hospital: “Of the patients 70.7% reported positive health changes, with 50.7% recording their improvement as better or much better.

From: Spence DS, Thompson EA, Barron SJ, ‘Homeopathic Treatment for Chronic Disease: A 6-Year, University-Hospital Outpatient Observational Study’, Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2005, 11:793-798.

2. A study of 713 patients in the NHS in Northern Ireland: “80% of patients recorded an improvement in the severity of their main symptom, with 73% recording an improvement in their level of activity associated with their main symptom.” See: https://homeopathyplus.com/homeopathy-tops-northern-ireland-study

From: Donal McDade, Evaluation [of a] Complementary and Alternative Medicines Pilot Project (London: Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, 2008), available at Get Well UK website at <http://www.getwelluk.com/>, accessed 27 April 2009; full report at <http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/final_report_from_smr_on_the_cam_pilot_project_-_may_2008.pdf>.

3. A survey of 50 patients in an NHS practice in Cirencester. Of the 35 who responded “a significant number (74%) of patients reported a positive outcome from their treatment.”

From: Dr. Adrian Hunnisett, Homeopathy Service Survey (Cirencester: The Park Surgery, 2005).

4. A study of 1097 patients in Norway. Of the 654 who completed the follow-up questionnaire, “The main complaint improved by at least 10 mm on the VAS [visual analogue scale] for 71%.”

From: Steinsbekk and R. Lüdtke, ‘Patients’ assessments of the effectiveness of homeopathic care in Norway: A prospective observational multicentre outcome study’, Homeopathy, 94 (2005), 10-16, available at: <http://www.scopus.com/record/display.url?eid=2-s2.0-11844297403&origin=inward&txGid=79ie_u0p0cPFoTLkdzTDA2p%3a2>, accessed 14 February 2010.

5. A multi-centre study of 3,981 patients in Germany and Switzerland: “Disease severity and quality of life demonstrated marked and sustained improvements following homeopathic treatment period. Our findings indicate that homeopathic medical therapy may play a beneficial role in the long-term care of patients with chronic diseases.”

From: Claudia M. Witt, Rainer Lüdtke, Nils Mengler, and Stefan N. Willich, ‘How healthy are chronically ill patients after eight years of homeopathic treatment? – Results from a long term observational study’, BMC Public Health, 8 (2008), 413, available at <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2630323/>.