In vitro antimicrobial activity of propolis and Arnica montana against oral pathogens.

Arnica and propolis have been used for thousands of years in folk medicine for several purposes. They possess several biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antiviral and tissue regenerative, among others. Although the antibacterial activity of propolis has already been demonstrated, very few studies have been done on bacteria of clinical relevance in dentistry. Also, the antimicrobial activity of Arnica has not been extensively investigated. Therefore the aim here was to evaluate in vitro the antimicrobial activity, inhibition of adherence of mutans streptococci and inhibition of formation of water-insoluble glucan by Arnica and propolis extracts. Arnica montana (10%, w/v) and propolis (10%, w/v) extracts from Minas Gerais State were compared with controls. Fifteen microorganisms were used as follows: Candida albicans--NTCC 3736, F72; Staphylococcus aureus--ATCC 25923; Enterococcus faecalis--ATCC 29212; Streptococcus sobrinus 6715; Strep. sanguis--ATCC 10556; Strep. cricetus--HS-6; Strep. mutans--Ingbritt 1600; Strep. mutans--OMZ 175; Actinomyces naeslundii--ATCC 12104, W 1053; Act. viscosus OMZ 105; Porphyromonas gingivalis; Porph. endodontalis and Prevotella denticola (the last three were clinical isolates). Antimicrobial activity was determined by the agar diffusion method and the zones of growth inhibition were measured. To assess cell adherence to a glass surface, the organisms were grown for 18 h at 37 degrees C in test-tubes at a 30 degree angle. To assay water-insoluble glucan formation, a mixture of crude glucosyltransferase and 0.125 M sucrose was incubated for 18 h at 37 degrees C in test-tubes at a 30 degree angle. Arnica and propolis extracts (20 microl) were added to these tubes to evaluate the % of inhibition of cell adherence and water-insoluble glucan formation. The propolis extract significantly inhibited all the microorganisms tested (p < 0.05), showing the largest inhibitory zone for Actinomyces spp. The Arnica extract did not demonstrate significant antimicrobial activity. Cell adherence and water-insoluble glucan formation were almost completely inhibited by the propolis extract at a final concentration of 400 microg/ml and 500 microg/ml, respectively. The Arnica extract showed slight inhibition of the adherence of the growing cells (19% for Strep. mutans and 15% for Strep. sobrinus) and of water-insoluble glucan formation (29%) at these same concentrations. Thus, the propolis extract showed in vitro antibacterial activity, inhibition of cell adherence and inhibition of water-insoluble glucan formation, while the Arnica extract was only slightly active in those three conditions.

Homeopathic Arnica in postoperative haematomas: a double-blind study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether homeopathic Arnica can reduce postoperative haematomas in venous surgery. DESIGN: Randomized, prospective, multicentric, double-blind placebo-controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS: 130 consecutive patients undergoing saphenous stripping (204 legs), hospitalized in a clinic. INTERVENTIONS: A homeopathic medicine (Arnica CH5) and an indistinguishable placebo, administered sublingually by a nurse the night before and immediately after the operation. OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical evaluation of haematomas 6 days postoperatively. RESULTS: Groups were well matched (sex, age, history of bleeding or thrombosis, drug intake, previous intake of homeopathic drugs, type of operation and anaesthesia, operator). One drop-out has been replaced. No statistically significant difference in postoperative haematomas was found between the Arnica and placebo groups (p = 0.342). Subanalysis of all other items did not reveal any statistical difference either. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, with this dosage, we did not observe any preventive effect of homeopathic Arnica CH5 on poststripping haematomas.

Effect of Traumeel S, a homeopathic formulation, on blood-induced inflammation in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the activity of Traumeel S (TRS), a homeopathic formulation containing Arnica montana and other plant extracts and minerals on an animal model of traumatic inflammation. DESIGN: TRS and individual components thereof were administered locally to rats 1 h before hind-paw injection with 0.1 ml of homologous blood and the development of oedema was measured over five hours. In each experiment, a control group was treated with saline. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Paw volume of each rat was measured before oedema and 1, 3, and 5 h after oedema induction. Serum levels of IL-6 were determined at hour 5. RESULTS: The decrease of paw oedema, associated with the process of healing, was more rapid in rats treated with TRS (P < 0.05 after 3 h and P < 0.01 after 5 h). Similar effects were also induced by separate injection of most, but not all, TRS ingredients. The efficacy of complete mixture of TRS was higher than the combination of a selection of active components. TRS also reduced oedema development when administered after the oedema induction. The therapeutic effect of TRS was associated with a significant decrease of systemic interleukin-6 production. CONCLUSION: TRS seems to act by speeding up the healing process instead of blocking the development of oedema from the beginning. Moreover, its effect cannot be considered as the 'sum' of its active components and probably a synergistic interaction occurs to determine the final effect.

Efficacy of homeopathic arnica: a systematic review of placebo-controlled clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of homeopathic remedies has remained controversial. The homeopathic remedy most frequently studied in placebo-controlled clinical trials is Arnica montana. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the clinical efficacy of homeopathic arnica. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Computerized literature searches were performed to retrieve all placebo-controlled studies on the subject. The following databases were searched: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CISCOM, and the Cochrane Library. Data were extracted in a predefined, standardized fashion independently by both authors. There were no restrictions on the language of publications. RESULTS: Eight trials fulfilled all inclusion criteria. Most related to conditions associated with tissue trauma. Most of these studies were burdened with severe methodological flaws. On balance, they do not suggest that homeopathic arnica is more efficacious than placebo. CONCLUSION: The claim that homeopathic arnica is efficacious beyond a placebo effect is not supported by rigorous clinical trials.

Protocolo pos-operatorio homeopatico em pan-histerectomia de cadelas e gatas / Homeopathic pos-surgical protocol of the ovariohisterectomia in canine and feline

A cirurgia mais comumente realizada na pratica clinica cirurgica veterinaria de pequenos animais e a pan-histerectomia e neste estudo foi avaliado o emprego de Arnica montana e Calendula officinalis durante o pos-operatorio visando demonstrar a sua aplicabilidade clinica na rotina do Servico de Obstetricia do Hospital Veterinario da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro. A utilizacao dos referidos medicamentos homeopaticos mostraram-se eficazes se constituindo numa conduta de facil utilizacao e de baixo custo de aquisicao. (AU)

Materia medica clinica de los medicamentos con accion selectiva en traumatismos y heridas / Clinical materia medica of drugs with selective action in traumas an injuries

El proposito de este trabajo es acceder a una guia util y practica de los medicamentos que se utilizan con mas frecuencia para traumatismos y heridas

Anorexia infantil / Infantile anorexia

En esta publicacion se desarrolla especificamente el gran tema de la anorexia infantil. Se establecen en el las causas mas comunes que pueden determinar su aparicion, asi como la sintomatologia con la que habitualmente se expresa. Concluye el articulo con la lista de medicamentos mas comunmente utilizados dentro de nuestro arsenal teraperutico para tratarla con exito

Materia médica clínica de los medicamentos con acción selectiva en traumatismos y heridas / Clinical materia medica of the medicaments most used for traumatisms and wounds

El propósito de este trabajo es acceder a una guía útil y práctica de los medicamentos que se utilizan con más frecuencia para traumatismos y heridas

Materia médica clínica de los medicamentos con acción selectiva en traumatismos y heridas / Clinical materia medica of the medicaments most used for traumatisms and wounds

El propósito de este trabajo es acceder a una guía útil y práctica de los medicamentos que se utilizan con más frecuencia para traumatismos y heridas (AU)

Posibilidades de accion del pediatra homeopata frente al lactante amenazado de muerte subita inexplicable / Possibilities homeopathic pediatric action in infant

Este articulo aborda otras possibilidades etiologicas de la muerte subita inexplicable (MSI) del lactante y considera diferentes maneras de prevenir este sindrome. Tenemos en cuenta las modificaciones de la alimentacion, los traumas psiquicos sufridos durante el embarazo, los efectos de la contaminacion general y medica, la forma de parir asi como los principales remedios homeopaticos correspondientes a la amenaza de la MSI. La mayoria de los remedios homeopaticos de la MSI son remedios del terror (frigth, complaints from: K49) y algunos de la colera. (AU)

El uso del ARNICA homeopatizado en el destete de los terneros / The use of homeopathized Arnica in the weaning of the bovine

Se describe el uso del Arnica homeopatizado en el destete de la especie bovina representada por las dos sub-especies (taurus e indicus)

Medicamentos homeopaticos usados em ortopedia em dois casos clinicos / Homeopathic medecines used in two clinical cases of orthopedics

Os autores tratam da acao homeopatica propiciadora de uma melhor e, as vezes, surpreendente ajuda para a reparacao ossea, muscular e de vasos sanguineos traumatisados. Tratam, assim, de dois casos com evolucao muito boa, sem qualquer sequela, de politraumatismo com fratura de C2 e C3, sem lesao medular. As bases para o entendimento medico, da reparacao natural e da aao homeopatica sao aqui discutidas.(AU)

El uso del ARNICA homeopatizado en el destete de los terneros / The use of homeopathized Arnica in the weaning of the bovine

Se describe el uso del Arnica homeopatizado en el destete de la especie bovina representada por las dos sub-especies (taurus e indicus) (AU)

Asphyxia of the new-born

Neonatology is characterised by waitingand acute interventions. In case of asphyxia of the newborn there is no time for repertorisation, -we need our remedies to be ready in our brain and in our pocket. Friedrich Graf gives us a differential of the commoly used medicines in that state