Can homeopathy fight swine flu?

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Recently it’s been noted by a growing number of people, especially those in the homeopathic community, that homeopathy was effective in fighting the Great Flu Pandemic of 1918-19, also known as the Spanish Flu, which killed between 50 and 100 million people.

This may be worth emphasizing, given that the current swine flu/H1N1, like the Spanish Flu, is an H1N1 type A influenza virus. Also the current flu, like the 1918-19 virus, is a new one, which means it is a strain for which people do not have natural antibodies, and thus no natural immunity.

Homeopathy and swine flu
Some experts are suggesting that one other similarity between Spanish Flu and swine flu/H1N1 is that a treatment that was effective for the former virus may be effective for the current one: homeopathy. A comprehensive, epidemiological study of 61,000 patients with confirmed Spanish Flu by Canadian physician Dr. Andre Saine found that individuals who were treated with homeopathy had death rates of 0.7 percent, while people who were not treated or who received conventional care had a death rate of 30 percent or higher.

Does homeopathy work?
Many people question the value of homeopathy, arguing that any medical practice that involves the use of a remedies that contain little to none of the actual substances, but merely their essence or energy, could not possibly be effective in treating any ailment. However, Dr. Saine’s study, as well as a growing number of other scientific studies, indicates otherwise.

Molly Punzo, MD, an internist and homeopath, as well as cofounder and director of the Integrative Medicine Department at Hartford Hospital before moving on to private practice, believes that we need to investigate the use of homeopathy as a way to help prevent and cure the current virus.

“We owe it to the people we serve to investigate all possible treatments and cures [for swine flu], regardless of how popular they may or may not be to drug companies or within mainstream medicine,” she says in a recent article. “This is the way of science: to investigate without bias or prejudice and make objective decisions based on facts.”

Power of homeopathy
In the United States, homeopathic remedies are produced in pharmacies under strict Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations. Dr. Punzo notes that scores of scientific studies published in peer-reviewed journals show that homeopathy can be effective. Reliable medical records of epidemics of diphtheria, dengue fever, typhoid, malaria, and other infectious diseases show that use of homeopathy was very effective in reducing the death rates.

To determine which homeopathic remedies would work best for the current swine flu/H1N1 infection, Dr. Punzo says that homeopaths would evaluate the specific characteristics and symptoms of a number of people who have the disease, taking special care to note any unusual traits, such as the type of cough (dry or wet), things that make symptoms improve, and time of day certain symptoms occur. Homeopathic physicians could then take all of their gathered information and identify a select number of remedies that would be effective for treating the swine flu in a majority of those affected.

That means if you are interested in pursuing homeopathic remedies for swine flu, you may need to wait until professional homeopaths devise a list of possible remedies. Some homeopaths, however, have already offered some suggestions. Internationally known homeopath Dr. Manish Bhatia suggests the following: arsenic-album, baptisia, camphora, cantharis, gelsemium, phosphorus, and veratrum-album.

In either case, it is likely best to consult with a professional homeopath before starting a program of prevention or treatment. Additional information can be found by contacting the American Medical College of Homeopathy, located in Phoenix, Arizona; Valley Integrative Physicians in Phoenix; and at the National Center for Homeopathy in Alexandria, Virginia.

For more articles on swine flu or homeopathy, see:
Can probiotics help swine flu?

Fight swine flu with alternative remedies

Homeopathy as study or career: is it for you?