The Faculty of Homeopathy Newsletter November 2020 Two surveys show CAM in Europe to be in good health he results of two recent surveys Picking up on this point Giovanni homeopathy is covered under the indicate that homeopathy and Gorga, president of Omeoimprese, national healthcare insurance scheme. Tother complementary and addressed the region’s politicians: Generally, it seems women in Europe alternative medicines (CAM) continue “This survey sends an unequivocal are more open to CAM than men, to play an important part in the message to candidates: let us not after the survey found that one in four healthcare of many Europeans. neglect the sector in electoral women “swear by it” compared to one A survey in the Campania region programmes and in future regional in six men. in South-West Italy found that nearly health policies.” Webcam consultations 800,000 residents use homeopathic One in five Another interesting finding from the medicines. Encouragingly, 71% The STADA Health Report 2020 aims survey was the significant rise in the of respondents had heard about to provide a representative snapshot on number of people who are comfortable homeopathy and 18% used it at least what the people of Europe think about using webcam technology to seek once a year. The survey also found that the future of healthcare. This annual professional healthcare advice. Seven on average those who use homeopathy survey canvassed 24,000 people from in ten Europeans are now happy had been doing so for more than five 12 European countries about their to have a consultation via webcam, years, and one fifth said they have been views on a wide range of healthcare compared to only 54% in 2019. using it for over a decade. topics including CAM. This is clearly a consequence of the The survey was carried out in In relation to CAM the survey move to remote consultations that has July on behalf of Omeoimprese, the found that one in five Europeans relies taken place across Europe during the association representing companies on complementary therapies, such coronavirus emergency. in Italy that produce and distribute as homeopathy and acupuncture, STADA is a leading pharmaceutical homeopathic medicines. in addition to using conventional manufacturer. For its 2020 Health Political support medicine. Countries where there is Report it canvassed people from Austria, Further analysis of the results found above average acceptance of CAM Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, users of homeopathy generally have include Serbia (35%), Austria (24%) Italy, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Spain, a higher level of education than the and Switzerland (23%), where Switzerland and the United Kingdom. average population and are more likely to be in employment. Word of mouth appears to be how most people living in the Campania region discover homeopathy, with 39% of respondents who know about the therapy saying they learnt about it from friends or relatives. While only 9% said they were introduced to homeopathy by their doctor and 8% by their pharmacist. The survey also looked at the need for political support for homeopathic products, with 56% of all respondents and 90% of users saying it was “very important” or “quite important” for politicians to pay attention to homeopathic medicines.

Royal Patron HRH The Prince of Wales EDITORIAL

he past few months have been a and contributing to wider experience, of addressing and working with testing time for all. Some have so please consider submitting a case susceptibility. We understand obstacles Tflourished and been able to use study to simile. to cure and assessing disease in a the time to develop new skills and an Although our hospitals remain a holistic way. appreciation for things around them, vital part of the medical response, it I encourage you all to contribute others have struggled with isolation, is clear that much of the real battle to the discussion at whatever level you uncertainty and illness. Regardless against the virus will be fought in the feel able. We all have a part to play in of how you have been affected or community and in primary care. sharing knowledge and I hope that by responded to the impact of COVID-19, Much of the planning and example and speaking about the work most of us have been challenged in modelling of the impact of coronavirus that we do, the role that homeopathy some way. A way to reframe this more was based on worst case scenarios, can play in patient care will become positively is to take some time to but this too has not been as simple as more widely accepted. reflect on what we have learned and first thought. In the UK, we have so how we can incorporate the knowledge far managed the capacity problems *An International homeopathic data of what is important to us into our well and there has been plenty of bank able to store millions of clinical lives going forward. Developing capacity freed up via public health cases collected in different languages, resilience comes from this sort of management. The challenge now is to sent by homeopaths working with response to adverse circumstances. manage not only COVID-19, but also different methodologies. I have particularly reflected the rest of the health service activity **A collaboration of researchers, on the amount of information which has, up to now, been largely health practitioners and organisations and disinformation that has been paused. There are still patients with working together to provide the circulating. Everyone has an individual ongoing health needs such as cancers, resources needed to build better perception of risk. We can try to diabetes, asthma and mental health health systems. understand what circumstances others needs that must also be cared for, along are dealing with but may have no real with many people with complaints Dr Patricia Ridsdale idea, so it is important to remember to that have not been fully addressed or Faculty vice-president be kind, both to ourselves and others. investigated. In recent months, Faculty Some of the UK government’s members have taken part in calls and thinking has been simplistic, focussing conferences online with homeopaths mainly on the acute. But many patients across the world. Where possible, we have long-term conditions and it have placed recordings of these in the is becoming increasingly clear that Members’ Area of the Faculty website coronavirus leaves many with lasting in order to share the experience of health problems. others as widely as possible. It is Homeopathy has a vital role in clear from these discussions that providing long-term support where presentation and symptoms of conventional medicine often has COVID-19 are variable across the little to offer, by working at a deep world and in different populations; constitutional level to bring about and most important when selecting healing. By addressing the mind-body Editor: John Burry remedies, so that it’s the individual connection and that common thread Consultant Editor: Sara Eames patient and their individual symptoms that runs through a case like the name Faculty of Homeopathy in front of us that we need to consider. of a seaside town in a stick of rock, CAN Mezzanine , 49-51 East Road It is vital to share experience bearing a message through to its core, London, N1 6AH across the world from our great a patient’s symptoms can provide a Tel: 020 3640 5903 homeopathic community. Examples map to health and healing. The role of E: [email protected] have been CLIFICOL*, Hawk Health**, homeopathy in supporting health and W: www.facultyofhomeopathy.org and my own local University of constitution is recognised by many.

Southampton which is conducting a Hahnemann recognised and wrote All the material in this publication is copyright and may study by gathering data around what in the Organon about the importance not be reproduced without permission. The publishers treatments people have found useful, of nutrition and addressing obstacles do not necessarily identify with or hold themselves focussing on complementary medicine to cure and maintaining causes. This responsible for contributors’, correspondents’ or including homeopathy. Part of our is now being discussed in regard to the advertisers’ opinions. role as homeopathic professionals is to increased risk of complications from contribute to research and create a data COVID-19 in diabetics and patients set to identify trends and patterns, and with pre-existing inflammatory Design, print and mail fulfilment by try to learn as much as possible. Case conditions. Questions are being HMCA Services Ltd. studies are another way of sharing asked about susceptibility, and as Tel: 01423 866985 knowledge of remedies used in practice homeopaths we have long experience Email: [email protected]

2 NEWS simile • November 2020 • The Faculty of Homeopathy Latest five-year analysis of randomised controlled trials in homeopathy published The latest five-year review of An analysis of 1,128 systematic on conventional medicine had been randomised controlled trials (RCTs) reviews of RCTs of conventional published by 2011, each analysing of homeopathy has been published. medicine had strikingly similar multiple individual trials. This important scientific work is being findings: This highlights the need for more conducted by Dr Robert Mathie in • 45% were positive – the treatments research in homeopathy, particularly collaboration with the Homeopathy were likely to be beneficial large-scale high quality repetitions Research Institute. • 10% were negative – the treatments of the most promising positive By the end of 2019, 221 RCTs were likely to be harmful studies. of homeopathic treatment for 115 • 45% were inconclusive – the The difference in quantity is also medical conditions had been published evidence did not support either not surprising when one considers in peer-reviewed journals and were benefit or harm. the tiny amounts of funding eligible for review. Although the percentages of positive, made available for research into Of these, 129 were placebo- negative and inconclusive results complementary and alternative controlled trials, covering 77 different are similar in homeopathy and medicine (CAM). For example, in the medical conditions: conventional medicine, it is important UK only 0.0085% of the total medical • 45% were positive (58 trials) to recognise a vast difference in the research budget is spent on CAM, – finding that homeopathy was quantity of research carried out. At the of which homeopathy is only one effective end of 2019 there had been analysis example. • 4% were negative (5 trials) – of 129 studies out of a total of 221 For more information and a full finding that homeopathy was individual trials on homeopathy. By list of references for the 129 placebo ineffective contrast, analysis of 1,128 out of over controlled trials visit • 51% were inconclusive (66 trials) 4,000 Cochrane systematic reviews www.hri-research.org/news/

New role in holistic Faculty members urged to take part in medicine for Faculty COVID-19 data collection initiative Fellow Faculty members who have written programme uses Zeus software up any of their coronavirus cases are and has been designed to enable Earlier this year, Faculty Fellow encouraged to share them as part homeopaths to easily upload cases of Dr Andrew Sikorski was appointed of an international COVID-19 data patients who have received a positive Chair of the British Holistic Medical collection initiative. COVID-19 test, along with cases Association (BHMA), an organisation The initiative has been organised where patients have presented with of statutorily regulated healthcare by CLIFICOL, which stands for coronavirus-like symptoms. professionals that promotes a more Clinical Files Collections. The aim is Members wishing to participate sustainable approach to healing to centralise clinical cases to help and in this data collection project are and health through the delivery of improve the practice in homeopathy invited to share their knowledge and therapeutic options that are tailored to through the sharing and collecting of experiences. However, in order to the individual patient’s needs. case experiences, therefore enabling exclude unwanted participants from Dr Sikorski is a passionate different methodological approaches the project it is necessary to obtain a integrative medicine practitioner to be compared. In this way the referral via a national co-ordinator. If having researched, experienced and homeopathic community will have at you would like to know more or enrol used many complementary therapeutic its disposal relevant evidence-based for the project, please contact practices alongside standard NHS clinical information for homeopathic [email protected] treatments. teaching, research and recognition. Through supporting patients The project has been developed by with holistic healthcare for over 28 an international group of scientists years in the NHS he has managed and researchers in homeopathy and to optimise many healing journeys. is supported by many organisations, By safely offering patients more including the Homeopathy Research personally tailored therapeutic Institute, European Committee for options, Dr Sikorski says he has both Homeopathy and the Liga Medicorum enriched their lives and made his work Homoeopathica Internationalis. abundantly fulfilling. The CLIFICOL data collection

3 NEWS

Charitable clinic in Poets pick up their pens for a Winchester reopens A charitable clinic dispensing new book in support of CAM homeopathic treatment has reopened in Winchester. The clinic closed for animals temporarily while Dr Tim Foster, the A book of poetry has been published to supported by physician homeopath and Faculty raise funds for CAM4Animals, a group poetry from member who runs the clinic, returned which campaigns tirelessly to protect supporters to the NHS during the peak of the and promote the use of complementary of CAM, coronavirus pandemic. and alternative medicine (CAM) as including Winchester Homeopathy is part of integrated veterinary care. several of operated by Homeopathy UK Giving Voice is an anthology of the Faculty’s (formerly the British Homeopathic poems about animals, the human- veterinary Association) and offers high-quality animal bond and complementary members. homeopathic treatment free at the therapies, and includes poems about Richard point of service. Although those who dogs, cats, horses, cows, a falcon and Allport’s are able are encouraged to make a even a tortoise. poem Story donation towards the clinic’s costs. The title comes from one of the In A Hundred Words is included Situated at the Natural Practice, poems in the anthology, which is about along with a first-time effort at the clinic is offering a limited number giving a voice to the natural world writing poetry by Julia Chattergee of socially distanced face-to-face and the animals that live in it, and titled Arsenicum and Belladonna. consultations for those unable to questions who we are without them. Ms Pedler also contributed two of her access video conferencing. The book is edited by Ilse Pedler, own poems: The Dog with the Gap Dr Foster’s medical career has seen Faculty member and junior vice- Toothed Smile and Sound Scientific him practise as a GP in London and president of the British Association Principles. Winchester. He began studying of Homeopathic Veterinary Surgeons There are also excerpts from poems homeopathy in 2004 and became a (BAHVS). She says the poems are by the late Dr John English, who member of the Faculty of Homeopathy beautiful, funny, thought provoking when lecturing at the Royal London in 2010. and heart-wrenching. Hospital for Integrated Medicine often She adds: “There are also poems used poetry to instil knowledge on about some of the complementary homeopathic principles and remedies therapies and, most movingly, a into the minds of his students. section of poems about the grief felt on Ms Pedler says: “I hope the finished losing an animal with whom we have book is enjoyed by as many people as been sharing our life. possible. My grateful thanks go to all “I think it is a testament to our the poets and people who made this relationship with animals that they can wonderful anthology possible.” produce such deep emotions.” This book would make a great Among the 35 poems making Christmas present and raise funds up the anthology are contributions for the BAHVS and CAM4Animals. from award-winning British poets Giving Voice costs £10 plus postage The Faculty’s Alison Brackenbury, Jane Commane and is available from www.bahvs.com/ Twitter account and Geraldine Green. Their work is giving-voice has 8,362 followers Success for the Faculty’s journal Keep up with the conversations Research papers and articles published from 1.469 to 1.704 and reflects the in the Faculty’s journal Homeopathy hard work editor Dr Robert Mathie Log on to are being more widely referenced has undertaken to increase the number http//twitter.com/ according to its latest Impact Factor and quality of articles published in the fohhomeopathy (IF) – a scientometric index that quarterly journal. reflects the average number of citations The journal is published by Thieme over a year that articles published in and the current issue, along with the last two years in any academic all previous issues, are available to journal has received. members in the Members’ Area of the Homeopathy’s IF has risen by 16% Faculty’s website.

4 NEWS simile • November 2020 • The Faculty of Homeopathy Former MP becomes Homeopathy UK patron The former MP for Bosworth in Leicestershire has become a patron of the charity Homeopathy UK David Tredinnick (formerly the British homeopathic Association). David Tredinnick retired from politics last November, but throughout his 32-year parliamentary career was a staunch advocate for homeopathy and served as Chair of the All- Party Parliamentary Group for Integrated and Complementary Healthcare (PGIH) from 2002 to 2019. He played a leading role in the publication of the PGIH’s 2019 report Integrated Healthcare: Putting The Pieces Together, which urges the NHS to embrace complementary, traditional and natural medicine while recommending a holistic approach to healthcare. Mr Tredinnick said: “I’m delighted to become a patron of Homeopathy UK. Now, more than ever, it is important to raise awareness of the benefits of homeopathy. Doctors worldwide are using homeopathy alongside conventional medicine to successfully treat COVID-19 and to alleviate the anxiety and stress many of us are experiencing.” He continued: “Our government must look at how homeopathy has helped in previous pandemics – including Spanish flu – and recognise the crucial role it has to play in promoting public health.” The Faculty welcomes its first chiropractor member

Marliese Symons has scored Ms Symons goes on to explain where the proprietor and Faculty a significant achievement by that at that time there was a genetics member, Tony Pinkus, nominated her becoming the first chiropractor to professor in the department who had a for a scholarship from the Queen gain membership of the Faculty of PhD student who was simultaneously Elizabeth Scholarship Trust which Homeopathy. studying homeopathy. enabled her to fund a three-year How Ms Symons first became “The professor joked scornfully full-time course in homeopathy. interested in homeopathy will resonate about homeopathy, and to be honest After gaining qualifications in with many Faculty members. Her the premise did sound implausible,” homeopathy, including completing story begins in the late 1980s when she she says. a two-year post-graduate course, was studying for a degree in human Looking to close the matter once Ms Symons went on to qualify biology at King’s College, University of and for all she read George Vithoulkas’ as Doctor of Chiropractic. She London. Science of Homeopathy, but discovered currently practices homeopathy and “During a neuroanatomy lecture,” it raised even more questions. chiropractic medicine in Bournemouth, she says, “the professor was talking “I remained unconvinced but England about Parkinson’s disease and how intrigued because I knew that mind In recent months the Faculty many patients chose not to take the and body are intrinsically connected has also welcomed a number of new medication available because the side- in health and disease, therefore any Licenced Associate Members (LFHom). effects were worse than the symptoms attempt at a cure necessarily required They are Mausumi Chatterjee of the disease itself. That was a seminal looking at the person as a whole. The LFHom(Med) from Leeds; Elisabeth moment for me. It made no sense at all, more I researched homeopathy, the Dancey LFHom(Med) from Kent; that effects of drugs could cause more more fascinated I became.” Tabassum Fatima Jafri LFHom(Pharm) distress and harm than the actual Eventually her growing interest from London; and Niranjana Bharathi disease itself. I thought there must be a in homeopathy led to a job at Venkatraman Jagatha LFHom(Med) better way.” Ainsworths Homeopathic Pharmacy, from Chennai, India.

5 NEWS

Free online promotion offered to Faculty members Faculty members have the opportunity to promote their To take part all you need to do is submit a brief practice free of charge on a website that is one of the main description (no more than 50 words) about yourself and your “go-to” sites for the public when they are searching for a practice, along with a high resolution (1000px or 19cm wide) homeopath. colour picture of yourself. A photograph taken on a modern 4H is an umbrella organisation comprising most of the smart phone should be fine, but it must be in landscape practitioner registering bodies in the UK, and of which the format or it won’t fit in the website. Faculty of Homeopathy was a founding member. 4H has If you would like to promote your practice on the 4H introduced a new feature on its website called “Homeopath website and become the “Homeopath of the Day”, contact of the Day” where members can promote their practice. [email protected]

Bavarian ministry of health creates a homeopathy department Bavaria has become the first German state secretary for health, commented Chair on the subject at a university state to create a homeopathy department on the controversy that bedevils the in Bavaria, possibly to be initiated via within its ministry of health. therapy and the attacks from anti- a foundation. “We need to do more The move comes after a long homeopathy campaign groups. research into natural healing methods; campaign by supporters of homeopathy “People are using it,” he said. they will develop even more in the in Bavaria to get formal representation “One must therefore leave the purely near future.” for the therapy within the state’s emotional level and also deal with it.” The new state department for legislature. Mr Holetschek also called for more homeopathy will be headed by Announcing the establishment of scientific research in homeopathy, Elisabeth Nordgauer-Ellmaier and will the new department Klaus Holetschek, advocating the appointment of a be called Department 74. ADVERTORIAL VithoulkasCompass online homeopathy software system VithoulkasCompass (VC) is an online browser and selection tools include software. At every step VC’s usability homeopathy software system using powerful search functions, enable and performance is evaluated by the latest technologies and big data comparison of remedies, and provide members of its user community. analysis to provide practitioners with a instant access to materia medicas, VC’s development has been powerful toolbox for case analysis and dictionaries and translations in many thoroughly presented in the published management. It has been developed languages. research bulletins available at to raise the standard of homeopathy VC has the capability to collect and www.vithoulkascompass.com, software in many respects. analyse completely anonymous data where we present the development VC is based on a smaller, confirmed from the homeopathic practitioners philosophy and the direction of repertory and mathematically who use the platform. research to reach a fully evidence- optimised algorithms which propose After accumulating more than based model without affecting the remedies based on the thinking 500,000 prescriptions, in order holistic nature of homeopathic process of expert practitioners. It is to contribute to accurate, reliable practice. There are also initial studies the only expert system which proposes and effective remedy suggestions, and statistical analyses of pathologies questions to the patient to differentiate we continuously develop our which demonstrate the potential of between remedies. It is also the expert system, aiming for a clear this approach. only homeopathy software in which evidence-based approach that is We propose that interested important homeopathic knowledge, always supported by mathematical homeopaths invest just a little time to not present in the repertory, is present optimisation. In addition, various get familiar with our web-based user in the form of metadata related to statistical outcomes which are interface and apply it to some of their symptoms and remedies. produced by the accumulated data are more complex or unresolved cases Furthermore, VC’s repertory used to improve all functions of the www.vithoulkascompass.com

6 simile • November 2020 • The Faculty of Homeopathy Finding my tribe Vet Joanna Evans the similimum for acute conditions, photographic case in my case). We learning chiefly from veterinarians were then required to take a full case of provides a personal Peter Gregory and Geoff Johnson, as a patient, repertorise the case, then account of her training well as Dr Elizabeth Thompson, present and discuss it with the examiner. Dr Julie Geraghty and other fascinating in homeopathy. speakers. Most of the time all the first-year students were learning and engaging in fter having my daughter in discussions together: doctors, vets, 2014, I attended a “Homeopathy ...was struck by the dentists, pharmacists and psychologists. for Children” talk by a local A We were able to attend the post-grad holistic approach, and homeopath and was struck by the masterclasses as part of the course, and holistic approach, and the good sense the good sense of aiding I remember my first ever dream of aiding the body to heal itself. I was proving. The group were able to deduce the body to heal itself. already practising acupuncture as a the plant family of remedy, taken veterinary surgeon in West Wales, and blindly, by deducing the sensation of I saw the benefit that a second “hands- the dreams – so impressive! The first off” discipline would have for my year was one eye-opening study day patients, particularly those that were Finally we had a general discussion followed by another. needle-phobic. To my great shame I of Materia Medica, pharmacy and After achieving the VetLFHom, homeopathic concepts. I’ll be honest seem to remember suggesting I might which was all I was expecting to do when and say the anticipatory anxiety hit “dabble” in a bit of homeopathy, I started the course, it became obvious me hard. Having spent months of which just goes to show how little I to me that I was compelled by the understood what I was getting into. puzzle of finding the similimum and painstaking revision, at times it was So in 2015 I enrolled on the the thrill of homeopathic knowledge. difficult to retrieve that information homeopathic course at what was then I was among four vets who under the pressure. I was taken back to the Portland Centre of Integrative proceeded to the VetMFHom training. the feeling of final veterinary exams, Medicine in Bristol (it has since Our learning was a balance between and I would say the homeopathic changed its name to the National Centre therapeutic prescribing taught system exams were of equal importance to me of Integrative Medicine). From day one by system, and a deeper understanding in my life. With a huge sense of relief, I knew I’d found my tribe at last. Here of remedy sensations. A typical teaching we finally gathered for a cuppa and was a group of professionals who felt day could begin by discussing the debrief in Geoff’s kitchen. the way I did about the veterinary limitations of management practices Happily all four of us passed the industry and the need for a gentle type in farm animals, continuing through exam and we are now finding our way of healing. However, I was reminded remedies indicated in heart disease, and in our new homeopathic ventures. Emily just how much of a novice I was when ending up with an afternoon discussing McAteer already runs her own thriving I spent the whole day baffled by the the periodic table. We had live clinic integrative practice in Dublin. Vicky shorthand symbols > and <. days with Geoff Johnson in Wiveliscombe, Simon (who is also a veterinary herbalist) I eventually pinned down the Somerset, sitting in on his clinic there has just moved from her integrative Faculty’s veterinary dean, Peter and working together to repertorise practice to take over from Geoff in Gregory, who explained that > is the and discuss the treatment plan. Wiveliscombe. Ingrid Anderson is symbol for the modality “better for” Changing lives moving from first opinion practice into and < the modality “worse for”. These solely homeopathy work in Surrey, Back in our practices we compiled a crucial symbols were to appear minute portfolio of cases, acute and chronic, London and the surrounding areas. by minute through the entire course, in at least three species to submit to While I’m establishing my homeopathic so thank goodness I checked rather the Faculty. The four of us became a work alongside my acupuncture than keeping my ignorance to myself! close knit group over the three-and- practice in Carmarthen, West Wales. First year studies a-half years studying for the MFHom, I know I speak for all of us when The first year of the course was spent culminating in the examination day I say we loved every minute of our working towards the LFHom exam. last November at Geoff Johnson’s training, it has changed the course of We had five study days, beginning our practice in Wivelscombe. We had our lives and we can’t wait to see where journey with the remedy pictures and a full day, starting with three short it takes us. understanding the process of finding case discussions (a sheep, a dog and Joanna Evans

7 VIEWPOINT Homeopathy and COVID-19 Dr Russell Malcolm design criteria demanded by science. Issue 1: Is it responsible for Nevertheless, to ignore these studies practitioners to advocate the use of examines the potential completely when there is such a paucity homeopathy in COVID-19? of using homeopathy of effective conventional treatment Material Facts is testimony to how polarised the • Disease prevention is fully consistent in the current global arguments have become. with GMC “Duties of a Doctor” and pandemic. There are, of course, socio- is a central tenet in the duties of all economic factors which govern other healthcare professionals. pidemics, almost by definition, the strategic choices made by • In terms of population and are biological events that resist governments, but India has looked individual susceptibility, the containment. Modern medical E long and hard at population health primary immune response as science learns by analysing and indicators in those countries with the evolved in humans is the most modelling each event. And, because highest per capita spend on health important determinant of recovery analysis inevitably takes place “behind (e.g. USA) and found huge disparity and survival in all infections, the curve”, our epidemiological between the commerce of medicine including COVID-19. knowledge of new pathogens (and and measured health outcomes for its • The primary immune response variants of old ones) rarely emerges in citizens. This is another reason why is a systems-phenomenon which time to protect early contractors of the sustainable, natural and inexpensive is functionally affected by many infection. systems of care are actively supported modalities, including the ability to Against a background of shifting in India, in parallel with the selective evoke a “fever on demand”, engage opinions and strategising, lie various and restrained co-development of appropriate immune signalling and, biological realities which are complex conventional medicine. ultimately, evoke an effective host and uncertain. The science takes time Health policy in India has looked antibody response. to unravel because each new point of at AYUSH in the light of “low risk”, • There are identifiable factors that information raises a network of inter- “low cost”, “wide acceptance”, “wide are known to impair, or dysregulate related questions that are difficult to availability”, “sustainable resources”, the immune response, including answer with any degree of certainty. “ability to regulate” and a “slowly drugs, poor nutrition, emotional and Even simple statistical statements emerging evidence base”. Rather than physiological stress, toxicity, presented as “fact” beg a multitude of the “no evidence – no support” mantra deficiency states and pre-existing questions. For example, the measured we have heard here in recent years. damage to the microbiome. differences in mortality rates attributable Unfortunately, this cynical view • Where individuals or communities to COVID-19 between different has infected almost all decision are at increased risk it is prudent countries. This is one of many uncertain making in the UK in recent years. To for clinicians to advise on matters that may never fully be those of us at the clinical coalface, this appropriate strategies to reduce the accounted for. But if the statistics do blind intolerance has felt like a kind of risk, individually and collectively, eventually evolve to a state where reliable “ideological epidemic” that has resisted using the best information available comparisons can be made, the effects all reason, grassroots experience and at the time. of different treatment and prevention economic sense. Instead of supporting • Understanding and addressing modalities will certainly be one of the research that might answer an extensive illness susceptibility is an important most important learning points. array of legitimate research questions corollary to disease and service India politically supports AYUSH in homeopathy, the net result of this management. The study of illness therapies (including homeopathy) as a creeping intolerance has been serious susceptibility is one of the core legitimate means of prevention and damage to our long established skills learning objectives in the national treatment for COVID-19. In the face set and a loss of diversity in the training curriculum for homeopathy. of international criticism, this could strategic options available to medicine • There should be no contradiction of be viewed as a rather foolhardy stance in the face of new healthcare challenges. mainstream advice regarding social by the Indian authorities, albeit one This aside, the big question distancing or isolation. which utilises their available financial for us at this moment in history is Issue 2: Does COVID-19 fall and human resources to best effect. whether, in the light of experience, within the clinical scope of the Detractors point out that it is a policy we should actively promote the use suitably trained homeopathic based on a naïve reading of homeopathy’s of homeopathy as a corollary, or even practitioner? apparent track record in epidemics. a mainstay treatment for patients Although superficially impressive, in the community with confirmed Material Facts – Clinical Scope most observational reports of coronavirus infection? I have explored • It is the assured role of suitably homeo-prophylaxis and treatment in some of the main issues in the trained practitioners to provide epidemics fail to meet the appropriate following summaries. clinical expertise in homeopathy,

8 simile • November 2020 • The Faculty of Homeopathy

including advice and prescribing of current clinical guidelines result specialises in infectious diseases. “I am homeopathic remedies. in harm to patients – for example, a fan of fever. First, every antipyretic • The treatment of infections has advice to patients to avoid fever drug does have side-effects; and been within the clinical scope of suppression? second, fever is a defence reaction homeopathy well before the Material Facts against viruses.” Therefore this expert’s speciality was incorporated into the • On 19 March 2020 The Oxford opinion is antipyretic medication National Health Service and indeed COVID-19 Evidence Service should not be used at the beginning ever since. reported: “The current evidence of COVID-19 disease. • Homeopathy has a heritage of does not support routine antipyretic Prof Romeo F Quijano, Dept use in serious epidemic diseases, administration to treat fever in acute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, including diseases carrying a very respiratory infections and College of Medicine, Manila. “The high mortality. Statistics supporting COVID-19.” WHO should not expect at this time, the use of homeopathy exist • 31 March 2020, Pharma R&D while the pandemic is raging, to find for many of these interventions. Today stated: “Of main importance, published clinical and population There have been at least 34 annual acetaminophen analysis showed based studies specifically showing homeoprophylactic interventions that this class of analgesics interacts these negative effects in COVID-19 in the last 40 plus years. Over 250 with 13 from 21 of our top ARDS- patient. Their main concern should be million people were covered by related protein candidates, was to protect COVID-19 patients from these interventions. Statistics for identified as a net activator of these unnecessary risks because of irrational four instances are provided in proteins. Alarmingly, this suggests use of anti-fever drugs.” the 2020 summary paper from the that paracetamol and Tylenol may Paracetamol American Institute of Homeopathy. not be helpful for treating advanced • The encouragement of paracetamol • The Faculty of Homeopathy supports cases of severe ARDS triggered by use for COVID-19 symptoms the use of homeopathy by its pathogens such as the coronavirus.” increases corollary risks of toxicity, specialists as a corollary treatment in • On 3 April NICE recommended: “Do at a population level, in addition to COVID-19. not use antipyretics with the sole aim the probable increased risk of acute • There is no safe conventional of reducing body temperature.” physiological and immunological treatment of proven effectiveness for • “Several large observational trials dysregulation. COVID-19 available at a community have shown that among patients level anywhere in the world. with sepsis or severe infection, the Conclusions Internationally homeopathic doctors absence of fever is associated with While we wait for good quality science have centralised case data collection a greater chance of death. ... lack of to inform policy and clinical decision in place. Case series from Italy, Iran fever or low body temperature making, it is important not to permit and India have also been available heralds a poor prognosis ... Taken the censure of responsible therapeutic since early March 2020. together, these studies support the interventions, including those, like • As no COVID-19 clinical concept that elevated temperature homeopathy, that are still based mainly prediction models can currently be is a regulated adaptive reaction to on precedent and intelligent empirical recommended, clinicians will have infection and sepsis.” Alcock J J. Clin reporting. to rely on their clinical acumen and Med 2018 The lack of an evidence-based shared experiences for now. • Studies indicate that predictors for treatment pathway can be paralysing www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m1464 increased mortality are already for practitioners in the community present when patients attend A&E who have become accustomed to defer Material Facts – Safety with signs of severe infection and to national treatment guidelines and • There is no evidence that where body temperature is not who may even have become insecure homeopathic medicines cause raised. It is highly probable that about instigating treatment or offering serious or long-lasting harm. immune dysregulation has already advice in the absence of an “evidence- A systematic review of the safety started in the majority of these cases base”. A vacuum of this kind can leave of homeopathy, which included a of community acquired infection, patients feeling unsupported and comprehensive search of the English- before they present as hospital therefore more liable to engage with language literature and enquiries emergencies. harmful symptom suppression and with regulatory authorities, • Some clinical academics are clear inadvisable self-treatment. including the Federal Drug in their opinion that paracetamol Homeopathic intervention requires Administration in the USA and antipyretics should not be communication, empathy, support and concluded: “Homeopathic medicines used in viral infections generally and understanding. Finally, on the basis of may provoke adverse effects, but COVID-19 specifically. a full clinical assessment, the well- these are generally mild and Dr Christoph Wenisch, Head of Dept considered homeopathic remedy can transient.” for Infection at Kaiser-Franz-Josef completely circumvent the fear that Issue 3: Could provision of clinical Hospital in Vienna, which is one of makes patients reach for the nearest advice which is not consistent with the largest hospitals in the city and proprietary drug.

159 VIEWPOINT

What about research? everyone in specialist practice to our case taking by providing reliable The main obstacle to high quality regularly submit good quality case keynote indicators i.e. “leading” research in recent years has been an reports that will ultimately benefit the symptoms which are routinely increasingly pervasive intolerance future of our discipline and our future sought out in our history taking and of any treatment modality that is patients. repertorisation process. not locked into some kind of nano- In the absence of control groups, Collective inaction is inexcusable mechanistic model. Such ideological observational work of this kind when we have a well-established prejudice as surrounds homeopathy cannot in itself hope to “prove” treatment modality with an can almost make us forget that the effectiveness of homeopathy in intrinsically high safety profile, wide primary empirical observations, COVID-19. Nevertheless, given a availability and low cost. With good unfiltered by speculation, remain sufficient number of case reports study design, political willingness and the cornerstone of science. Careful of sufficient quality, the statistical appropriate financial support, the place and unprejudiced observation is the analysis of the symptom indicators of homeopathy in COVID-19 could be primary inspiration behind every and the clinical outcomes for different properly evaluated. legitimate research question and remedies could establish indices for Nevertheless, while this story provides the creative stimulus for study the strength of association between continues to unfold, we must stand up design. In reality, the case series is the different remedies and their indicating for our right to treat homeopathically. starting place for the majority of our symptoms in COVID-19 patients. At the same time we must recognise Work of this kind, towards most important clinical trials. our right to do so also requires that validation of remedy-specific we communicate our experiences – Data collection prescribing indicators, would be without prejudice and regardless of For this reason data collection projects of great help to clinicians in their whether our interventions appear have been established to collate attempts to weigh up the arguments to be helpful or not – in order that case-based clinical experience. The for different treatment options when we are able to reliably expand our CLIFICOL Project, for example, has faced with new COVID-19 patients. A understanding over the next few years. been adapted to collate case data for heuristic cycle of collated observation COVID-19 patients who have been combined with appropriate statistical treated homeopathically. It behoves analysis could potentially inform Dr Russell Malcolm

Have you something to say? If you have news or an interesting case study to share. Or if there is something you want to get off your chest. Why not contribute to simile? simile is your newsletter, so we would like to hear from you. Please contact the editor John Burry at [email protected] CASE STUDY simile • November 2020 • The Faculty of Homeopathy

Discovering a new remedy – Carassius auratus

In this complex case negative impact on my life. I don’t S: They started when I was 12, they think you can help the PMDD. were pretty clockwork, every 25 Dr Julie Geraghty Tell me more about the eczema. days. Recently the cycle has been a little longer. I cramp before my illustrates how S: I’ve had it all my life, long before I period starts. As a teenager I was was having periods. I have a memory quite emotional before my period, homeopathy is a as a child of gnawing on my wrist. I I was a crier. The default would be life-long learning had eczema all up my arms and on my to cry and cry. My mother is more neck and face. I gave up gluten which anger and shouting, she was angry experience. helped a bit. It’s moving around, now hormonal (gesture) and I was more he patient (S) is a 34-year-old my neck is really sore. In my twenties crying hormonal. I grew up as a single woman with eczema and very it cleared up completely when I was child, just the two of us in the house. severe PMS to the point of being in India. When I went on the depot T She always suffered hormonal stuff. diagnosed with PMDD (pre-menstrual injection, it was a disaster. I had the My parents had a relationship for 18 dysmorphic disorder). She has long red worst outbreaks of my life, literally months, and I happened. He’d been hair and glasses. She blinks a lot and 30% of my body covered in eczema, married before. He was older and had her eyes dart from side to side. arms, neck, all over my face. It doesn’t four children from a first marriage really affect my legs. Occasionally I get S: I’ve got eczema which is very closely My mother is a strong independent it between my breasts. Around my eyes tied to PMS (gesture). I’ve been taking feminist. He provided her with was really bad, that’s quite a sensitive St John’s Wort for a year, it helps support. He saw me when I was two delicate area. The skin splits and stabilise my mood before my period. weeks old. My father remarried and weeps. My face especially around my I’ve got an extreme form of PMS called my stepmother was very keen he didn’t hairline is the predominant area now. PMDD. My eczema is always worse see us. (Observation: her eyes dart (Her face is very obviously affected by before I get a period. It’s worse for side to side). My mother would never very dry, red, flaky, cracked skin on the stress and worse for exercise. When it’s have chased after him. I wrote to him forehead around the hairline, worse on bad I get really depressed. My mood from the age of ten, but I only saw him the left side, worse around the left eye, completely changes (lifts arms up). when I was 15 when she invited him as well as on the chin and sides of her As I’ve got older, the PMDD is getting to lunch. He was 60. He’s so reticent, mouth.) more intense. But the eczema is the it’s so difficult to get a straight answer thing that I’d like to fix, it has a Tell me about your menstrual symptoms. from him.

1115 CASE STUDY

I was always a melancholy child. I can’t process a thought and see it slightest thing. I cry if I see a video on I was quite fat, dumpy with eczema. I to its conclusion. I’m a researcher, Facebook – if it’s nice or sad, I cry. that’s not good. I am trying to process felt a bit of an outsider. I didn’t feel I Do you feel better for crying? information or organise a meeting, fitted in. When I was six, my teacher S: Yes I am generally better. Sometimes and there’s a thickness in my head, described me as a loner. I’m a big lover I want to be left alone, sometimes it’s congestion, heaviness – you get of learning and was a little geek at nice to relate to another person. school. I wasn’t consciously unhappy exasperated with yourself (gesture). Describe your sleep and dreams. and I wasn’t bullied. I remember What is your work? S: Sleep is generally quite good. I eczema on my wrists and elbows. S: I work for an environmental don’t usually remember dreams, but When aged nine my face became dry consultancy, around waste if they are bad dreams they involve and rashy. management and renewable energy. being chased, conflict, being attacked. My passion is renewable energy, to Tell me about the PMDD. They can be quite violent, me with a reduce emissions by 80% by 2050. S: I get the tummy cramps and I feel machine gun (gesture), a full-scale I was raised to be energy aware. I tired, then I’m struggling to focus. I violent attack.” have brain fog, I can’t see through this am an ideologically aware creature. Any fears? fog. I become generally more sensitive I did my Masters in sustainability. S: I have a phobia about sharks. I saw to things. I feel very down and out of I need enough structure or I get a movie as a kid and it made a massive sorts. I was put on Prozac for a while, too lost (gesture). If I don’t have a impression. Oh my God! Sharks are but it didn’t help. In the last three to structure, I feel overwhelmed. I did the scariest things in the world. I was four years it has increased in intensity, my dissertation on community wind diving from a boat in Asia and I was so that I can have suicidal thoughts power, everything we do involves really panicked – will I see a shark? I (gesture) – it’s incredibly intrusive. using energy. There is such a clear have always loved the water and never I have thought of four ways to kill and elegant way to solve the energy hesitated as a child when my mother myself on one bike journey. This just problem, that’s what drives me. took me swimming, I went straight in, isn’t me. I feel completely wretched Tell me more about your skin. I loved it (gesture). I swim in the sea, and worthless, with lots of negativity. S: I’m just about to slide down into rivers, pools. Wild river swimming is the best, there is no chlorine, no salt. It’s very tranquil. Chlorinated pools Dreams of violence and a phobia of sharks indicated an animal remedy always aggravated my eczema. Does the weather affect you? S: I find it oppressive when it’s really hot, but I’m not a fan of being cold. If it’s hot you can go under a tree; trees are great, nice green leaves in the canopies. What about food? S: I love cheese. I’m a vegetarian for ten years. I do eat fish occasionally, but it’s fundamentally unsustainable. I don’t have a problem with killing an animal that is free, but it’s inhumane the way we keep animals and raise them for food. I love curry, fragrant spices, salt and vinegar, I don’t really have a sweet tooth. I gave up milk as a teenager and I did see some improvement in my skin. Now I don’t like the taste of milk. I’m thinking I could throw myself off premenstrual worsening now. It’s If I’m thirsty I like drinking water, a bridge, I could cycle in front of a car. dry and flaky, occasionally it feels especially when the weather is warmer. This is not normal. A week before my itchy; occasionally it weeps on my I never go out without a water bottle. period I start to feel tired and more chin and eyelids. The skin can crack. Tell me more about the relationship negative. Once the period starts I don’t I had a permanent crack on my left with your mother. feel better immediately, but after two upper eyelid. As a child I had it under S: Her anger dominated a lot in days my mood elevates (gesture). my earlobes, but more recently it’s my teens. She was very physically Describe the brain fog. above the ears along with the hairline affectionate, she would tell me she S: It’s really hard to focus. I go to make eczema. I’m much more sensitive loved me a lot, but she wasn’t a very tea and I think what am I doing here? before my period, I’m set off by the good at asking me how I was feeling.

12 simile • November 2020 • The Faculty of Homeopathy

We are both big ideas people and she’s very interested in my work. She would shout a lot when she was hormonal, but in my teens I never shouted back. I would feel sad and upset but realised that it was a storm that needed to pass; it wasn’t personal, but it was upsetting. I realised that she was on her own. She was tired, stressed. I didn’t want to engage with her. I would try and be as far away from her as I could. I would feel pinned to the spot (gesture), powerless, voiceless, like a rabbit in the headlights. Saying things wasn’t an option. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t have words to placate her. This is happening and I can’t stop it. I am stuck here, I’m like her verbal The patient loved swimming punching bag (I observe her eyes going in fresh water. side to side as she talks). She would shout about something, but it was level of trust. I’m quite scatty, very looking for a fight, but if you come to never a personal attack, it was just her untidy, but I appreciate structure from me, I’m a good defensive fighter. I can behaviour. others. I hate cleaning the house. I fight back. I don’t see why I should be a Describe the experience of being can ignore it. I’m a web thinker, I doormat. pinned to the spot. always see different options. It can be Are you an animal or a plant person? S: I felt like a witness, that was my role. difficult to filter out all the options and S: I enjoy interacting with animals. Even if she wanted me to react, I didn’t. possibilities. I love a good debate. I With plants it’s quiet contemplation. That permeated a lot of my life. It took always want to take responsibility for a long time to break out of it (gesture: big things in my life. I will defer to Tell me about being a vegetarian. spreads arms). I longed to move out others the small choices. My friends S: I do eat fish as a rarity. I’d rather eat and from the age of 14 I would talk would say I’m easy going. I’m prone farmed fish than from a trawler. I love about it, I’d say “when I have my own to loudness when I’m excited, but salmon, mackerel, prawns, but prawns place I will do this and that”. I’m not excessively talkative and I are one of the most unethical foods Once she said: “It sounds like you don’t need centre stage. I’m reliable on the planet. They’re trawled; the don’t really want to be at home.” I was and I’m quite bad at asking for help. mangroves are flooded; they use slave longing to leave home, longing to live I’m confident, sensitive, positive, labour on boats fishing for prawns. with someone who wouldn’t shout at intelligent, compassionate. I’m Analysis me, where I wouldn’t have to take her also lazy, disinterested, stubborn, I knew this lady needed a remedy shit. But there was nowhere else for it indecisive, apathetic. But with an ideal, that I hadn’t prescribed before. I to go until I left home. After I moved with something core, I will not shift; was confident she needed an animal out, when she got annoyed I said – no! for example, I don’t like flying for remedy because of her dreams of She didn’t know how to handle that. carbon reasons. violence and being attacked, as well as We had a fraught relationship in my I love festivals. They are the “me versus you” dynamic with her twenties, but I bought my flat three microcosms, everyone is friendly, mother, and felt it was a water remedy, years ago with a lot of help from her. smiley; it’s a lovely space, a some kind of fish. She described loving I didn’t want to be shouting back at community. I find dancing liberating. water and being a complete natural her. The first time I shouted back it If we all bought ethically, we could at swimming from an early age. She was a release, now it escalates into her create a big change. There is a clever mentioned water and fish several getting more angry or more upset or way of solving problems. But I can times. She definitely preferred fresh both. And I realise I need to stop. I get get lost in a lot of choices. I can be too water and she didn’t reference the sea less triggered because it has happened hardworking. When there is a deadline much except for her fear of sharks. She so many times. I realise she’s getting you have to meet it, you have to keep uses several water words like “filter out so upset, and I ask myself, “Shall I get pushing forward. I enjoy a challenge, I all the options”, things “flowing along”, upset too? No!” I know she adores me, like it to be intellectually stimulating. being “Cancerian” a water sign. she thinks I’m great. I’m never happy with routine day-to- Many of the sea/water remedies Describe yourself. day. I’m happy for things to flow along have strong hormonal cycle symptoms. S: I’m quite confident, I choose to be (gesture). I’m a Cancerian, a water We know this best for Sepia, but in fact an optimist, I seek out positive things. sign. I’m a typical crab, hard on the it is common to all sea remedies where I’m quite open if there is an established outside, soft on the inside. I won’t go the moon and tides are a major theme.

13 CASE STUDIES

She is most concerned about her came out in the proving. severe PMS, so this was really amazing. My skin has not been as bad as eczema, so we need a remedy that has • Eyes: Very itchy and watery: left I would have thought given all the skin symptoms. I considered Sepia but eye is inflamed, worse lower lid. she had been given it by her previous stress. My eyelids have been OK thank • Face: Itching. Scaly and dry on homeopath, along with Nat mur and goodness, as that’s always a horrible forehead. Graphites. I started by looking to see area to get eczema. My chin has not if there were any animal remedies, I also felt that her love of festivals been too bad either, mostly just a bit particularly water/sea remedies in the which she described as “microcosms, dry, but the area near my hairline, rubric: Skin; ERUPTIONS; menses; everyone is friendly, smiley; it’s a particularly on my left side (so her before. lovely space, community” was very forehead) has been quite unhappy Putting an animal remedy filter on interesting for a goldfish … if they are and weeping before my period. not in bowls they swim around in a this rubric I noted Sepia and Serum JG: I advised her to take LM5 daily for pond with the same group of fish, a anguillae, the European eel, as well five days leading up to her period, and real microcosm. I prescribed Carassius as Bufo rana, the toad, and Blatta, the twice weekly maintenance. cockroach, and Caras. I didn’t know auratus 200C at the mid cycle. Follow-up after another two months what Caras was but when I realised it Follow-up after two months S: By and large it’s going pretty well. was goldfish, the whole case became S: I took the remedy when I was at a The remedy is very helpful in the lead clear. She specifically loved swimming festival. I got my period when I was in fresh water, and the dynamic with up to my period, my PMS has been there. I was tired, emotional, but a lot better. I feel more emotional her mother where she felt pinned to better than the previous period. But I and tired before the period but that’s the spot and could not escape was like was with friends, in the sunshine and normal. It is 20% bad most of the time a goldfish stuck in a bowl. I checked fresh air. My skin was better when I before the period, and 30% bad at the proving of Carassius auratus in was there, but then it got worse when worst. My skin is generally really good. reference works. I went home. Now my skin is very dry It’s been very stressful in the last few “The remedy was made from an on my temples, eyelids, chilling. So it’s months. My father has not been well, ordinary little goldfish from a pet shop, difficult to assess. my mother is splitting up from her a member of the carp family. The fish JG partner, and I have handed in my was gradually anaesthetised and killed : I thought that she needed a more by having alcohol poured into its bowl. regular dose of the remedy, but did The remedy was made from the water not want to over stimulate her system after 14 days.” mentally or physically by giving the I was very interested to see the 200C more frequently than monthly. The LM potencies are ideal for patients exact situation with her mother with severe eczema, as they are gentler described in the proving. I also felt that her in their action and can be given more “Mental and emotional: strong frequently so I changed her to LM5 love of festivals which sense of confinement or feeling once or twice weekly. trapped. This is either actual or she described as imagined and on any level: mental, Follow-up two months later by email ‘microcosms, everyone emotional or physical. For those S: Apologies for not being in touch, who lead a confined existence either things have been very busy lately. is friendly, smiley; it’s a mentally or physically and who desire I’ve been doing a lot of overtime at to escape but who, nevertheless, are work, including a bit of work over the lovely space, community’ accepting of their situation either weekends. I’ve also been dealing with was very interesting through fatalism or through an some family issues connected to the inability to see how they can help health of my father that has added to for a goldfish … if they themselves. Their imprisonment may my stress levels. On balance I think be actual from claustrophobia: or it I’ve been handling it OK, even though are not in bowls they may be psychological from domination it’s been tough. swim around in a pond by others – parents or an institution. My last period was over a week ago “All those who made up the remedy and it was actually really fine. I didn’t with the same group of experienced sadness and tearfulness. notice any PMS symptoms at all, and fish, a real microcosm. There is also deeply held anger and so when my period started it actually resentment at those who made them caught me by surprise. Fortunately, I I prescribed Carassius suffer. Homesickness. Children of was just having a walk in the park and divorced parents who are forced wondered why I was feeling some small auratus 200C at the to divide their loyalties and living cramps and when I realised why, I was mid cycle. accommodation.” able to head straight home. I genuinely Physically, the inflamed eyelids can’t remember the last time I didn’t and scaly dry skin on the forehead also know my period was coming due to

14 9 simile • November 2020 • The Faculty of Homeopathy notice at work. My skin would have auratus but I recently took part in back in January, but I think this was been so much worse with all that Dr Jonathan Hardy’s webinar on fish too high as my period came almost a emotional stress, but it’s held its own. remedies which was very helpful. I whole week early. I decided to go back I’m not getting it on my forehead, realised that this lady demonstrates to the normal weekly dosage and then hairline any more, only at the back of the general fish themes very well in for five days when PMS symptoms my head, when it can be quite sore and terms of her positivity, optimism, began, and that was much more weepy. But at worst it’s 30% bad. enjoyment of dancing and festivals, manageable. The PMS is nowhere near I’ve decided to give up my job as well as her tendency to brain fog, as bad as it used to be. and travel for a year. I would like to alternation of moods and to feel There is a fair bit of stress at the volunteer on some environmental like an outsider. moment associated with trying to project. Normally I like the security Dr Hardy also stressed that the find a new place to live. I’m currently of plans, but I don’t want to plan the sensation of the fish remedies is in a house share where I met my new year too much. Normally with so the feeling of flowing and moving partner and we now want to find a much going on my skin would have forward, of having to keep pushing new place where it will be just us and been dreadful. I met a friend and she forward. I was pleased to see that she’d a lodger of our choosing. Generally couldn’t believe how much better my specifically stated “when there is a though things are OK. The coronavirus skin has been. The remedy has been deadline you have to meet it, you have lockdown has mostly been fine as I life changing. to keep pushing forward” in the first live right by a park so have had access I no longer consider myself to have consultation. to green space, which has been easy PMDD. I just have a normal degree of After the webinar, as I’d not heard and plentiful. My new job has been PMS, a bit tired and sensitive before from her for more than a year as she’d challenging but working from home my period. I would not have been able been travelling, I emailed her to ask has mostly been fine, even in a house to make the decision to travel for a how she was. This was her reply. share where I have to rely on the year if my skin and PMS had been so S: Thanks for getting in touch. I dining table as a desk. bad. I would not have felt free enough am well thank you, the remedy is JG: As she was still using LM5, I to travel. The remedy has made a huge definitely still doing its job. My skin advised her to increase to LM6 with difference.(I observe that her eyes no has been pretty good, although the the next cycle. longer dart side to side.) warmer weather always helps. I did try JG: This was my first case of Carassius increasing the dosage to twice a week Dr Julie Geraghty

Dr Michael Dixon VIEWPOINT In search of optimism amid the chaos of coronavirus

ny attempt to put 2020 into The bigger picture All of these have proved to be words could not adequately This terrible pandemic has true, with the forced isolation being Adescribe the vast array of implications on every level – likened to that of being a prisoner, emotions so many of us have felt. humanitarian, personal, professional especially for those in the vulnerable Shock, disbelief, cynicism, scepticism – and has profoundly touched us all in category, such as the elderly, who was replaced with a harsh reality. ways we could never have imagined. however healthy were forced into a Isolation, lockdown, hoarding, So in true homeopathic form I will captive state. When dealing with this fighting; survival instincts in all their look at the bigger picture and discuss professionally one was therefore faced guises. This was and continues to be a from my perspective and observations with not just the physical symptoms very real situation. No matter what our how, amid the chaos, there is of illness, but often the mental and views on the management or possible evidence that this virus and all that emotional symptoms caused by the mismanagement of the coronavirus accompanies it has had some positive lockdown. effect on the world. pandemic, many of us feel powerless. Limiting the impact of COVID-19 From a personal point of view, I Firstly, and for clarity, I offer a definition of “lockdown” – an As homeopaths we truly have had have found my power and influence in unfortunate sequela of the virus – our work cut out. Dealing with maintaining contact with my patients followed by a discussion around the this pandemic on every level, and attempting to inform them and global homeopathic approach and the the importance of the totality of the public through the writing of human effect. symptoms has possibly never been articles. In these articles I drive home The Merriam Webster Dictionary more applicable: mental/emotional, the important message of taking care gives three definitions of the word physicals and modalities had to be of oneself: focussing on prevention “lockdown”: taken into account. According to the of illness, removing maintaining • the confinement of prisoners to their American homeopath C M Boger causes, and if infection hits, treating cells for all or most of the day as a (1861 - 1935): “The simillimum according to homeopathic principles. temporary security measure (curative remedy) releases reactive There was security in knowing that • an emergency measure or condition power strong enough to re-establish at least something was set in stone in which people are temporarily harmony which in turn is capable of to help with fragile emotions and prevented from entering or leaving sweeping away almost any morbid debilitating physical symptoms – the a restricted area or building during a condition.” homeopathic way forward as stated by threat of danger In the same vein, George homeopathy’s founder in Aphorism • a temporary condition imposed by Vithoulkas stated in March this year: 2. Healing according to Hahnemann governmental authorities (as during “The advantage of homeopathy lies should be done “rapidly, gently and the outbreak of an epidemic disease) in the fact that the diagnosis of the permanently; to remove and destroy in which people are required to indicated remedy is based on the the whole disease in the shortest, stay in their homes and refrain from individual symptoms, not in the surest, least harmful way, according to or limit activities outside the home pathology. This pandemic is a great clearly comprehensible principles”. involving public contact. opportunity for homeopathy to show

16 simile • November 2020 • The Faculty of Homeopathy

Faculty affiliate member Gill Graham seeks to find positives in the pandemic the advantage we have over other for an integrative approach has proved been an important factor in uniting systems of medicine. Why? Because to be in our interests. As defined by the the international homeopathic conventional medicine has to wait Andrew Weil Center for Integrative community. until they have found the cause for the Medicine: “Integrative Medicine is In the face of this global pandemic we pathology before they can start treating healing-oriented medicine that takes have generally achieved a commendable a case. On the contrary, in homeopathy account of the whole person, including level of unity. Around the world many we take into consideration the response all aspects of lifestyle. It emphasises organisations have been set up, offering of the organism to the causative factor the therapeutic relationship between help and advice to enable homeopaths (the totality of the symptoms) in order practitioner and patient, is informed to continue treating patients suffering to start the treatment.” by evidence, and makes use of all from a wide range of conditions, An opportunity, therefore, for true appropriate therapies.” including COVID-19, but always with classical homeopathy to be practised – Homeopathy can play an important the option of referring to the conventional where possible. (I say “where possible” role in the fight against COVID-19, medics should this be necessary. as time constraints and thousands as it is particularly suited to treating I am aware that members from of cases at once make lengthy case viral illnesses. But the conventional the Faculty of Homeopathy have taking impractical, or unrealistic, approach must not be ignored when embarked on important research in a pandemic.) The search for the the patient’s condition demands it. The during these challenging times. genus epidemicus is crucial, but in ideal scenario would be a mutual respect In addition, several experienced the meantime measures to limit the between the two systems of medicine, homeopaths such as Jeremy Sherr, devastating impact of this terrible where they complement each other to Clare Waters and Peter Gold have disease must be explored. That is why facilitate optimum healing. dedicated themselves to working work on the prophylactic approach is exclusively on COVID-19. so important and here homeopathy Unity To highlight the work being done can, I believe, have a role to play. Cuba Many positives regarding the and the spirit of collaboration that has is a shining example of how the use unification of our community have been fostered within the homeopathic of homeopathy can help to reduce been observed throughout the last community, I would like to look at the number of infections and deaths few months. Homeopaths from many two projects from North America. In from COVID-19, highlighting how countries have united, sharing data, the US, Homeopathy Help Now is a this form of prevention should be strategies, protocols, and as a result coalition of professional practitioners taken more seriously by doctors and a sense of global community and who all have a recognised qualification scientists. I will discuss this in more resilience has emerged. Much of this in homeopathy. Describing themselves detail later. has been achieved by the increased use as a US based homeopathic taskforce It has also been a time where the of technology. Speaking personally, they offer a telemedicine service to integration of different systems of my circle of professional contacts make it easy for patients to get help medicine has come to the fore; once has expanded massively from taking during this time of social distancing. again proving how indispensable the part in webinars and Zoom calls. The consultations are free, but idea of “taking the best of everything” Embracing technology has therefore donations are asked for where possible.

17 VIEWPOINT

Having spent the last few months infections like COVID-19. new world it has created. in Canada, I’m involved in a project Dr Francisco Duran is the National All over the world communities called the Canada Acute Care Team Director of Epidemiology of the have come together to help each other. (CACT), which was set up by the Cuban Ministry of Public Health. For instance, food banks have been set college where I trained (Ontario He explained that Prevengovir is a up and vital supplies delivered to the College of Homeopathic Medicine). sublingual preparation which was elderly, vulnerable and others in need. Although originally it was intended first administered to high risk groups These projects have attracted people to help people in Toronto, its services such as the elderly. The homeopathic from all walks of life. A close friend of are now available nationally, offering remedies used in Prevengovir are a mine, who has been heavily involved a Canada-wide referral service for combination of: in such a project, told me they have patients seeking a homeopath who • Anas berberiae 200 the CEO of a large London company might be able to help them with their • Baptisia tinctora 200 delivering donated food supplies in acute symptoms. • Bascilinum 30 his spare time. This sort of selfless act Homeopaths involved in the • Pyrogenum 200 has become a common phenomenon project are encouraged to offer their • Eupetorium perf 200 during the pandemic. Let us hope services for acute care patients on a • Influezinum 200 this heightened sense of community voluntary basis. CATC says it’s hopeful • Arsenicum Album 200 continues long after the current global that the infrastructure its creating health emergency ends. with this project can later be used for Although homeopathy is not The situation we find ourselves in further patient referrals to homeopaths mentioned, Cuba’s success in is both unnerving and unnatural. But across Canada. controlling COVID-19 was reported for many people, being forced to stay CACT also provides student in a September edition of the New at home has given them the time to assistants to any homeopath seeking York Times: “With 11.2 million people, reflect, to take stock and to re-evaluate help in reaching out to patients Cuba had just over 5,000 coronavirus their lives and what is important to th or for recording data. Collecting cases and 115 deaths by Friday (18 them. Many don’t want to return to and submitting of data into an September 2020), one of the lowest the way they were living pre-Covid. international database is another mortality rates in the world. By They have realised they want a more important facet to CACT’s work, comparison, Puerto Rico, with 3.2 streamlined, less hectic way of life which it is doing in association with million people, had five times as many that gives them more time for their Homeopathy Help Now. This is an deaths.” relationships, for the people and things ongoing process but has attracted It’s probably too early to they hold dear, and for themselves. thousands of homeopaths from around definitively say how successful this the world who are keen to share their approach has been. However, I feel Conclusion experiences, successes and failures. Cuba’s decision to use Prevengovir During this challenging period, Weekly webinars are also available as a prophylactic, along with other two things in particular stand out offering advice on the management precautions, is largely responsible for for me. I have seen people become of COVID-19 and other viral illness. the country’s low rates of infection and more considerate and compassionate Personally I feel privileged to be part of mortality from COVID-19. towards each other, and homeopathy as a profession become more unified this proactive, dynamic team of health Community spirit professionals who have added to my in its response to coronavirus. So, yes, A year ago it would have been difficult there are some things to be optimistic knowledge. The advent of COVID-19 to predict the extent of the changes is a global tragedy, but it has set in about. Let’s hope that the excellent in our world. In addition to the one work being done by homeopaths motion projects that will extend our million deaths from COVID-19, there around the world and the unifying worldwide presence and influence. are consequences of the pandemic that spirit that coronavirus has engendered The prophylactic approach are undeniably as bad as the illness continue after the pandemic is over. The success of the prophylactic itself, including loneliness, depression Perhaps then homeopathy as a system approach is best exemplified in Cuba, and other forms of mental and of medicine will become even more where homeopathic treatments were emotional disease caused by fear and widely accepted throughout the world incorporated into the National Health isolation. Then there are those who and the words of Samuel Hahnemann System in 1992 and are an integral have had surgery or diagnostic tests become reality. part of the country’s healthcare. At the cancelled. The economic impact on “In time, our art shall become the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, individuals and the nation as a whole God-blessed oak. It will extend its Cuba used homeopathy in an attempt will take years to overcome. Tragedy enormous branches, steadfast through to boost the immune systems of its and misfortune are widespread. the storms. Humanity, who has already people and minimise contagion. Even so, without diminishing the suffered from so much evil, shall rest A new medication, Prevengovir, a gravity of our current situation, it is below its righteous shadow.” homeopathic immunological booster, important to recognise that there have was distributed among the Cuban been positive aspects in how people population to help prevent viral have responded to coronavirus and the Gill Graham

18 WHAT’S ON simile • November 2020 • The Faculty of Homeopathy

Regular meetings SW Surrey & W Sussex Manchester-Liverpool Northern Ireland Homeopathic Group Homeopathic Group Homeopathic Group Meetings take place for CPD, discussion Event Time: 20:00 until 22:00 Meetings for discussing homeopathic of clinical cases, and other matters related Members include doctors, registered cases and other matters relevant to to Homeopathic practice. Open to all homeopaths, vets, dentists, and homeopathy. Faculty affiliated healthcare professionals, pharmacists. regardless of experience. Location varies. Open to doctors, vets, nurses, pharmacists The aim of the group is to act as a forum of all levels. For more information, please contact: for ongoing learning and support, Mrs Anne Smyth at anne.smyth100@ covering all aspects of homeopathy and Location varies, so contact in advance gmail.com or call 07734 053780. medical practice. for details: Dr Eftihia Metallidou on 0161 4747301 weekdays 12-4.00pm or email: The SW Scotland Homeopathic Group The Haslemere Centre for Complementary [email protected] The group usually meets the first Therapies (above the Apothecary 27 Wednesday of the month in October, Health Shop), 71a Wey Hill, Haslemere, London Homeopathic Group November December and also February, Surrey, GU27 1HN. For further information contact Dr March, April, May and June. For dates please contact Dominic Upton, Susanne Dreher-Brogan at sdrebro@ yahoo.com Meetings are held from 7.30-9pm in the [email protected] or call 07973 181483. NHS Centre for Integrative Care at the Leeds Homeopathic Group Irish Homeopathic Group Gartnavel Campus, 1053 Great Western Regular meetings at the Ramada Jarvis Regular meetings take place in Trim, Road, Glasgow. Co. Meath. Hotel, Adel, north Leeds For more information contact Stephen Jutta Prekow on 0113 203 7329 or at jutta. For further information contact Caulfield at [email protected]. [email protected] Dr Jaume Costa at [email protected] nhs.uk

GEMS – Gradually Evolving and Cost The aim of the congress is to bring Mastering Sensation – Dates from 6 £50 for each GEMS day together organisations and experts November 2020-14 May 2021 from multi-disciplines who share £40 for each GEMS day for member the same vision for a more holistic, Dr Elizabeth Thompson and of the NCIM Integrative Health and Geoff Johnson want to support patient-centred approach to healthcare Scientific Network. Join here and who recognise that real change your postgraduate homeopathy www.ncim.org.uk/membership development. Bringing a wealth occurs when people and organisations of homeopathic experience, they All five dates for £220 or £190 for start working together. believe that every case that goes well members of the NCIM Integrative For more information visit https:// and supports health creation is a Health and Scientific Network. www.ecimcongress.com GEM! For those who are inspired by Payments can be made on our website, homeopathy, the learning process via BACS or by card over the phone. 75th World Congress of never ends, but learning in isolation is For bookings and enquiries please Homeopathy – LMHI not half as much fun as in a supportive contact [email protected] or environment with like-minded people. (+44) 0117 973 8035. 16 – 19 June 2021 Dates Venue: Hilton Istanbul Maslak, Friday 6 November 2020 13th European Congress of Istanbul, Turkey Friday 11 December 2020 Integrative Medicine For more information visit Friday 29 January 2021 www.lmhi2021.com Friday 5 March 2021 26 – 28 February 2021

Friday 14 May 2021 London

Many events have been postponed or cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic. Members are advised to contact organisers to check that the events are still taking place.

19 CONTACTS

Who to contact at the Faculty

••• FACULTY COUNCIL

• Gary Smyth, President • Tony Pinkus, Pharmacy Dean [email protected] [email protected] • Patricia Ridsdale, Vice-President • Jonathan Hardy, Independent and Responsible Officer Practice Representative [email protected] [email protected] • Helen Beaumont, Medical Dean • Gabriella Day, NHS Primary [email protected] Care Representative [email protected]

• Jacqueline Mardon, NHS Secondary Care • Barbara Jones, Veterinary Representative Representative [email protected] [email protected] • Liz Tucker, BHA and Patient Representative • Peter Gregory, Veterinary Dean [email protected] [email protected] • Karen Hooton [email protected] • Lee Kayne, Acting Treasurer and Dr Edward Thompson, [email protected] Joint Members’ Committee Conveners

••• STAFF

Lisa Peacock – Membership and • Faculty of Homeopathy Education Officer/Revalidation Manager [email protected] CAN Mezzanine, 020 3640 5903 – Ext. 103 49-51 East Road London, • Alison Davies Digital Communications Officer N1 6AH [email protected] Tel: 020 3640 5903 Email: [email protected] • John Burry, Editor of simile www.facultyofhomeopathy.org [email protected]

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