How Homeopathy works on immunity?

Part II

The immune system has developed to defend the host from  various pathogenic microbes that are themselves continuously changing. The immune system also aids the host to eradicate toxic or allergenic substances that pass in through mucosal surfaces. An important feature of the T cell appendage of the immune system is to identify host cells that are infected by viruses, intracellular bacteria or other intracellular parasites, T cells have developed an mechanism that distinguishes foreign antigens together with self-antigens as a molecular complex. This prerequisite that T cells recognize both self-structures and foreign antigens marks the need for these cells to preserve self-tolerance, which is important.

As Dr.Amdekar.Y notes “Clinical manifestations of disease depend upon host’s immune response that is induced by pathogen and modified by the host’s innate and adaptive immunity.” So, even same pathogen gives varying results ranging from being harmless or which could potentially turn into a fatal illness depending on one’s immunity. (7)Here comes homeopathy which acts at the boosting ones immunity and at the level of host response to disease.

Homeopathy is the art and science of therapeutics that was developed by Samuel Hahnemann in early 18th century. Homeopathic
medicines are given in single dose and are individualized on the basis of the of symptom similarity between the symptoms produced by those drugs on healthy volunteers and the totality of the patient’s symptoms. The focus is on the person as a whole and his attributes.(5)

1.¨Scientific

Research advances on homeopathy in recent years, at clinical, physical, chemical, biological and medical levels with acceptable scientific
procedures and approach have paved the way for stringent research, particularly at the molecular level to understand the physico-chemical nature and mechanism of action of ultra-high dilutions or potencies. (8)

Dr.Khudha Baksh’s in vivo and in vitro studies have provided evidence about action of homeopathy beyond placebo effect paving way for advances in the same lines, “

Homeopathic remedies have nanoparticles or NPs which stimulates biological process where it acts just like an external threat or disease and organism gets stimulated to fight it by releasing anti-inflammatory,anti-toxic immunoglobulins or chemicals which ultimately attacks all external including disease. But medicine power decreases as its minute dose and doesn’t harm the organism but in this process disease gets cured. Now this model is substantiated by various research findings. Please read more about these scientific papers in review articles indexed below

Iris R. Bell, MD PhD (Oct 2018)Pursuing the Biological Basis of Homeopathic Remedy Responses – References ://www.symbiosisonlinepublishing.com/nanoscience-technology/nanoscience-technology24.php

Most of the above have been experimented and prof.khuda Bakhsh and his team have been advancing in evaluating gene regulation, they have published papers on how Arsenic album in potency help in increasing immunity by its anti inflammatory properties and tissue damage control(9) read more in this “Evidences of Protective Potentials of Microdoses of Ultra-high Diluted Arsenic Trioxide in Mice Receiving Repeated Injections of Arsenic trioxide”.  

Dr. Khuda Baksh he is an eminent microbiologist who has 300 papers to his credit out of which 103 on Homoeopathy. Amazing personality proud to be Homoeopath as well as humbled by this towering person. 

Professor Rajendran has done has done a comparison between the two different scales of potencies discovered by Samuel Hahnemann; with the help of HRTEM and EDS. It is found that:-  all the high dilutions (HDs) of Natrum muriaticum (Nat mur) contain Nano Particles;the size of NPs is within quantum dots (QD) size range, except for 6C, where larger particles are found (14nm) (10)

2.¨Immunity booster\modulator

‘The review shows that homoeopathic medicines produced modulation of immune function at various levels such as modulation of expression of genes, stimulation of macrophage and polymorph nuclear cells, changes in expression of surface receptors and induction of cytokines.'(9) (11)

3.¨Can help to prevent infections

It can tackle infections by improved bioavailability and anti inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects. Recent studies demonstrate that homeopathic medicines may contain source and silica nanoparticles  because of their unique manufacturing processes called potentization.(12)

Homeopathic remedies are proposed as source nanoparticles that initiate hormesis and time-dependent sensitization via non-pharmacological effects on specific biological adaptive and enhancing
mechanisms.(12)(13)

Results would depend upon the ability of the organism to react to the remedy, which as a creator of unique stress or as multifaceted biological threat (similar to disease agent), initiating reversals of aggregate, cross-adapted biological changes which happened due to the disease in the ‘allostatic stress response network’. To understand this read more “A model for homeopathic remedy effects: low
dose nanoparticles, allostatic cross-adaptation,
and time-dependent sensitization in a complex
adaptive system” by Iris Bell and Koithan.(13)

4.¨Demonstrable Antiviral effect

Dr.Khudha Bakhsh and his team have studied utilizing reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods, that introduction of homeopathic drugs is capable of bringing about changes in the gene expression of the bacterial system, both at the m-RNA and DNA levels, when exposed to other toxic insults. () The results of the study “Ultra-Highly Diluted Homeopathic Remedies Have Demonstrable Anti-Viral Effects: A Commentary on Our Published Findings Related to Experimental Phage Infectivity in Bacteria”, provide yet another strong evidence of the capability of the potentized homeopathic drugs to trigger specific gene activity in the bacteria to render protective effects against phage attack. Since there is hardly any anti-viral drug without toxicity in the modern drug regimen, the results of the study assume special significance he says. (14)

5.¨Effective in previous epidemics (5) (15)

In 2003, Dr. André Saine began reviewing the literature on the evidence for the effectiveness of homeopathy retrieved from records of its use in epidemics and he has so far extracted from over 10,000 references, the first 2,500 of which have been bundled into a comprehensive text that is now over two thousand pages in length.

All the epidemics in which homeopathy has been used since 1799 have been included in this extensive review of the literature.It is noted irrespective of the physician, the time, the place or the type of epidemic disease, including diseases that are with very high mortality rate, namely cholera, smallpox, diphtheria, typhoid fever, yellow fever, and pneumonia.

Read more in his article on this subject http://www.homeopathy.ca/debates_2013-03-22.shtml

COVID-19 my take home points Part I By.Dr.Rekha karnam srinivasan

Keywords: COVID-19, pneumonia, corona virus, pandemic, Homoeopathy.

Much has been said about COVID-19 since January 2020 and am have been a keen observer . Here am elucidating few points which I realized when was trying to connect the dots.

So, pandemic is a never before seen in our life times phenomenon and maybe difficult to grasp its far reaching effects. The course of an epidemic is defined by a series of key factors, some of which are not clearly comprehended at present for COVID-19. (1)

Exact a century back it occurred that too for two full years from 1918-1920 which wiped off 6 percent of population or between 50 to 100 million people died. And India suffered no less impact with death rates at 6%.

What it means ? Clearly we are in the beginning of such a disaster and god alone can save us. But to see the history in another perspective we are empowered with knowledge which may help us to minimize the effects if god so desires. Hope to reduce the impact with ancillary measures in place or the infection could affect 60% of world population according to report of Lancet. (1) So, serious and sustained efforts is the need of the hour.

Fact Check:

1.It has been noted that first world war with governments taking callous attitude and hiding information was factor in rapid spread of the infectious disease. (2)

2.It is recorded in annals of medical history that there was  increased deaths in second wave, from October through December of 1918. A third wave in spring of 1919 was more lethal than the first but less so than the second return of the Influenza. (2)

3.Again high death rate has been attributed to overcrowded military camps, unhealthy environments and poor nutrition sanitation, which suffered during wartime. (2)(3)

4.Even precautionary measures like isolation, quarantine, good personal hygiene, use of disinfectants, and limitations of public gatherings, which were applied unevenly could have been greatly contributory. (3)

5.After DNA analysis of H1N1 virus which was the cause of this pandemic suggested its less of its virulence (undoubtedly it was )but now thought that many of the deaths were due to the development of bacterial pneumonia in lungs which were already weakened by influenza. So to say opportune infections or combined influenza with pneumonia . (3)

Now I try to decode Indian scenario and government’s efforts to minimize or halt the epidemic.

1.For that it has enamored itself with right attitude towards precautions. As soon as news breakout of Wuhan being epicenter of COVID , government started quarantining passengers from affected countries.

2. Precautions are practiced and awareness is created. Hope plans are stay put to contain second or third waves of resurgence.

3. Social distancing has been widely encouraged and prime minister appealed to public to impose self regulations and novel ‘Janta Curfew’ proposed.

4. Planning and execution is in progress for screening at source, quarantine, testing and appropriate treatment carried out on war footing.

5. Most important is to improve immunity of the people and to reduce the infection.

Now fifth point is in the eye of a storm. Skeptics are having varied views ‘ranging from why all the drama, nothing going to be that big an issue’ to ‘not enough measures’, type comments. Those who say no big deal , I cannot say anything world is showing enough proof of what’s deal.

But for those not enough I need to ask; what else can be done? Now this could be contrary to one’s belief’s ,it has been observed that despite much advancement in health care sector not much to boost immunity or to control infections viral or bacterial and its still a uphill task with rise in antibiotic resistance(1)(4). Only a small set of evidence-based non-pharmaceutical interventions are available according to Lancet report.

No don’t jump to conclusions am not a modern medicine basher who has problem with each advancement achieved. I simply want to say if the infection advances to pneumonia stage including homeopathy every system has difficulty in handling it. (5) Measures like self-quarantine, or temperature control at borders, may not be very effective since half of infections are asymptomatic.(4)

Will elaborate on this later.

So now to answer how to achieve health?

• Hygiene
• Dietary changes &
• Supplements
• Removal of disease
• Removal of maintaining cause
• Removal of exciting cause
• Immunity or host response to disease

Hygiene is what achieved by all the rituals of hand washing.

Removal of disease causing or infections agent. That is achieved by antiviral treatment. But in this situation that is also taken with a pinch of salt. Not recommended by experts in terminally ill or with low immunity. Even ibuprofen has been officially banned in list of drugs that can used due to its known to hasten disease process.(6)

It has been noted most severe cases are seen in the early stages of a new disease, as these are the ones who come to light and also as they are associated with deaths. However, it is important to note that present estimate is that about 81% of people with COVID-19 have mild disease, 14% have severe disease, and 6% are critically ill. (1)(4)

Ideally a person should not be infected. If postive for Corona virus then should be quarantined so he would not spread the infection. Then if he has good immunity and young without chronic illness like Diabetes , hypertension or Cardiovascular disorders he will recover. If old or with poor immunity may advance to pneumonia and death may ensue.(6)

But what about those infected but not tested and at large? What to do to tackle this? Increase immunity of the public could be only answer. According to Lancet many factors are unknown in this epidemic.

It is unknown is the whether infectiousness starts before onset of symptoms and peak viraemia seems to be at the end of the incubation period.

Another uncertainty is whether there are a large number of asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 as it seems to be.

It is also uncertain regarding the duration of the infectious period for COVID-19 whether it lasts a beyond speculated time. The effect of seasons on transmission of COVID-19 is unknown. (4)