HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT OF CORONA
By Dr.Jose Isaac MD(Hom), Director, Dr.Isaacs Academy of Homoeopathy, Trivandrum,India.
(Retd. Professor & Former Chairman of the Committee for excellence in Homoeopathic Education, CCH, Dept. of AYUSH, Government of India)
In the middle of January 2020 we started getting reports about the Corona virus out break in Wuhan, China. By the time it was reported in the media, many people died in china and it started spreading through out the world. The country which was affected most after china, is Italy where a good percentage of people are above 60 years of age. In Italy it started in Lombardi near Milan. It spread from a German man who travelled from China to Italy through Russia. The man who dined with this man got the virus and many workers in that Restaurant also
The number of people died till May 20, 2020 are around 3,27,000. America – 94,000, Britain – 35341, Italy – 32300, France – 28022, Russia – 3000, Spain -27,778.
Most cases are reported from US, UK, Italy, France etc. As per the reports it will take a minimum of one and a half years to find a vaccine or cure for corona virus infections by Modern medicine. The World Health organisation stated that there is no anti-viral treatment available and only symptomatic treatment can be done in the given circumstance. World Health Organisation declared the Corona virus infection as a pandemic.
In the winter seminar of our Academy on January 27th, we recommended to use ArsenicumAlbum as preventive for Corona virus infections. Many doctors who attended our seminar are already giving it to people as preventive. The Central council of Homoeopathy, constituted by the Ministry of Ayush (Ministry for Alternative medicines), Government of India, by the end of January recommended Arsenic album as preventive for Corona virus. The Ayush Minister, Mr.ShripathraoNaik made an official statement to use the homoeopathic medicine, Arsenic Album as preventive for Corona Virus. It was largely distributed through the Government hospitals and private practioners.
THE CLINICAL FEATURES (SYMPTOMS)OF CORONA EPIDEMIC
1.Fever
2.Dry cough
3.Weakness
4.Breathlessness
5.Sore throat
6.Headache
7.Nausea & vomiting
INCUBATION PERIOD
Most of the viral infections which causes fevers have an incubation period of fourteen to twenty one days.
MORTALITY
So far the mortality rate is around two (2%) percentage. It is much less when compared to Ebola (80%), Bird Flue (50%) and Sars (9%). Most of the deaths occurred in people over sixty (60) years of age. Seventy five (75%) percentage of death occurred in people above sixty years of age. Also it occurred in people who are under medication for Asthma, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Diabetes, Hypertension etc from organ failure. The morality is mainly due to Pneumonia or lung affections. In children the symptoms were mild.
GENERAL MEASURES TO PREVENT FURTHER INFECTION
1.As far as possible prevent touching the face, nose, eyes.
2. Close the mouth with tissue paper when sneezing, coughing etc.
3.Wash the hands often with sanitiser, soap or dettol.
4.Stop giving hand shakes.
5.Avoid public places.
6.Avoid visiting hospitals or people who have diseases.
7.According to lancet avoid taking Ibuprofen and ACE inhibitors
LABORATORY TEST
The common test done for Corona is RT-PCR test.
HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT
The Homoeopathic management of an epidemic is clearly defined in Organon of Medicine (5th Edition) in Aphorism 100 to 102. Here Hahnemann describes how to find a Genus epidemicus or a remedy for an epidemic.
Aphorism 102
“In the course of writing down the symptoms of several cases of this kind (epidemic) the sketch of the disease picture becomes ever more and more complete, not more spun out and verbose, but more significant (more characteristic), and including more of the peculiarities of this collective disease, on the one hand, the general symptoms (eg-loss ofappetite, sleeplessness etc). become precisely defined as to their peculiarities and on the other, the more marked and special symptoms which are peculiar to but few diseases and of rarer occurrence, at least in the same combination, become prominent and constitute what is characteristic of this malady. All those affected with the disease prevailing at a given time have certainly contracted it from one and the same source and hence are suffering from the same disease, but the whole extent of such an epidemic disease and the totality of its symptoms (the knowledge where of, which is essential for enabling us to choose the most suitable homoeopathic remedy for this array of symptoms is obtained by a complete survey of the morbid picture) can not be learned from one single patient, but is only to be perfectly deduced (abstracted) and ascertained from the sufferings of several patients of different constitutions.”
So we selected the prophylactic from the clinical symptoms (Fever,Dry cough,Weakness, Breathlessness, Sore throat, Headache, Vomiting and nausea) manifested by majority of cases. The main remedies which we considered are Arsenic album, Gelsemium, Bryonia and rhus Toxicodendron. But weakness and breathlessness are predominant in Arsenic Album than any other remedy and that is why Arsenic was chosen as the prophylactic remedy.
Our Academy suggests to give Arsenicum Album 200 two pills on alternate days until the epidemic is over and abstain from Coffee, Tea and chocolate which are antidotal to homoeopathic medicines.
The main remedies are :- Acon, Ant-t, Ars Alb, Bell, Bry, Eup-per,
Ferrum-p, Gels, NUx-v, Phos, Puls, Rhus-t, Sang-c, Sulph, Tub.
With severe weakess – Ars Alb, Carb-v, China
With severe chill at day time – Gels, Rhus Tox
Chill at night – Ars alb, Rhus tox, Nuxvom
With nausea – Ipecac, Nux vom,
With vomiting – Ars alb, Anti tart, Phos
With Breathlessness – Ant-tart, Tuber, Ars alb
Inspiration difficult - Spongia
Expiration difficult – Causticum
With sore throat – Rhus Tox, Hepar sulph
With headache – Gels, Sang-c, Bry
Weight in chest – Phos, Bry
Fever with no thirst – Pulsatilla
Starting with diaorrhoea – Nux vom
Starting with cough – Sanguinaria C, Bry, Phos
Fever – Beginning – Ferr-P, Acon, Bell
< Evening – SangC, Tuber, Puls, Carb-v.
< Day – Gels, Bry, Eupat, Bell
< Night – Ars, Rhus-t, Ant-t, Sang-c
With back ache – Rhus-t,
With bone pains – Eupat
With constipation – Bry, Nux-v.
With high fever – Bell, Tub
Fever comes and goes – Sulphur, Tub (Give as intercurrent)
Fever does not go down – Sulphur, Tub(Give as intercurrent)
If chest symptoms are prominent – Phos, Bry, Ars, Tub
With great thirst – Bry, Ars, Phos
After fever is gone, for speedy recovery - Carbo-v, Sulph
Fibrosis of Lungs – Kali mur, Bryonia, Phosphorus, Kali carb, Tuberculinum
Dose & Potency – one pill of 200 potency
Repetition – In high fever 4 times a day
Moderate fever 2 times a day
To my dear doctors, from Dr.Jose Isaac
Feedbacks are solicited – Email – drjoseissac@gmail.com
Web site – drisaacs homoeopathy.com
(Retd. Professor & Former Chairman of the Committee for excellence in Homoeopathic Education, CCH, Dept. of AYUSH, Government of India)
In the middle of January 2020 we started getting reports about the Corona virus out break in Wuhan, China. By the time it was reported in the media, many people died in china and it started spreading through out the world. The country which was affected most after china, is Italy where a good percentage of people are above 60 years of age. In Italy it started in Lombardi near Milan. It spread from a German man who travelled from China to Italy through Russia. The man who dined with this man got the virus and many workers in that Restaurant also
The number of people died till May 20, 2020 are around 3,27,000. America – 94,000, Britain – 35341, Italy – 32300, France – 28022, Russia – 3000, Spain -27,778.
Most cases are reported from US, UK, Italy, France etc. As per the reports it will take a minimum of one and a half years to find a vaccine or cure for corona virus infections by Modern medicine. The World Health organisation stated that there is no anti-viral treatment available and only symptomatic treatment can be done in the given circumstance. World Health Organisation declared the Corona virus infection as a pandemic.
In the winter seminar of our Academy on January 27th, we recommended to use ArsenicumAlbum as preventive for Corona virus infections. Many doctors who attended our seminar are already giving it to people as preventive. The Central council of Homoeopathy, constituted by the Ministry of Ayush (Ministry for Alternative medicines), Government of India, by the end of January recommended Arsenic album as preventive for Corona virus. The Ayush Minister, Mr.ShripathraoNaik made an official statement to use the homoeopathic medicine, Arsenic Album as preventive for Corona Virus. It was largely distributed through the Government hospitals and private practioners.
THE CLINICAL FEATURES (SYMPTOMS)OF CORONA EPIDEMIC
1.Fever
2.Dry cough
3.Weakness
4.Breathlessness
5.Sore throat
6.Headache
7.Nausea & vomiting
INCUBATION PERIOD
Most of the viral infections which causes fevers have an incubation period of fourteen to twenty one days.
MORTALITY
So far the mortality rate is around two (2%) percentage. It is much less when compared to Ebola (80%), Bird Flue (50%) and Sars (9%). Most of the deaths occurred in people over sixty (60) years of age. Seventy five (75%) percentage of death occurred in people above sixty years of age. Also it occurred in people who are under medication for Asthma, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Diabetes, Hypertension etc from organ failure. The morality is mainly due to Pneumonia or lung affections. In children the symptoms were mild.
GENERAL MEASURES TO PREVENT FURTHER INFECTION
1.As far as possible prevent touching the face, nose, eyes.
2. Close the mouth with tissue paper when sneezing, coughing etc.
3.Wash the hands often with sanitiser, soap or dettol.
4.Stop giving hand shakes.
5.Avoid public places.
6.Avoid visiting hospitals or people who have diseases.
7.According to lancet avoid taking Ibuprofen and ACE inhibitors
LABORATORY TEST
The common test done for Corona is RT-PCR test.
HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT
The Homoeopathic management of an epidemic is clearly defined in Organon of Medicine (5th Edition) in Aphorism 100 to 102. Here Hahnemann describes how to find a Genus epidemicus or a remedy for an epidemic.
Aphorism 102
“In the course of writing down the symptoms of several cases of this kind (epidemic) the sketch of the disease picture becomes ever more and more complete, not more spun out and verbose, but more significant (more characteristic), and including more of the peculiarities of this collective disease, on the one hand, the general symptoms (eg-loss ofappetite, sleeplessness etc). become precisely defined as to their peculiarities and on the other, the more marked and special symptoms which are peculiar to but few diseases and of rarer occurrence, at least in the same combination, become prominent and constitute what is characteristic of this malady. All those affected with the disease prevailing at a given time have certainly contracted it from one and the same source and hence are suffering from the same disease, but the whole extent of such an epidemic disease and the totality of its symptoms (the knowledge where of, which is essential for enabling us to choose the most suitable homoeopathic remedy for this array of symptoms is obtained by a complete survey of the morbid picture) can not be learned from one single patient, but is only to be perfectly deduced (abstracted) and ascertained from the sufferings of several patients of different constitutions.”
So we selected the prophylactic from the clinical symptoms (Fever,Dry cough,Weakness, Breathlessness, Sore throat, Headache, Vomiting and nausea) manifested by majority of cases. The main remedies which we considered are Arsenic album, Gelsemium, Bryonia and rhus Toxicodendron. But weakness and breathlessness are predominant in Arsenic Album than any other remedy and that is why Arsenic was chosen as the prophylactic remedy.
Our Academy suggests to give Arsenicum Album 200 two pills on alternate days until the epidemic is over and abstain from Coffee, Tea and chocolate which are antidotal to homoeopathic medicines.
The main remedies are :- Acon, Ant-t, Ars Alb, Bell, Bry, Eup-per,
Ferrum-p, Gels, NUx-v, Phos, Puls, Rhus-t, Sang-c, Sulph, Tub.
With severe weakess – Ars Alb, Carb-v, China
With severe chill at day time – Gels, Rhus Tox
Chill at night – Ars alb, Rhus tox, Nuxvom
With nausea – Ipecac, Nux vom,
With vomiting – Ars alb, Anti tart, Phos
With Breathlessness – Ant-tart, Tuber, Ars alb
Inspiration difficult - Spongia
Expiration difficult – Causticum
With sore throat – Rhus Tox, Hepar sulph
With headache – Gels, Sang-c, Bry
Weight in chest – Phos, Bry
Fever with no thirst – Pulsatilla
Starting with diaorrhoea – Nux vom
Starting with cough – Sanguinaria C, Bry, Phos
Fever – Beginning – Ferr-P, Acon, Bell
< Evening – SangC, Tuber, Puls, Carb-v.
< Day – Gels, Bry, Eupat, Bell
< Night – Ars, Rhus-t, Ant-t, Sang-c
With back ache – Rhus-t,
With bone pains – Eupat
With constipation – Bry, Nux-v.
With high fever – Bell, Tub
Fever comes and goes – Sulphur, Tub (Give as intercurrent)
Fever does not go down – Sulphur, Tub(Give as intercurrent)
If chest symptoms are prominent – Phos, Bry, Ars, Tub
With great thirst – Bry, Ars, Phos
After fever is gone, for speedy recovery - Carbo-v, Sulph
Fibrosis of Lungs – Kali mur, Bryonia, Phosphorus, Kali carb, Tuberculinum
Dose & Potency – one pill of 200 potency
Repetition – In high fever 4 times a day
Moderate fever 2 times a day
To my dear doctors, from Dr.Jose Isaac
Feedbacks are solicited – Email – drjoseissac@gmail.com
Web site – drisaacs homoeopathy.com
Why Dr. Hering Resigned from the Homeopathic Medical College
Story of Loyalty to Principles
Homeopath Iman Navab tells the story of when Dr. Constantine Hering Resigned from the Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania. It is a lesson in homeopathy and integrity.
I wish to share with you a very interesting historic event that reveals Dr. Hering’s attempt to keep Pathology part of homeopathy educational curriculum.
Let’s go back in time to review what happened; first, the background of the story, so bare with me. It is a sad reality that from the time that the Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania was purchased in the year 1855, the college had struggled under a load of debt due to many expenses and a high mortgage. In an attempt to save the college from financial hardship, the college’s management board decided to reorganize its structure. Thus in 1864, Dr. Constantine Hering was elected by the college as the chair of Homeopathy and Practice of Medicine; and in 1865, Dr. Adolph Lippe was elected as the President of the college, he held the position of chair of Materia Medica as of the year 1864.
When the college began under the new structure it was decided to publish a medical magazine. Thus in August of 1865, the first issue of the Hahnemannian Monthly magazine was issued under the supervision of Dr. Hering, Dr. Lippe and Dr. Frost, who then appointed a Publication Committee. It is also interesting that a month later at a meeting in September of that year, it was voted to allow ladies to sit in a designated room to listen to lectures for the first time.
In March of 1866, a faculty meeting was held at Dr. Hering’s residence for the purpose of discussing and settling up the college’s financial accounts for the year just ended – 1865. In that meeting at Dr. Hering’s house, the president of the college, Dr. A. Lippe, announced that the treasury earned enough funds to pay all the current bills and liabilities and still have enough for current expenses. Obviously this was great news for the college, considering that they were going through tough financial times in the previous academic years. On a side note, in September of that year Dr. Hering proposed that Dr. F. Boericke be authorized to prepare a standard Homeopathic Pharmacopeia and present a standard methodology for preparing various homeopathic medicines.
One year later, in 1867, we reach the critical period in the history of this college; in a board meeting, the president Dr. Adolph Lippe, said that the Chair of Pathology was unnecessary, that it was contrary to pure Homeopathy, that the homoeopathic physician did not need pathology, but only the power to prescribe according to the methods of Hahnemann from the totality of symptoms. However, Dr. Hering strongly disagreed and said that the study of pathology was very essential to proper medical education of the homeopathic physician. But Dr. Lippe maintained his position on this matter and removed the study of pathology from the college. As a result of this disagreement Dr. Hering withdrew. Efforts by the other members of the faculty were made to encourage Dr. Hering to return, but they were not successful. Consequently the resignation of Dr. Hering from the Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania, took place in spring of 1867.
Dr. Hering received endorsement by large numbers of his fellow homeopaths. He was determined that the doctrines of Hahnemann should not be left harshly exposed to the personal plan of any individual. Subsequently Dr. Hering organized a new institution under the name of the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia.
The two Colleges ran side by side for two years. The majority firmly believed that Dr. Hering was on the right path, and they were hoping for and expecting the time when the two colleges would be reunited as one institution; however that time came even sooner than was anticipated.
Ultimately this important issue was settled among the homeopathy professors once and forever, when they decided that pathology must remain part of homeopathic medical education. This was a success for Dr. Hering, and an important achievement for the science of homeopathy. This of course is not to discount Dr. Lippe’s hard labour and immense service to homeopathy. Indeed Dr. Lippe’s teachings also remain one of the great assets of this medical system. Dr. Lippe said: “Pathology teaches us only such symptoms as must by necessity always be present in a given form of disease, are characteristic of the disease only, but do not include, and of necessity, cannot include the peculiar, extraordinary symptoms of every individual.” In this regard, Dr. James Tyler Kent said: “All pathological changes must be regarded as the results of disease, since all disease is dynamic.”
Dr. Cyrus Maxwell Boger, another pillar of homeopathy, nicely said: “All sicknesses present two classes of manifestations, those by which they are named or symptoms determined by the diagnosis and those peculiar to individuals and cases. In weighing their value for the purpose of deciding upon the choice of a remedy, the diagnostic symptoms take a secondary place.”
In conclusion, we, homeopaths, always have to be very clear on this fact that Dr. Hahnemann never dismissed Pathology; this knowledge does not belong to any specific school, being allopathy or homeopathy. Pathology is an essential language for understanding disease, and knowledge of disease is part of a homeopath’s medical knowledge.
As always God bless Homeopathy!
Homeopath Iman Navab tells the story of when Dr. Constantine Hering Resigned from the Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania. It is a lesson in homeopathy and integrity.
I wish to share with you a very interesting historic event that reveals Dr. Hering’s attempt to keep Pathology part of homeopathy educational curriculum.
Let’s go back in time to review what happened; first, the background of the story, so bare with me. It is a sad reality that from the time that the Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania was purchased in the year 1855, the college had struggled under a load of debt due to many expenses and a high mortgage. In an attempt to save the college from financial hardship, the college’s management board decided to reorganize its structure. Thus in 1864, Dr. Constantine Hering was elected by the college as the chair of Homeopathy and Practice of Medicine; and in 1865, Dr. Adolph Lippe was elected as the President of the college, he held the position of chair of Materia Medica as of the year 1864.
When the college began under the new structure it was decided to publish a medical magazine. Thus in August of 1865, the first issue of the Hahnemannian Monthly magazine was issued under the supervision of Dr. Hering, Dr. Lippe and Dr. Frost, who then appointed a Publication Committee. It is also interesting that a month later at a meeting in September of that year, it was voted to allow ladies to sit in a designated room to listen to lectures for the first time.
In March of 1866, a faculty meeting was held at Dr. Hering’s residence for the purpose of discussing and settling up the college’s financial accounts for the year just ended – 1865. In that meeting at Dr. Hering’s house, the president of the college, Dr. A. Lippe, announced that the treasury earned enough funds to pay all the current bills and liabilities and still have enough for current expenses. Obviously this was great news for the college, considering that they were going through tough financial times in the previous academic years. On a side note, in September of that year Dr. Hering proposed that Dr. F. Boericke be authorized to prepare a standard Homeopathic Pharmacopeia and present a standard methodology for preparing various homeopathic medicines.
One year later, in 1867, we reach the critical period in the history of this college; in a board meeting, the president Dr. Adolph Lippe, said that the Chair of Pathology was unnecessary, that it was contrary to pure Homeopathy, that the homoeopathic physician did not need pathology, but only the power to prescribe according to the methods of Hahnemann from the totality of symptoms. However, Dr. Hering strongly disagreed and said that the study of pathology was very essential to proper medical education of the homeopathic physician. But Dr. Lippe maintained his position on this matter and removed the study of pathology from the college. As a result of this disagreement Dr. Hering withdrew. Efforts by the other members of the faculty were made to encourage Dr. Hering to return, but they were not successful. Consequently the resignation of Dr. Hering from the Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania, took place in spring of 1867.
Dr. Hering received endorsement by large numbers of his fellow homeopaths. He was determined that the doctrines of Hahnemann should not be left harshly exposed to the personal plan of any individual. Subsequently Dr. Hering organized a new institution under the name of the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia.
The two Colleges ran side by side for two years. The majority firmly believed that Dr. Hering was on the right path, and they were hoping for and expecting the time when the two colleges would be reunited as one institution; however that time came even sooner than was anticipated.
Ultimately this important issue was settled among the homeopathy professors once and forever, when they decided that pathology must remain part of homeopathic medical education. This was a success for Dr. Hering, and an important achievement for the science of homeopathy. This of course is not to discount Dr. Lippe’s hard labour and immense service to homeopathy. Indeed Dr. Lippe’s teachings also remain one of the great assets of this medical system. Dr. Lippe said: “Pathology teaches us only such symptoms as must by necessity always be present in a given form of disease, are characteristic of the disease only, but do not include, and of necessity, cannot include the peculiar, extraordinary symptoms of every individual.” In this regard, Dr. James Tyler Kent said: “All pathological changes must be regarded as the results of disease, since all disease is dynamic.”
Dr. Cyrus Maxwell Boger, another pillar of homeopathy, nicely said: “All sicknesses present two classes of manifestations, those by which they are named or symptoms determined by the diagnosis and those peculiar to individuals and cases. In weighing their value for the purpose of deciding upon the choice of a remedy, the diagnostic symptoms take a secondary place.”
In conclusion, we, homeopaths, always have to be very clear on this fact that Dr. Hahnemann never dismissed Pathology; this knowledge does not belong to any specific school, being allopathy or homeopathy. Pathology is an essential language for understanding disease, and knowledge of disease is part of a homeopath’s medical knowledge.
As always God bless Homeopathy!