Homeopathic Medicine May Benefit Thalassemic Patients

November 13, 2008

Reference: "Can Homeopathy Bring Additional Benefits to Thalassemic Patients on Hydroxyurea Therapy? Encouraging Results of a Preliminary Study," Banerjee A, Chakrabarty SB, et al, Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2007 Oct 29; [Epub ahead of print].

Address: Cytogenetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani-741 235, West Bengal, India.

E-mail:  khudabukhsh_48@rediffmail.com

Summary:  In a study involving 38 thalassemic patients receiving hydroxyurea (HU) therapy for varying periods of time, administration of appropriately selected homeopathic medicine (pulsatilla nigricans 30c, ceanothus americanus (mother tincture and 6c), ferrum metallicum 30c) for three months was found to be associated with significant decreases in serum ferritin and increases in serum fetal hemoglobin. Furthermore, a significant decrease in the size of the spleen was found in most of the patients with splenomegaly (enlarged spleen). Moreover, an increased gap between transfusions was found in most patients who received the homeopathic medicine, in addition to hydroxyurea therapy. The authors conclude, "The homeopathic remedies being inexpensive and without any known side-effects seem to have great potentials in bringing additional benefits to thalassemic patients; particularly in the developing world where blood transfusions suffer from inadequ ate screening and fall short of the stringent safety standards followed in the developed countries. Further independent studies are encouraged."

Source: http://www.vitasearch.com/get-clp-summary/37863