Homeopathic Nosodes- Are they Useful for Bio-terrorism?

The attack on the United States on September 11, 2001 and subsequent reports of infection of a number of Americans by bacteria of the species Bacillus anthracis has raised the profile of homeopathic nosodes and their potential clinical utility in the event of a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease.

The Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia Convention of the United States defines a nosode as "homeopathic attenuations of: pathological organs or tissues; causative agents such as bacteria, fungi, ova, parasites, virus particles, and yeast; disease products; excretions or secretions. Nosodes are prepared according to homeopathic specifications, provided the basic substance is not altered and the final product is not adulterated by pathogens or other deleterious substances. The first attenuation must be rendered sterile". This is a very broad definition that is meant to encompass all biologic pathogens that might have use as homeopathic medicines. The important elements are that the substance should not be altered, and that the delivery form should be non-pathogenic.

Nosodes included in the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States(HPCUS) include: Anthracinum (Anthrax), BCG, Candida Albicans, Candida Parapsilosis, Colibacillinum, Hippozaeninum, Influenzinum, Lyssin, Medorrhinum, Morbillinum, Pertussinum, Proteus, Psorinum, Pyrogenium, Sinusitisinum, Staphylococcinum, Streptococcinum, Syphylinum, Tuberculinum, Tuberculinum Bovinum, and Vaccinotoxinum. These medicines have well defined source materials in the literature as well as standardized methods of preparation. Whether the HPCUS recommends these medicines for non-prescription sale depends on the primary clinical indication. Those nosodes used for chronic or miasmatic conditions are typically restricted to prescription, and those that have over-the-counter(OTC) indications are not so restricted.

Curious by its absence in the HPUS is Variolinum- the smallpox nosode. Variolinum has never been approved by the HPCUS because, although there is extensive clinical literature on the use of the medicine, there are no data on just what substance was proved and used in the development of the literature. So, although we have information on a substance called Variolinum in the literature, HPCUS was not able to determine with certainty just what the substance source material actually was.

Those nosodes that are available over the counter- including Anthracinum, have OTC indications in the literature. In the case of Anthracinum, Boericke's Pocket Manual of Materia Medica and Clarke's Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica agree that the principle clinical indication is carbuncles and malignant ulcers. These symptoms are consistent with vesicular eruptions and thus may have a relationship to the clinical manifestation of cutaneous anthrax; although nothing in the literature suggests that homeopathic Anthracinum may be useful for pulmonary anthrax- the more fatal manifestation. Thus the indiscriminate application of homeopathic Anthracinum as prophylaxis for, or treatment of pulmonary anthrax is not indicated.

Variolinum is also cited in Clarke and Boericke. Bearing in mind that the source material for the medicine is unknown, Clarke indicate the medicine for asthma, backache and chill and relates a smallpox story. Boericke does mention that the substance "seems to be efficacious in protecting against, modifying and aiding in the cure of small-pox", although no corroboration exists that homeopathic medicines in and of themselves can confer immunity from an infectious disease.

The data surrounding Anthracinum and Variolinum should not be surprising. Following the homeopathic principle of the similar, it would appear that a more useful approach to infectious disease would be proper repetorization of symptoms followed by the application of the well-chosen homeopathic drug.

These data leave open the question of the benefit that homeopathic medicines may have in the event of the outbreak of an infectious disease. Allopathic treatment of such outbreaks is well studied and must not be dismissed out of hand. Historically, homeopathic approaches in such outbreaks as influenza epidemics have shown to be useful. The key to the usefulness of the homeopathic approach was the discovery that the well-chosen remedy for the symptoms that were manifested in the epidemic was in many cases the same form patient to patient. This similarity in medicine from patient to patient, as well as from medicine to symptoms regardless of causative agent was called the genus epidemicus. Homeopathic medicines used under these circumstances were typically broad acting polychrests that were used to good result.

How does one then approach the application of homeopathy to wide ranging infectious disease? While the administration of the homeopathic preparation of the causative agent (if such an agent can be determined) may have some utility, the literature does not support this view and it cannot be recommended. The best approach is the deliberate application of homeopathic case taking to determine the well-chosen homeopathic medicine, and then the application of the well-chosen homeopathic medicine according to homeopathic principles.

What should you have at home? You probably already have it! "It" is a homeopathic kit that contains commonly prescribed polychrests - the medicines you use every day. If an outbreak occurs, carefully observe symptoms and with medical help, apply the correct medicine. Remember to communicate with others to determine their observations of other patients and look for the genus epidemicus to emerge. And remember, allopathic care may be indicated as well.

Through it all, we can use homeopathy to help ourselves and our families and friends to be safe and healthy.

See you in the pharmacy! JPB