- Email: [email protected]
20 years ago: The British Homoeopathic Journal, January 1987
ARTICLE IN PRESS Homeopathy (2007) 96, 60–62 r 2006 The Faculty of Homeopathy doi:10.1016/j.homp.2006.11.003, available online at http://www.sciencedirect.com
SOCIAL AND HISTORICAL
20 years ago: The British Homoeopathic Journal, January 1987 ST Land 8 High Bungay Road, Loddon, Norwich NR14 6JT, UK
New look Peter Fisher commented on the new look for this issue of the Journal; format increased from A5 to 244 170 mm, as used by many medical journals; cover changed from yellow to green, and printed as 2column on better quality paper, making it much easier to read. More important changes were the streamlining of the system by reorganization of the office; and a modification of the copy dates to provide a late section for correspondence concerning the previous issue; a more effective channel for discussion and debate. The most significant change of all was a system of peer review as used by most scientific journals, which a recent study had shown to be effective in raising standards. However, the study also found that publication of important new scientific findings had sometimes been delayed through scepticism. and Fisher wondered whether Hahnemann’s ‘Essay on a new curative principle’ would have reached publication had Hufeland’s Journal used peer review. He saw the value of critical scrutiny of methods and statistics; but retained the prerogative to publish especially interesting or provocative articles, even if they appeared rather too ‘out-of-bounds’.1
Strategy for research The guest editorial is by R W Davey. The theme is the one which was taxing homeopathy at the time; how to demonstrate efficacy, safety and quality control of production for homeopathic remedies in order to satisfy the Committee for the Review of Medicines, which was commonly believed to be turning its attention to homeopathy in 1990. Correspondence: Sylvia Land, 8 High Bungay Road, Loddon, Norwich NR14 6JT, UK E-mail: [email protected]
The author considered the standardization of remedies to be an essential foundation for research, and so he dealt with the third issue first: ‘Reproducible research into homoeopathy has almost certainly foundered in the past on the issue of there being no actual standardized remedies universally available. To a scientist this is almost incomprehensible because no repeatable research is possible unless reference standards are to hand’. He saw the ‘complex’ plant and animal remedies as very difficult to standardize, but the ‘simple’ ones (salts, metals, trace elements) as relatively easy. He suggested that a huge research programme could be built around the simple remedies whilst the issue of standardization of the ‘complex’ was resolved. Davey had two further suggestions: as the literature is very clear on the issue of dilution, a case could be made for redefining potencies in terms of molar concentration; while on the issue of succussion, with so many variations in practice, he asked ‘Is it possible to envisage developing bioassay systems to elucidate this question?’ On the subject of method of action (does it work? and how?), Davey had two points to make. The action of mother tinctures and early dilutions might be seen as having a direct ‘pharmacological’ action; whereas the action of the attenuated dilutions could only be described as ‘a phenomenon’. He stated ‘It is necessary to make these distinctions in order that research experiments can be designed which do not do violence to homoeopathic clinical practice. Clearly a pharmacological response is capable of assessment by current available standard techniques, whereas a phenomenological response needs to be accepted as such, and clinical studies designed to prove or disprove the phenomenon. The Taylor Reilly trial was an example of phenomenology’. This trial had indicated the possibility of aggravations. Davy saw the need for the question of safety to be addressed, and made a plea for greater transparency on the subject. In his conclusion, the author saw that, with the emergence of an example of phenomenology, the
ARTICLE IN PRESS 20 years ago ST Land
61
homeopathy enigma had placed the proverbial fat well and truly in the fire. Just as scientists were disturbed and excited to discover that Saturn’s rings were elliptical and not circular—overturning currently held physical laws, he hoped that homeopathy would cause them similar turns of the emotion and intellect.2
A study of homeopathy for osteoarthropathy This paper, ‘Homoeopathy and physiotherapy, with special reference to osteoarthropathy’, by Lucia Pires Mesquita, describes a study conducted at the Central Hospital in Rio de Janeiro to demonstrate the difference between using physical methods in conjunction with conventional treatment and physical methods in conjunction with homeopathy. A list is given of the most frequently used homeopathic drugs, with percentage of use. The study commenced in September 1984, with 160 patients selected from those attending the Physical Medicine Unit (80 for each group). The parameters used were: number of consultations required until discharge; per cent of discharges per group; per cent of patients returning within a year; and number of treatment sessions required. The results were impressive. For consultations, the conventional group had a mean of 6.7, as opposed to 2.7 for the homeopathic; for discharges, 20% and 92.5%; for returns, 51.2% and 12.5%; while the number of treatment sessions had means of 46.5 and 12.6 for diathermy, 85.9 and 16.5 for kinesitherapy, 30.5 and 16.5 for surface heat.3
Pyrogen, a little known remedy and within a month he could report to the paediatrician that, in spite of four further bouts, Pyrogen reduced the temperature to normal after half an hour and worked for about 8 h. The child was then his normal, lively self, and his mother happier that he had caught up on his developmental milestones, whereas before he seemed to be regressing. Over the next 2 years, the fevers were adequately controlled by Pyrogen 10 M. His temperature would spike to 40 1, but there were no convulsions. No cause had yet been discovered. The mother solved the enigma when she realized the connection with the boy’s craving for plums and tomatoes (since aged 9 months). The attacks virtually ceased when these were withheld. Later she introduced the English-grown fruit, with no after-effects. There were three further episodes: one after eating canned tomatoes; one after local tomatoes which, it transpired, had been sprayed; and one attributed to a food additive. Had he been a typical case of allergy to tomatoes, the author would have used Lycopersicum 30, which he had found to be dramatically effective on more than one occasion; one woman so sensitive to tomatoes, she developed distressing coryza and wheeze if she stood near the open door of the greenhouse. The author pointed out that Pyrogen had been rarely prescribed since the days of puerperal pyrexia, septicaemia, typhoid or phthisis, but that there may be an increased need for it if food preservatives or additives were found to cause a pyrogen-type of pyrexia in sensitive subjects.5
Book review Chelidonium and cholesterol This is a brief report of a study by the Department of Laboratory Animal Science, State University, Utrecht, to determine the effect of Chelidonium 3x on serum cholesterol levels in rabbits fed with a high-cholesterol diet. After 34 days, the treated rabbits displayed about 25% lower cholesterol concentration than the controls. The authors, Baumans et al said that the study should be repeated in other laboratories, and that this significant difference suggested that chelidonium 3x was of potential value in the treatment of humans. The real test of this should be in man.4
A case of recurrent pyrexia treated with Pyrogen R A F Jack reported that a 10-month-old-boy had febrile (43 1C) convulsions lasting 3–4 days about fortnightly, over the course of a year. In spite of intensive paediatric investigation, all tests were unremarkable. Then his doctor then decided to try
The Handbook of Homoeopathy—Its Principles and Practice by Gerhard Koehler, tr. A R Meuss, 1986 The reviewer was enthusiastic about this book: ‘I wish I had seen this book four years ago when I started on that long shady homoeopathic road to confusion. The original title—‘A Textbook of Homoeopathy’— would have given a better indication of the fact that the book is written by a doctor for doctors. It grew out of a series of lectures for students at Freiburg University and the emphasis is on seeing homoeopathy as an integrated element within medical care’. He then quoted the author: ‘It is time to stop being arrogant and opt for co-operation y to focus on the patient, not y any ideology or therapeutic approach’. He was impressed by the author’s definition of terms, and his careful distinction between ‘type’ (Typology: observable characteristics of morphology, gesture, speech and demeanour) and ‘constitution’. The reviewer considered that the book achieved its aim of tackling principles and practice at an accessible yet in-depth level. He gave examples of how balanced the views expressed were, eg ‘It teaches you to repertorize and warns of the dangers in doing so’; and while he refers to positive points made about Homeopathy
ARTICLE IN PRESS 20 years ago ST Land
62
miasmic theory, he quotes the author ‘The law of similars ranks above the merely theoretical psora concept’. He thought Koehler’s views on the treatment of mental illness merited study: ‘With psychotic patients the drug diagnosis is based primarily on constitutional physical features’. The references are cosmopolitan and educative, and complimentary points were made about the translation. The book was recommended on the Glasgow courses, and the reviewer hoped there would be a translation of the second volume, which covered therapeutics and materia medica.6
Homeopathy
References 1 Fisher P. Our new look. Br Hom J 1987; 76: 3–4. 2 Davey R W. Strategy for research in homoeopathy. Br Hom J 1987; 76: 1–2. 3 Mesquita LP. Homoeopathy and physiotherapy, with special reference to osteoarthropathy. Br Hom J 1987; 76: 16–18. 4 Baumans V, Bol CJ, Oude Luttikhuis WMT, Beynen AC. Br Hom J 1987; 76: 14–15. 5 Jack RAF. A case of recurrent pyrexia treated with Pyrogen. Br Hom J 1987; 76: 45–46. 6 Book review. Br Hom J 1987; 76: 53.
SOCIAL AND HISTORICAL
20 years ago: The British Homoeopathic Journal, January 1987 ST Land 8 High Bungay Road, Loddon, Norwich NR14 6JT, UK
New look Peter Fisher commented on the new look for this issue of the Journal; format increased from A5 to 244 170 mm, as used by many medical journals; cover changed from yellow to green, and printed as 2column on better quality paper, making it much easier to read. More important changes were the streamlining of the system by reorganization of the office; and a modification of the copy dates to provide a late section for correspondence concerning the previous issue; a more effective channel for discussion and debate. The most significant change of all was a system of peer review as used by most scientific journals, which a recent study had shown to be effective in raising standards. However, the study also found that publication of important new scientific findings had sometimes been delayed through scepticism. and Fisher wondered whether Hahnemann’s ‘Essay on a new curative principle’ would have reached publication had Hufeland’s Journal used peer review. He saw the value of critical scrutiny of methods and statistics; but retained the prerogative to publish especially interesting or provocative articles, even if they appeared rather too ‘out-of-bounds’.1
Strategy for research The guest editorial is by R W Davey. The theme is the one which was taxing homeopathy at the time; how to demonstrate efficacy, safety and quality control of production for homeopathic remedies in order to satisfy the Committee for the Review of Medicines, which was commonly believed to be turning its attention to homeopathy in 1990. Correspondence: Sylvia Land, 8 High Bungay Road, Loddon, Norwich NR14 6JT, UK E-mail: [email protected]
The author considered the standardization of remedies to be an essential foundation for research, and so he dealt with the third issue first: ‘Reproducible research into homoeopathy has almost certainly foundered in the past on the issue of there being no actual standardized remedies universally available. To a scientist this is almost incomprehensible because no repeatable research is possible unless reference standards are to hand’. He saw the ‘complex’ plant and animal remedies as very difficult to standardize, but the ‘simple’ ones (salts, metals, trace elements) as relatively easy. He suggested that a huge research programme could be built around the simple remedies whilst the issue of standardization of the ‘complex’ was resolved. Davey had two further suggestions: as the literature is very clear on the issue of dilution, a case could be made for redefining potencies in terms of molar concentration; while on the issue of succussion, with so many variations in practice, he asked ‘Is it possible to envisage developing bioassay systems to elucidate this question?’ On the subject of method of action (does it work? and how?), Davey had two points to make. The action of mother tinctures and early dilutions might be seen as having a direct ‘pharmacological’ action; whereas the action of the attenuated dilutions could only be described as ‘a phenomenon’. He stated ‘It is necessary to make these distinctions in order that research experiments can be designed which do not do violence to homoeopathic clinical practice. Clearly a pharmacological response is capable of assessment by current available standard techniques, whereas a phenomenological response needs to be accepted as such, and clinical studies designed to prove or disprove the phenomenon. The Taylor Reilly trial was an example of phenomenology’. This trial had indicated the possibility of aggravations. Davy saw the need for the question of safety to be addressed, and made a plea for greater transparency on the subject. In his conclusion, the author saw that, with the emergence of an example of phenomenology, the
ARTICLE IN PRESS 20 years ago ST Land
61
homeopathy enigma had placed the proverbial fat well and truly in the fire. Just as scientists were disturbed and excited to discover that Saturn’s rings were elliptical and not circular—overturning currently held physical laws, he hoped that homeopathy would cause them similar turns of the emotion and intellect.2
A study of homeopathy for osteoarthropathy This paper, ‘Homoeopathy and physiotherapy, with special reference to osteoarthropathy’, by Lucia Pires Mesquita, describes a study conducted at the Central Hospital in Rio de Janeiro to demonstrate the difference between using physical methods in conjunction with conventional treatment and physical methods in conjunction with homeopathy. A list is given of the most frequently used homeopathic drugs, with percentage of use. The study commenced in September 1984, with 160 patients selected from those attending the Physical Medicine Unit (80 for each group). The parameters used were: number of consultations required until discharge; per cent of discharges per group; per cent of patients returning within a year; and number of treatment sessions required. The results were impressive. For consultations, the conventional group had a mean of 6.7, as opposed to 2.7 for the homeopathic; for discharges, 20% and 92.5%; for returns, 51.2% and 12.5%; while the number of treatment sessions had means of 46.5 and 12.6 for diathermy, 85.9 and 16.5 for kinesitherapy, 30.5 and 16.5 for surface heat.3
Pyrogen, a little known remedy and within a month he could report to the paediatrician that, in spite of four further bouts, Pyrogen reduced the temperature to normal after half an hour and worked for about 8 h. The child was then his normal, lively self, and his mother happier that he had caught up on his developmental milestones, whereas before he seemed to be regressing. Over the next 2 years, the fevers were adequately controlled by Pyrogen 10 M. His temperature would spike to 40 1, but there were no convulsions. No cause had yet been discovered. The mother solved the enigma when she realized the connection with the boy’s craving for plums and tomatoes (since aged 9 months). The attacks virtually ceased when these were withheld. Later she introduced the English-grown fruit, with no after-effects. There were three further episodes: one after eating canned tomatoes; one after local tomatoes which, it transpired, had been sprayed; and one attributed to a food additive. Had he been a typical case of allergy to tomatoes, the author would have used Lycopersicum 30, which he had found to be dramatically effective on more than one occasion; one woman so sensitive to tomatoes, she developed distressing coryza and wheeze if she stood near the open door of the greenhouse. The author pointed out that Pyrogen had been rarely prescribed since the days of puerperal pyrexia, septicaemia, typhoid or phthisis, but that there may be an increased need for it if food preservatives or additives were found to cause a pyrogen-type of pyrexia in sensitive subjects.5
Book review Chelidonium and cholesterol This is a brief report of a study by the Department of Laboratory Animal Science, State University, Utrecht, to determine the effect of Chelidonium 3x on serum cholesterol levels in rabbits fed with a high-cholesterol diet. After 34 days, the treated rabbits displayed about 25% lower cholesterol concentration than the controls. The authors, Baumans et al said that the study should be repeated in other laboratories, and that this significant difference suggested that chelidonium 3x was of potential value in the treatment of humans. The real test of this should be in man.4
A case of recurrent pyrexia treated with Pyrogen R A F Jack reported that a 10-month-old-boy had febrile (43 1C) convulsions lasting 3–4 days about fortnightly, over the course of a year. In spite of intensive paediatric investigation, all tests were unremarkable. Then his doctor then decided to try
The Handbook of Homoeopathy—Its Principles and Practice by Gerhard Koehler, tr. A R Meuss, 1986 The reviewer was enthusiastic about this book: ‘I wish I had seen this book four years ago when I started on that long shady homoeopathic road to confusion. The original title—‘A Textbook of Homoeopathy’— would have given a better indication of the fact that the book is written by a doctor for doctors. It grew out of a series of lectures for students at Freiburg University and the emphasis is on seeing homoeopathy as an integrated element within medical care’. He then quoted the author: ‘It is time to stop being arrogant and opt for co-operation y to focus on the patient, not y any ideology or therapeutic approach’. He was impressed by the author’s definition of terms, and his careful distinction between ‘type’ (Typology: observable characteristics of morphology, gesture, speech and demeanour) and ‘constitution’. The reviewer considered that the book achieved its aim of tackling principles and practice at an accessible yet in-depth level. He gave examples of how balanced the views expressed were, eg ‘It teaches you to repertorize and warns of the dangers in doing so’; and while he refers to positive points made about Homeopathy
ARTICLE IN PRESS 20 years ago ST Land
62
miasmic theory, he quotes the author ‘The law of similars ranks above the merely theoretical psora concept’. He thought Koehler’s views on the treatment of mental illness merited study: ‘With psychotic patients the drug diagnosis is based primarily on constitutional physical features’. The references are cosmopolitan and educative, and complimentary points were made about the translation. The book was recommended on the Glasgow courses, and the reviewer hoped there would be a translation of the second volume, which covered therapeutics and materia medica.6
Homeopathy
References 1 Fisher P. Our new look. Br Hom J 1987; 76: 3–4. 2 Davey R W. Strategy for research in homoeopathy. Br Hom J 1987; 76: 1–2. 3 Mesquita LP. Homoeopathy and physiotherapy, with special reference to osteoarthropathy. Br Hom J 1987; 76: 16–18. 4 Baumans V, Bol CJ, Oude Luttikhuis WMT, Beynen AC. Br Hom J 1987; 76: 14–15. 5 Jack RAF. A case of recurrent pyrexia treated with Pyrogen. Br Hom J 1987; 76: 45–46. 6 Book review. Br Hom J 1987; 76: 53.