Homeopathy With a Special Focus on
Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases
Ronald D. Whitmont, MD, DABIM, DABHM
Ravinder Mamtani, MBBS, MD, M Sc, FACPM
I-Introduction to Homeopathy and Homeopathic Philosophy
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a medical specialty that has been in worldwide use for just over two hundred years. Homeopathic principles may have been utilized before the 18th century, but it was the German physician Samuel Christian Hahnemann (1755-1843) who was responsible for the first thorough scientific study and systematic investigation of it’s effects. Hahnemann’s work lead to the consolidation of homeopathy as an organized medical specialty. The roots of homeopathy can be traced back through the writings of Paracelcus and other alchemical physicians of the Middle Ages as far back as the ancient medical writings of Hippocrates. (REFERENCE 1)
Homeopathy is rooted in the hippocratic method of medicine which stresses (1) rational principles of observation (2) the study of the patient who is sick is rather than the disease, and (3) assisting the natural process of healing by strengthening the individual’s resistance to illness. Homeopathy is practiced upon a foundation of careful history taking, objective observation and thorough physical examination. Homeopathy does not rely upon extensive diagnostic testing, radiographic imaging or blood chemistry analysis. Homeopathic medicines are prescribed on the basis of directly observed and subjectively reported symptoms of the individual patient.
Homeopathy has been used to treat a wide variety of medical conditions in nearly every branch of human and veterinary medicine, and it has also been utilized to support the agricultural practices of biodynamic farming, a system of organic farming.
Definition 1--Homeopathy:
Homeo or “homoeo” is derived from the greek and means “similar”. Pathos means “suffering”. Homeopathy is the medical specialty which treats illness on the basis of “similar suffering” by utilizing agents capable of producing a similar state in a healthy host. Homeopathy is based on observed clinical phenomena leading to the general theory of healing known as “The Law of Similars”. (See Footnote F)
Definition 2--The “Law of Similars”:
The Law of Similars states: “Similia Similibus Curentur,” which translates from the latin to mean: “Let likes be cured by likes.” This means that the suffering of illness can be treated and cured by agents that are capable of producing a similar (not identical) state of suffering in a healthy host.
Samuel Hahnemann was one of the first physicians to devise and apply the concept of a ‘drug trial’ to study the effects of medicines in healthy hosts. As part of his investigations he used “quantitative and systematic procedures, clinical trials with control groups , and ... statistics in medicine”. (REFERENCE 2)
Homeopathic Medicines
The drugs in the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States are derived from all three kingdoms of nature: plant, mineral and animal. Some are derived from diseased tissues, from conventional medicines and a few even from nonphysical sources (including electricity).
Homeopathic medicines can come from virtually any source, but the pharmacopeia specifies the way in which these medicines must be prepared and tested prior to use. (See Footnote 1)
Early Trials of Homeopathy
Homeopathy started In 1789 when Hahnemann became interested in the peruvian bark called china, or cinchona (which contains quinine). Refuting the current dogma of the time, which asserted that the drug was effective due to it’s bitter taste, Hahnemann devised a plan to take the medicine himself so that he could observe the results. When he ingested this drug, he developed symptoms of intermittent fevers with malaise. He noted that the “paroxysm lasted from two to three hours every time, and recurred when I repeated the dose and not otherwise. I discontinued the medicine and I was once again in good health.” (REFERENCE 3)
Hahnemann knew enough to realize that he had stumbled upon a basic relationship between medicine and illness. His hypothesis that the curative mechanism of a medicine lies in it’s ability to produce a similar state of suffering in a healthy host was borne out. Before this time, Hippocrates, Paracelsus and others had suggested the same relationship, but none had taken to time to actually test the theory.
With painstaking effort, Hahnemann proceeded to carry out the process of retesting his theory on other drugs. Over the next decade he conducted many drug trials, which were later called “provings” (a corruption of the German word “pruefing”, which means “to test”). Hahnemann’s intent was to test the actions of drugs on the healthy, not to “prove” anything. He carried these tests out on himself, family members, friends and colleagues and he observed and recorded the results. Over his lifetime Hahnemann conducted studies and cataloged the results of more than 100 medicinal substances. The results of these studies were organized in meticulous detail as the “Materia Medica Pura”, and published in 6 volumes beginning in 1830. (REFERENCE 4)
The Law of Similars describes the fundamental healing law of homeopathy, but homeopathy would be difficult to practice without knowledge of other basic tenets set down by Hahnemann in his text “The Organon of Medicine: The Rational Art of Healing”. This text outlines the essential components of homeopathic prescribing, the principles of treatment and the nature of healing within a homeopathic system. Review and study of this text is essential for any serious student of homeopathy. (REFERENCE 5)
Soon others confirmed Hahnemann’s work, and his reputation quickly spread until the practice of homeopathy was carried from Germany throughout Europe, Asia, Australia and into the Americas. In 1844 the American Institute of Homeopathy was formed marking the acceptance of homeopathy in the United States. Homeopathy gained a wide following as it spread; homeopathic medical kits accompanied early American settlers in their migrations across the continent, and it gained substantial footing through it’s success in the major influenza and cholera epidemics of the last century. At the turn of the 20th century 8% of U.S. physicians used homeopathy, there were 20 homeopathic medical schools and over 140 homeopathic hospitals in the U.S. alone. (REFERENCE 6)
Today, the use of homeopathy around the world is widespread and growing. There are many reports indicating a high level of patient satisfaction and improvement with homeopathy. In one questionnaire based study, performed at Royal London Homeopathic Hospital, 81 % patients reported an improvement in their well-being and 90 % expressed that they were satisfied with the care they had received. (REFERENCE 7). The use of homeopathy among medical doctors is also widespread in areas like Latin America where there are over 10,000 medical doctors who are trained in homeopathy and using it in their practices (REFERENCE 8).
Homeopathic Treatment
After Hahnemann completed the “provings” of drugs in his early pharmacopeia he administered them to the sick by matching the “proven” symptoms of the drugs with the symptoms belonging to the patient; selecting those drugs capable of producing pictures that were most similar to the state of the patient.
Hahnemann chose to focus on the characteristic symptoms that differentiated individuals suffering from the same diagnosable illnesses. He utilized the differences between individual experiences of illness as a basis for differentiating between closely comparable treatments.
Hahnemann considered the subjective experience of illness to be paramount in the correct application of medicinal treatment to bring about a cure. Utilizing this approach, many individuals with the same diagnosis would conceivably receive different treatments if their symptoms varied from one another even in subtle fashion. Hahnemann advocated elevation of the characteristic symptoms of a particular individual’s illness over the common symptoms shared by all those suffering from the same diagnosis.
Hahnemann considered the observable, pathological state of illness to be a secondary condition that developed after an individual had already been sick at a deeper, more energetic level. He felt that the physical manifestations of illness were actually relatively late effects of disease taking place at a more primal level. The homeopathic treatment of disease included consideration the underlying causes of that affected the health promoting energies of the body. Hahnemann called this the “vital force”.
This energy system which Hahnemann called the “vital force” was postulated to act as a governor in the balance between health and illness. If this state of energy was disturbed, then the physical body became susceptible to infection, and disease as a secondary event. Hahnemann believed that homeopathic medicines were capable of redirecting and rebalancing this vital force as a way of assisting the body and regaining health.
The Homeopathic Prescription
The process of selecting a homeopathic medicine begins with the patient interview. Once the key symptoms and characteristics of the diseased patient are determined, the homeopathic practitioner refers to the text of a homeopathic medical repertory. The repertory is a catalog of symptoms (known as rubrics) divided into sections corresponding to each organ system of the body, including the mind. Each rubric is listed with a reference to the corresponding medicines which have been shown to evoke those particular symptoms in clinical drug provings, or, sometimes as a result of cured cases. (See Footnote 4)
The process of medicine selection involves performing a series of cross referencing analyses using the key symptoms of an individual case. When this cross referencing of rubrics is complete the field of potential medicines has been narrowed from many to just a few. Once a short list is formed each medicine is reviewed in a homeopathic textbook of Materia Medica. The materia medica contains more detailed information about each medicine derived from it’s proving as well as symptoms gathered by experience with cured cases and records of it’s toxicity. When the characteristic symptoms of the patient are compared with the symptoms elicited from the medicine, the closest match is known as “the simillimum”. This medicine is then administered to the patient in the desired potency (see below).
The Infinitesimal Dose
While conducting drug “provings” Hahnemann observed that the higher ranges of dosage of many substances produced symptoms of toxicity, overdose and poisoning.
During the treatment phase of his trials, he found that by reducing the concentration of a drug his treatments were more easily tolerated and they frequently accomplished a swifter cure than when the medicine was given in crude form. Another benefit of using low doses was the nearly complete absence of side effects, toxicity and aggravations following his treatments.
Hahnemann experimented with different methods of reducing the dosage and finally settled upon a rather unique method. This method (which remains in use today) involves diluting and shaking (termed “sucussing”) a substance according to a very specific protocol.
Preparation of a homeopathic medicine begins by taking one part of a crude amount of a particular substances usually in raw form. The first step involves pulverizing the substance by grinding or trituration and then diluting it in a solvent of either alcohol, water or sugar. In the second step, the substance is diluted again in the same solvent. This process proceeds in serial steps of dilution until the desired attenuation (“potency”) is obtained. This dilution process reduces the amount of material substance in a homeopathic medicine up to and beyond the point where one might reasonably expect to find even a trace of the original chemical substance. In other words, homeopathic medicines are made so dilute that they often contain none or almost none of the original medicinal substance. (See Footnote 2)
The Homeopathic Dilemma
The use of “potentized” homeopathic medicines, which possess no material substance beyond the solvent, has raised serious ideological and scientific questions. Since the homeopathic effect has been shown to be valid, then there is a serious gap in our understanding of how a dose of “almost nothing” could physically influence health and illness. Neither the fields of chemistry or physics have been able to provide plausible explanations about how this “nonmaterial” dose of a substance can trigger physical responses in the body or in the laboratory.
Over two centuries of clinical experience in the field of homeopathy has generated a voluminous amount of anecdotal information on homeopathy's effectiveness in a wide range of medical conditions. Recent double blinded, placebo controlled studies have indicated that homeopathy is effective above and beyond a placebo response (see below).
Conventional reasoning would suggest that if we continue to ignore homeopathy’s glaring effects then we are choosing to close the door on an essential view into the interaction between health and the physical environment.
“Rather than stressing it’ implausibility and the notion that its practice fits the definition of quackery or represents a cult .... the best way forward is clearly to do rigorous research until the truth is found ... we ought to keep an open mind and remember that a treatment might work even if we fail to understand why.” (REFERENCE 2)
II-Scientific Appraisal
Does homeopathy work?
If it does, what are the biological mechanisms underlying its mechanism of action? The first question concerning the effectiveness of homeopathy relies on two types of research studies: 1) studies aimed at determining whether homeopathy is any different from placebo, and 2) studies, which have examined the role of homeopathy for particular conditions.
The question dealing with the biomedical plausible mechanisms of homeopathy presents many challenges given the ultra-high dilutional nature of the homeopathic treatments.
Comparing homeopathy with placebos
A vast majority of mainstream research and clinical communities attribute any health benefits of homeopathy to placebo effects. However, there are many health care practitioners and researchers who disagree with those observations. Therefore the question 'Is homeopathy a placebo response? requires a closer scrutiny.
In three randomized controlled trial studies involving the use of homeopathy immunotherapy in the treatment of asthma and hay fever, researchers determined that homeopathy was not a placebo response (REFERENCE 9,10). Subsequently, a meta-analysis of the three trials published in the Lancet "strengthened the evidence that homeopathy does more than placebo (p= 0.0004)". The authors concluded that "homeopathy differs from placebo in an inexplicable but reproducible way". (REFERENCE 10)
Subsequently, several independent reviews or meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials have shown positive results in favor of homeopathy (See Table 1). A review of 17 trials by Cucherat (REFERENCE 11) and colleagues demonstrated a low level of positive evidence for homeopathy. Linde and Melchart (REFERENCE 12), in their review of 32 trials suggested that homeopathy has effects over placebo. However, they noted there were methodological problems with several studies. The systematic review by Linde et al (REFERENCE 13), involving a total of 2,588 patients, determined that their findings are not compatible with the hypothesis that all homeopathy is placebo.
There are some reviews which have failed to demonstrate the superiority of homeopathy to placebo interventions. (REFERENCE 14) Despite these negative findings, there is some evidence that homeopathy does offer more than placebo. (REFERENCES 9,10, 13,15).
Homeopathy for cardiovascular and other clinical conditions
Based on many randomized controlled trials, there is sufficient evidence to suggest that homeopathy is useful in the treatment of influenza, allergic conditions, childhood diarrhea and post -operative ileus (REFERENCES 15,16). A summary of systematic reviews of homeopathy for these conditions appears in Table 2.
The number of randomized trials reported in the literature concerning the role of homeopathy in the treatment of cardiovascular disease is very small. In a detailed comprehensive review, Kleijen and colleagues examined the role of homeopathy in the treatment of various conditions (REFERENCE 16). Their review included 107 controlled trials involving a wide range of problems including diseases of respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous, and musculoskeletal systems. For cardiovascular problems such as hypertension, and stroke, the results are mixed. (Table 3). Overall, the evidence of the trials is positive but "not sufficient to draw definitive conclusions" (REFERENCE 16).
Although studies evaluating the benefits of homeopathic treatment in cardiovascular illness are limited, homeopathy has been used extensively in the treatment of a huge range of cardiac illnesses over the past two centuries. (See Footnote 5)
The evidence of homeopathy’s effectiveness in these conditions is entirely anecdotal, however the case reports are voluminous and compelling.
Each homeopathic medicine in the pharmacopeia has demonstrated effects on multiple organ systems and pathologies. Several medicines do appear to exert particular emphasis upon the cardiovascular system. (See Footnote 6)
Based on the available evidence, the effectiveness of homeopathy in the treatment of cardiovascular problems and its associated symptoms can be neither confirmed nor ruled out. Additional research studies are warranted to better understand its role in cardiology.
Biological plausible mechanisms of homeopathy
In this section an attempt is made to explain the two essential principles of homeopathy from a biomedical standpoint. These principles as previously mentioned are the Principle of Similars, or 'treating like with like' (similia similibus curentur), and the Principle of Infinitesimal Dose, according to which homeopaths prescribe medicines in extremely high dilutions at which not a single molecule of the original starting substance is present.
That a chemical medicinal substance can have one action (inhibition, toxicity) at a high dose and an opposite action (stimulation, healing) at a low dose has been known to mankind for many years. There are reports, for example, which claim that micro-dilutions of antibiotics and insecticides actually enhance the growth of bacteria and crickets respectively (REFERENCE 8). This mechanism of "paradoxical opposite action of pharmacological substances above and below their threshold concentrations or threshold signal strengths" is called hormesis. (REFERENCE 8).
Conventional treatments of oral immunotherapy and allergen desensitization are considered to be forms of applied hormesis. Therefore, it is possible that homeopathy, by providing an obnoxious stimulus at a low dose, provokes a kind of immune and defensive response so as to strengthen the host to fight disease and its symptoms.
The real resistance to the acceptance of homeopathy comes from its Principle of Infinitesimal Dose. In terms of basic conventional principles of pharmacology, biochemistry and physics, it is impossible to explain that ultra-molecular dilutions of homeopathic medicines can actually have clinical effects. In fact, this suggestion makes homeopathy appear to be an “absurdity and a foolish science”.
If it is not the infinitesimal molecules of medicine in the treatments that cause the clinical effects observed in research studies, perhaps it is something else. Several thoughts have been put forward to solve this question. Do homeopathic medicines possess a special form of energy, or biophysical type of information with healing properties, which cannot be measured with the available tools of medical technology? Does the use of alcohol, water and other solvents, or the process of rigorous shaking required in the preparation of homeopathic medicines generate a biophysically different molecule with encoded biological information?
David Reilly, a world renowned physician researcher writes: "Physicists seem more at ease with such ideas than pharmacologists, considering the possibilities of isotopic stereodiversity, clathrates, or resonance and coherence within water as possible modes of transmission, while other workers are exploring the idea of electromagnetic changes" (REFERENCE 8)
The final answer on how homeopathy works will have to wait until further research is done.
Adverse effects and safety
Homeopathic medicines are mostly of vegetable, mineral, animal and sometimes synthetic origin. These medicines, which are recognized and regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, are manufactured under strict guidelines, and many can be purchased over the counter from specialty and nutrition stores. Homeopathy is considered to be safe, and lacks the potential for life threatening side effects, even though minor side effects have been reported.
Any reported adverse effects are usually mild and transient in nature. Examples of such side effects include headaches, skin rashes, dizziness, diarrhea and sometimes exacerbation of existing symptoms. The incidence of aggravation of existing symptoms is estimated to occur in 20 % cases. (Reference 7, 17) It should be mentioned that similar side effects are also observed with placebo interventions (Reference 7). Additional studies are warranted to better understand the direct and indirect risks of homeopathy.
Homeopathy research: problems and difficulties
Lack of funding, lack of research and lack of academic infra-structure are common problems facing research in homeopathy. There are methodological problems as well.
Homeopathy, like other alternative medicine treatments such as ayurveda and acupuncture are not only disease -specific, but also person-specific. Two persons with similar disease patterns could receive two entirely different treatments. Such a treatment approach cannot lend itself to a randomized controlled trial (RCT). This is because in a RCT all patients in the treatment group must receive the same treatment while those in the control group must receive an indistinguishable placebo. This makes homeopathy incompatible with the RCT methodology. This has restricted the extent of research in homeopathy and as a result, most of the information on it’s efficacy comes from reports of day to day practice.
Homeopathy is a holistic system. It treats the whole person in terms of the mind, body and spirit in order to a create balance to optimize health and well-being.
III- Practical Considerations
Homeopathy is an extremely cost effective method of practice largely because homeopathic medicines are easily produced using inexpensive methodologies at minimal cost. Most homeopathic medicines are derived from raw ingredients that are readily available in the natural environment. A very small quantity of raw material is easily amplified to generate a vast amount of medicine due to the nature of the dilutional process of potentization. Homeopathic pharmaceuticals are considered a form of “green” medicine because they pose insignificant environmental hazard when used, stored or disposed of.
Although homeopathic materials are inexpensive, the delivery of homeopathic care may be both time and manpower intensive. Each medicine demands a thorough clinical proving in a double blinded setting prior to it’s acceptance into the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States. The practice of homeopathy requires a thorough knowledge of it’s principles and methods. Homeopathic practitioners must also be thoroughly versed in the fundamentals of medicine, have expert training in differential diagnosis and referral, and the principles of informed consent must be observed at all times.
Each patient requires an intensive and sometimes lengthy interview process with a homeopathic physician to determine the exact nature of their ailment. The recent introduction of the computer database into homeopathic casetaking and repertorization has greatly simplified this procedure.
Homeopathy is a unique medical subspecialty, even in the field of Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, it has demonstrated an overwhelmingly safe side effect profile and has been shown to provide benefit across a large spectrum of disorders ranging from physical to emotional and psychological conditions. The practice of homeopathy easily lends itself to an integrative atmosphere as long as homeopathic guidelines are observed.
IV- Conclusion
Homeopathic medicines are mostly of vegetable, mineral, animal and sometimes synthetic origin. These medicines are recognized and regulated by the FDA, and are manufactured under strict guidelines. Homeopathy is considered to be safe, and lacks the potential for life threatening side effects. Mild and transient side affects have been reported. The most dangerous side effect of homeopathic treatment may be the forgoing of other life-saving modalities in favor of the pursuit of homeopathic means.
No scientific explanation for the mechanism of action of homeopathy currently exists. However, many survey studies have documented the usefulness of homeopathy in ameliorating troublesome symptoms associated with allergic asthma, hay fever, allergic rhinitis, post operative ileus, migraine headaches and some arthritic conditions. Beneficial effects of homeopathy are not entirely due to placebo.
Examples of situations in which homeopathy could be explored include when (a) conventional treatments for the condition being treated do not exist, or (b) conventional treatments have produced maximal benefit, or when (c) patients are unwilling to accept side effects of the conventional treatments. It is imperative that physicians explain the benefits, limitations and risks associated with homeopathy before making any recommendation concerning its use.
Based on the available evidence, the effectiveness of homeopathy in the treatment of cardiovascular problems and its associated symptoms can be neither confirmed nor ruled out. However, the absence of evidence supporting homeopathy is not the same as lack of its effectiveness in day to day clinical situations. While homeopathy appears to provide a unique and a refreshing approach to disease management, its role in cardiology merits further investigation.
For patients with chronic stable cardiovascular problems, who wish to be treated homeopathically, the adjunctive and supportive use of homeopathic treatments in certain situations are appropriate under medical supervision.
Footnote 1
Homeopathic medicines are derived from many sources. Before they are accepted into the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States they must be tested (“proven”) on healthy individuals and their characteristic symptoms must be clearly identified. Since almost any substance can be made into a homeopathic medicine, the determining factor that makes a medicine homeopathic is the manner in which is prescribed for use. If this prescription process follows the principles of the Law of Similars then they may be considered homeopathic to the case (regardless of the source of the medicine). If these medicines are selected randomly, by a machine, or on some basis other than the law of similars then they are not, by definition, homeopathic.
Footnote 2
Another important facet of homeopathy that was revealed after Hahnemann began using the infinitesimal doses in his drug provings and prescriptions was the psychosomatic facet of drugs. As the physical symptoms of toxicity receded with lowering concentrations of drugs, the more subtle symptoms of psychological dysfunctioning became more pronounced and noticeable. Hahnemann found that each drug was capable of producing a unique picture of physical pathology, and an equally unique and characteristic picture of psychopathology. By meticulously cataloging the mental and emotional symptoms as well as the physical symptoms produced by each substance he was able to arrive at one of the first scientific documentations of the psychosomatics aspects of homeopathic medicines.
Homeopathy incorporates the unique nature of these varied, and seemingly unrelated psychosomatic symptoms not only in achieving a fuller understanding of the nature of human health and illness, but also in utilizing a more holistic therapeutic intervention that can address pathology in several different organ systems simultaneously.
Footnote 3
The dilutional process (termed “potentization”) involves taking one part of the raw medicinal substance and diluting it in either 9 or 99 parts of diluent to produce a 1X or 1C (from the system of roman numerals designating the total number of parts X=10 and C= 100); taking one part of the new concentration (1X or 1C) and adding one part of it to another 9 or 99 more parts of fresh diluent to produce a 2X or 2C dilution. This process is repeated serially as many times as desired to create 3X or 3C; 4X or 4C; 5X or 5C etc., etc., ad infinitum.... This process of dilution, or potentization frequently goes on into the hundreds and even thousands of steps of dilutions!
When this process of dilution is carried out with a specified number of shakes (termed “succussions”) at each level then the vial containing the new mixture is called a “potentized” homeopathic medicine. The potency is assigned a number depending upon the number of steps of dilution used, ie, thirty steps makes 30x or 30c, etc.
Footnote 4
A Homeopathic Medical Repertory of heart disease symptoms lists a huge range of symptoms based upon subjective descriptions. These descriptions are from drug “provings”, case reports of toxic reactions and reports from cured cases. The descriptions of cardiac symptoms are quite diverse and colorful, including: aching, alive sensation, angina, anguish, anxiety, apprehension, boring, bruised, bursting, buzzing, cold, congestion, constriction, cramps, crushing, darting, dragging, emptiness, fluttering, griping, gurgling, hanging, heat, heaviness, jerks, looseness, movement, neuralgia, oppression, palpitation, piercing, pinching, pressing, prickling, pulsation, purring, qualmishness, quivering, restlessness, rigidity, shocks, shooting, smothered, sore, spasm, squeezing, stabbing, squeezing, sticking, stinging, suspended, swollen, tearing, throbbing, tired, trembling, turned, twisted, twitching, unsteady, weak.
(Reference 18)
Footnote 5
A huge amount of cardiac pathology has been managed effectively in the more than two centuries of homeopathic practice worldwide. Although no objective data on efficacy exists due to a number of methodoligical problems, a brief review of homeopathic literature reveals a number of conditions have been treated using homeopathy:
Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy
Angina Pectoris
Aortic Aneurism
Aortic Insufficiency
Arrhythmia
Atrial Fibrillation
Bradycardia
Cardiac Disorders of the Menopause
Cardiac Disorders of Hyper and Hypothyroidism
Cardiac Disorders of Puberty
Cardiac Disorders of Systemic Lupus Erythematosis
Cardiac Dyspnea
Cardiac Polyps
Cardiac Syncope
Cardiac Vertigo
Cardiogenic Shock
Congestive Heart Failure
Coronary Artery Disease
Cyanosis Neonatorum
Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Endocarditis
Heart Block
Hypertension
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Hypotension
Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
Myocardial Infarction
Myocarditis
Palpitations
Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia
Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea
Pericardial Effusion
Pericarditis
Right Ventricular Hypertrophy
Rheumatic Heart Disease
Tachycardia
Valvular Heart Disease
Ventricular Aneurism
Footnote 6
What follows is a short list of homeopathic medicines that have been used effectively in the treatment of various cardiovascular conditions (see footnote 5).
It should be reemphasized that although many homeopathic medicine have been utilized in the treatment of cardiovascular pathology, they have only been found to be effective when selected on the basis of the Law of Similars (see above).
Adonis vernalis--Pheasant’s Eye: Congestive Heart Failure, Palpitations, Angina, Valvular Heart Disease, Cardiac Asthma, Myocarditis, Arrhythmia.
Ammonium Carbonicum--Carbonate of Ammonia: Congestive Heart Failure, Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea, Palpitations, Angina.
Apocynum Cannabinum--Indian Hemp: Congestive Heart Failure, Mitral and Tricuspid Regurgitation, Atrial Fibrillation.
Arnica Montana--Leopard’s Bane: Palpitations after exertion, Angina, Congestive Heart Failure, Fatty Heart, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.
Arsenicum Album--White Oxide of Arsenic: Palpitations with Anguish, Cardiac Dilatation, Fatty Degeneration, Angina into neck, Cardiac Syncope, Pericardial Effusion.
Aurum Metallicum-- Gold: Hypertension, Coronary Artery Disease, Palpitations, Tachycardia, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Angina.
Baryta Carbonica--Carbonate of Barium: Palpitations, Hypertension, Coronary Artery Disease, Ventricular Aneurism.
Cactus Grandiflorus--Night Blooming Cereus: Angina, Palpitations, Cardiac Vertigo, Endocarditis with Mitral Insufficiency, Aortic and Cardiac Aneurism, Coronary Artery Disease.
Crataegus Oxyacantha--Hawthorn Berries: Cardiac Dyspnea, Congestive Heart Failure, Fatty Degeneration, Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Angina, Myocarditis, Valvular Heart Disease.
Digitalis--Foxglove: Angina, Palpitations on Movement, Congestive Heart Failure, Slow Atrial Fibrillation, Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Pericarditis.
Kalmia--Mountain Laurel: Palpitations with Anxiety, Angina, Tachycardia, Bradyarrhythmia, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Subaortic Stenosis.
Lachesis Muta--Bushmaster Snake: Palpitations, Cardiac Syncope, Coronary Artery Disease, Carditis, Bradyarrhythmia.
Lycopodium Clavatum--Club Moss: Aneurysm, Aortitis, Palpitations, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.
Naja Tripudians--Cobra: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Valvular Heart Disease, Palpitations.
Oxalic Acid--Sorrel Acid: Palpitations worse Lying Down, Cardiac Dyspnea, Angina, Aortic Insufficiency.
Phosphorus--Elemental Phosphorus: Palpitations, Fatty Degeneration, Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Endocarditis, Right Ventricular Hypertrophy.
Sarothamnus Scoparius--Broom: Palpitations, Angina, Arrhythmia, Congestive Heart Failure, Hypotension.
Spongia--Roasted Sponge: Cardiac Cough, Palpitations, Cardiac Dyspnea, Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea, Angina, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Valvular Insufficiency, Aortic Aneurysm, Rheumatic endocarditis.
Sulphur--Sublimated Sulphur: Palpitations, Pericarditis, Pericardial Effusion, Angina, Tachycardia,
Sumbul--Musk Root: Palpitations, Angina, Cardiac Asthma, Hypertension, Arrhythmia,
Tabacum--Tobacco: Angina, Tachycardia, Bradycardia, Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Cardiogenic Shock, Palpitations.
Adapted from Murphy, R: Homeopathic Medical Repertory, Pagosa Springs, 1993, Hahnemann Academy of North America.
Table 1
Select systematic reviews and meta-analysis
comparing homeopathy with placebo (6,7)
Several trials have suggested that homeopathy is ineffective for migraine, delayed onset muscle soreness and influenza prevention.
Adapted from: Jonas BJ, Kapchuk TJ, Linde K.
A critical overview of homeopathy.
Ann Internal Medicine
2003; 138:393-399.
VI-- References
1. Lyons AS, Petrucelli RJ: Medicine An Illustrated History, New York, 1987, Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
2. Ernst E, Kaptchuk TJ, Homeopathy Revisited, Arch Int Med 156:2162-2164, 1996.
3. Haehl R: Samuel Hahnemann: His Life and Work, 1922, Homeopathic Publishing Co:36, quoted in Jonas WB, Jacobs J: Healing with Homeopathy: The Doctors’ Guide, NY, 1996, Warner Books.
4. Hahnemann HCF: Materia Medica Pura, Dresden Germany, 1830, Arnoldischen Buchhandlung.
5. Hahnemann S: Boericke W, Translation Organon of Medicine. 6th ed. Philadelphia, 1922, Boericke & Tafel.
6. Rothstein WG: American Physicians in the 19th Century, Baltimore MD, 1992, The Johns Hopkins University Press.
7. The evidence base of complementary medicine 2nd Edition, The Royal London Homeopathic Hospital, 1999.
8. Reilly DT. The Puzzle of Homeopathy. J.of Alternative and Complementary Medicine; 2001 7 (2): S 2103-109.
9. Reilly DT, Taylor MA, McSahrry C, Aitchison T. Is homeopathy placebo response? Controlled trial of homeopathic potency, with pollen in hay fever as model. Lancet 1986;ii: 881-86.
10. Reilly DT, Taylor MA, Beatle N, Campbell JH, McSahrry C, Stevenson RD. Is evidence for homeopathy reproducible? Lancet 1994; 344: 1601-06.
11. Cucerat M, Haugh MC, Gooch M, Boissel JP. Evidence of clinical efficacy of homeopathy. A meta-analysis of clinical trials. Homeopathic Medicines Research Advisory Group (HMRAG). Eur J. Clinical Pharmacology 2000; 56:27-33.
12. Linde K, Melchart D. Randomized controlled trials of individualized homeopathy: a state of the art review. J. Alternative Complement Medicine 1998; 4:371-88.
13. Linde K, Clausius N, Ramirez G, Melchart D, Eitel F, Hedges LV. Are the clinical effects of homeopathy placebo effects? A meta- analysis of placebo controlled trials. Lancet 1997; 350: 834-43.
14. Ernst E. A systematic review of systematic reviews of homeopathy. Brit J Clinical Pharmacology 2002; 54: 577-582.
15. Jonas BJ, Kapchuk TJ, Linde K. A critical overview of homeopathy. Ann Internal Medicine 2003; 138:393-399.
16. Kleijnen J, Knipschild P, ter Riet G. Clinical trials of homeopathy. BMJ 1991; 302: 316-23.
17. The desktop guide to complementary and alternative medicine. An evidence based approach. Ed. Edzard Earnst. Mosby- Harcourt Publishers Limited. 2001.
18. Murphy, R: Homeopathic Medical Repertory, Pagosa Springs, 1993, Hahnemann Academy of North America.
Suggested Reading
Materia Medica and Repertories
1. Morrison, R: Desktop Companion, Nevada City, 1998, Hahnemann Clinic Publishing.
2. Roberts, HA: “Sensations As If”, Philadelphia, 1937, Boericke & Tafel.
3. Murphy, R: Lotus Materia Medica, Pagosa Springs, 1995, Lotus Star Academy.
4. Lilienthal S: Homeopathic Therapeutics, New York, 1879, Boericke & Tafel.
5. Clarke JH: Clinical Repertory, London, 1904, The Homoeopathic Publishing Company.
6. Jouanny J, Crapanne JB, Dancer H, Masson JL: Homeopathic Therapeutics, France, 1994, Editions Boiron.
Homeopathic Treatment and Philosophy
1. Jonas WB, Jacobs J, Healing with Homeopathy: The Doctors’ Guide, New York, 1996, Warner Books.
2. Coulter HL: Homeopathic Scienc & Modern Medicine, Berkeley California, 1980, The American Institute of Homeopathy.
3. Whitmont EC: The Alchemy of Healing, Berkeley California, 1993, North Atlantic Books.
4. Vithoulkas G: The Science of Homeopathy, New York, 1980, Random House.
5. Bellavite P, Signorini A: Homeopathy A Frontier in Medical Science, Berkeley California, 1995, north Atlantic Books.
6. Roberts HA: The Principles and Art of Cure by Homeopathy, London, 1936, Homoeopathic Publishing Company.
VII-- Homeopathic Resources
The following is a list of Professional Homeopathic Organizations currently active in the United States.
1) The American Institute of Homeopathy. A professional organization with membership open to MD’s, DO’s, DDS’s, PA’s and Advanced Practice Nurses. Publishes The American Journal of Homeopathy.
10418 Whitehead Street
Fairfax, VA 22030
(703) 246-9501
Website: www.
2) The National Center for Homeopathy. A national organization with open membership which promotes homeopathy through the journal Homeopathy Today.
801 North Fairfax Street, Suite 306
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 548-7790
Fax: (703) 548-7792
Website: www.homeopathic.org
3) The Homeopathic Medical Society of the State of New York. The Homeopathic Medical Society of the State of New York was established in 1862 as a professional organization open to M.D.’s and D.O.’s formed for the advancement of homeopathic therapeutics. The society meets twice annually and distributes a newsletter to it’s members.
6250 Route 9
Rhinebeck, NY 12572
(845) 876-6323
Fax: (845) 876-2627
Website: www.hmssny.org
4) The Homeopathic Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania. Established in 1865, the society was formed for the purpose of organizing and supporting the Homeopathic Medical profession in the state of Pennsylvania and advancing medical science. Membership is open to M.D.’s, D.O.’s, P.A.’s, C.R.N.P.’s and R.Ph.’s, dentists and veterinarians.
637 West Lincoln Highway
Exton, PA 19341
(610) 269-0255
5) The Ohio State Homeopathic Medical Society. The Homeopathic Medical Society of the State of Ohio was founded in Columbus in 1864. It has met continuously since, publishing transactions of its annual meetings in the 1800’s and early 1900’s. Originally incorporated in 1878, new articles were drawn up in 1993.
556 West Portage Trail
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44223
(330) 923-3060
6) The California State Homeopathic Medical Society. This society was founded in 1877 in response to the need for a professional association of homeopathic physicians. Today it is a non-profit, tax exempt, California corporation which has extended it’s membership to include the western United States.
169 East El Roblar
Ojai, CA 93023
(805) 646-1495
www.homeopathywest.org
7) The Illinois Homeopathic Medical Association. Originally established in 1881 in Chicago and reincorporated as a not-for-profit corporation in 1992, the IHMA is a professional organization open to M.D.’s, D.O.’s, D.C.’s and D.D.S’s who are interested in homeopathy. Other licensed health practitioners are eligible for associate membership. the IHMA was formed to promote the science of homeopathic medicine, encourage homeopathic medical research, and establish standards of homeopathic medical education.
400 East 22nd Street, Suite F
Lombard, IL 60148
(630) 792-9311
8) The Southern Homeopathic Medical Association. Established in 1885 in New Orleans, LA, officially incorporated in 1985 as a nonstock corporation in Virginia, the SHMA is a professional organization, open to M.D.’s, D.O.’s, and dentists, which was formed to promote homeopathic medicine, advance homeopathic education, and safeguard homeopathic practice in the Southern states.
10418 Whitehead Street
Fairfax, VA 22030
(703) 273-5250
9) The Florida Homeopathic Medical Society. To educate and network Florida licensed medical professionals for homeopathy.
496 North Harbor City Blvd.
Melbourne, FL 32935
(407) 752-0140
10) The American Association of Homeopathic Pharmacists. The AAHP represents the interests of homeopathic manufacturers, distributors, and individual pharmacists in cooperative efforts with regulatory agencies, and other organizations nationally. We provide educational opportunities for pharmacists and compliance training for companies.
33 Fairfax Street
Berkeley Springs, WV 25411
(800) 478-0421
www.homeopathicpharmacy.org
11) The American Board of Homeotherapeutics. Established in 1960. Open to M.D.’s, and D.O.’s. Awards the DHt-Diplomate in Homeotherapeutics.
2776 Hydraulic Road, Suite 5
Charlottesville, VA 22901
(434) 295-0362
www.homeopathyusa.org/ABHt
12) The Council on Homeopathic Education. Provides information about accredited homeopathic programs and conferences.
801 North Fairfax Street, Suite 306
Alexandria, VA 22314
(212) 560-7136
www.chedu.org
13) The Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia Convention of the United States. Established in 1980. Publishes the “Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia” of the United States.
P.O. Box 2221
Southeastern, PA 19399-2221
(610) 783-0987
www.HPCUS.com
14) Homeopaths Without Borders-North America. Providing humanitarian aid, homeopathic education/treatment for communities in need.
P.O. Box 1550
Basalt, CO 81621
The authors would like to express their thanks to Julian Winston for his many helpful editorial comments in the preparation of this manuscript.
This Article was published in Complimentary and Integrative Therapies for Cardiovascular Disease, Elsevier Mosby, Editors Frishman, Weintraub, Micozzi, Chapter 13, Homeopathy With a Special Focus on Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases, pages 232- 247, 2005. It is posted with permission from Elsevier.
