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Homeoprophylaxis: Homeopathic Immunisation for Epidemic Diseases

Part A: Homeopathic Immunisation in Meningococcal Disease

(This is Part A of an article regarding homeopathic immunisation - the use of Homeopathy to protect against epidemic diseases. It is important to note that while it is certainly possible to immunise homeopathically, there is no such thing as a homeopathic vaccine or a process known as homeopathic vaccination. Both terms are inaccurate when referring to homeopathic immunisation.)

Homeopathy has a 200-year-old history of use by professional and medically qualified homeopaths. During this time it has had a high success rate in safely protecting people and populations against some of the world's worst epidemic diseases.

This part A looks at two recent large-scale studies in which homeopathic immunisation has provided protection against Meningococcal disease.

Part B examines other instances in which homeopathic immunisation has protected "at risk" populations from the effects of epidemic diseases. It also discusses recent Ph.D research showing homeopathic immunisation to be safe, effective, and a healthier option for disease protection than vaccination.

Part C will examine some of the barriers that stop homeopathic immunisation from being a recognised option for immunisation in the Australian context and further afield.

Meningococcal Disease - Devastating and Deadly

Once again, the Meningococcal season is upon us, yet few people know that Homeopathy can provide safe, effective and inexpensive protection against all strains of this bacterium. While the disease is not common in Australia, hundreds of infections are reported each season. Approximately 10% of infections lead to death.

A significant percentage of those who do survive will lose digits or limbs and/or suffer brain damage, deafness, nervous systems disorders, liver or kidney failure, chronic fatigue, seizures, or strokes. It can be caught at any stage of life but those most at risk are children under the age of five and young adults between 15-24 years.

The peak period for infection is winter and early spring. The disease is spread by "carriers" through droplets on coughing or sneezing. Surprisingly, many of us could be responsible. The Meningococcal bacterium is present in the throat or nose of about 10% of us at any given time even though we remain symptom free.

While most people remain unaffected when exposed to this bacterium, some develop septicaemia (blood poisoning), meningitis (infection of the outer covering of the brain and spinal cord), or a combination of the two. Early symptoms include fever, irritability, stiff neck, severe headache, pale blotchy skin, vomiting, joint and muscle pain, drowsiness, or coma. Often, a rash of tiny red or purple spots appears that enlarges to look like a bruise. Death can occur within 48 hours. Urgent medical attention is essential if infection is suspected.

What about the Current Vaccines?

There are 13 strains of Meningococcal disease but only two available vaccines. One vaccine provides some protection against four of the strains but is only 55% effective in children between the ages of two to three and is ineffective in children under two years of age. Protection lasts for only two to three years. The second vaccine provides longer protection and is 92% effective in children but only against the 'C' strain. There is no vaccine for the 'B' strain - the most common strain in Australia.

As with all vaccines, side effects do occur. Common symptoms include fever, swelling, irritability, loss of appetite, and headaches. Life threatening side effects are rare but have been reported. Homeopaths, along with other health care workers have noted that many of their patients seem to have a reduced ability to resist infections following vaccinations.

Homeopathic Protection Against Meningococcal Disease

There IS a safe way, however, to maximise the protection you and your children have against Meningococcal disease. This method has been used by medical doctors and homeopathic practitioners for the last 200 years to protect people against many of the world's worst epidemic diseases. It is called homeopathic immunisation, sometimes known as homeoprophylaxis.

Homeopathy is a safe and effective option for the protection of all against Meningococcal disease. While vaccines have to be matched and prepared against individual viral strains of any infectious disease, homeopathic immunisation remedies (medicines) are matched to the disease symptoms rather than the virus. Because symptoms are the same from one Meningococcal strain to another, the one homeopathic immunisation remedy can be prescribed for all. As a result, protection is possible for even the 'B' strain - the most common type for which no vaccine is available.

Today, homeopathic Meningococcinum (the homeopathic immunisation remedy for Meningococcal disease) is frequently used to protect against this infection in some of the world's poorest countries. Unfortunately, ignorance about homeopathic immunisation in much of the Western world means that this method has been less commonly used in those countries.

The Brazilian Experience

So how do we know that Homeopathy works in these instances? To answer this question we will look at two recent, large-scale studies conducted in Brazil where Meningococcal epidemics frequently occur.

Study 1

In 1974, during an outbreak of Meningococcal disease in Brazil, 18,640 children were immunised homeopathically against Meningococcal infection, and 6,340 were not. The following results were obtained:

• 18,640 protected homeopathically - 4 cases of Meningococcal infection.
• 6,340 not protected - 32 cases of Meningococcal infection.

Based on the infection (attack) rate in the unprotected group, 94 cases of infection would have been expected in the homeopathically protected group. Instead, there were only four cases of Meningococcal infection, showing that the homeopathic option was 95% effective against Meningicoccal disease. ¹

Study 2

The results of the first study led to the Brazilian government funding a larger study in 1998. It was conducted by two Professors of Medicine from the University Foundation in Blumenau, Brazil, and a Blumenau specialist physician and Health City Secretary.

A total of 65,826 people between the ages of 0-20 were immunised homeopathically against Meningococcal disease while 23,532 were not. Over a 12 month period, the following results were obtained:

• 65,826 protected homeopathically - 4 cases of Meningococcal infection.
• 23,532 not protected - 20 cases of Meningococcal infection.

Based on the infection (attack) rate in the unprotected group, 58 cases of infection would have been expected in the homeopathically protected group. Instead, there were only four cases of Meningococcal infection. Statistical analysis showed that homeopathic immunisation offered 95% protection in the first six months and 91% protection over the year against Meningococcal disease. ²

Both of these studies used only low to medium range potencies of Meningococcinum for protection and only one oral dose per person was given. One would anticipate longer and possibly increased rates of protection if higher potencies and more than one dose had been given; this has certainly been clinical experience elsewhere and is indicated by recent research conducted in Australia.³

The researchers of this study are at pains to point out that the use of Meningococcinum for protection against Meningococcal disease is not a new development and provide another 10 references to the use of homeopathic immunisation.

Benefits of Homeopathic Immunisation

1. Homeopathic immunisation is extremely safe. Because Homeopathy is an energetic system of medicine that prescribes remedies in sub-molecular form, poisonings, addictions, and other damaging side effects do not occur. Chemical interactions with other medicines cannot happen. Homeopathy does not harm.
2. Homeopathic immunisation provides protection against diseases for which no vaccine exists. This has already been discussed with the example of the 'B' strain Meningococci - the commonest strain in Australia.
3. Homeopathic immunisation can protect when vaccines may be unsuitable, e.g. for those who have already had an adverse vaccine reaction; the malnourished; the sick or debilitated; the immune-compromised; the pregnant; those allergic to vaccine materials; and those on steroids. Homeopathic immunisation is safe for all these groups.
4. No method of immunisation gives 100% protection but recent Australian research showed that Homeopathy provides 90.4% protection for childhood communicable diseases.⁴ (This research is discussed more fully in Part B). This figure is consistent with those from overseas studies on homeopathic immunisation. It also compares favourably with the 75-95% protection rates offered by vaccines.
5. Homeopathic immunisation is inexpensive. Provided in bulk, Meningococcinum, for example, can protect one person for one year against Meningococcal disease at a cost of cents rather than dollars. This would be a boon for poorer countries where the cost of vaccines places them out of reach for the majority of the population. It would also lead to significant savings in the healthcare budgets of more affluent nations that rely on expensive vaccines for disease prevention.
6. Homeopathic immunisation is easily distributed and dispensed. One dose usually consists of a small medicated sugar pilule that is dissolved in the mouth - well tolerated and pleasant for all ages. It does not use needles and syringes, require refrigeration, or depend on teams of trained health workers to dispense it. Homeopathy truly is a medicine of the people.
7. Homeopathic remedies are prepared from naturally occurring substances. Because of this they cannot be patented, meaning that their production and distribution cannot be restricted or controlled by corporations for profit or political gain. Perhaps this is why there is usually vigorous opposition and harassment when homeopathic immunisation is discussed in the public arena and why so few people are informed about it - vested interests have a lot to lose.

Are There any Drawbacks?

None that I know of. As world famous violinist and conductor Sir Yehudi Menuhin said, "Homeopathy is one of the rare medical approaches which carries no penalties - only benefits." Now isn't that the best news you have heard in a long time?

(To be continued in Part B of this article - Homeopathic Immunisation in Other Epidemic Diseases. The use of homeopathic immunisation for other epidemic diseases will be examined plus recent Australian research regarding the effectiveness and health benefits of homeopathic immunisation will be discussed.)

Answers to Reader Questions

1.  Are you telling people not to vaccinate? This could place their lives at risk.

Not at all. Vaccines may be an appropriate option for some people but unfortunately, as acknowledged by their manufacturers and health officials, vaccines do carry risks. I am providing information about another option that is both safe and effective so people can make fully informed decisions on how to best immunise for their situation.

For some, vaccines are inappropriate or even dangerous. They can be contraindicated in those who have severe illness, suppressed immunity, or who have had previous reactions to them. For these people, homeopathic immunisation is a safe and effective alternative - something I am sure they would like to know.

Finally, in the case of meningococcal disease, homeopathic immunisation can also save lives and reduce disability from strains for which there is no vaccine. The following question addresses this issue more fully.

2.  I thought there was already a vaccine for meningococcal disease. Why would we need something else?

Only 2 types of meningococcal vaccines are available in Australia and neither protect against the meningococcal strain responsible for most infections in this country - meningococcal B. While one of the vaccines offers limited protection against 4 of the 13 meningococcal strains, the other vaccine, used for children, only protects against the C strain. In comparison, homeopathic Meningococcinum offers widespread protection against all strains, including the more common and serious B strain.

3.  Does our government know about this prophylactic and what is it doing about it?

Yes, the Australian government has been notified previously of the results of the Brazilian studies. The Do No Harm Initiative Inc., a not for profit organisation established to provide information on homeopathic immunisation, has recently sent letters with the same information to all State and Federal Ministers for Health, and their Shadow Ministers, asking for action. This letter and recipients can be viewed at: http://d-n-h.org/letter-1.php. Ministerial replies will be listed at the same location. The Do No Harm Initiative Inc. will be following up all responses to these letters.

4.  What does the homeopathic Meningococcinum look like and how do you take it?

Meningococcinum is dispensed as small, round sugar pilules that dissolve in the mouth. Because they taste only of sugar they are well-liked by children. Babies can be given the pilule by first dissolving it in a little water. Three pilules given over a 24 hour period will protect for one year. Images of the pilules and how they are taken can be viewed at right here - click on an image for an enlargement!

5.  My children have already had the meningococcal vaccine. Is there any point in giving them the homeopathic preventative?

In Australia, children are only vaccinated against the less common C strain of the meningococcal bacterium. There is no vaccine for the more common B strain. As homeopathic Meningococcinum protects against all strains, it would be sensible to consider its use for protection where none can be provided by vaccines.

6.  Will Meningococcinum react with, or cancel any benefits from vaccines already given?

No - there are no interactive effects between the homeopathic remedies used for immunisation purposes, and vaccines. As no form of immunisation offers 100% protection, homeopathic immunisation can be used to strengthen the line of defence offered by vaccines.

7.  If a person already has meningococcal disease, is there anything homeopathy can do to treat it?

The most frequently prescribed homeopathic remedy for the symptoms of meningitis or encephalitis is Belladonna. If you decide not to immunise homeopathically you may like to keep this remedy on hand. For treatment of suspected meningococcal meningitis, give one dose of Belladonna 200C every half hour, reducing the frequency of doses as symptoms improve - this can happen rapidly. (There should be obvious improvement by 4 doses if the remedy is correct.) At the same time seek urgent treatment from your nearest hospital or local doctor and contact your homeopath to confirm that Belladonna is the most suitable homeopathic remedy for the symptoms experienced by the sufferer.

If the patient has suspected meningococcal septicaemia rather than meningitis, a number of other remedies apart from Belladonna may be more appropriate. Please contact your homeopath for assistance in this area while still seeking urgent help from your local hospital or doctor.

8.  Where can I find more information on homeopathic immunisation?

The Do No Harm Initiative Inc. provides information on homeopathic immunisation for children, adults, travellers, pets and farm animals. It can be visited at: www.d-n-h.org

You can also email us via the Contact Us form.