Covid-19, Epidemics and Homeopathy

IN BRIEF

One of the primary reasons that homeopathy gained such significant popularity in the 19th century was the exceedingly good results that homeopathic patients experienced during the various epidemics that raged during that time, including cholera, yellow fever, scarlet fever, typhoid, pneumonia, and influenza. 

By Anke Zimmermann, BSc, FCAH

Canadian Homeopathic Association Statement regarding Covid-19

The Canadian Homeopathic Association has just released an important statement in regards to the Covid-19 epidemic. I am republishing it here and you can also read it here.

​As a professional homeopath I support the association's position and also wish to share additional information with my clients and other interesting parties, which you can read below the statement. 

The statement reads: "During the current Covid-19 viral epidemic, members of the Canadian Homeopathic Association, comprising regulated professionals from Ontario and practitioners from other provinces, understand that it is every Canadian's responsibility to follow the guidelines outlined by the provincial and federal public health authorities. We acknowledge that it is also our responsibility as health caregivers to inform patients about the existence of these guidelines.  Moreover, in this age of social media, we pledge for extreme cautiousness in disseminating unproven therapeutic claims that could unnecessarily expose Canadians to risk.
As citizens of Canada, members of the Canadian Homeopathic Association will support any and all collective efforts in achieving and maintaining the good health of all Canadians.

A Call for Research

For 200 years, historical data has been accumulated regarding the use of homeopathy during times of epidemics of infectious diseases. This data has repeatedly suggested the relevance and efficacy of homeopathy in various diseases such as cholera, typhus, and diphtheria. Spanish flu treatment reports coming from different parts of the US showed an average of 1% mortality rate for people treated with homeopathy versus 30% for the others.  

There are also modern examples that add to the weight of these historical reports where public health authorities, in the absence of vaccines and in an emergency situation, have taken action and have made a call to homeopathy. This was the case in Cuba in 2007 and 2008, for leptospirosis, (Bracho, 2010) [1], a fatal disease; and in Brazil in 1998, with meningitis, (Mroninski, 2001) [2]. In these 2 cases, the epidemics were contained and the population protected in large part by the use of homeopathic medicine. 

For the record, Cuba in 2007 had only 15,000 doses of vaccine to treat 2.3 million people at the height of the leptospirosis epidemic. The Finlay Laboratory, a major producer of vaccines, was then commissioned to produce and distribute the vaccines in less than 3 weeks. Simultaneously, 2.3 million doses of a homeopathic remedy were dispensed in the most affected areas and active epidemic outbreaks. A significant decrease of the disease was observed in the homeopathically- treated areas whereas the regions where homeopathy was not provided saw the disease rates rise sharply. 

Canadian homeopaths strongly advocate that the sum of historical data on the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases could become a springboard for more in-depth research towards homeopathy. Indeed, until a fully effective vaccine becomes available in an epidemic, homeopathy has the potential to provide a low cost and effective temporary means for rapidly treating the mass population.  With the Federal Government recently committing $1 billion towards combating the Covid-19 virus, we have invited the Federal Government to include homeopathy in its research efforts as we believe no stone should be left unturned and no ideological position or belief system should override the necessity to protect and care for all Canadian citizens. 

[1] Bracho, G. et al . (2010). "Large-scale application of highly-diluted bacteria for Leptospirosis epidemic control."
Homeopathy . 2010 Jul;99(3):156-66.
[2] Mroninski, C. et al . (2001). "Meningococcinum: Its protective effect against meningococcal disease", Homoeopathic
Links , 14 : 230-234.Vol 14 Winter 2001, 230-234

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Homeopathy in Epidemic Disease

Excellent video on the history of homeopathy in epidemic disease by Dr. Larry Malerba. You'll need to go to Youtube to watch it. 

Information on potentially useful homeopathic remedies for Covid-19

Homeopaths cannot make any claims about the efficacy of homeopathy in treating the Covid-19 condition because there is simply not enough evidence yet. However, the following links can provide you with present and emerging information about the early results of homeopathic care. They are presented for information only. If you suspect that you may have the infection please seek out conventional medical assessment and care. Use homeopathy as an adjunct if you so desire, but please work with a professional. 

Please note that there is a long history of using homeopathy to find leading remedies for the treatment as well as prevention of specific infectious disease, called a genus epidemicus. That does not mean that it would fit all people suffering from such an infection, but should be strongly considered in the individualized treatment, as well as potential prophylaxis when indicated. 

There is also a history of using homeopathic remedies made from the disease products of a specific infectious disease. These remedies are often referred to as nosodes and have been historically successfully used in the management of infectious diseases. 

At the moment several remedies are eyed as candidates for potential management and mitigation of Covid-19. None of them have been proven, this post is intended just for education for those interested in the topic.

India

In January 2019, the AYUSH Ministry in India issued a recommendation for prevention of coronavirus transmission. The Ministry recommended that homeopathic Arsenicum album 30C was to be taken once per day for 3 days as a preventative measure. Subsequently the Ministry arranged to have the remedy distributed widely through clinics as well as at airports. The Ministry suggested to repeat this dosing with Arsenicum album once a month.

As of May 12, only 2,293 Covid death have been reported with a population of 1.35 billion. India is four times more populous than the US, but has just 2% the number of cases and only 1.5% of the number of Covid-19 deaths than the US. 

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Dr. Manish Bhatia is the editor of the leading online homeopathic journal, called HPATHY. He has accumulated a wealth of information, and he has carefully evaluated the known symptoms of people with COVID-19. His leading remedy, to date, is Bryonia, with the acknowledgement that individualized treatment is always imperative. If you are not familiar with Dr. Bhatia’s journal, HPATHY, you can subscribe for free here: https://hpathy.com/
https://www.doctorbhatia.com/treatment/coronavirus-covid-19-symptoms-homeopathic-remedies-for-treatment-and-prophylaxis/

Speaking of HPATHY, one of the articles in this journal is by Rajan Sankaran (of India) and Aditya Kasariyans (of Iran). Their initial observations and (very) limited clinical experience in treating people with COVID-19 is suggesting that Camphora may be important. What has also been observed by homeopaths around the world is that different remedies seem indicated in different countries at this time. 
https://hpathy.com/homeopathy-papers/homeopathy-for-coronavirus-covid-19-infection/

Dr. Manish Agarwala is a less known homeopath who has gathered information from various leading homeopaths and reports on their observations, you can read it here:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10221612662489325&id=1336335841

Cuba and Homeoprophylaxis

As of April 3, Cuba rolled out a homeoprophylaxis program for CV-19 with a homeopathic complex named Prevengho-VIR. The complex is not specific to CV-19 but is intended to target other respiratory conditions as well. 

The ingredients are:
Anas berberiae 200
Baptisia tinctora 200
Bascilinum 30
Pyrogenum 200
Eupetorium perf 200
Influezinum 200
Arsenicum Album 200

Read more about it here https://www.homeobook.com/cuba-supplies-homeopathic-medicine-for-covid-19/?fbclid=IwAR0s7w1WpDlevx5iGKm3tqwPFu7v5xAfyZrsmjEfI1tH_nDZZw7EREU-cqo

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Echinacea

Not homeopathic, but herbal, Echinacea has a long history as a plant helpful for the immune system. A research study about to be published in Virology Journal "tested a standardized extract of Echinacea purpurea 'Echinaforce' for it's effectiveness against the common cold virus, HCoV-229E, as well as as the highly pathogenic MERS- and SARS-Cov in vitro."

Results:
"We found that HCoV-229E was irreversibly inactivated when exposed to Echinaforce at 3.2mg/ml IC50. Pre-treatment of cell lines, however, did not inhibit infection with HCoV-229E and post-infection treatment had only a marginal effect on virus propagation at 50 mg/ml. However, we did observe a protective effect in an organotypic respiratory cell culture system by exposing pre-treated respiratory epithelium to droplets of HCoV-229E, imitating a natural infection. Finally, antiviral activity was not restricted to common cold coronaviruses, as the highly pathogenic SARS- and MERS-CoVs were inactivated at comparable concentrations."

Conclusion:
​"These results suggest that Echinacea purpurea preparations, such as Echinaforce, could be effective as prophylactic treatment for all CoVs, including newly occurring strains, such as SARS-CoV-2."