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INTRODUCTION
Epidemic
diseases are diseases spreading rapidly and extensively by infection and
affecting many individuals in an area or a population at the same time.
Epidemics are commonly thought to involve out breaks of acute infectious
diseases. Diseases and epidemics occur as a result of three factors, agent, host
and environment. An understanding of the interaction between agent, host and
environment is crucial for the selection of best approach to prevent or control
the continuing spread of an epidemic (American Heritage Dictionaries).
Historically
Homoeopathy has been used in the treatment of diseases that occurred in the form
of Epidemics, particularly in Europe and America in 19th century.
Unlike conventional medicine, Homoeopathy, lays emphasis on treatment based on
clinical presentation which usually varies from individual to individual along
with mental / emotional and physical characteristic (attributes) of the
individual. The therapy is not aimed at the causative virus or bacterium, but on
enhancing immune response against the infective micro organism.
GENUS
EPIDEMICUS IN HOMOEOPATHY
Homoeopathic
genus epidemicus (identified on the
basis of common symptoms presented by a significant number of patients during an
epidemic) is administered orally to people at risk of contracting infection.
It is repeatedly seen during endemics/epidemics that genus
epidemicus prevents disease in people living in close proximity of the
patients down with disease and also in the population living in the affected
area.
Genus
epidemicus identified during
an endemic/epidemic, proves to be specific for that endemic/epidemic only. As
there is variation in the clinical presentation during epidemics occurring at
different times and places, a genus
epidemicus identified during the earlier endemics/epidemics of same disease
may not be useful during subsequent epidemics in the same location and also
epidemics in other places. Therefore, genus
epidemicus is identified that is specific to an endemic/epidemic at a given
time. It has to be identified afresh based on the clinical
presentation of the disease during an endemic/epidemic.
For
example, different homoeopathic medicines were used for the prevention during
recent Chikungunya and Dengue endemics in different parts of the Country viz. Bryonia
in Kottayam District and Eupatorium perf. in Calicut in Kerala, Eupatorium perf
in Hyderabad, Rhus tox in Rajasthan, Ledum pal and Chamomilla in Chennai and
other medicines at other places.
Notwithstanding
these facts some homoeopathic medicines prepared from specific microorganism(s)
/ disease products such as Influenzinum (prepared from flu viruses and available
under the brand name of Dolivaxil –
containing Infludenzinum
prepared from the latest strain of flu virus) and Oscillococcinum
(prepared from liver and heart of a Barbary duck-a carrier of flu virus) are
used as preventive, as well as for treatment
of flu for over 120 years in Europe and Americas.
HOMOEOPATHY
AND EPIDEMIC DISEASES: INDIAN SCENARIO
Homoeopathy
has been successfully used, both as preventive and therapeutic intervention, in
acute microbial infections that keep occurring now and then in endemic and
epidemic form in different parts of the country. Notable among them are Japanese
Encephalitis, Dengue, Measles, Meningitis, Jaundice, Gastro enteritis and
Conjunctivitis. The Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy has also
conducted studies during many endemics / epidemics during the last 10 yeas and
also organized medical relief camps during natural calamities such as ravaging
floods, cyclones and tsunami and managed incidental illnesses ranging from
gastro-enteritis to pyrexia.
Homoeopathy
in Japanese Encephalitis
The
Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy have provided treatment and
preventive measures in the Japanese Encephalitis endemic in Uttar Pradesh, West Bangal, Andhra Pradesh, and
Delhi in 1984 and in Tripura, Gudivada (AP), Hyderabad (AP), Diphu (Assam),
Basti (UP), and Gorakhpur (UP)in 1986, 1988, 1989, 1992 and 1999 respectively.
Most of these studies were, however, confined to distribution of genus
epidemicus among the people who lived in the affected areas. The Council had
also established a Clinical Research Unit in Gorakhpur (UP) in 1997 exclusively
to evaluate prophylactic role of Homoeopathic medicines in Japanese encephalitis
(The Unit has been merged with Homoeopathic Drug Research Institute, Lucknow,
UP). A study carried out in Oct-Nov. 1991 had shown usefulness of Belladonna, a
Homoeopathic Medicine, in the prevention of Japanese Encephalitis.
In
1999, a team of scientists from the Council carried out a study during the
epidemic of Japanese Encephalitis at Gorakhpur District, Uttar Pradeh.
Homoeopathic Medicine ‘Belladonna’ was identified as Genus Epidemicus.
Single dose of Belladonna 200 was administered to 1, 71,273 persons in 62
villages. A follow up of 71,503 persons was done. None of them came down with
Japanese Encephalitis.
Japanese
Encephalitis Epidemic of 2005
The
Council had also undertaken a study during Japanese Encephalitis epidemic that
affected some parts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh in 2005. Based on the clinical
presentation of 30 cases of Japanese Encephalitis (22 at Civil Hospital and 8
cases at BRD Medical College, Hospital, Gorakhpur), including 15 women,
Belladonna was again identified to be the Genus Epidemicus.
Belladonna in 200 potency two doses/day on three consecutive days was
administered as preventive to the people living in the region affected by
epidemic.
The
team distributed/administered Belladonna to 30,161 people at Gorakhpur and
18,267 at Mahrajganj. In addition,
the team also distributed Belladonna to a population of 1,42,739 at Gorakhpur
and 88,481 at Maharajganj through the village Pradhans. The team also distributed Belladonna to 31,526 students of 83
schools at Gorakhpur and 15,241 at Maharajganj through their Head Masters.
Follow
up of the population which was given Belladonna as preventive was made.
One to one follow up covered 1,07,883 people, including children in 14
Villages in Gorakhpur District. Follow
up of 72,327 people who were provided Genus epidemicus by Village Pradhans was
done through them. Only three of
the persons (2 at Gorakhpur and 1 at Maharajganj) who were administered Genus
epidemicus contracted the infection and developed the disease.
Chikungunya
and Dengue Endemics-2006
The
Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy and a number of individuals, State
Government Health Departments and Non-Government Organizations have conducted
medical relief Camps. The Central
Research Institute of the Council that is located at Kottayam, Kerala has
undertaken a study with National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme (NVBDCP),
Central Research Institute of Ayurveda and Siddha (CRIAS) and Centre of Research
in Medical Entomology (CRME) at Lakshadweep.
ACTIVITIES
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