Controlled
clinical trials are lacking in homeopathic literature. However, some
research is available for evidence-based appraisal. One study from
India reported successful efforts of managing schizophrenia in a 1 to
8 week trial with 70 people with schizophrenia on one of two
well-known remedies with psycho-tropic action in high dose. Medicines
were chosen ‘classically’ by the principle of ‘totality of
symptoms’ and administered in low dose (200 to 1000) homeopathic
potency (Balachandran, 1976). These cases were treated in a clinical
hospital setting at the Regional Research Institute between 1972 and
1974 in Kottayam, India.
Other
supportive evidence comes forth through records of Homeopathic Insane
Asylums (The Homeopathic World- editor, 1925). Good examples of
asylums in the United States date back to the 1870’s and include the
New York Homeopathic Asylum in Middletown, NY, which came under
direction of a noted homeopath, Dr. S. H. Talcott, M.D.; and another
asylum in Stamford, CT, which came under direction of Dr. Amos J
Givens, M.D.; and a sanitarium in Cincinnati, Ohio (Grimmer, 1940; MED
INV- editor, 1874).
A
review of the 1901 book by Talcott “Mental diseases and their modern
treatment” gives a plethora of information on homeopathic usage in
mental illnesses (Talcott, 1901). Some presenting symptoms of patient
cases described suggest that several people in this account have
thought disorder and perceptual changes suggestive of schizophrenia.
André
Saine, N.D., D.H.A.N.P., is a renowned master of classical homeopathy
(Saine, 1997b). He practices in Montreal, Canada, and has noted
success in managing severe cases of schizophrenia (Saine, 1997).
His book on Psychiatric Patients is a testament of work,
experience, and successful application of classical homeopathy with
mental illness (Saine, 1997).
Therapy
is not always a smooth process as patients may relapse and remise over
the course of a treatment witch may last 2 or more years.
The
more aware the homeopath is of the nature of the disease symptoms of
schizophrenia (i.e. the natural presenting psychosis) and the actions
of conventional medicines (i.e. neuroleptic psychosis) and the
influence of the disease on human nature the more likely he or she
will be able to determine an effective homeopathic medicine/remedy (Hahnemann,
1842).
The
chosen medicine has the potential in high doses to create similar
behavior patterns as the determined key elements of the case but in
low homeopathic prescription doses has the potential to balance the
human vital energy that has somehow become mis-tuned. Low dose
medicines are made by careful dilutions and succussions and attempt to
‘capture’ the energy of the substance being diluted.
Some scientific evidence supports the effectiveness of low
dosage conventional medicine versus high dose (Davenas et al, 1988;
Nature, 1988). In classical homeopathy, “the similar remedy, the
single remedy, and the minimum dose- is the basis for every
homeopathic prescription” (Stearns, 1926; Hahnemann, 1842).
Placebo
effect is not the case as recent large surveys of clinical trials
support the effectiveness of homeopathic medicines over placebo
(Reilly et al, 2001; Linde et al, 1997; New Scientist, 1997; Reilly et
al, 1994; Kleijnen et al, 1991).
Homeopathy
was developed by a German physician named Samuel Hahnemann in the
early 1800’s. He examined the potential of substances to ‘cure’
symptoms that he produced in human healthy subjects (Hahnemann, 1842).
These examinations were called
provings. Hahnemann
thought the body to be intelligent with an innate ability to heal
itself. For example, the healing of a cut- and that the best way to
heal would be via supporting the vital force of the body.
Remedies
can act quick or they can take a long time to take effect.
Homeopathic
medicines are suggested as suitable adjuncts to neuroleptic therapy
due to their relative safety and absence of side-effects (Hahnemann,
1842; Vithoulkas, 1980).
However,
aggravation of any symptom
(including psychotic features) may occur temporarily.
Theoretically, in severe cases of aggravation and in
extraordinarily rare cases, the aggravation could be permanent and
perhaps lethal. Aggravations
can proceed in a suppressive manner.
Anti-doting a homeopathic medicine is not always successful.
Aggravations are thought to foreshadow the disease presentation as it
would have occurred without the homeopathic medicine. Aggravating
symptoms are not new symptoms but rather, they are existing symptoms
or a re-emergence of previously existing symptoms in the course of the
patients lifetime. True aggravations, according to homeopathic
philosophy, after lasting from a few hours to a few weeks, are
followed by general amelioration. True aggravations are not
unbearable.
How
does it work exactly? This isn’t known. Homeopathic medicine works
by a mechanism of action that is said to tune the patient’s vital
force witch has become mis-tuned as a result of disease.
Current theories involve quantum physics or energy at the
atomic level. Small
changes can be instrumental. “For our concept to approximate atomic
dimensions, we must imagine space as being as immensely small as light
years represent the immensely great” (Stearns, 1926). The molecular
organization of water in the body in the presence of the right
homeopathic medicine is proposed to correct the vital force as part of
the mechanism of action (Davenas et al, 1988; Nature, 1988).
If
you are grappling with these concepts it is important to remember that
the exact cause of most diseases are not known nor do they have to be
known for practitioners to employ treatments that help (Hahnemann,
1842). Homeopathy is
energy medicine that influences the body much the same as Chinese
medicine has influence over the energy channels/meridians of the body.
It is interesting to note that Chinese medicine had successfully
managed severe cases of mental illness well before the advent of the
conventional ‘understanding’ of disease.
Similarly, classical homeopathy was employed well before
medical science had developed medications specific for schizophrenia.
Disclaimer:
N.M.R.C. services are not offered as a cure-all replacement for
standard treatment. Some patients require conventional treatment, some
do better on nutritional treatment, and some require a skilful
combination of both. Prescribed drugs can safely be maintained for the
duration of all N.M.R.C. therapeutic interventions. Based on signs of
clinical improvement, your medical practitioner can monitor drug
withdrawal as this becomes another key component to recovery.
Information herein is not intended for self-prescription or
self-diagnosis and is not intended to replace the advice of a medical
practitioner or health-care provider. The N.M.R.C. does not imply cure
in any treatment protocols offered. Nutritional prognosis described
herein by other researchers and practitioners do not necessarily apply
to N.M.R.C. services and are listed herein for your independent
appraisal and assessment.
