Homeopathy Has Preventive Remedy for Anthrax

Reuters ^ | October 24, 2001 | unknown

[bjs1779]

Homeopathy Has Preventive Remedy for Anthrax?

CALCUTTA, India (Reuters)

- Indian homeopathic practitioners say that homeopathy, a traditional alternative system of medicine, has a magic pill that can prevent anthrax from infecting humans.

Fears of germ warfare have spread worldwide since last month's attacks on New York and Washington as an outbreak of anthrax has spread in the United States through tainted mail.

Twelve people have contracted the disease so far -- either skin anthrax or the more deadly inhaled version -- and three have died.

``Anthracinum, which is prepared by triturating (grinding) the puss from anthrax, is a very effective prophylactic against anthrax,'' Dr. B. Gangapadhyay, a former head of the Orissa Medical College of Homeopathy and Research, told Reuters.

Homeopathy, seen either as a complement or alternative to orthodox medicine, uses metals from across the Periodic Table and a whole range of other substances from the plant and animal kingdoms.

Its basic principle is that ``like cures like'' -- if a substance produces certain symptoms in a healthy individual, it can also treat those symptoms.

``Anthracinum works like magic. If a person just takes a dose (of anthracinum) for two days in succession, he would be immune from anthrax for at least three months,'' Gangapadhyay, who practices in Calcutta, said.

Orthodox medical practitioners declined to comment on the effectiveness of the homeopathic remedy.

[OWK]

Thanks, but I'll stick with antibiotics.

[arielb]

very irresponsible. people can DIE if they rely on stuff that hasn't been proven to be effective.

[gcruse]

Actually, it might work. If like cures like, it explains my marital situation. A big dose of my ex-wife cured me of her.

[Jolly Rodgers]

Anthracinum works like magic.

So did the Ju-ju man's spell for making tribal warriors bullet proof.

[wjeanw]

Having seen the "effectiveness" of Indian homeopathic medicine on hippies and trekkers in the 80's, I wouldn't trust them to deal with anthrax!

[TomGuy]

Not so far-fetched...many "innocuations" contain material from the thing they are guarding against. Flu vaccines, for example.

[spycatcher]

Homeopathy is used pretty widely in Europe. Better than taking Cipro for those people who don't need even Cipro

[bluefish]

I study nutritional medicine and believe there are some alternative practices that have merit. I also believe the AMA in concert with the FDA and pharmaceutical industry act in concert to suppress effective treatments and health freedom.

However, nobody has been able to adquately explain this "like cures like" concept to me, so I remain skeptical of homeopathy. The "like cures like" concept seems to be one of those things that some people want to accept as intellectually superior, only because it makes no sense on the surface. I've always subscribed to the belief that common sense is superior, so if anybody can explain in common sense terms how homeopathy is supposed to work (is it the same principle as innoculations?), I will gladly listen.

[bluefish]

But there is a big difference between innoculations which spur the body's defenses prior to coming in contact with a larger quantity of a substance that causes illness. Homeopathy is promoted to end symptoms or cure illness. How does a miniscule molecule of an allergen, for instance, cure allergy symptoms caused by much larger amounts of the very same allergen that is causing an allergic reaction? Is it that the homeopathic remedy contains a different allergen, to which to body responds and therefore takes care of the symtoms caused by another one altogether?

[Physicist]

is it the same principle as innoculations?

Exactly. Homeopathy came about before the immune system was actually understood, and it took its cue from the effectiveness of vaccination. A tiny amount of cowpox prevents smallpox, you see, so might not a diluted poison protect you from the effects of the poison?

The theory was demolished long ago, but the practice still remains.

[BADJOE]

Polio vaccine is made from the polio cells. Salk vaccine was from dead ones. Sabin vacine from lives ones. Small pox vaccine from small pox cells, giving you a mild case of small pox. Natural immuninity system then builds resistance. Snake venom is used to make anti venom and treat snake bite.

This is the primary process used to fight many, many diseases.

[Physicist]

How does a miniscule molecule of an allergen, for instance, cure allergy symptoms caused by much larger amounts of the very same allergen that is causing an allergic reaction?

As a matter of fact, it works the other way around with allergies. The body mistakes an otherwise harmless substance as a hostile invader, and learns how to make antibodies to it. If it later encounters a tiny amount of the allergen, it can send the entire system into anaphylactic shock, resulting in death.

[Paradox]

Homeopathy is promoted to end symptoms or cure illness. How does a miniscule molecule of an allergen, for instance, cure allergy symptoms caused by much larger amounts of the very same allergen that is causing an allergic reaction? Is it that the homeopathic remedy contains a different allergen, to which to body responds and therefore takes care of the symtoms caused by another one altogether?

Its worse than that, at the concentrations of most homeopathic medicines, you wouldn't, on average, get ANY molecules of the substance. The homeopaths claim that the water itself changes properties in some as yet undiscovered way. So you dont even need any molecules of the substance, the water "remembers" it.

There are some studies that supposedly suggest that something like this might actually occur, but these studies have been very questionable, at best.

Sounds like horsesh*t to me.

[jammer]

Anthracinum, which is prepared by triturating (grinding) the puss from anthrax

Actually, I didn't even know that anthrax owned animals (or had a sex?). Perhaps the author meant "pus". Makes me wonder just how knowledgeable he is. Well, not really. I know there isn't a lot of knowledge there--he never got past P.T. Barnum, but that was enough to make a nice living, I'm sure.

[George from New England]

Hi! Do you have any details on how to actually use the cowpox disease from a Cow. If we have a complete breakdown and national panic it would be nice to have found out if there is a home-remedy to work with. Any ideas on some links. Have you seen anything specific posted here on FR.

[Getting there]

I have relied on homeopathy all my adult life, and raised a VERY HEALTHY family using homeopathy. USA us one of the few countries in which homeopathy has had to fight the AMA for survival. Many MDs and surgeons throughout the world are also homeopaths.

[jammer]

ROFLMAO!!!!!! Actually, I took the same cure. Thanks for lightening up the end of the week.

[jammer]

OWK, you're making a big mistake. Please give up those antibiotics. I take CHEESE!!! Now that's REAL homeopathy.

[jammer]

Better than taking Cipro for those people who don't need even Cipro

If you don't even need Cipro, why take anything?