R.S.B.P.
TREATISE ON HOMOEOPATHYHistory, Development and StatusFrom: Dr.
Megha Aggarwal 1/18/2012
TABLE OF CONTENTSIntroduction
...........................................................................................................................................
1 History of Homeopathy
.........................................................................................................................
2 Use of homoeopathic principle in other
fields...............................3 Homeopathy and Nobel
Prize-The Connection.....6 The Present Status of Homeopathy
Worldwide....9 The Present Status of homeopathy in ASEAN....14
Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia.......15 Some Clinical Trials in
Homoeopathy.23
INTRODUCTION OF HOMOEOPATHY The word homoeopathy is derived from
two Greek words: HOMOEOS = PATHOS = Like / Similar Suffering
Homoeopathy is a branch of therapeutics that treats the patient
on the principle of Similia Similibus Curentur which simply means
Let likes be cured by likes or the principle of similar, and it
refers to recurrent observation and experience that a medicinal
substance will elicit a healing response for the specific syndrome
of symptoms (or suffering) that it has been proven to cause when
given in overdose to a healthy person. The beauty of the principle
of similar is that it not only initiates a healing response, but it
encourages a respect for the body's wisdom. Because symptoms
represent the best efforts of our body in its defenses against
infection or stress, it makes sense to utilize a medicine that
helps and mimics this defense rather than that inhibits or
suppresses it. The principle of similar may be one of nature's laws
that, when used well, can be one of our most sophisticated healing
strategies.
1
HISTORY OF HOMOEOPATHY y In the 16th century the pioneer of
chemical medicine Paracelsus declared that small doses of what
makes a man ill also cures him", anticipating homeopathy, but it
was Dr. Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician
who gave it a name and laid out its principles in the late 18th
century. Dr. Hahnemann conceived of homeopathy while translating a
medical treatise by Scottish physician and chemist William Cullen
into German in which it was written that cinchona bark treated
malaria due to its properties to produce symptoms similar to
malarial fever. Upon ingesting the bark, he noticed few stomach
symptoms, but did experience fever, shivering and joint pain, and
symptoms similar to some of the early symptoms of malaria, the
disease that the bark was ordinarily used to treat. From this, Dr.
Hahnemann came to believe that all effective drugs produce symptoms
in healthy individuals similar to those of the diseases that they
treat. This later became known as the law of similar, the most
important concept of homeopathy. The term homeopathy was coined by
Dr. Hahnemann and first appeared in print in 1807, although he
began outlining his theories of medical similar or the "doctrine of
specifics" in a series of articles and monographs in 1796. Dr.
Hahnemann began to test what effects substances produced in humans,
a procedure which would later become known as homeopathic
proving.
y
y
y y
y
2
USE OF HOMEOPATHIC PRINCIPLE IN OTHER FIELDS It is accepted
knowledge that every plant, mineral, and chemical can cause in
overdose its own unique set of physical, emotional, and mental
symptoms. It also is readily acknowledged that individuals, when
ill, have their own idiosyncratic physical, emotional, and mental
symptom patterns, even when people have the same disease.
Homeopathic medicine is a natural pharmaceutical science in which a
practitioner seeks to find a substance which would cause in
overdose similar symptoms to those a sick person is experiencing.
When the match is made, that substance then is given in very small,
safe doses, often with dramatic effects. Homeopaths define the
underlying principle for this matching process as the "law of
similars." The "law" is not unknown to conventional medicine: y
Immunizations are based on the principle of similars in which the
administration of the same pathogens in low doses to prevent the
diseases which is actually caused by them when contracted by the
person in large amount. No less a person as Dr. Emil Adolph Von
Behring, the "father of immunology," directly pointed to the
origins of immunizations when he asserted, "(B)y what technical
term could we more appropriately speak of this influence than by
Hahnemann's word "homoeopathy." Modern allergy treatment, likewise,
utilizes the homeopathic approach by the use of small doses of
allergens in order to create an antibody response that actually
stimulate the body's own defenses in the prevention or treatment of
specific diseases, and it is NOT simply a coincidence that this
treatment is derived from the homoeopathic principle of similar.
Conventional medicine also uses homeopathic-like therapy in
choosing radiation to treat people with cancer (radiation causes
cancer), digitalis for heart conditions (digitalis creates heart
conditions), and ritalin for hyperactive children (ritalin is an
amphetaminelike drug which normally causes hyperactivity). Other
examples are the use of nitroglycerine for heart conditions*, gold
salts for arthritic conditions, and colchicine for gout.
y
y
[*Few people know that nitroglycerine was first utilized as a
medicine by Constantine Hering, a homeopathic physician. For a more
detailed history of the use of nitroglycerine in medicine, see W.B.
Fye, "Nitroglycerine: A Homeopathic Remedy," Circulation, January,
1986, 73,1, 21-29. Also, for a historical discussion of various
homeopathic drugs which have been incorporated into conventional
medicine, see Harris Coulter's Homoeopathic Influences in
Nineteenth Century Allopathic Therapeutics (St. Louis: Formur,
1973).] The law of similars also is a basic principle of physics,
one which many of us might have learned in elementary school as in
magnets and how opposite poles attract while similar poles repel as
well as method to recharge a weakened magnet: place similar poles
next to each other, eventually the magnet will be recharged and
will again repel itself from the other. As in homeopathy, like
recharges/regenerates/heals like. Besides being used in
conventional medicine and science, the law of similars has a global
and historical basis in healing. (11) In the 4th century B.C.,
Hippocrates was known to have said, "Through the like, disease is
produced, and through the application of the like it is cured."
(12) The Delphic Oracle proclaimed the value of the law of
similars, stating, "that which make sick shall heal." Another story
from Greek mythology which gave an example of3
the similars principle in action, though in a magical rather
than medicinal way, was when Telephus, a Trojan hero who was
speared, needed to obtain the original spear for his healing.
Paracelsus, a well-known 15th century physician and alchemist, used
the law of similars extensively in practice and referred to it in
writings. His formulation of the "Doctrine of Signatures" spoke
directly of the value in using similars in healing. He affirmed,
"You there bring together the same anatomy of the herbs and the
same anatomy of the illness into one order. This simile gives you
understanding of the way in which you shall heal." (13) Moreover,
it is a well-known fact that all human beings experience irritation
of eyes while cutting onions. These symptoms are very similar to
the symptoms experienced during conjunctivitis. Now, according to
the Homoeopathic Law of 'Like Cures Likes', a remedy prepared from
onions can definitely cure the symptoms of
conjunctivitis.References: 1. The Royal Family has been intimately
involved in homeopathic medicine dating back to the 1830s when
Queen Adelaide sought homeopathic care from Dr. Ernst Stapf, a
colleague of Dr. Samuel Hahnemann. For further information, see
"Homoeopathy: The Royal Key," Homoeopathy: Journal of the British
Homoeopathic Association, February, 1987, 18-21. Mahatma Gandhi was
once quoted to have said, "Homeopathy cures a greater number of
case than any other method of treatment." From a speech on August
30, 1936, quoted in World Homoeopathic Directory 1982, New Delhi:
World Homoeopathic Links, 32. John D. Rockefeller, Sr. was known to
be under homeopathic care for at least 15 years of his life. He
once described homeopathy as "a progressive and aggressive step in
medicine." A. Nevins, John D. Rockefeller: The Heroic Age of
American Enterprise, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1940, II,
263. Tina Turner has been vocal in her support of homeopathy, as
mentioned in her autobiography I, Tina, Tina Turner with Kurt
Loder, New York: Avon, 1986; and in Maureen Orth, "Tina," Vogue,
May, 1985, 318+. Yehudi Menuhin's support for homeopathy is
epitomized by the fact that he is the President of the Hahnemann
Society, one of the major homeopathic organization in Great
Britain. 2. Walter B. Cannon, The Wisdom of the Body, New York:
Norton, 1942. 3. Hans Selye, The Stress of Life, Revised edition.
New York: McGraw-Hill, 1978, 12. 4. Ilya Prigogine and Isabelle
Stengers, Order Out of Chaos, New York: Bantam, 1984. 5. Fritjof
Capra, The Turning Point, New York: Simon & Schuster, 1982. 6.
Erich Jantsch, The Self-Organizing Universe, Oxford, England:
Pergamon, 1980. 7. Matthew Kluger, "Fever," Pediatrics, 66,5,
November, 1980, 720-724. Matthew Kluger, "Fever: Effect of
DrugInduced Antipyresis on Survival," Science, 193, July 16, 1976,
237-239. Matthew Kluger, "Fever and Survival," Science, 188, April
11, 1975, 166-168. 8. William Boyd, An Introduction to the Study of
Disease, Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1972, 95-110. 9. H.L.
DuPont and R.B. Hornick, "The Adverse Effect of Lomotil Therapy in
Shigellosis," JAMA, 226,13, December 24, 1971, 1525- 1528. 10. Emil
Adolph Von Behring, Modern Phthiso-genetic and Phthisio-therapeutic
Problems in Historical Illuniation, Section V, New York, 1906. 11.
Linn Boyd, A Study of the Simile in Medicine, Philadelphia:
Boericke and Tafel, 1936. 12. Quoted in Maesimund Panos and Jane
Heimlich, Homeopathic Medicine at Home, Los Angeles: J.P. Tarcher,
1980, 11. For further reference to various places in the
Hippocratic writings which discuss the similars principles, see
Divided Legacy: The Patterns Emerge: Hippocrates to Paracelsus,
Washington, D.C.: Wehawken, 1975, 205-6. 13. Quoted in Harris L.
Coulter, Divided Legacy: The Patterns Emerge: Hippocrates to
Paracelsus, Washington, D.C.: Wehawken, 1975, 432. Although the
Doctrine of Signatures has some resemblance to the homeopathic law
of
4
similars, the signatures principle which is based on analytical
interpretation is not as precise as the homeopathic method which
utilizes drug trials or "provings" to determine the symptoms each
substance will heal. 14. K.C. Cole, Sympathetic Vibrations, New
York: Bantam, 1985. 15. Kathleen McAuliffe, "The Mind Fields,"
Omni, January, 1985. 16. James Tyler Kent, Lectures on Homoeopathic
Philosophy, Reprint. Berkeley: North Atlantic, 1979. 17. George
Vithoulkas, The Science of Homeopathy, New York: Grove, 1980. 18.
R.R. Sharma, "Homoeopathy Today: A Scientific Appraisal," British
Homoeopathic Journal, 75,4, October, 1986, 231-236. 19. I. Amato,
"Molecular Divorce Gives Strange Vibes," Science News, November 1,
1986, 277-278. 20. Stanley Ries, et.al., "Triacontanol: A New
Naturally Occurring Plant Growth Regulator," Science, 195, 4284,
1977, 1339-1341. 21. David Perlman, "Chance Discovery of a Magic
Fertilizer," San Francisco Chronicle, November 15, 1977.
5
HOMOEOPATHY AND NOBEL PRIZE- THE CONNECTION 1) Dr. Luc
Montagnier, the French virologist who won the Nobel Prize in 2008
for discovering the AIDS virus, has surprised the scientific
community with his strong support for homeopathic medicine.
Montagnier, who is also founder and president of the World
Foundation for AIDS Research and Prevention, asserted, "the high
dilutions (used in homeopathy) are right. High dilutions of
something are not nothing. They are water structures which mimic
the original molecules." Here, Montagnier is making reference to
his experimental research that confirms one of the controversial
features of homeopathic medicine that uses doses of substances that
undergo sequential dilution with vigorous shaking in-between each
dilution. 2) Dr. Jacques Benveniste, Ig Nobel Laureate in Chemistry
has founded a famous memory of water study, according to which
water has the capacity to memorize molecular energetic signatures
i.e. new energetic state. Benveniste and other researchers used
extremely diluted doses of substances that created an effect on a
type of white blood cell called basophils. 3) Dr. Brian Josephson,
Ph.D., who is a Nobel Prize-winning scientist wrote as a response
to an article on homeopathy in New Scientist: Regarding your
comments on claims made for homeopathy: criticisms centered around
the vanishingly small number of solute molecules present in a
solution after it has been repeatedly diluted are beside the point,
since advocates of homeopathic remedies attribute their effects not
to molecules present in the water, but to modifications of the
water's structure. 4) Dr. George Vithoulkas has acquired numerous
rewards and recognitions, the most prestigious being the Right
Livelihood Award, also known as the Alternative Nobel Prize awarded
to him in 1996 by Uexkull Foundaton for upgrading Classical
Homeopathy to the standard of a science and the spread of
homeopathy not only in Greece but world-wide. 5) Even Mother
Teresa, the Nobel Laureate for peace who for many decades has
served India's poorest citizens with medical care, has added
homeopathic care to the services offered at her missions. Mother
Teresa has a special interest in homeopathic medicine because of
its effectiveness and low cost. At present, four charitable
homeopathic dispensaries are run under the guidance of the Mother's
Missionaries of Charity. One of these dispensaries primarily
provides homeopathic medicines to poor and sick children in
Calcutta, while the other three provide homeopathic medicines to
anyone who needs them. Considering the serious health problems that
poor people in India experience, it is truly miraculous that
homeopathic medicines are so effective as the primary method of
treatment for many children and many adults. Mother Teresa opened
her first charitable homeopathic dispensary in Calcutta in 1950.
She is known to prescribe homeopathic medicines herself
sometimes.References: (1) Enserink M, Newsmaker Interview: Luc
Montagnier, French Nobelist Escapes "Intellectual Terror" to Pursue
Radical Ideas in China. Science 24 December 2010: Vol. 330 no. 6012
p. 1732. DOI: 10.1126/science.330.6012.1732 (2) Ullman D.
Homeopathic Medicine: Europe's #1 Alternative for Doctors.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/danaullman/homeopathic-medicine-euro_b_402490.html
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(3) Linde L, Clausius N, Ramirez G, et al., "Are the Clinical
Effects of Homoeopathy Placebo Effects? A Metaanalysis of
Placebo-Controlled Trials," Lancet, September 20, 1997,
350:834-843. (4) Ldtke R, Rutten ALB. The conclusions on the
effectiveness of homeopathy highly depend on the set of analyzed
trials. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. October 2008. doi:
10.1016/j.jclinepi.2008.06/015. (5) Taylor, MA, Reilly, D,
Llewellyn-Jones, RH, et al., Randomised controlled trial of
homoeopathy versus placebo in perennial allergic rhinitis with
overview of four trial Series, BMJ, August 19, 2000, 321:471-476.
(6) Ullman, D, Frass, M. A Review of Homeopathic Research in the
Treatment of Respiratory Allergies. Alternative Medicine Review.
2010:15,1:48-58.
http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/.fulltext/15/1/48.pdf (7) Vickers
AJ. Homoeopathic Oscillococcinum for preventing and treating
influenza and influenza-like syndromes. Cochrane Reviews. 2009. (8)
Bell IR, Lewis II DA, Brooks AJ, et al. Improved clinical status in
fibromyalgia patients treated with individualized homeopathic
remedies versus placebo, Rheumatology. 2004:1111-5. (9) Fisher P,
Greenwood A, Huskisson EC, et al., "Effect of Homoeopathic
Treatment on Fibrositis (Primary Fibromyalgia)," BMJ, 299(August 5,
1989):365-6. (10) Jonas, WB, Linde, Klaus, and Ramirez, Gilbert,
"Homeopathy and Rheumatic Disease," Rheumatic Disease Clinics of
North America, February 2000,1:117-123. (11) Jacobs J, Jonas WB,
Jimenez-Perez M, Crothers D, Homeopathy for Childhood Diarrhea:
Combined Results and Metaanalysis from Three Randomized, Controlled
Clinical Trials, Pediatr Infect Dis J, 2003;22:229-34. (12) Barnes,
J, Resch, KL, Ernst, E, "Homeopathy for Post-Operative Ileus: A
Meta-Analysis," Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, 1997, 25:
628-633. (13) M, Thurneysen A. Homeopathic treatment of children
with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a randomised, double
blind, placebo controlled crossover trial. Eur J Pediatr. 2005
Dec;164(12):758-67. Epub 2005 Jul 27. (14) Kassab S, Cummings M,
Berkovitz S, van Haselen R, Fisher P. Homeopathic medicines for
adverse effects of cancer treatments. Cochrane Database of
Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 2. (15) Witt CM, Bluth M, Albrecht
H, Weisshuhn TE, Baumgartner S, Willich SN. The in vitro evidence
for an effect of high homeopathic potencies--a systematic review of
the literature. Complement Ther Med. 2007 Jun;15(2):12838. Epub
2007 Mar 28. (16) Endler PC, Thieves K, Reich C, Matthiessen P,
Bonamin L, Scherr C, Baumgartner S. Repetitions of fundamental
research models for homeopathically prepared dilutions beyond
10-23: a bibliometric study. Homeopathy, 2010; 99: 25-36. (17) Luc
Montagnier, Jamal Aissa, Stphane Ferris, Jean-Luc Montagnier,
Claude Lavallee, Electromagnetic Signals Are Produced by Aqueous
Nanostructures Derived from Bacterial DNA Sequences. Interdiscip
Sci Comput Life Sci (2009) 1: 81-90.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/0557v31188m3766x/fulltext.pdf
(18) Nobel laureate gives homeopathy a boost. The Australian. July
5, 2010.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/health-science/nobel-laureate-gives-homeopathy-a-boost/story-e6frg8y61225887772305
(19) Davenas E, Beauvais F, Amara J, et al. (June 1988). "Human
basophil degranulation triggered by very dilute antiserum against
IgE". Nature 333 (6176): 816-8. (20) Maddox J (June 1988). "Can a
Greek tragedy be avoided?". Nature 333 (6176): 795-7. (21)
Josephson, B. D., Letter, New Scientist, November 1, 1997. (22)
George A. Lone Voices special: Take nobody's word for it. New
Scientist. December 9, 2006. (23) Personal communication. Brian
Josephson to Dana Ullman. January 5, 2011.
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(24) Chikramane PS, Suresh AK, Bellare JR, and Govind S. Extreme
homeopathic dilutions retain starting materials: A nanoparticulate
perspective. Homeopathy. Volume 99, Issue 4, October 2010, 231-242.
(25) Human and Experimental Toxicology, July 2010:
http://het.sagepub.com/content/vol29/issue7/
http://www.homeopathy-soh.org/research/research-and-the-society/research-news/nobel-prize-winner/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dana-ullman/luc-montagnier-homeopathy-taken-seriously_b_814619.html
http://www.vithoulkas.com/en/george-vithoulkas/alternative-nobel-prize.html
8
THE PRESENT STATUS OF HOMEOPATHY WORLDWIDE 1. Homeopathy is
particularly popular in Great Britain where the Royal Family has
been under homeopathic care since the 1830s. The New York Times
noted that visits to homeopathic physicians are increasing in
England at a rate of 39% per year. A British consumer organization
surveyed its 28,000 members and discovered that 80% had used some
form of complementary medicine and that 70% of those who had tried
homeopathy were cured or improved by it. Not only is there growing
interest from the general public, there is also surprising
acknowledgement of homeopathy by conventional physicians. The
British Medical Journal recently published a survey of the
attitudes of British physicians toward practitioners of
complementary medicine. The survey discovered that 42% of the
physicians surveyed refer patients to homeopathic physicians. A
different study published in The Times of London found that 48% of
physicians referred patients to homeopathic physicians. A study
published in the British Medical Journal noted that in a survey of
100 recently graduated British physicians, 80% expressed an
interest in being trained in homoeopathy, acupuncture or hypnosis.
This impressive growth in Great Britain is being matched in France.
A recent survey of French doctors revealed that approximately
11,000 utilize homeopathic medicines, approximately 25% of the
French public have tried or are presently using homeopathic
medicines, and over 20,000 French pharmacies now sell homeopathic
medicines. This survey also noted that courses in homeopathy
leading to a degree are offered in six medical schools. Homeopathy
is taught in all pharmacy schools and in four veterinary schools.
Homeopathy is growing so rapidly in France that a recent cover
story of Le Nouvel Observateur, one of France's leading magazines,
noted that President Mitterrand and six medical school deans had
called for more research on homeopathy. The author editorialized,
"It is a fact that homeopathy obtains results, sometimes
spectacular results." In 1981 the Dutch government published a
report on Alternative Medicine in The Netherlands in 1981, which
concluded that 20% of the Dutch public utilize alternative healing
methods. The report also noted that homeopathy is one the most
popular therapeutic modalities. The Scots hate to be overshadowed
by the English, and this is true in homeopathy too. According to
The Times of London, homeopathy is now the fastest growing
alternative therapy in Scotland. The numbers of Scots who have used
homeopathic medicines have more than doubled from 1985 to 1990,
increasing from 5% to 11%. Similarly, in 1985 23% of those Scots
interviewed in 1985 said they would "seriously consider" going to a
homeopath, and in 1990 this figure grew to 40%.8 Homeopathic
medicine is very popular in Germany as well. One respected author
estimated that 20% of German physicians use homeopathic medicines
occasionally. At present, the most popular hay fever remedy in
Germany is a homeopathic medicine, and other homeopathic medicines
for the common cold, sore throats, and circulatory problems are in
the top ten of their respective categories.10 To further aid the
growth of homeopathy, the late President of Germany, Karl Karstens,
and his wife, Dr. Veronica Carstens, who is a medical doctor and a
homeopathic physician, recently started a homeopathic research
foundation.11 Numerous new research efforts in Germany and
throughout Europe have begun in the past couple of years.9
It is also interesting to note that homeopathy is gaining such
respect in medical and business circles that one of the leading
German homeopathic manufacturers is owned by the same company that
owns the BMW car company. In addition to homeopathy's popularity in
France, England, Scotland, and Germany, it is also very popular in
The Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, and Greece. Summarizing the use
of homeopathy by physicians in Europe 40% (18,000) of French M.D.s
have treated 40% of the French public (Compl Med Research, May
1990, 4(2)4-8.) 40 % of Dutch 37% of British and 42% of family
physicians refer to homeopaths (BMJ, 292, June 7, 1986, 1498- 1500)
20% of German 20% of Scottish physicians have had training in
homeopathy 2. Homeopathy is widespread in Europe, but it is even
more popular in Asia, especially India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Homeopathy spread in India, in part, because of the support it
received from Mahatma Gandhi, who was reported to have said that it
"cures a greater number of people than any other method of
treatment," but also because it has been effective in treating many
of the acute infectious conditions and the chronic maladies on the
subcontinent. As an article in the World Health Organization's
journal World Health Forum noted, "Homeopathic treatment seems well
suited for use in rural areas where the infrastructure, equipment,
and drugs needed for conventional medicine cannot be provided."
Presently in India, there are nearly 180 homeopathic medical
colleges, 7500 government clinics, and 307 hospitals offering
homeopathy treatment. Approximately 35 are government colleges,
rest are managed by private bodies. It is estimated that there are
about quarter million homeopaths in India. Nearly 10,000 new ones
add to this number every year. An article in the World Health Forum
acknowledged that, "In the Indian subcontinent the legal position
of the practitioners of homeopathy has been elevated to a
professional level similar to that of a medical practitioner." 3.
Homeopathy is not as popular in South America as it is in Europe or
Asia, but it is still widely utilized. Homeopathy's popularity in
Argentina dates back to General San Martin, the country's greatest
hero, who was reported to have taken a kit of homeopathic medicines
across the Andes in his efforts to free Chile and Peru from Spain
in 1816. One of Argentina's most respected homeopathic physicians,
Dr. Francisco Eizayaga, has estimated that there are now
approximately 2,000 doctors in Argentina who practice homeopathy,
and approximately 3 million of Argentina's 30 million people have
used homeopathic medicines. Homeopathy is equally popular in
Brazil, where there are also approximately 2,000 physicians who
utilize homeopathic medicines. It is interesting to note that
pharmacists in Brazil are required to take a course in homeopathic
pharmacology in order to graduate. There are at least 10
homeopathic schools in Brazil, and several conventional medical
schools have coursework in homeopathy.
10
4. Besides homeopathy's special popularity in the previously
mentioned countries, it is widely practiced in Mexico, Greece,
Belgium, Italy, Spain, Australia, South Africa, Nigeria, and the
Canada. 5. Homeopathy is even relatively popular in the Soviet
Union. Although there are only about 500 homeopathic physicians,
they are popular enough that most of them charge for their
services. Since most Russians receive free conventional medical
care, it is indeed a tribute to homeopathy that a growing number of
Russian citizens are paying for homeopathic care. Because Russian
homeopaths charge for their services, they have become part of the
new entrepreneurial "peristroika" that is presently occurring. Even
Izvestia recently published a series of articles on homeopathy in
which they reported that a homeopathic clinic established for
factory workers in 1984 resulted in a 10.1% decrease in days lost
due to sickness. The series of articles concluded with an editorial
that advocated further support for it from the Ministry of Health.
As a further sign of homeopathy's growing acceptance, President
Gorbachev awarded a medal to Dr. Demyan Popov for his work in
popularizing homeopathy in the USSR. Homeopathy is also relatively
popular throughout South America, especially in Brazil and
Argentina. Homeopathy has become a bit of a legend in Argentina
because its greatest hero in the 19th century, General San Martin,
was known to carry a homeopathic medicine kit when he travelled.
Homeopathy is also quite popular in Mexico there are five
homeopathic medical colleges, including two in Mexico City. 6.
Homeopathy is re-experiencing a renaissance in the United States as
well. In the early 1970s there were only 50-100 physicians who
specialized in homeopathy, and yet by the mid1980s, it can be
estimated that there were approximately 1,000 physicians who
specialize in homeopathy. According to the Washington Post, the
numbers of physicians in the U.S. who specialized in homeopathy
doubled from 1980 to 1982. There is a concomitant increase in the
use of the microdoses by various other health professionals.
Approximately 1,000 other health professionals in the U.S. use
homeopathic medicines, and these include dentists, podiatrists,
veterinarians, physician assistants, nurses, naturopaths,
acupuncturists, chiropractors, and psychologists. Although these
numbers still represent only a very small percentage of licensed
health professionals, the rapidly growing interest in homeopathy
portends significant increases to come. The rediscovery of
homeopathy by the general public is even more encouraging. The
magazine, The F.D.A. Consumer, recently reported a 1000% increase
in sales of homeopathic medicines from the late 1970s to the early
1980s. (85) Contrary to some critics who think that people try
homeopathy only because they are uneducated, research published in
the Western Journal of Medicine showed that homeopathic patients
tend to be considered even better educated than the average
American. It is difficult to predict how popular homeopathy will be
in the United States in the 21st century, though it is probable
that most physicians will utilize at least some of the microdoses
which research has proven to be effective. Growing numbers of
consumers will also learn to
11
self-prescribe homeopathic medicine for common acute conditions
and will probably demand homeopathic care from their physicians for
more serious medical conditions. 7. Clearly, homeopathy will play
an increasingly important role in health care, for as
internationally acclaimed violinist and humanitarian Yehudi Menuhin
once said, "Homeopathy is one of the few medical specialties which
carries no penalties--only benefits." 8. Homeopathy reimbursable
under national health services Britain France Germany Greece India
Austria Israel Almost all private European health insurance schemes
and a number of American ones will reimburse homeopathy if
prescribed by a physician according to standardized codes. 9. Some
international official organizations: y Liga Medicorum
Homoeopathica Internationalis (LMHI) (10,000 registered members) y
American Institute of Homeopathy (100 registered members) -
unofficial estimates at 500-1000 practicing y Australia Medical
Faculty of Homeopathy (150 members) y Austrian Association for
Homeopathic Medicine (840 members) y Hellenic Homeopathic Medical
Society (130 members) while Mexico has (246) y European Council for
Classical Homeopathy (ECCH) y And many othersReferences:1 2
Suzanne Muchnic, "Van Gogh Painting Sells at Record $82.5
Million," Los Angeles Times, May 16, 1990.
F. Bouchayer, "Alternative Medicines: A General Approach to the
French Situation," Complementary Medical Research, May, 1990,
4(2)4-8.3 4 5
Poll I.F.O.P., February, 1989. "Medecines douches: La revanche
de l'homeopathie," Le Nouvel Observateur, April 12, 1985,
36-41.
"Herbal and Homoeopathic Remedies: Enhanced Status for
Alternative Medicines," OTC News and Market Report, July,
1990.6
Richard Wharton and George Lewith, "Complementary Medicine and
the General Practitioner," British Medicine Journal, 292, June 7,
1986, 1498-1500.7
David Taylor Reilly, "Young Doctors' Views on Alternative
Medicine," British Medical Journal, 287, July 30, 1983, 337-339.8
9
"Take a Little of What Ails You," The Times, November 13, 1989.
Lynn Payer, Medicine and Culture, New York: Holt, 1988. "Herbal and
Homoeopathic Remedies."
10
12
11
Berlin Journal on Research in Homoeopathy, Universitatsklinikum
Steglitz, 1000 Berlin, Germany.
"National Congress on Homoeopathy and Drug Abuse," New Delhi,
India, Sponsored by the Foundation for Medical Research and
Education and the Dehli Police Foundation for Correction,
Deaddiction and Rehabilitation, March 16-18, 1990. "A First for
Homoeopathy in USSR," Homoeopathy Today, Winter, 1987-88, 17-20.
Also, a personal report from Yuri Sidorenko.14 15 16 13
12
Dana Ullman, Homeopathy: Medicine for the 21st Century,
Berkeley: North Atlantic Books, 1988. "Riding the Coattails of
Homeopathy," FDA Consumer, March, 1985, 31. Ann Chase, "Options:
Homeopathy," Washington Post, April 28, 1983, 31.
Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2000 Apr;56(1):27-33.
13
THE PRESENT STATUS OF HOMEOPATHY IN ASEAN COUNTRIES 1. According
to The ASEAN Consultative Committee for Standards and Quality
(ACCSQ) product working group on traditional medicines and health
supplements of 2006, Brunei and Malaysia have included protocols
for homeopathic medicines. 2. The international homeopathic medical
society Liga Medicorum Homoeopathica Internationalis (LMHI),
established in Rotterdam in 1925, represents homeopathic physicians
in more than 70 countries all over the world. The purposes of the
association are the following: y y The development and securing of
homeopathy worldwide; The creation of a link among licensed
homeopaths with medical diplomas and societies and persons who are
interested in homeopathy.
The association is exclusively devoted to non-profit activities
serving philanthropic benefits. LMHI has 10,000 members worldwide
wherein the three countries of ASEAN are members of LMHI: y y y
Malaysia Singapore Thailand
According to LMHI Report 2008 Dr. Nik Omar, Contact Most
practitioners agree that homeopathy was introduced here in 1940.
Members of homeopathic societies numbered about 100 between 1960-
1980. In 1977 Dr. Nik Omar returned from homeopathic studies in
London and started the first modern, well equipped homeopathic
clinic. In 1979, he began teaching, laying the foundation of The
Faculty of Homeopathy Malaysia FAHOM. Additionally, there are four
Faculty of Homeopathy training centers throughout Malaysia. Since
bogus institutions caused much harm to homeopathy, a group of
qualified homeopaths formed The Registered Homeopathic Medical
Practitioners Association (MRHP), prompting the government to pass
a decree uniting all qualified homeopaths in one society. In 1979,
Dr. Omar formed Homeopathic Doctors without Barriers, whose members
volunteered services to more than 100,000 people in humanitarian
activities in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Afghanistan, Pakistan,
Indonesia, and Malaysia. 3. Additionally, there are other two major
organizations running in Malaysia: y The Asian Homeopathic Medical
League (AHML) y The International Homeopathic Medical League (IHML)
4. About 300 Cambodian get free medical treatment from Doctor
without barrier from MRHP & FAHOM from Malaysia in year
2006References:
http://www.homeopathymalaysia.org.my/content/cambodia+in+year+2006-17.aspx
www.lmhi.net/ www.asean.org/20258.pdf
14
HOMOEOPATHIC PHARMACOPOEIA PHARMACOPOEIA (Greek - pharmakon:
drug; poies: to make) means a book, containing the formulae and
methods of preparation of medicines used in the treatment of
disease. A homoeopathic pharmacopoeia necessarily deals with
descriptions and preparations of medicines used for treating
patients homeopathically. It is the supreme authoritative book,
published by an authority, government of any country that deals
with the rules and regulations of standardization of drug
substances. It contains directions for collection of drug
substances from different sources, their preparation, preservation
and standards that determine their safety, efficacy, strength and
purity, as well as identification of those remedies that are
potentially toxic, to indicate minimum potency levels in which
those remedies may be sold. HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF HOMOEOPATHIC
PHARMACOPOEIAS The history of pharmacopoeias involves the history
of pharmacy, for as pharmacopoeias evolved from crude handbooks to
the present works of high scientific value, even so as the practice
of homoeopathic pharmacy progressed from preparation of medicines
by Hahnemann himself to the standardized medications produced on a
large scale. * Besides being a discoverer of a new system of
therapy, Hahnemann was the pioneer of 'Experimental Pharmacology'
as he was the first to ascertain the positive effects of drugs on
healthy human beings. The fruits of his labour in the field of
Pharmacology or Pharmacodynamics are preserved in following books:
(a) Materia Medica Pura (b) Chronic Diseases, Their Peculiar Nature
And Their Homoeopathic Cure Though he left no special book on
pharmacopoeia, his scattered records served as the basis of the
homoeopathic pharmacopoeias of the future. * In 1805, Hahnemann
published the results of his observations for fifteen years in his
''Fragmenta de Viribus Medicamentorum Positivis sive in sano
corpore humano observatatis''. Between the years 1811 and 1833 were
published his ''Materia Medica Pura'' followed '' Chronic Diseases
''. In all of these publications, general and special instruction
was given for the preparation of the remedies. * 1825 : From
records, Dr. Caspari (Leipzig, Germany) first published the first
Dispensatory of Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia. * 1829 : Hartmann -
Pharmacopoeia Homoeopathica * * 1842 : Jahr - New Homoeopathic
Pharmacopoeia and Posology, or the preparation of homoeopathic
medicines and the administration of doses. * 1870 : The first
British Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia was published by the British
Homoeopathic Society, London. * 1872 : Schwabe - Pharmacopoeia
Homoeopathica Polyglottica. * 1876 : United States Homoeopathic
Pharmacopoeia - 1st edition15
* 1882 : American Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia - Compiled and by
published by Boericke and Tafel, New York and Philadelphia * 1884 :
American Homoeopathic Dispensatory * 1897 : Otis Clap & Son
Inc. Agent, Boston, U.S.A. published the first Pharmacopoeia of the
American Institute of Homoeopathy, published for the Committee on
Pharmacopoeia of the American Institute of Homoeopathy. * 1898 :
Pharmacopie Homoeopathique Francaise * 1901 : 2nd edition of the
Pharmacopoeia of the American Institute of Homoeopathy was
published and the title changed to "Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of
the United States". THE EXISTING FIVE OFFICIAL PHARMACOPOEIAS
WORLDWIDE: I. HOMOEOPATHIC PHARMACOPOEIA OF THE UNITED STATES
(HPUS) In 1882, the 'American Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia' was
compiled and published by Boericke and Tafel, New York and
Philadelphia. Otis Clap & Son Inc. Agent, Boston, U.S.A.
published the first Pharmacopoeia of the American Institute of
Homoeopathy, published for the Committee on Pharmacopoeia of the
American Institute of Homoeopathy in 1897. In 1901, a 2nd edition
of the Pharmacopoeia of the American Institute of Homoeopathy was
published and the title changed to "Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of
the United States. THE HOMOEOPATHIC PHARMACOPOEIA OF THE UNITED
STATES is published under the direction of THE COMMITTEE ON
PHARMACOPOEIA of the AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF HOMOEOPATHY. By the
final passage (June 1938) of the Food, Drugs and Cosmetic Act
(commonly known as the Pure Food Law), the Homoeopathic
Pharmacopoeia of the United States became the sole authority in the
United States for the preparation of all remedies claiming to be
homoeopathic. The provings of homoeopathic medicine are to reported
to the Pharmacopoeia Committee of the American Institute of
Homoeopathy when, if the provings appear to be adequate and the
demand for the medicine by the pharmacists sufficient to warrant
the manufacture and stocking of the medicine, it may be listed in
the Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia. New remedies are admitted to the
Pharmacopoeia only after provings have been made and a sufficient
demand has arisen to justify their insertion. A remedy is deleted
from the Pharmacopoeia when there is no longer a sufficient demand
for it to justify its preparation and retention in the pharmacies.
In reality, the HPUS has consisted of several different books: *
The HPUS, Eighth Edition, Volume I (1979); * The Compendium of
Homeotherapeutics (1974); and * Supplement "A" of the HPUS Eighth
Edition (1982). To eliminate difficulties presented by this system,
the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia Convention of the United States
(HPCUS) decided to republish these texts into one
16
compilation to be known as the Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the
United States Revision Service. The Revision Service, appropriately
updated, thus constitutes the official compendium of homeopathy. To
be consistent with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the
official name of the Revision Service is the "Homoeopathic
Pharmacopoeia of the United States / Revision Service." The
official abbreviation is "HPRS." II. GERMAN HOMOEOPATHIC
PHARMACOPOEIA (HAB) Dr. Caspari of Leipzig, Germany published the
first Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia. He published a "Dispensatorium
Homoeopathicum", thereby giving the first idea of homoeopathic
pharmacopoeias. Dr. Willmar Schwabe founded the Homoeopathic
Central Pharmacy to manufacture and sell homoeopathic medicines in
1866. He created precise standards for homoeopathic pharmaceutical
production, which was published in 1872 as Pharmacopoeia
Homoeopathica Polyglotta. In 1880, the second edition (English
edition) of this work was published. In 1929, the 2nd English
edition was published. This was later revised and is known today as
"Dr. Willmar Schwabe Homoeopathisches Arzneibuch" which was
subsequently accepted as the official German Homoeopathic
Pharmacopoeia (HAB). Today HAB serves as an international reference
standard for homoeopathic medicines. III. FRENCH HOMOEOPATHIC
PHARMACOPOEIA 1948: First inclusion of homeopathic medicines in the
French pharmacopoeia. 1965: Official inclusion in the French
pharmacopoeia. 1978: 1st supplement to the pharmacopoeia: Good
Manufacturing Practices. 1979/1981: "Pharmacope et Monographies de
Mdicaments Courants" - SNPH Edition. 1983: the conference of the
deans of medical schools recommended the inclusion of homeopathy in
the curriculum of medical studies. (Reiterated by the members of
the European Parliament) 1983: Tenth edition of the French
pharmacopoeia. Updating of the monographs and descriptions of
homeopathic preparation methods. 1985: Official journal: "Bonnes
Pratiques de Fabrication et de Production Pharmaceutiques" (B.P.F.)
1988: Official journal: "Bonnes Pratiques de Prparations
Officinales" (B.P.P.O.) 1989: Publication in the official
pharmacopoeia of the compendium: "Monographies des Souches
Homopathiques". 1992: Publication in the official journal of the
European Community of two directives concerning homeopathic
medicines. IV. BRITISH HOMOEOPATHIC PHARMACOPOEIA (BHP) The first
British Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia was published in 1870 by the
British Homoeopathic Society, London. The second edition of the
British Homoeopathic17
Pharmacopoeia was published in 1876. It is to be noted that the
British Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia is not an official Pharmacopoeia
of U.K. - it is by virtue of its intrinsic merit and worth, that it
is accepted by the homoeopathic profession of England and abroad.
V. HOMOEOPATHIC PHARMACOPOEIA OF INDIA (H.P.I.) (MINISTRY OF HEALTH
AND FAMILY WELFARE, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA) HPI is included in the
Second Schedule of Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940. The proposal to
set up a Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia Committee was initiated by the
Homoeopathic Advisory Committee in the year 1956. The Government of
India constituted the Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia Committee in
September 1962. The functions of the Committee were (i) To prepare
a Pharmacopoeia of Homoeopathic drugs, whose therapeutic usefulness
has been proved, on the lines of the American, German and British
Pharmacopoeias; (ii) To lay down principles and standards for the
preparation of homoeopathic drugs; (iii) To lay down tests for
identity, quality and purity; and (iv) Such other matters as are
incidental and necessary for the preparation of a homoeopathic
pharmacopoeia. In the course of compiling the HPI, the Indian
Pharmacopoeia, the American Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia, the British
Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia, the Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the
United States and the German Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia are
consulted. Worked out standards are released by the Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare in the form of Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia
of India (HPI) Various Volumes of HPI VOLUME HPI VOL. I HPI VOL. II
HPI VOL. III HPI VOL. IV HPI VOL. V HPI VOL. VI HPI VOL. VII HPI
VOL. VIII HPI VOL. IX TOTAL NO OF MONOGRAPHS 180 100 105 107 114
104 105 101 100 1016 YEAR OF PUBLICATION 1971 1974 1978 1984 1987
1990 1999 2000 2006
Monographs The general plan of pharmacopoeias is to lay down the
direction for the selection and
18
preparation of drugs that are thoroughly adapted to the purpose
of homoeopathic prescribing. These directions and specifications
for each drug are called 'monographs'. * The standards of purity
and strength are stated in the MONOGRAPHS of the Pharmacopoeia and
apply to articles that are intended for medicinal use, but not
necessarily to articles that may be sold under the same name for
other purposes. * All statements contained in the monographs
constitute standards for the official substances. * The
requirements are not framed to provide against all possible
impurities. A common format is generally employed to describe a
drug. The general pattern of monographs has the following features.
PLANT 1. Name of remedy with abbreviation 2. Botanical name 3.
Family 4. Common names 5. Description 6. Part used 7. Macroscopical
8. Microscopical 9. Identification tests 10. Distribution 11.
History and authority 12. Preparation 13. Storage 14. Caution
ANIMAL 1. Name with abbreviation 2. Zoological name 3. Family 4.
Common name 5. Description 6. Part used 7. Microscopical 8.
Distribution19
9. History and authority 10. Preparation 11. Storage 12. Caution
CHEMICAL 1. Name with abbreviation 2. Symbol 3. Molecular weight 4.
English name 5. Description 6. Identification 7. Reaction 8. Limit
tests 9. Assay 10. History and authority 11. Preparation 12.
Storage 13. Caution NOSODE 1. Name with abbreviation 2.
Microbiological name 3. History and authority 4. Biological
distribution 5. Source of preparation of homoeopathic drugs 6.
Description / Morphology of the organism 7. Cultural
characteristics 8. Resistance and metabolism 9. Biochemical
reactions 10. Preparation 11. Storage 12. Caution * Description,
identification tests, as well as method of assay for establishment
of purity are furnished for drugs of chemical origin.20
* The preparation of Homoeopathic mother tincture or substance
follows immediately after details of the drug. Method of
manufacture of chemical substances - unless specifically described
in the monograph, a chemical substance may be prepared by any
method provided the substance conforms to the pharmacopoeial
standards. The monograph contains details about * Name of the drug
/ remedy The titles of the monographs are given in conventional
Latin names adopted by the homoeopathic profession. The name that
is in common usage with the homoeopathic profession all over the
world is used as the name of the monograph with its official
abbreviation. * Synonym Regional name of the drug within and
outside the country and the synonym of the original should be
clearly indicated. The synonyms, in various languages, are those
under which the drug is commonly known and these names cannot be
considered to have the same significance as the main title. * The
official description Under the heading 'Description', a complete
morphological description for the purpose of identification of the
drug is given. The morphological characters that can be easily
distinguished and those characters that can differentiate the
source amongst the various species or varieties of the same family
should be mentioned categorically so that no confusion results
while collecting the material. Though morphologically correct, the
different developmental stages of the plant can alter the
constituents of a particular specimen and therefore efforts should
be made to fix the developmental stage as one of the parameters for
collection. Standardization of source material is therefore very
imperative. In HPI, a significant inclusion is seen. The
identification characters are presented more elaborately, giving
macroscopic and microscopic descriptions of the source material and
parts employed in the preparation of mother tincture. In case of
drugs of chemical origin, description, identification tests, as
well as method of assay for establishment of purity are
incorporated. * Part used Under the heading 'Parts used', are given
the substances that are to be employed as a unit of preparation. As
far as possible, the original parts used in the preparation at the
time of its proving should be included. Whether these are used in
the fresh or the dried state should be stated. The season of
collection and the age of the plant used are important. *
Identification The tests described under this heading are provided
only as an aid to identification. They are not in all cases
sufficient to establish proof of identity. * Distribution Soil and
environmental conditions in which the plant grows should be
included. * Authority and history21
Full details of this point are essential. These should include
the original literature relating to provings and their various
references. The first prover is mentioned in the first place and
the remaining authorities in alphabetical order. * Preparation The
preparation of Homoeopathic mother tincture or substance follows
immediately after details of the drug. Method of manufacture of
chemical substances - unless specifically described in the
monograph, a chemical substance may be prepared by any method
provided the substance conforms to the pharmacopoeial standards. *
Storage Different types of storage may have profound effect on the
quality. Hence mentioned, if necessary. THE IDEAL OF ANY
HOMOEOPATHIC PHARMACOPOEIA IS TO GIVE TO THE MANUFACTURER SPECIFIC
DIRECTIONS WITH RESPECT TO IDENTIFICATION, COLLECTION, PREPARATION,
PRESERVATION OF THE SOURCE MATERIAL AND THE FINISHED PRODUCT AND
ENSURE TO THE PHYSICIAN THE AVAILABILITY OF A STANDARD DRUG
MATERIAL.References:
http://homeoresearch.blogspot.com/2010/09/homoeopathic-pharmacopoeia.html#ixzz1jiRZfPvf
http://www.homeopathy-ecch.org/content/view/16/33/
http://www.hpus.com/whatishpus.php www.hplism.nic.in/about.htm "The
Present Status of Homeopathy Internationally," by Dana Ullman, MPH
Homeopathic Educational Services (1995)
http://www.homeopathic.com/articles/intro/international_h.php
22
SOME CLINICAL TRIALS IN HOMEOPATHY Many randomized controlled
trials have been carried out to investigate the efficacy or
effectiveness of homoeopathic medicine in many of the specific
medical conditions by different research organizations all over the
world. As an illustration, the abstracts of specific examples of
positive clinical trials for the 12 medical conditions in this
category of research evidence for homeopathy are as follows:
Anxiety Treatment of anxiety with a homeopathic remedy7 This trial
examined the effect of a complex homeopathic remedy called
Anti-anxiety on four clinical outcome measures in a double-blind
study format. The active ingredients of AntiAnxiety include
Ignatia, Asa foetida, and Valeriana officionalis. 72 adults with
above average anxiety scores were randomly assigned to either
Anti-anxiety or a placebo for 15 days. Pre-test measures of resting
pulse, lost sleep, state and trait anxiety, age and gender showed
no significant differences between groups. Post-test comparisons
showed a significantly reduced amount of sleep loss favoring the
Antianxiety group (P
