Tuesday 22 December 2009

The Truth about Homeopathy and the Skeptics

Thank you, Amy Lansky, for your excellent article which tells the truth about Homeopathy and thank you to Dr. Mercola for publishing it: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/12/22/Why-Skeptics-Love-to-Hate-Homeopathy.aspx - Excellent article.  May I recommend it to all!

Sunday 29 November 2009

HOMEOPATHY HEALS

This is one of the best homeopathy websites going: http://www.homeopathyheals.me.uk.  It has only just gone live but already offers many positive articles, links to research, a growing directory of  UK homeopaths and best of all, information on how to acquire the must have Homeopathy Heals car window sticker.  If you have experienced Homeopathy and want to tell the world what it has done for you, go to http://www.homeopathyheals.me.uk, get yourself a Homeopathy Heals sticker and display it in your car, your home, your clinic, wherever!

Thursday 26 November 2009

Evidence Check: Homeopathy

Thank you to Voice of (Not So) Young Homeopathy for an excellent review of yesterday's Science and Technology Committee session at the House of Commons: http://vonsyhomeopathy.wordpress.com/

Monday 19 October 2009

Spectator debate: A world without Aids?

Don't miss this interesting debate in London!  What is the truth about HIV and AIDS??   

Exclusive screening of the controversial new award-winning documentary House of Numbers followed by a panel discussion from leading authorities in their field:

Professor Beverly Griffin, Imperial College London
Dr Joe Sonnabend, founding editor of Aids Research
Rt. Hon. Lord Norman Fowler, Former UK Secretary of State for Health
Professor Charles Geshekter, The California State University
Brent Leung, Director/Producer of House of Numbers

A generation had its attitudes towards sex coloured by the theory that HIV, a lethal new virus, was sweeping the world. Now an award-winning documentary House of Numbers argues that a world without HIV/Aids may be closer than we think.

The Spectator invites you to an exclusive screening of this controversial documentary on Wednesday 28 October, followed by a panel discussion during which the film-makers will face leading medical authorities.

The documentary, which has won awards at various film festivals in America, challenges many established perceptions of the Aids epidemic and is sure to generate much debate. Both the showing of House of Numbers and the panel discussion, in which the audience will be invited to participate, will take place at Savoy Place, London, WC2R 0BL between 6.30pm and 9pm.

Trailers:
http://www.houseofnumbers.com/
www.spectator.co.uk/aids-debate

The Wisdom of Symptoms - Intelligence of the Body

Today brought another excellent article by Dana Ullman, explaining how both the body and homeopathic medicine work. See http://www.naturalnews.com/027269_medicine_symptoms_homeopathic.html - The Wisdom of Symptoms: Respect the Intelligence of the Body to Heal.

Thursday 1 October 2009

Fever Phobia - Homeopathy Best for Dealing with Fevers

A MUST READ by Dana Ullman on why fevers are good for us and how to deal with them:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dana-ullman/epidemic-of-fever-phobia_b_305615.html

Wednesday 30 September 2009

Excellent blog from Mumbai

Alex Heffron has linked to an excellent blog by Dr. Vijay and Dr. Daxa Vaishnav in Mumbai: http://homeopathicure.wordpress.com/

I can highly recommend the content and links on this site.

Saturday 26 September 2009

Leptospirosis Prevented in Cuba with Homeopathy

Here is news of the overwhelming success of Homeopathy in disease prevention. High success rates, no side effects - compare this with the low success rates and devastating damage caused by vaccines.

Leptospirosis Research: Exciting research from Cuba
by Tony Pinkus BPharm MRPharmS LFHom

Tony Pinkus is Joint MD of Ainsworths with his partner and fellow director, Carole Gregory Pinkus, with whom he personally prepares the essences for Ainsworths Bach Flower Remedies. Together they visited Cuba to give a presentation on Homeoprophylaxis for cattle and sheep and discovered the research for this article. Tony has been a homeopathic pharmacist at Ainsworths since 1983 and continues the time-honoured tradition of providing individual hand-prepared potencies as well as those prepared on a unique potentiser he designed for ultra-high potencies.

An unprecedented research study has been conducted in Cuba on the homeopathic prevention of Leptospirosis in 2.4 million people following the seasonal occurrence of this disease after tropical flooding caused by hurricanes. An 80% reduction in the incidence of Leptospirosis was recorded in the three most affected eastern seaboard provinces by comparison with the incidence in their three less affected neighbouring provinces after two years use of the nosode. In the affected provinces only ten cases were reported instead of the typical several thousand cases of Leptospirosis.

On 10-12 December 2008 at the ‘Nosodes 2008’ conference in Havana (Cuba) the director-general of the Finlay Institute, an advocate of homeopathy herself, Dr Concepción Campa Huergo, opened the session and her director of research, Dr Gustavo Bracho, gave a presentation about controlling the local epidemic disease of Leptospirosis by using a Leptospira nosode alongside conventional vaccination.

Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by the spirochaete Leptospira transmitted to humans from rats, especially in flooded areas. In humans it may cause a wide range of symptoms including high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, vomiting, jaundice, red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, or a rash. If untreated the patient could develop kidney damage, meningitis, liver failure, and respiratory distress.

Cuba succumbs to a yearly epidemic of Leptospirosis, especially after the hurricanes flood the countryside and water pollution reaches its height each autumn. Many people are left homeless, flooded out and suffering from stress following the seasonal hurricanes. In 2008 two of hurricanes hit Cuba within ten days of each other, the population having little time to recover from the first before the next struck land.

A part of the Ministry of Public Health, the Finlay Institute is the Cuban research institute. It has WHO qualified facilities, produces allopathic vaccinations and acts as supporting institution for research, production and development of high quality homeopathic products. Since Cuba is still subject to a 50 year US embargo, the Cubans, impoverished as they are, have become self-sufficient in the production of medicines and health care programs. Since they had a vested interest to benefit the population they were able to conduct the Leptospirosis project on a massive scale unknown in the history of homeopathy.

In October / November 2007, three provinces of the eastern region of Cuba were affected by strong rainfalls causing widespread flooding and infrastructure damage to sanitary, power and health systems. The risk of Leptospirosis infection reached extremely dangerous levels with about two million people exposed to potentially contaminated water.

The Finlay Institute has been manufacturing a multivalent Leptospirosis vaccine since 1998 but is hampered by the inability to successfully produce sufficient doses to protect all the population at risk. It takes the best part of a year to produce and distribute two million doses of vaccine, sufficient for only 773,000 at-risk patients in the most affected eastern provinces. The Institute was thus continually hitting a brick wall in its aim to offer protection to the remaining population in the flooded areas.

Dr Campa decided on the pragmatic approach of providing the rest of the at-risk population with a homeopathic version of Finlay’s own vaccine. In addition, she provided a Bach Flower remedy for stress. (The original Bach Flower combination put in the first year, 2007, was equivalent to Rescue Remedy. The 2008 combination was slightly enhanced and was similar to our Emergency Spray formula I believe. The paper has still yet to be published, this is proving to be a bit of a battle, no surprises there!) The Institute therefore prepared a Leptospira nosode 200c using the four circulating strains and following international quality standards. A multidisciplinary team travelled to the affected regions to conduct the massive administration of the nosode. Coordinated action with public health system infrastructures allowed the administration of a preventive treatment consisting of two doses of the nosode (7-9 days apart) to about 2.4 million people (4.8 million doses). The coverage of the intervention rose up to 95% percent of total population of the three provinces at risk. Another dose, at a higher potency (10M), was given after the hurricane Ike hit the island in 2008; again with the accompanying Bach Flower combination for stress.

The epidemiology surveillance after the intervention showed a dramatic decrease of morbidity two weeks after, and a reduction to zero mortality of hospitalised patients. The number of confirmed Leptospirosis cases remained at low levels and below the expected levels in accordance with the trends and rain regimens that had been calculated and predicted by the Finlay Institute for a decade. The usual expectancy of infection, even with allopathic vaccination, would have been around a few thousand, with some deaths included.

The cost of the Leptospirosis project was US$200,000, whereas the costs of ‘normal’ vaccination, only for the most at-risk populations – i.e. children, pregnant women, and the elderly – is about US$3,000,000.


What is remarkable is their ability to deliver this solution so effectively and successfully, and conduct research on such a large population, with credible scientific verification. Now we have a really exciting situation. Five million doses of the nosode were manufactured within one week at a fraction of the cost of making the vaccine. Because it can be made more quickly and cheaply (as Finlay discovered), does not require a fridge (unlike the vaccine), can be given without a nurse or doctor to a large number of people quickly and efficiently, including to patients under 15yrs (unlike the vaccine) it represents a huge boon to third world countries seeking an alternative to expensive drug treatment and prophylaxis of a wide range of diseases. Moreover, the adaptation to variant strains that normally limit the efficacy of a vaccine are easily overcome with a homeopathic nosode.

Under the influence of Dr Campa, the Cubans have demonstrated both the efficacy and the economic expediency of homeopathy in the prevention of an epidemic. This experience could be extended to other diseases and other countries. The Finlay Institute is offering their facilities and specialists to spread this alternative to all regions needing emergent alternatives for epidemic control and prevention.

Tony Pinkus can be contacted at TonyPinkus@ainsworths.com.

Friday 25 September 2009

Swine Flu and Homeopathy

Homeopathy is being used successfully in India to treat cases of Swine Flu. Here is an article by homeopathic doctor, Dr. Pawan Pareek, who runs a very busy clinic in Agra.

Swine Flu H1N1
by Dr. Pawan Pareek

Swine influenza A (H1N1) is a viral infection that first infected humans in the U.S. and Mexico, and has now spread to almost 168 countries worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it to be a pandemic. It is named for a virus that pigs can get. People do not normally get swine flu but human infections can and do happen. The virus is contagious and can spread from human to human.

The symptoms of swine flu in humans are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

There are antiviral medicines you can take to prevent or treat swine flu but the body cannot make antibodies to fight this germ and antibiotics are of no use. There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu.

You can help to prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza by taking the homoeopathic medicine INFLUENZINUM 200

History

Swine flu in humans is nothing new. Its transmission usually occurs from swine or poultry to humans. Transmission from human to human is rarer and originates from a mutation in the influenza strain. This particular strain of flu is an Influeza A strain.

The Influenza Epidemic of 1918

The flu epidemic which occurred during 1918 and 1919, called the “Spanish” influenza strain and classified as pandemic, is believed to have infected one third of the world’s population and, according to the U. S. Center for Disease Control, caused almost as many as 50 million deaths. This figure is speculated, as many who died during that period were not actually diagnosed, nor were samples taken for lab testing and identification.

The causes of human influenza in 1918, and its links to avian and swine flu were not exactly known.

Ancestral and Descendant Strains of the 1918 Flu

Researchers claim that “All influenza A pandemics since then, and almost all cases of influenza A worldwide except human infections from avian viruses, have been caused by descendants of the 1918 virus.” (Taubenberger and Morens)

That 91-year-old virus wasn’t killed. It survives as the “ancestor” of the deadly descendants that spread today. Indeed, researchers in the 1930s found its offspring in both pigs and humans and concluded that it was related to raging flu epidemics in 1847 and 1889.

The Influenza Epidemic of 1976

In 1976, an Army recruit at Fort Dix, NJ, complained that he was feeling weak and tired. He died the next day (Feb. 5). Shortly thereafter, four other soldiers were hospitalized. Health officials attributed the death to swine flu and stated that the flu strain affecting them was closely related to that of the 1918 epidemic. Public health officials panicked and urged President Gerald Ford to act. About 24% of the U.S. population was quickly vaccinated. Unfortunately, the largest casualty was approximately 500 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome linked to an immunopathological reaction to the flu vaccine. There were 25 associated deaths from severe pulmonary complications.

The Present Swine Flu Threat

There was an outbreak of swine flu in the Philippines in 2007. When the disease spread to backyard pig farms, the National Meat Inspection Service there raised a hog cholera red alert warning for the Manila region, then for five regions of Luzon.

The strain in the present 2009 outbreak involves a virus similar to the one found in U. S. pigs since 1999, but there are also resemblances to versions present in European swine. One theory is that Asian and European strains traveled to Mexico from either migratory birds or in people, then combined with North American strains in Mexican pig factory farms before being transmitted to Mexican farm workers.

Transmission of Swine Flu (How does Swine Flu spread?)

As with other flu-like illnesses, Swine influenza is spread as follows:
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Kissing
• Touching infected objects
• Touching nose, mouth and/or eyes with infected hands


Swine flu does not spread by eating pork.

INFECTIOUS PERIOD

Persons with swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection should be considered potentially contagious for up to 7 days following onset of the illness. Persons who continue to be ill longer than 7 days after illness onset should be considered potentially contagious until symptoms have resolved.

Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods. The duration of infectiousness might vary by swine influenza A (H1N1) virus strain. Non-hospitalized ill persons who are confirmed or suspected cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection are recommended to stay at home (voluntary isolation) for at least the first 7 days after illness onset.

SYMPTOMS

Although uncomplicated influenza-like illness (fever, cough or sore throat) has been reported in many cases, mild respiratory illness (nasal congestion, rhinorrhea) without fever, and occasional severe disease have also been reported.

Other symptoms reported with swine influenza A virus infection include vomiting, diarrhea, myalgia, headache, chills, fatigue, and dyspnea. Conjunctivitis is rare, but has been reported.

Severe disease (pneumonia, respiratory failure) and fatal outcomes have been reported with swine influenza A virus infection. The potential for exacerbation of underlying chronic medical conditions or invasive bacterial infection with swine influenza A virus infection should be considered.

Complications of Swine Influenza

Those at higher risk of catching influenza in general include those with the following:

• Age 65 years or older
• Chronic health problems (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease)
• Pregnant women
• Young children

But the past epidemics and pandemics of flu have shown that during pandemics most people who succumb are healthy young adults.

Complications of Swine Flu can include:
• Pneumonia
• Bronchitis
• Sinus infections
• Ear infections
• Death

VACCINATION

The current vaccine against the seasonal influenza strain H1N1 is thought unlikely to provide protection against swine flu.

PREVENTION

Don’t be afraid. Homoeopathy and homoeopaths are available; constant worry and hurry may have a negative effect on your health and your immune system. A morning walk, mild exercise, meditation or yoga and healthy nutritious food are the best ways to boost your immunity.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. You can also use alcohol-based hand cleaners.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

Stay home from work or school if you are sick.

PRECAUTION

For interviews of ill, suspected or confirmed swine influenza A virus cases, the following is recommended:

• Keep a distance of at least 6 feet from the ill person; or
• Personal protective equipment: fit-tested N95 respirator [if unavailable, wear a medical (surgical mask)].

GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOLS/COLLEGES/INSTITUTIONS RE INFLUENZA A/H1N1

• Any student or staff member showing flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, running nose and difficulty in breathing should be allowed to stay at home for a period of 7 to 10 days.

• In the case of students staying in hostels, the educational institutions should not only monitor the health status of the students, but also that of all care providers. It has to be ensured that the care providers wear face masks and wash their hands regularly. It might not be advisable to send boarders back home, as this could spread infection further.

• Schools should discourage students from travelling to affected countries.
If tested positive for H1N1

DON’T BE AFRAID - HOMOEOPATHY IS AVAILABLE.

Homeopathy was very successful in dealing with the 1918-19 flu pandemic. Here is a quote from the famous historian Julian Winston:

“Perhaps the most recent use of homeopathy in a major epidemic was during the Influenza Pandemic of 1918.

The Journal of the American Institute for Homeopathy, May, 1921, had a long article about the use of homeopathy in the flu epidemic. Dr. T A McCann, from Dayton, Ohio, reported that 24,000 cases of flu treated allopathically had a mortality rate of 28.2% while 26,000 cases of flu treated homeopathically had a mortality rate of 1.05%
This last figure was supported by Dean W.A. Pearson of Philadelphia (Hahnemann College) who collected 26,795 cases of flu treated with homeopathy with the above result.

The most common remedy used was Gelsemium, with occasional cases needing Bryonia and Eupatorium reported. Dr. Herbert A. Roberts from Derby, CT, said that 30 physicians in Connecticut responded to his request for data.

They reported 6,602 cases with 55 deaths, which is less than 1%. Dr. Roberts was working as a physician on a troop ship during WWI. He had 81 cases of flu on the way over to Europe. He reported, "All recovered and were landed. Every man received homeopathic treatment. One ship lost 31 on the way."

People should not worry about swine flu; constant worry, fear and its threat in our mind may decrease our body’s resistance to fight this germ. We fought this germ successfully nearly a century ago and can now do the same again.

Homeopathic Remedies for Swine Flu / H1N1 Influenza

INFLUENZINUM 200-Treatment may be started with this remedy. It is a nosode and could be given as an intercurrent remedy when well-selected remedies fail to improve the condition

1-ACONITE NAP-High fever with dry skin; restlessness with great thirst.

2-ARS ALB-It is the head remedy. Its indications are: restlessness with thirst for small quantities of water at short intervals, sneezing, running from the nose.

3-GELSEMIUM-It has sneezing, frequent and violent chilliness up and down the back, watery discharge from the nose which is bland.

4-EUPATORIUM PERF-Fever with chill followed by vomiting of bile. Deep pain in the bones relieved by pressure and movements. Thirst but water tastes salty or oily. Coryza with sneezing, hoarseness and loose cough.

5-BRYONIA-It is indicated when flu is complicated with pneumonia. Shooting pain in the muscles. Dry hacking cough causing much pain in the lungs and chest.

6-RHUS TOX-Restless with pain in limbs, tosses about to get relief. Flu with constant chilliness.

7-DULCAMARA-Eyes suffused, throat sore, cough hurts due to muscular soreness brought on by wet or change to cold weather.

8-CAUSTICUM-High fever, no chilliness, much prostration. Hoarseness, dry hacking cough with spurting of urine.

9-CARBOLIC ACID-Cold hands and feet; profound prostration and fatigue.

10-PHOSPHORUS-Bronchial affection with dry tickling cough and tightness across the chest, hoarseness, husky, rough voice, desire for cold water.

11-SABADILLA-Sneezing is the great keynote of this remedy. Sneezing and lachrymation on going into the open air. The throat is swollen and the pain is worse on the left side on empty swallowing. Frontal headache, dryness of mouth, without thirst and cough, worse on lying down, are additional symptoms.

12-ARS IOD-Chills, flushes of heat and severe fluent coryza, discharge irritating and corrosive, sneezing and prostration with afternoon rise of temperature.

13-IPECAC-Adapted to cases where gastric symptoms predominate; tongue clean or slightly coated. Nausea: with profuse saliva; vomiting of white, glairy mucus in large quantities, without relief. Cough, with rattling of mucus in bronchi when inspiring; threatened suffocation from mucus. Pains as if bones were all torn to pieces.

14-VERATRUM ALBUM-Adapted to diseases with rapid sinking of the vital forces; complete prostration; collapse. Cold perspiration on the forehead, cold breath, cold blue skin, violent nausea. Thirst for cold water, but it is vomited soon after it is swallowed.

POST INFLUENZA TREATMENT

1-CARBO VEG –An excellent remedy for post influenzal symptoms such as prostration, lack of energy, residual bronchitis, burning in soles of feet.

2-AMMONIUM CARB-Cough after influenza when bryonia and other remedies fail.

3-BAPTISIA-Low ranging fever with delirium; pain and soreness all over the body with prostration.

Those for whom Homeopathy is the medicine of choice may select from the remedies above and those who have never used Homeopathy are welcome to try. History bears witness to its great effectiveness in all cases of influenza.