Non-invasive Resolution of Pathological Ovarian Masses with Homeopathic Treatment-A Case Series.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian masses may be either physiological or pathological. Physiological ovarian masses are non-neoplastic. Pathological masses grow more than 7 cm and persist beyond 3 months; they do not resolve spontaneously, and invasive surgery with removal of reproductive organs is the conventional treatment. It usually results in further co-morbidities and hampers the quality of life of the patient. OBJECTIVES: This case series of pathological left ovarian masses demonstrates the role of homeopathic treatment in each of two multiparous women where the right ovary was surgically removed previously for similar pathology and in an adolescent girl with increased tumor marker CA-125. METHODS: Three cases of women with pathological ovarian masses in the left ovary, and advised invasive surgery by attending gynecologists, were treated with homeopathic medicines at the outpatient department of the National Homeopathy Research Institute in Mental Health, Kottayam, Kerala, from 2017 to 2020. Each case was followed up with clinical and ultrasonographic evidence and reported according to the criteria set out in the HOM-CASE guidelines. RESULT: Complete resolution of the ovarian masses was observed in all three cases, evidenced by ultrasonography, with normalizing CA-125 values also observed in the case of endometrial cyst. The patients improved within 4 to 15 months of treatment using Thuja and other individualized homeopathic medicines. The MONARCH score was calculated as +7/13, +9/13, and +9/13 for the three cases, respectively, indicating a positive causal attribution of homeopathy in the resolution of these pathological ovarian masses. CONCLUSION: This case series suggests that individualized homeopathy, and notably Thuja, can be useful in the treatment of pathological ovarian masses.

Comparative Effectiveness of Pre-Identified Homeopathic Medicines in Asymptomatic COVID-19 Individuals Receiving Standard Care-An Open-Label, Randomized, Controlled Exploratory Trial.

BACKGROUND: Asymptomatic COVID-19 subjects can transmit the infection for as many as 14 days and are regarded as a significant factor in the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. This exploratory study aimed to determine any additional benefits of selected homeopathic medicines compared with placebo in asymptomatic COVID-19 individuals receiving standard care. METHODS: This open-label, randomized, placebo-controlled, exploratory trial was undertaken at a COVID Care Centre (CCC) in Madhya Pradesh, India. Patients (n = 200, 18-65 years, both sexes) having a positive RT-PCR and asymptomatic during admission were enrolled. They were randomly assigned to one of four groups (each n = 50): Arsenicum album 30C (Ars. alb.), Camphora 1M (Camph.), Bryonia alba 30C (Bry. alb.) and placebo (Pl.). All the patients were given standard care. The primary outcome was the number of patients becoming RT-PCR negative for SARS-CoV-2 at days 5, 10 and 15. RESULTS: In total, 200 asymptomatic COVID-19 patients were enrolled. One hundred and seventy-seven patients became RT-PCR negative by day 15; 88%, 80%, 98% and 88% from Ars. alb., Camph., Bry. alb. and Pl. respectively. A Chi-square test of association for the total patients who became RT-PCR negative for SARS-Cov-2 in each group showed a marginal statistical significance (Chi-square: 8.1, p = 0.04). A two-proportion Z-test comparing each pre-identified homeopathic medicine with placebo showed marginal statistical significance (p = 0.05) for Bry alb. only. Median time in days to RT-PCR negative (Kaplan Meier analysis) was 10 days in each of the groups. CONCLUSION: There was some evidence that, compared with Ars alb., Camph. or Pl., Bry. alb. was associated with an increased number of patients who became RT-PCR negative for COVID-19 by day 15. The possible effect exerted needs to be investigated in additional research.

Advancing supportive oncology care via collaboration between psycho-oncology and integrative medicine.

PURPOSE: As survival after cancer diagnosis increases, patients are increasingly turning toward integrative therapies (e.g., yoga, acupuncture, massage) to manage acute and chronic concerns related to cancer treatment and survivorship. As such, integrative medicine programs devoted to combining conventional Western cancer care with complementary treatments such as yoga, acupuncture, botanicals, and homeopathy are increasingly common in cancer communities around the world. However, few integrative medicine programs have included psycho-oncology providers in order to systematically evaluate and treat psychological and behavioral health factors affecting adjustment to cancer. METHODS: A pilot program was initiated at a large academic medical center to explore benefits of a collaborative clinic visit conducted with psycho-oncology and integrative medicine within an existing supportive oncology clinic. Collaborative medical and psychological interventions were provided to enhance patient quality of life and reduce symptom burden. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients were seen via the dyadic consultation model. Sixty-eight percent of patients rated their emotional distress at or above clinical cutoffs, indicating unmet supportive care needs. The majority of patients seen were White, non-Hispanic, and female. CONCLUSIONS: Many cancer patients and survivors report persistent emotional distress and chronic physical problems associated with their diagnosis and treatment. The types of patients seen in this pilot program raise concern about ongoing inequalities in access to integrative medicine and psycho-oncology services, which may contribute to downstream health disparities and poorer clinical outcomes. Future directions will explore billing practices, financial sustainability, and methods to increase access to this type of program for demographically diverse individuals across cancer populations.

[Research,evaluation,industry status and development strategy of traditional Chinese medicine functional food].

With the development of social economy,people's demand for health services is growing rapidly. As health resource with Chinese characteristics,health food containing Chinese materia medica have broad prospect and great market space for development.However,at present,there are still many problems of health food containing Chinese materia media in the research,development,evaluation and market application. In addition,due to lack of theoretical support of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) in the research and development of health food containing Chinese materia media,blurred boundaries between health food containing Chinese materia media and other health products as well as TCM are present,lacking of TCM characteristics. In the evaluation process of health food containing Chinese materia media,the construction of functional food laws,regulations and evaluation norms is relatively lagging behind,which can't meet the needs of health food containing Chinese materia media research and development,severely restricting the development of health food containing Chinese materia media. Based on the research and evaluation of health food containing Chinese materia media,the existing problems were reviewed and the reasons for the deficiencies were analyzed in this paper. Guided by the theory of TCM,based on the constitution identification in TCM,and combined with modern scientific and technological means,a new research and development mode of functional food was put forward in this paper to distinguish health food containing Chinese materia media from TCM as well as general health products. Nevertheless,we should ensure the vitality of Chinese medicine health products with original thinking and scientific and technological connotations,and accelerate the harmonious,rapid and sustainable development of Chinese medicine health industry.

[Generalized science of Chinese material medica-from preventive treatment of disease to Chinese medicine health industry].

Based on the systematic summary of the results of the fourth general survey of traditional Chinese medicine resources, the cultivation of large varieties of Chinese material medica and the latest research on health industrial development, the novel concepts and scientific connotations of generalized science of Chinese material medica are put forward, and the basic ideas and methods of a new Chinese medicine academic system, the cultivation system of large varieties of Chinese medicinal materials and the application system of the large health industry are constructed. This kind of generalized science of Chinese material medica, rooted in the traditional Chinese culture and the theory of "preventive treatment of disease", can avoid the narrow prospect induced by the increasing specialization and refinement of knowledge of science of Chinese material medica. It will play an important role in the modernization, industrialization, internationalization of traditional Chinese medicine.

[Research and prospect of Traditional Chinese Medical Microecology].

In the long-term evolution, microbes and hosts coexist widely, forming a symbiotic microecosystem and resulting the complex interactions of the metabolism. With the application of microecological theory in Chinese materia medica science, two main points have been accepted gradually. On the one hand, the prevention and treatment of human diseases by traditional Chinese medicines can be achieved through the correction and adjustment of the imbalance of the human microecosystem. On the other hand, the microecosystem can regulate the quality of traditional Chinese medicines in real time, and further affect their curative effect. Thus, a new discipline, Traditional Chinese Medical Microecology, has been gradually established. In this review, the background, theoretical structure, research directions, key problems and the relationship with human microecology of Traditional Chinese Medical Microecology were systematically summarized and prospected for promoting its development. Moreover, this review provides a reference protocol for further discoursing the microecological mechanism involving the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicines.

[Chemistry and biology research on bitter-taste Chinese materia medica with function of regulating glycolipid metabolism].

The bitter taste is one of the important properties among five flavors of Chinese materia medica (CMM), characterized by downbearing and discharging, drying dampness, and consolidating Yin. In common CMM, bitter-taste CMM accounts for a large proportion, indicating the importance of it. Through the efficacy of clearing away heat and dampness, reducing fire and removing toxin, bitter-taste CMM has achieved good results in treating diabetes in clinical application, proving their definite therapeutic effect on regulating glucose and lipid metabolism (main features of diabetes). At present, there are many reports about the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of CMM on diabetes, but there are few reviews on the chemistry and biology of bitter-taste CMM. This study summarized the properties and compatibility characteristics of bitter-taste CMM for treating diabetes, and mainly analyzed the chemistry and biology basis of bitter-taste CMM with function of regulating glycolipid metabolism, laying foundation for further researches on properties theory of CMM.

[Research progress of pretreatment technology for mycotoxin detection in Chinese materia medica and complex matrices].

In the processes of planting, harvest, transport and storage, improper treatment of Chinese materia medica (CMM) and foodstuffs and agricultural products will result in fungal growth and mycotoxins contamination, which will not only directly affect the quality, safety and efficacy of these complex matrices, but also seriously threaten the consumers' health and lives. Therefore, the establishment of high-throughout analytical methods with high sensitivity for the determination of mycotoxins in CMM and foodstuffs and agricultural products at trace levels will provide reliable references for reducing the risk of mycotoxin exposure in humans. Due to the matrix complexity of CMM and foodstuffs and agricultural products, highly-effective pretreatment technologies are necessary for the establishment of such analytical techniques. In this review, the current extraction and purification methods commonly used for the detection of mycotoxins were summarized, the importance of pretreatment techniques for the precise quantification of mycotoxins in complex matrices such as Chinese herbal medicines was highlighted, as well as the development tendency about the pretreatment techniques for mycotoxins in complex matrices in the future was proposed.

[Research progress of Tibetan medicine "Zha-xun"].

Zha-xun is widely used in Tibetan medicine and is also an international traditional medicine. This article would summarize the use status and research progress of Zha-xun by various ethnic groups all over the world, and the results show that it has various synonyms but most of them imply its most characteristic feature-outflow from the rock; Zha-xun resources are distributed in various places of the world, and its bearing spots are closely related to the geological structure; there are sharp arguments on the origins of Zha-xun, mainly including the minerals origin, biological fossils origin, biological origin, etc. Zha-xun has multiple functions and is mainly used to treat stomach disease, liver disease and rheumatoid arthritis in China, and premature ejaculation, impotence, vaginitis embolism in foreign countries. "Iron" Zha-xun is used into medicines both at home and abroad. According to ancient materia medica texts, it was mainly classified into five types, including gold Zha-xun, silver Zha-xun, copper Zha-xun, iron Zha-xun and lead Zha-xun mainly based on the predominance of color rather than the minerals contained. It is commonly believed by the domestic and foreign scholars that humic acid is the main medicinal part of Zha-xun, and their studies have found that it has a variety of pharmacological activities such as anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory, liver protection, analgesia, immune regulation, increasing sexual desire and fertility, antioxidation, antibacterial, antidiabetic, antiepileptic, antipsychotic, etc. This paper provides a scientific basis for the rational utilization of Zha-xun resources.

[Historical evolution and modern research progress on characteristic processing of porcine cardiac blood processed Salvia miltiorrhiza in Menghe medical school].

The porcine cardiac blood processed Salvia miltiorrhiza (PCB Danshen) is the characteristic processing of Menghe medical school and has been inherited for hundreds of years, commonly used in the treatment of brain ischemia-induced agitation, palpitation and phlegm confusing heart. Ancient and modern physicians believe that porcine cardiac blood is a guiding for heart nourishing drugs, which could enhance the effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza by nourishing and soothing the nerves. However, the material basis and processing mechanism of PCB Danshen are still unclear. This paper investigated the historical evolution and modern research of PCB Danshen, including the clinical application, the intention of clinic processing, the processing technology and recent research of PCB Danshen. In addition, the major problems and significance in research and development of PCB Danshen were further thought and prospected, hoping to provide basic data for material basis and processing mechanism of PCB Danshen, and provide effective support for inheriting and carrying forward the characteristic processing technology of Menghe medical school.

[Research progress on identification and quality control of Cervi Cornu Pantotrichum].

Cervi Cornu Pantotrichum, as a traditional Chinese medicine, has great potential for development. However, the identification and quality control system is not perfect, leading to the market chaos and chronic slow growth in deep processing of Cervi Cornu Pantotrichum. This paper gives an overview of present situation in identification and quality control system of the Cervi Cornu Pantotrichum, and analyzes present problems. Based on these results, the feasibility study scheme in identification and quality control system for Cervi Cornu Pantotrichum would be then put forward, providing ideas to establish its comprehensive evaluation system.

Cutting Edge Research in Homeopathy: HRI's second international research conference in Rome.

Rome, 3rd-5th June 2015, was the setting for the Homeopathy Research Institute's (HRI) second conference with the theme 'Cutting Edge Research in Homeopathy'. Attended by over 250 delegates from 39 countries, this event provided an intense two and a half day programme of presentations and a forum for the sharing of ideas and the creation of international scientific collaborations. With 35 oral presentations from leaders in the field, the scientific calibre of the programme was high and the content diverse. This report summarises the key themes underpinning the cutting edge data presented by the speakers, including six key-note presentations, covering advancements in both basic and clinical research. Given the clear commitment of the global homeopathic community to high quality research, the resounding success of both Barcelona 2013 and Rome 2015 HRI conferences, and the dedicated support of colleagues, the HRI moves confidently forward towards the next biennial conference.

[Analysis of projects funded by NSFC in field of Chinese material medica resource in recent three years].

The paper reviewed the sponsorship and final reports of projects focus on Science of Chinese materia medica resource in Medical Science Department, National Natural Science Foundation of China. The applicant and supportive organizations were analyzed. The progress and results of some projects were summarized by research fields including formation mechanism of Dao-di herbs, research of plant taxonomy, breeding and cultivation of medical plants, ecological and environmental adaptability of Chinese materia medica resource, quality assessment of Chinese materia medica resource, and biosynthesis and regulation of active compounds. In addition, the potential problems and the most and least focused areas in the application were summarized for reference.

Veterinary homeopathy: systematic review of medical conditions studied by randomised trials controlled by other than placebo.

BACKGROUND: No systematic review has previously been carried out on randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of veterinary homeopathy in which the control group was an intervention other than placebo (OTP). For eligible peer-reviewed RCTs, the objectives of this study were to assess the risk of bias (RoB) and to quantify the effect size of homeopathic intervention compared with an active comparator or with no treatment. METHODS: Our systematic review approach complied fully with the PRISMA 2009 Checklist. Cochrane methods were applied to assess RoB and to derive effect size using standard meta-analysis methods. Based on a thorough and systematic literature search, the following key attributes of the published research were distinguished: individualised homeopathy (n = 1 RCT)/non-individualised homeopathy (n = 19); treatment (n = 14)/prophylaxis (n = 6); active controls (n = 18)/untreated controls (n = 2). The trials were highly diverse, representing 12 different medical conditions in 6 different species. RESULTS: No trial had sufficiently low RoB to be judged as reliable evidence: 16 of the 20 RCTs had high RoB; the remaining four had uncertain RoB in several domains of assessment. For three trials with uncertain RoB and without overt vested interest, it was inconclusive whether homeopathy combined with conventional intervention was more or was less effective than conventional intervention alone for modulation of immune response in calves, or in the prophylaxis of cattle tick or of diarrhoea in piglets. CONCLUSION: Due to the poor reliability of their data, OTP-controlled trials do not currently provide useful insight into the effectiveness of homeopathy in animals.

Observations on entanglement, non-locality and ultra-high dilutions.

INTRODUCTION: Fundamental research into the scientific basis of the manufacture of ultra-high dilutions and their working in applications has evolved over the past twenty years since our last critical analysis of the field was published in 1994. New contenders from the realm of physics (entanglement, non-locality) have entered the scene. The vast majority within the community of the application of ultra-high dilutions are not physicists. This paper attempts to elucidate the concepts of entanglement, non-locality and their application in ultra-high dilution research (UHD). METHOD: A selected study on the activity of fundamental research into UHD is performed to gain insight into trends of development activity of fundamental research in this area. In an attempt to nurture further development of theoretical models in fundamental research in UHD, an attempt is made to made recent theoretical concepts more accessible to the larger community including practitioners, policy makers and beneficiaries of UHD. RESULTS: Fundamental research in UHD had a period of prolific activity and recognition at the turn of the millennium until about ten years ago. Since then, research output as well as its recognition receded sharply suggesting that a period of reflection and consolidation may be in progress. CONCLUSION: The study and the knowledge gained from more recent theoretical models in UHD and entanglement suggest that there may be some benefit in stocktaking of what we really know about the fundamental workings of UHD as well as identifying or developing models that include measurable predictors that go beyond metaphorical descriptors.

Physiological effects of homeopathic medicines in closed phials--a critical evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Phials containing high dilutions of homeopathic remedies are commonly utilized in diagnostic tools in combination with electro acupuncture measuring electrical conductivity of the skin. The present research aimed to elucidate the interaction of the homeopathic remedy and the human organism. METHOD: The study protocol included the transition of a healthy subject to a diseased state utilizing a sub-harmful dose of a toxin. Subsequently, the subject was exposed to a homeopathic or placebo remedy in a closed glass phial and electrical conductivity was measured in open as well as in blind trials. A total of 229 data were collected from open trials and 750 data from blind trials. RESULT: The experimental data showed that homoeopathic remedies in closed glass phials may influence the electrical skin conductivity. The results of the blind trials differed considerably from those of the open trials. The percentage of correctly identified (verum and placebo) phials in the open trials (85%) was statistically different from those in the blind trials (65%). In both types of trials, however, the difference between the sealed phials containing the homeopathic medicine and the placebo was statistically significant. The results of measurements are directly linked to the way in which the tester holds the electrode in one hand and the subject's finger in the other, while putting pressure on the electrode. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the tester's muscle tone is the intermediary in unconsciously selecting which phial influenced him in his specific contact with the subject.

From high dilutions to digital biology: the physical nature of the biological signal.

The memory of water was a radical idea that arose in the laboratory of Jacques Benveniste in the late 1980s. Twenty-five years have passed and yet the often angry debate on its merits continues despite the increasing number of scientists who have reported confirmation of the basic results. One working hypothesis was that molecules can communicate with each other, exchanging information without being in physical contact and that at least some biological functions can be mimicked by certain energetic modes characteristics of a given molecule. These considerations informed exploratory research which led to the speculation that biological signaling might be transmissible by electromagnetic means. Around 1991, the transfer of specific molecular signals to sensitive biological systems was achieved using an amplifier and electromagnetic coils. In 1995, a more sophisticated procedure was established to record, digitize and replay these signals using a multimedia computer. From a physical and chemical perspective, these experiments pose a riddle, since it is not clear what mechanism can sustain such 'water memory' of the exposure to molecular signals. From a biological perspective, the puzzle is what nature of imprinted effect (water structure) can impact biological function. A parallel can be drawn between this debate on the memory of water, which presumes that the action of molecules is mediated by an electromagnetic phenomenon, and the often acrimonious debate on the transmission of nerve influxes via synaptic transfer of specific molecules, neurotransmitters. The latter debate began in 1921 with the first experiments by Loewi and was still active in 1949, 28 years later. A strong reluctance to accept research that questions basic aspects of long-accepted biochemical paradigms is to be expected. In this paper we will provide a brief summary of experiments relating to the memory of water: the earlier work on high dilutions (HD) and then the experiments, which followed and continue today, on digital biology.

Immunological models in high dilution research following M Bastide.

In 1994, Madeleine Bastide described experimental models in immunology that were used during the 1980s to investigate high dilution effects on several biological systems. She classified the available papers in four categories: High dilutions of antigens; High dilutions of thymus, bursa and other hormones; High dilutions of cytokines; Immunopharmacological activity of silica. The studies about high dilutions of antigens were not continued after this period, but gave rise to a long process of a series of in vitro models on antigens and histamine dilutions, that led to the demonstration of the biological modulation effects of these preparations on basophil degranulation. During this process, a multi-centre study was performed, with a high degree of reproducibility among different independent laboratories. The studies about high diluted cytokines, thymulin and other hormones opened a new line of scientific investigation, about the regulatory properties of endogenous substances prepared according to homeopathic methods. The most frequently studied substance, thymulin, when administered to mice at 5cH potency, is able to improve the activity of phagocytes in different experimental situations, such as viral, bacterial and parasitic infections. The immunopharmacological activity of silica was demonstrated, at that time, as an in vivo illustration of the homeopathic 'similia principle'. More recently, studies on silica have assumed another focus: the putative role of silica as active contaminant present in high dilutions. This paper presents a follow-up summary on these items, considering the evolution of discoveries from 1994 to 2014.