January, 2000/ Jacksonville Medicine11

Homeopathy, Herbs And Hypnosis

Common Practices In Complementary And Alternative Medicine

Anne Bozzuto, R.N., BSN, MA and Thomas M. Bozzuto, D.O., D.I. Hom.

Anne Bozzuto, R.N., BSN, MA

and

Thomas M. Bozzuto, D.O., D.I.Hom

are with the Mind/ Body Institute of Florida.

Homeopathy

Of all the popular alternative therapies, probably nonegenerates the disbelief or hostility of the conventionalmedical practitioner as does homeopathy. Homeopathy is aunique approach to healing that uses extremely dilutemedicines to trigger a person’s innate capacity to heal. Itwas developed by Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843), whowas a German physician, chemist, and author of a well–known textbook on the preparation and use of contempo-rary medicines. In reaction to some of the barbaric medicalpractices of his day, Hahnemann sought a more comprehen-sive, gentle approach to healing which encouraged thebody’s innate ability to heal itself. The practice of home-opathy is based on several beliefs. The

Law of Similars

states that the appropriate remedy for each sick person is thesubstance which would give rise to precisely the same set of symptoms if given to a healthy person. Hahnemann’s methodemployed only one remedy at a time for the whole patient,comparing the totality of symptoms of the individual withthose of various remedies until the closest possible match isfound. Integral to the belief system of homeopathy is that of a ‘vital force’, which like acupuncture, herbalism, and othernatural methods, belongs to the vitalist tradition. Illness isviewed as the organism’s ability to heal itself and this lifeenergy is the ultimate source of health. In modern terms,this would be likened to the bioenergetic integrity of livingbeings. The detailed philosophy of homeopathy wouldencompass several volumes of text. Often overlooked in thehomeopathic belief system are the recommendations of healthy diet, fresh air, exercise, and the avoidance of toxicsubstances, none of which deal with the administration of any medication.The most significant controversy in homeopathy in-volves the minute dose of the medicine (remedy). Thisprinciple states that one should use the smallest dose andlowest frequency possible. Although all good medical prac-tice would agree with this principle, the degree to whichhomeopathy practices this defies generally known prin-ciples of molecular biology or biochemistry. Homeopathicmedicines are prepared by a process of serial dilution andagitation (sucussion). Many of the homeopathic remediesare so dilute that they would not be expected to contain anyof the original therapeutic substance.Reference to the extraordinary dilutions used in homeo-pathic remedies is given context by referring to the conceptof Avogadro’s number from basic chemistry. This numberis the theoretical number of atoms or molecules in a grammolecular weight of any given substance, namely 6.02 x10

. Homeopathic dilutions are measured in decimal (x) orcentesimal (c) potencies. Therefore at a dilution of 12 C or24X (10

-24

) there is almost no likelihood of any of theoriginal substance in the solution.The activity of the homeopathic remedy is thought tofollow from properties of the solvent water conferred to itby the original substance, not the molecules themselves.For the scientist grounded in the concept of chemistry andmolecular biology, the observation that medicines thatcontain no molecules of the original substance could havebiological activity defies all logic and is frankly unbeliev-able. This is, however precisely what the proponents of homeopathy claim, and it is increasingly demonstrated incontrolled clinical trials.

Evidence of the biologic activity of serially agitateddilutions (SAD) is accumulating. Theoretical explanationsrevolve around the “memory of water” and a subtle energysystem that can perceive and respond to the informationencoded in the homeopathic solution. The physicist Callinansuggests that the process of succusion produces energystorage in the bonds of the diluent in the infrared spectrumthat downloads in contact with water in living systems.

Thenature of this effect, and the reason why it is so persistentmay be deduced by the work of Weingertner using mag-netic resonance spectroscopy.

The signals H

O and OHbetween a homeopathic remedy of sulfur (23x) and thecontrol solvent without the homeopathic dilution are sig-nificantly lower (probability > 99%).The recent discovery of I

structures in water may be theclearest evidence to date of a mechanism of action forhomeopathic remedies.

4,5

These I

structures are crystal-line-like structures of water molecules generated in re-sponse to electrical dipoles surrounding ions or proteins insolution. At ion concentrations below 10

-7

, these structuresbecome stable and when exposed to shearing forces, break apart into three nanometer fragments, but then reaggregateinto more stable structures that are capable of self-replica-tion in more dilute solutions, despite the absence of theoriginal polar molecule. The form that these aggregatestake is determined by the electrical field of the original polarmolecule. The shape of these aggregates may contain infor-mation that is communicated to highly specific receptor

12Jacksonville Medicine / January, 2000

sites on cell surfaces, antibodies, etc. Therefore, whenviewed in the light of quantum physics and plasma chem-istry, the mechanism of homeopathic remedies is notunplausible.

Homeopathic Research

In the mid-1950’s, a review of 25 investigations of microdoses was published, citing their effects on suchwidely variant systems as paramecia, the Schick test, growthof

Aspergillus

mycelia, germination of wheat germ, andblood flow in the ears of rabbits.

More recently, Europeanlaboratory studies have demonstrated the effects of homeo-pathic microdoses on mouse macrophages

, arsenic mobi-lization in the rat

, bleeding time with aspirin

, anddegranulation of human basophils

. These studies, as wellas others in the veterinary literature, suggest that responseto homeopathic remedies is not a placebo response. One of the first clinical studies reported was sponsored by theBritish Government during World War II.

It was con-ducted in volunteers in whom skin burns were producedusing azotized mustard gas and showed a significant im-provement in subjects receiving Mustard Gas 30c as aprophylaxis or Rhus tox 30c, and Kali bichromium 30c.Thestudy was conducted independently in two different centers(London and Glasgow) using a double-blind placebo-con-trolled design. A recent meta-analysis by Kleijnen, et al.produced a review of 107 clinical trials in homeopathy onthe basis of rigid assessment criteria of the type used fortrials in allopathic medicine.

In all, of the 105 trials whoseresults could be interpreted, 81 yielded positive results.

The Homeopathic Prescription

In taking a homeopathic history, the first priority is tounderstand the patient and his/her illness. The second, is tofind an appropriate remedy. There are three main compo-nents to the homeopathic history:1.The conventional medical history.2.The physiology of the patient. One of the areas wherehomeopathic history differs from that learned in con-ventional allopathic medicine, is that factors modify-ing the illness are given greater attention including:modality, i.e. what modifies the sensation. Not onlywhat makes it better or worse is considered, but whatside of the body it is on, whether it is affected by cold,heat, wind, dampness, time of day, etc. Sleep anddreams are considered.3.The mental state. This includes cognitive function,emotional symptoms, how the patient feels about them-selves, consolation, confrontation, etc.After listing all the history and symptoms, a repertory isconsulted. This is a tool for working out which remedy thepatient needs. The dosage regime consists of two elements— the potency and the frequency of dosage, both of whichare of secondary importance to choosing the correct rem-edy. Despite a multiplicity of symptoms, one remedy isusually chosen which matches all the patient’s findings.Remedies are generally given more frequently and in lowerpotencies for acute conditions, and less frequently in higherpotencies for chronic or mental conditions. Computer pro-grams are now available to help in remedy selection. Theremedy is discontinued when the symptoms resolve. If thesymptoms change, then another remedy is chosen whichmatches the new symptom complex. Table 1 contains a listof common homeopathic remedies and their uses.

Phytopharmacology (Herbal Medicine)

The sale of herbal medicines in the United States is oneof the ten fastest growing industries. It is estimated that over60 million adults used herbs for a medical condition in1996. The average spent per person is $54 annually, withmany people spending much more. The total estimatedretail sales exceeded $3.42 million in 1996 and $441.5million in 1997 (Figure 1). There was an estimated 78%increase in the use of herbs over this one year period. Mediacoverage of herbal medicines is extensive.Numerous factors contribute to this increased use of plant-derived medicines for self-treatment. Although thetremendous benefits of technology that produce dramaticeffects (increasingly technical surgeries and procedures),the dangers and indiscriminate use of chemicals (preserva-tives, coloring agents, drugs, chemical pollution) is strain-ing the adaptability of our complex bodies and theenvironment. There appears to be a growing distrust of

Table 1. Common Homeopathic Remedies And Their Uses

Aconitum Napellus:

ailments from shock, fright, or fear, or expo-sure to cold

Apis Mellifica:

stings, burning pains, difficulty passing urine, edema

Arnica Montana:

bruising

Belladonna:

sudden illness with redness & heat (fever), throbbingheadache

Calendula Officinalis:

injuries causing torn or ragged wounds

Cantharis:

cystitis, burning or scalding pain while urinating

Chamomilla:

teething, irritable child, colic

Graphites:

thickened, scaly or crusty patches on skin

Hypericum:

crush injuries, punctures, or lacerations

Ipecacuanha:

nausea unrelieved by vomiting

Nux Vomica:

digestive disturbances, anger, morning headaches,nausea & vomiting

Pulsatilla:

catarrh, styes and conjunctivitis, timidity and weeping

Rhus Toxidendron:

joint pains, arthritis, back pain

Ruta Graveolens:

tendon injuries, bruised, sore, achy feeling

Sanguinaria:

migraine, burning sensation in eyes or ears, nasalpolyps

Sepia:

depression

Staphysagria:

pains in genitalia, pain in abdomen, symptomscaused by suppressed anger

Sulfur:

chronic skin inflammation

January, 2000/ Jacksonville Medicine13

technological medicine which has given rise to a ‘back tonature’ movement.Science is a double-edged sword and its enormous influ-ence means that we must begin to realize and address thelong-term consequences of our technology. Yet, both tech-nology and nature must be combined wisely. The history of herbal medicines is as old as the history of healing itself.Only in the past fifty years, with the increase in syntheticdrug manufacture and the medical promise of a drug to cureevery ailment, has the use of botanicals as medicines takena back seat to prescription, manufactured pharmaceuticals.Reasons for this are multiple. There is no dedicated supportof the herbal industry by the Federal Government; the costof bringing a new drug to market is between $140and $500 million. With natural substances beingnon-patentable, pharmaceutical companies areloathe to spend the necessary research money toprovide adequate research because the develop-ment money spent is non-recoverable.In the European Commonwealth, there is lessof a dichotomy between naturally-derived bo-tanical medicines and synthetic pharmaceuticals,leading to more research, longer history of use,and stricter quality control. In phytomedicine,pathological understanding of illness is similar towestern allopathic pathology, however medicalherbalists view illness within the context of thehealing capacity of the whole person and thenchose herbs that support the specific organ sys-tems under stress.

Most western-trained herbal-ists believe that the body is a self-healing organismand that herbs should be chosen to supportwellness, not simply to relieve symptomsor treat diseases. The main uses for herbs inthe United States are shown in Figure 2.For the past forty years, researchers havebeen trying to isolate the “active” constitu-ent of a plant. As a result, the exact mecha-nism of action for a number of plants hasbeen elucidated and the understanding of phytomedicines expanded. With the abil-ity to standardize herbs — that is, to accu-rately measure the exact percent of activeconstituents within an herbal product — anew range of herbal medicines are nowavailable to the public. Many practitionersfeel more confident recommending a prod-uct if they know the exact amount of theactive principle and the number of milli-grams that should be prescribed daily.Most plants, however, contain hundredsof constituents that may be acting in con-cert, not individually, to create the physi-ologic effect. Clinical trials that study the whole plant’sactivity must be designed. This requires a shift of thinking inwestern allopathic research — a movement away from reduc-tionism — looking at herbs as complete products in which thewhole is greater than the sum of its parts.Additional evidence of widespread consumer interest inherbs and other natural products, now legally classified as“dietary supplements” in the United States, can be found inthe estimated two million letters, faxes and phone calls byAmericans to members of Congress during 1993 and 1994in support of legislation that would protect and increaseaccess to the products and information on their responsible

Figure 1. Herb Supplement Sales  First 8 Months Of 1999Figure 2. Consumers Use Of Herbal Remedies