- Email: [email protected]
The bowel nosodes
The bowel nosodes Paterson and chronic disease--50 years on C. OLIVER KENNEDY
Abstract Paterson demonstrated that drugs homoeopathic to a patient can induce a mutation of E Coli to non lactose fermenters associated with clinical relief, after a latent period of 10 to 14 days. This change may last from a few days to many months. He was the first to provide experimental evidence of the effectiveness of the homceopathic remedies. (An altered diet may change the flora, but this is only for the duration of the diet.) A definite relationship was demonstrated between homteopathic remedies, non-lactose fermenting organisms and clinical syndrome. It is ironic that this clinico-pathological hypothesis, which is now being confirmed, has been so neglected by his hom0eopathic colleagues. I have attempted to show that so far it provides the only rational grounds for the management of our present-day difficult clinical problems. It is time that hom0eopathic physicians and bacteriologists combined to review his work. May I remind you that to date homceopathy provides the sole solution to the two pharmacological barriers to the cure of patients--toxic side effects and tolerance?
Historical Review
In the 1920s Dr Bach, orthodox bacteriologist at the London Homoeopathic Hospital with some 20 years experience, became interested in the relationship and role of intestinal non-lactose fermenting bacteria in disease. By 1925, in collaboration with the physician Dr Wheeler, he published Chronic Diseases and demonstrated the value of autogenous vaccines derived from these non-lactose fermenting organisms (NLFs) in their treatment. Dr Dishington, Physician to the Scottish Homceopathic Hospital for Children in Glasgow, potentized these vaccines and successfully treated children with congenital pyloric stenosis with oral preparations. These clinical results impressed Dr John Paterson, who was himself a bacteriologist, and he collaborated with Dr Dishington, publishing their first paper in 1927. Dr Paterson laid down a simplified standard routine for the stool cultures which was based on Dr Bach's work and at the 1935 International Homoeopathic Congress he described the results of some 12,000 specimens 'over 10 years'. The outstanding feature of these investigations was the appearance of NLFs in the patients who were clinically responding to their indicated hom~eopathic remedy. A surprising finding which ran counter to the existing teaching? These experiments showed that there was a definite relationship between the NLFs in the bowel and the clinical syndromes, and a definite relationship with the drug which was homoeopathic to the patient. A paper read to the 40th IHML Congress at Lyon in May 1985.
Volume 75, Number 1, January 1986
Dr Paterson was able to show for the first time the effects of a homoeopathic potency in the laboratory with confirmation of its effectiveness. Previously this confirmation relied entirely on clinical impressions which can be deceptive. To ensure reproductibility, Dr Paterson advised a simple technique with standard high quality media. Another contribution was his ability to state the clinical guidelines for the use of these nosodes without reference to bacteriological examination. He described the global concept of the patient as an individual with present and previous and family histories responding to environmental factors. Dr Paterson detailed the clinical characteristics of six of the most common non lactose fermenting organisms: Sluggish and congestive Proliferative---catarrhs Nutrition Nervous strain, spasm/oedema Muscular weakness, ageing Apprehensive tension
Portal system Mucus and serous membranes Intestinal Vascular Skeletal Autonomic
Morgan Group Sycotic Group Gaertner Group Proteus Group No. 7 Group Dys. Co. Group
These 'key notes' form a very useful working classification for history-taking. As an example of his concept of chronic disease, patients with chronic upper respiratory catarrhs were subject to recurrent brochopneumonias. In the 1930s this association was not accepted, but now it is well recognized and labelled 'second class' mucus membrane. This is an example of Dr Paterson's shrewd clinical acumen which was some 50 years ahead of his time. Rules for clinical use of bowel nosodes without bacteriology 1 Take the history in the normal way, and prescribe the single indicated homoeopathic remedy. 2 Failing this then choose the nosode associated with the main relevant remedies, always provided the nosode picture agrees with the clinical presentation. An interchange of the metallic and/or acid radicals could be useful. 3 Never use if the patient is improving. 4 ever mix the bowel nosodes. 5 Never repeat within three months. 6 Potency--In the chronic state, 6c and 12c, repeated until a reaction occurs, and then discontinue. In an acute exacerbation of a chronic state, a single dose of 30c or higher, repeated when reaction ceases.
Present state Unfortunately with the passage of time several problems have arisen which reduce the efficacy of this bacteriological approach. 1 The number of NLFs identified has dropped considerably in recent years. This is due to the widespread therapeutic use of antibiotics in medicine, combined with their use in animal husbandry, and the food industrymthey are even in the universally used oral polio vaccine. 2
The BritishHomceopathicJournal
To overcome this problem, Dr Paterson suggested that Bac. Coli could be typed in the same manner as the NLFs, using the corresponding group. This would resolve the problem, but I feel it requires fuller investigation before it can be generally accepted. 2 While Dr Paterson rightly insisted on the use of a simple technique, the '18 hour' culture time was chosen to ensure that adequate growth occurred, with insufficient time for mutation to occur. You will recall that the response of the bowel flora to their environment forms the basis of nosode concept. Table 1 demonstrates the problems this involves. 3 Although the technique is simple, it is becoming increasingly expensive. We unexpectedly isolated a pure growth of haemolytic streptococcus. This underlines the need to have bacteriologists, which will entail the use of a standard as well as Paterson techniques. Consequently I would suggest that bacteriological cultures are reserved for research projects and in difficult clinical cases. TABLE1 '18 hour' culture periods 18 hour 18 hour 18 hour 24 hour 72 hour
Monday Tuesday Tuesday Wednesday Wednesday
0600 hr 0001 hr 1800 hr 1200 hr 1800 hr
2400 hr Monday 1800 hr Tuesday 1200 hr Wednesday 1800 hr Wednesday 1800 hr Friday
McConkey media Agar scope Sugar media Sugar media Sugar media
Relationship with modern medicine There is nowadays a definite trend which is confirming Dr Paterson's view though he was some 60 years too early. They now recommend 'the use of specific drugs with an action on disease processes rather than the relief of the inflammation' .2 The value of vaccine therapy is being increasingly appreciated, especially since smallpox has been eliminated. This contrasts with the complete failure of the pharmaceutical approach in malaria control. The importance of heredity is increasingly recognized, initially with ankylosing spondylitis, but now there is a suggestion that mild rheumatoids have HLA DR2 and severe H L A DR4 antigens. It is now accepted that polyarthritis forms a miscellaneous group of complex diseases, but they readily fit Dr Paterson's (and Hahnemann's) nosode groups of Syc. Co. and 'Syphilis' (Fig. 1). 3 There are only three possible ways for the body tissue to respond: 1 Hyperactive (a) either vasodilation or constriction as seen with Proteus, or (b) proliferation which is equivalent to Sycofic. 2 Hypoactive or no reaction, congestive and passive, equivalent to Morgan. 3 An abnormal or destructive response--endarteritis, equivalent to Gaertner. This destructive luetic aspect of Dr Ortega is comparable to the nutritional Gaertner of Paterson and modern biopathology with the high autoimmune reaction and endarteritis. Volume 75, Number 1, January 1986
3
/ \ \ \
I
\
=~
=-\
\
%
\
\
\ -=
g.
.s o
=
/
~ ~1 ~
/
/
4
o
~- ~ o ~ <
The British HomoeopathicJournal
Sycosis with Ortega's hyperactive syndrome equivalent to Paterson's Sycotic Co. corresponding to the modern proliferative serongative polyarthritides. Psora is Ortega's akinetic syndrome equivalent to Paterson's passive congestive Morgan group with the "itch" and in modern terms the low immunity syndromes. Surely these examples confirm the validity of Paterson's classification of the clinical syndromes. In spite of such confirmation by modern advances in medicine, Dr Paterson, if he were alive today, would be very disappointed that his basic scientific work has been largely ignored by homceopathic physicians. In fact, commenting on this in the 1950s, he had some foreboding for the future.
What of the future The increasing incidence of 'Hahnemann's onesided diseases' must now force homeeopathic doctors to take an interest in chronic disease. The theory of the bowel nosodes plays a central role in their rational treatment, as they alone provide unbiased confirmation of the clinical impression of the patient's presenting syndrome. I think we are all aware of the pitfalls which may arise from uncritical assessment of the patient's response to his treatment. However, even with a good knowledge of the bowel nosodes there is no easy short cut to the treatment of chronic disease. They provide a firm bacteriological basis for the advancement of philosophical conception of chronic disease as expounded by Hahnemann and the South American schools, which hitherto has been restricted to clinical features. However, to achieve this success, collaboration with homeeopathic physicians and biopathologists is essential to confirm and extend Paterson's work. Let us remember that to date homeeopathy is the only branch of pharmacology which has solved the ever present problem of drug toxicity and tolerance. These aspects have bedevilled orthodox medicine over the years and their resolution is vital for the successful management of patients. Note: The term 'B Coli' is intentionally used instead of 'E Coli" and refers to the older and less extensive classification. REFERENCES 1 Paterson J, International Homeeopathic Congress 1936, p. 214. 2 Huskssom EC. Mires January 1985, p. 57. 3 Paterson J. International Homceopathic Congress 1936, p. 243.
Volume 75, Number 1, January 1986
5
Abstract Paterson demonstrated that drugs homoeopathic to a patient can induce a mutation of E Coli to non lactose fermenters associated with clinical relief, after a latent period of 10 to 14 days. This change may last from a few days to many months. He was the first to provide experimental evidence of the effectiveness of the homceopathic remedies. (An altered diet may change the flora, but this is only for the duration of the diet.) A definite relationship was demonstrated between homteopathic remedies, non-lactose fermenting organisms and clinical syndrome. It is ironic that this clinico-pathological hypothesis, which is now being confirmed, has been so neglected by his hom0eopathic colleagues. I have attempted to show that so far it provides the only rational grounds for the management of our present-day difficult clinical problems. It is time that hom0eopathic physicians and bacteriologists combined to review his work. May I remind you that to date homceopathy provides the sole solution to the two pharmacological barriers to the cure of patients--toxic side effects and tolerance?
Historical Review
In the 1920s Dr Bach, orthodox bacteriologist at the London Homoeopathic Hospital with some 20 years experience, became interested in the relationship and role of intestinal non-lactose fermenting bacteria in disease. By 1925, in collaboration with the physician Dr Wheeler, he published Chronic Diseases and demonstrated the value of autogenous vaccines derived from these non-lactose fermenting organisms (NLFs) in their treatment. Dr Dishington, Physician to the Scottish Homceopathic Hospital for Children in Glasgow, potentized these vaccines and successfully treated children with congenital pyloric stenosis with oral preparations. These clinical results impressed Dr John Paterson, who was himself a bacteriologist, and he collaborated with Dr Dishington, publishing their first paper in 1927. Dr Paterson laid down a simplified standard routine for the stool cultures which was based on Dr Bach's work and at the 1935 International Homoeopathic Congress he described the results of some 12,000 specimens 'over 10 years'. The outstanding feature of these investigations was the appearance of NLFs in the patients who were clinically responding to their indicated hom~eopathic remedy. A surprising finding which ran counter to the existing teaching? These experiments showed that there was a definite relationship between the NLFs in the bowel and the clinical syndromes, and a definite relationship with the drug which was homoeopathic to the patient. A paper read to the 40th IHML Congress at Lyon in May 1985.
Volume 75, Number 1, January 1986
Dr Paterson was able to show for the first time the effects of a homoeopathic potency in the laboratory with confirmation of its effectiveness. Previously this confirmation relied entirely on clinical impressions which can be deceptive. To ensure reproductibility, Dr Paterson advised a simple technique with standard high quality media. Another contribution was his ability to state the clinical guidelines for the use of these nosodes without reference to bacteriological examination. He described the global concept of the patient as an individual with present and previous and family histories responding to environmental factors. Dr Paterson detailed the clinical characteristics of six of the most common non lactose fermenting organisms: Sluggish and congestive Proliferative---catarrhs Nutrition Nervous strain, spasm/oedema Muscular weakness, ageing Apprehensive tension
Portal system Mucus and serous membranes Intestinal Vascular Skeletal Autonomic
Morgan Group Sycotic Group Gaertner Group Proteus Group No. 7 Group Dys. Co. Group
These 'key notes' form a very useful working classification for history-taking. As an example of his concept of chronic disease, patients with chronic upper respiratory catarrhs were subject to recurrent brochopneumonias. In the 1930s this association was not accepted, but now it is well recognized and labelled 'second class' mucus membrane. This is an example of Dr Paterson's shrewd clinical acumen which was some 50 years ahead of his time. Rules for clinical use of bowel nosodes without bacteriology 1 Take the history in the normal way, and prescribe the single indicated homoeopathic remedy. 2 Failing this then choose the nosode associated with the main relevant remedies, always provided the nosode picture agrees with the clinical presentation. An interchange of the metallic and/or acid radicals could be useful. 3 Never use if the patient is improving. 4 ever mix the bowel nosodes. 5 Never repeat within three months. 6 Potency--In the chronic state, 6c and 12c, repeated until a reaction occurs, and then discontinue. In an acute exacerbation of a chronic state, a single dose of 30c or higher, repeated when reaction ceases.
Present state Unfortunately with the passage of time several problems have arisen which reduce the efficacy of this bacteriological approach. 1 The number of NLFs identified has dropped considerably in recent years. This is due to the widespread therapeutic use of antibiotics in medicine, combined with their use in animal husbandry, and the food industrymthey are even in the universally used oral polio vaccine. 2
The BritishHomceopathicJournal
To overcome this problem, Dr Paterson suggested that Bac. Coli could be typed in the same manner as the NLFs, using the corresponding group. This would resolve the problem, but I feel it requires fuller investigation before it can be generally accepted. 2 While Dr Paterson rightly insisted on the use of a simple technique, the '18 hour' culture time was chosen to ensure that adequate growth occurred, with insufficient time for mutation to occur. You will recall that the response of the bowel flora to their environment forms the basis of nosode concept. Table 1 demonstrates the problems this involves. 3 Although the technique is simple, it is becoming increasingly expensive. We unexpectedly isolated a pure growth of haemolytic streptococcus. This underlines the need to have bacteriologists, which will entail the use of a standard as well as Paterson techniques. Consequently I would suggest that bacteriological cultures are reserved for research projects and in difficult clinical cases. TABLE1 '18 hour' culture periods 18 hour 18 hour 18 hour 24 hour 72 hour
Monday Tuesday Tuesday Wednesday Wednesday
0600 hr 0001 hr 1800 hr 1200 hr 1800 hr
2400 hr Monday 1800 hr Tuesday 1200 hr Wednesday 1800 hr Wednesday 1800 hr Friday
McConkey media Agar scope Sugar media Sugar media Sugar media
Relationship with modern medicine There is nowadays a definite trend which is confirming Dr Paterson's view though he was some 60 years too early. They now recommend 'the use of specific drugs with an action on disease processes rather than the relief of the inflammation' .2 The value of vaccine therapy is being increasingly appreciated, especially since smallpox has been eliminated. This contrasts with the complete failure of the pharmaceutical approach in malaria control. The importance of heredity is increasingly recognized, initially with ankylosing spondylitis, but now there is a suggestion that mild rheumatoids have HLA DR2 and severe H L A DR4 antigens. It is now accepted that polyarthritis forms a miscellaneous group of complex diseases, but they readily fit Dr Paterson's (and Hahnemann's) nosode groups of Syc. Co. and 'Syphilis' (Fig. 1). 3 There are only three possible ways for the body tissue to respond: 1 Hyperactive (a) either vasodilation or constriction as seen with Proteus, or (b) proliferation which is equivalent to Sycofic. 2 Hypoactive or no reaction, congestive and passive, equivalent to Morgan. 3 An abnormal or destructive response--endarteritis, equivalent to Gaertner. This destructive luetic aspect of Dr Ortega is comparable to the nutritional Gaertner of Paterson and modern biopathology with the high autoimmune reaction and endarteritis. Volume 75, Number 1, January 1986
3
/ \ \ \
I
\
=~
=-\
\
%
\
\
\ -=
g.
.s o
=
/
~ ~1 ~
/
/
4
o
~- ~ o ~ <
The British HomoeopathicJournal
Sycosis with Ortega's hyperactive syndrome equivalent to Paterson's Sycotic Co. corresponding to the modern proliferative serongative polyarthritides. Psora is Ortega's akinetic syndrome equivalent to Paterson's passive congestive Morgan group with the "itch" and in modern terms the low immunity syndromes. Surely these examples confirm the validity of Paterson's classification of the clinical syndromes. In spite of such confirmation by modern advances in medicine, Dr Paterson, if he were alive today, would be very disappointed that his basic scientific work has been largely ignored by homceopathic physicians. In fact, commenting on this in the 1950s, he had some foreboding for the future.
What of the future The increasing incidence of 'Hahnemann's onesided diseases' must now force homeeopathic doctors to take an interest in chronic disease. The theory of the bowel nosodes plays a central role in their rational treatment, as they alone provide unbiased confirmation of the clinical impression of the patient's presenting syndrome. I think we are all aware of the pitfalls which may arise from uncritical assessment of the patient's response to his treatment. However, even with a good knowledge of the bowel nosodes there is no easy short cut to the treatment of chronic disease. They provide a firm bacteriological basis for the advancement of philosophical conception of chronic disease as expounded by Hahnemann and the South American schools, which hitherto has been restricted to clinical features. However, to achieve this success, collaboration with homeeopathic physicians and biopathologists is essential to confirm and extend Paterson's work. Let us remember that to date homeeopathy is the only branch of pharmacology which has solved the ever present problem of drug toxicity and tolerance. These aspects have bedevilled orthodox medicine over the years and their resolution is vital for the successful management of patients. Note: The term 'B Coli' is intentionally used instead of 'E Coli" and refers to the older and less extensive classification. REFERENCES 1 Paterson J, International Homeeopathic Congress 1936, p. 214. 2 Huskssom EC. Mires January 1985, p. 57. 3 Paterson J. International Homceopathic Congress 1936, p. 243.
Volume 75, Number 1, January 1986
5