Winter brings its share of challenges, especially when it comes to recurrent infections and seasonal illnesses. Homeopathy, with its unique immunomodulatory effects, offers a natural and holistic way to enhance your immunity, helping you stay healthy and resilient throughout the season. Many scientists around the world have been working on the effect of high dilutions on the immune modulation. Many models have been tested. Some researchers consider that some of such studies are relevant to cybernetic regulations (processes of communication and control). Very low dose effects can be described as cybernetic regulatory signals. According to M. Bastide, hormetic models and applications of Arndt-Schultz law are based on the identity principle and are related to variations of concentration. Hormesis is an effect where a toxic substance acts like a stimulant in small doses, but it is an inhibitor in large doses. By using unsuccussed molecular and succussed non-molecular dilutions, the hormetic model supports a learning process which must be related to informative concepts. Starting from this primary level of informative process and by comparison with the phylogenic evolution of the immune system as an informative system, it can be elaborated that a progressive information organisation is due to high dilution effect.1
Many such studies have been carried out on stimulating the basophil by highly diluted Histamine. Histamine is known to elicit a negative feedback effect on anti-IgE and allergen-induced basophil activation. A series of experiments performed between 1981 and 1995 using a manual method showed biological activity of highly diluted histamine. J. Benveniste’s work on this is significant. Most of the experiments used histamine in the range 10−30 (15C)–10−36 M (18C). These results were confirmed by automated flow cytometry. This method is based on the selection of basophils by anti-IgE and analysis of basophil activation by anti-CD 63.2
The works done on this context is huge. Listing of the published papers itself will occupy several pages of this magazine. Some of the important studies are given briefly below.
Histamine dilutions modulate basophil activation3
The work carried out by P. Belon et al., aimed to investigate the action of histamine dilutions on basophil activation. Basophil activation was assessed by alcian blue staining, measurement of histamine release and CD63 expression. Study 1 used a blinded multi-centre approach in 4 centres. Study 2, related to the confirmation of the multi-centre study by flow cytometry and was performed independently in 3 laboratories. Study 3 examined the histamine release (one laboratory) and the activity of H2 receptor antagonists and structural analogues (two laboratories). Results shows that high dilutions of histamine (10–30–10–38 M) influence the activation of human basophils measured by alcian blue staining. The degree of inhibition depends on the initial level of anti-IgE induced stimulation, with the greatest inhibitory effects seen at lower levels of stimulation. Researchers have concluded from these 3 different types of experiment that high dilutions of histamine may indeed exert an effect on basophil activity. This activity observed by staining basophils with alcian blue was confirmed by flow cytometry. Inhibition by histamine was reversed by anti-H2 and was not observed with histidine these results being in favour of the specificity of this effect.
Similar such study was carried out in France. The researchers investigated if the use of CD 203c, a basophil specific, instead of CD 63 of the activation cascade. These new flow cytometric protocols confirmed that high dilutions of histamine may inhibit basophil activation and that the inhibitory effect is not restricted to IgE-dependent activation. The use of CD 203c instead of CD 63 increased the magnitude of the response.2
Study with dexamethasone4
This study was conducted by the professors of abUniversity of São Paulo, Brazil. They evaluated the interaction of dexamethasone 10−17 and 10−33 M (equivalent to 7CH and 15CH) with dexamethasone in pharmacological concentrations, using as experimental models: acute inflammation induced by carrageenan. Animals were treated with the following preparations: (1) phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solution; (2) dexamethasone (0.5 mg/kg for inflammation model or 4 mg/kg for tumour model) mixed with dexamethasone 7CH or 15CH; (3) dexamethasone (same doses) mixed in PBS. Homoeopathic dexamethasone partially blocked the anti-inflammatory effect of pharmacological dexamethasone with regard to paw oedema (two-way ANOVA, P≤0.0008) and polymorphonuclear cell migration (χ2, P=0.0001). No important differences were observed between experimental and control groups, in relation to Ehrlich tumour cells viability or count, or bodyweight, but potentised dexamethasone restored control levels of tumour infiltrating leucocytes (TIL) viability, compared to mice treated with pharmacological doses of dexamethasone (χ2, P≤0.001). The results demonstrate that a potentised substance may change its own pharmacological effects and suggest that ultradilutions effects act mostly on host response.
In vitro stimulation of human granulocytes and lymphocytes5
The influence of a broad concentration range of naturally occurring naphthoquinones and other cytotoxic or cytostatic agents (azathioprine, colchicine, cyclophosphamide, fluorouracil, methotrexate and vincristine) on human granulocytes and lymphocytes was investigated in a systematic in vitro study. At high concentrations (100 micrograms-10 ng/ml) nearly all substances showed the known cytotoxic or immunosuppressive effects, whereas most of the same compounds displayed immunostimulating activities at very low concentrations (10 ng-10 fg/ml). After a cold shock or heat treatment lymphocytes became more sensitive against these compounds in the active concentration range than untreated cells.
Immunomodulatory effect of the homoeopathic drug on some activities of isolated human leukocytes and in whole blood6
A homoeopathic combination drug at the doses of 10(-4) and 10(-8) in isolated human leukocytes stimulates the superoxide anion generation by neutrophils and the cytokine(s) production by T lymphocytes. In whole blood the same concentrations of the drug produce the decrease of the superoxide anion generation of neutrophils. This inhibiting activity appears 6 hours after the administration of the drug and persists only in presence of lymphocytes. Culture media of T lymphocytes treated with Engystol-N show the same inhibiting effect on superoxide anion generation by neutrophils. The authors say, from these data it is possible to conclude that the drug stimulates the secretion of lymphokine(s) with inhibiting action on superoxide anion generation of neutrophils that prevail over the direct stimulating effect, confirming and extending the immunomodulatory ability of the drug.
Histopathological and immunophenotyping studies on normal and sarcoma 180-bearing mice treated with a complex homoeopathic medication7
Researchers studied the effects of a homeopathic complex medicine in normal and sarcoma 180-bearing mice. Three control groups were also evaluated. A delay in the development and a reduction in size of the tumours, and increased infiltration by lymphoid cells, granulation tissue, and fibrosis surrounding the tumour were observed with active treatment compared to control. All animals from the treated group survived, 30% of control groups died. In 30% of treated animals, a total regression of the tumour was confirmed using light microscopy, no regression was found in the control groups. Treatment with the homoeopathic product increased total numbers of leukocytes and lymphocytes. Among lymphocytes, TCD4, increased in normal-treated group and B and NK cells in S180-treated groups. The results reflect enhanced immune response of the host after homoeopathic treatment.
Remedies to enhance the immunity
chinacea angustifolia – increases resistance versus invasion of pathogens; blood purifier and antibacterial drug of homoeopathy.
Eleutherococcus – tonic herb; useful for maintaining good health; research has shown that it stimulates resistance; adaptogenic tonic stimulant, protecting the immune system.
Ginseng – adaptogenic tonic; helps body to adapt to stress, fatigue, cold, mental or emotional problems; research indicates it as immunostimulant for improving resistance to infections.
Propolis – improves vital functions; medical research teams have established antibacterial properties.
Thuja occidentalis – infection with discharge of pus; has antibacterial activity; overcomes the side effects of vaccinations.
Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) – great mental tonic; maintains the state of well being; efficacious in total or partial destruction of intellect.
Alfalfa – mother tincture prepared from fresh plant is rich in vitamins and other nutrients; toning up the appetite and digestion resulting in greatly improved mental and physical vigor, with gain in weight.
Frequently used remedies for recurrent infections during winter
Below remedies are useful in tackling recurrent infections in children.
Aconitum napellus 30: Sudden acute cold and fever.
Antimonium tartaricum 30: Cough with rattling sound.
Argentum nitricum 30: 1st stage of cold with running nose and sneezing.
Arsenicum album 30: Fever with weakness, frequent thirst, bitter taste in mouth.
Belladonna 30, 200 or 1M: Fever with cold hands and feet, and head hot; with throbbing headache.
Bromium 30: Cold due to pollution.
Drosera rotundifolia 30: Dry cough worse at night or lying down.
Hepar sulphur 30: Throat infection, stuffed nose, especially from cold wind exposure. Phlegm thick.
Kali bichromicum 30: Cold with thick phlegm.
Mephitis mephitica 30: Rattling cough with continuous spasm.
Spongia tosta 30: Dry cough during the daytime.
Blatta orientalis Q: Breathing difficulty.
Rumex crispus Q: Dry cough if not getting relief from the above medications.
References
- M Bastide, Basic Research on High Dilution Effects, Published in: “High Dilution Effects on Cells and Integrated Systems” C.Taddei and P.Marotta Eds, World Scientific, Singapore, New Jersey, London, 1998, pages 3-18.
- J Sainte-Laudy and P Belon, Improvement of flow cytometric analysis of basophil activation inhibition by high histamine dilutions. A novel basophil specific marker: CD 203c, Homeopathy, Volume 95, Issue 1, January 2006, Pages 3-8
- P Belon, J Cumps, M Ennis, PF Mannaioni, M Roberfroid, J Sainte-Laudyand FAC Wiegant, Histamine dilutions modulate basophil activation, Inflamm Res.2004 May;53(5):181-8.
- LV Bonamin, KS Martinho, AL Nina, F Caviglia and RGW Do Rio, Very high dilutions of dexamethasone inhibit its pharmacological effects in vivo, British Homoeopathic journal, Volume 90, Issue 4, October 2001, Pages 198-203
- H Wagner, B Kreher and K Jurcic, In vitro stimulation of human granulocytes and lymphocytes by pico- and femtogram quantities of cytostatic agents, Arzneimittelforschung, 1988 Feb; 38(2): 273-5
- V Fimiani, A Cavallaro, O Ainis and C Bottari, Immunomodulatory effect of the homoeopathic drug Engystol-N on some activities of isolated human leukocytes and in whole blood, Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2000 Feb;22(1):103-15
- D.Y.O. Sato, R. Wal, C.C. de Oliveira, R.I.I. Cattaneo, M. Malvezzi, J. Gabardo and D. de F Buchi, Histopathological and immunophenotyping studies on normal and sarcoma 180-bearing mice treated with a complex homeopathic medication, Homeopathy, Volume 94, Issue 1, January 2005, Pages 26-32
PS: This is based on an article written by Dr. R. Valavan and published in the June 2008 issue of the medical magazine Homeopathy for All.
Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only and is shared with good intentions as first aid guidance. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. For any concerns or symptoms, please consult a qualified medical professional.