The video of this lecture can be found at http://www.wholehealthnow.com/courses/freecasts.html#q-t
The lecture was given by Dr. Will Taylor. The lecture is of very high quaility and is free.
See other pages of this blog for comparisons of influenza remedies.
See other pages of this blog for comparisons of influenza remedies.
We humans and epidemic causing viruses are in the process of adapting to one another.
All current influenza derives from the virus of 1818. N1H1 is the abbreviation for this virus. N stands for Neuraminidase N1-9. H stands for Hemagglutinin H1-18. Previous influenza viruses is not so clear. The coat proteins are what our body see when antibodies are formed.
In nature, there are more strains that do not directly affect humans. Besides DNA evolution, the virus antigens can further evolve which further complicates the possibilities for evolving new strains of an influenza virus. Today, the principle host species are duck, aquatic birds and horses and pigs. In the infected organism, the virus floats around in the cytoplasm as small pieces of RNA. At that point they can also mutate. If 2 or more organisms infect one organism, a hybrid can form. These hybrids are not usually dramatically different.
Human influenza seems to first come from the wild aquatic birds. Again, there is a pool of different kinds of potential viruses. The ducks can acquire human viruses and ducks can also be infected by similar viruses of other animals. So antigenic shift becomes possible. The degree of contagiousness and the pathogenicity are separate characteristics of different strains (factors of virulence).
For example, influenza B is limited to humans and seals, because of the lack of interaction there is little mutation, so is easily targeted by vaccination makers.
H5N1 seems to be confined to wild and domestic fowl, but there is little human susceptibility. But that could change. H7N7 is similar because it can only affect humans and dogs. The 1918 flu may have this kind of origin. That is, the virus that infects humans may have first mutated in animals that live together.
Other viruses, rhinovirus (colds (adenovirus, entrovirus, flavivirus (dengue and West Nile virus) are similar in the early stage. The CDC reports that only about 23% of specimens submitted by doctors are actually influenza A or B. That influenza is not very common is not well known.
As an aside, the viruses that are escaping whooping cough vaccination are more virulent. This is not always the case with all viruses. But this kind of increased virulence may also be possible with influenza.
Historically the viruses came from the East and went west. In the Middle Ages, people living with animals in crowded conditions probably started mutating these viruses.
Relatively large shifts historically seem to take place and then there is a low infrequency of epidemics. Looking at recent influenza history this also seems to be true.
The genius epidemicus (the remedy that cures a given location where an epidemic occurs) used for one seasoned may be different from the remedy used for the end of the season because the virus changes even during the epidemic. (Ellen: What is the evidence for this? It seems to be clinical.)
We can follow influenza patterns at www.WHO.INT/topics/influenza/
http://www.google.org/
Cochrane Review is the gold standard of alternative medicine. (Cochrane Library) A review of studies about the efficacy of influenza inactivation shows that there are no conclusive results supporting mass inoculation or against it. These studies are ignored because they are not politically correct.
Another factor in the poor medical reporting of incidents of influenza is based on the fact that non-influenza virus infection in their initial stages looks like influenza. These viruses vary from the rhinovirus to the Ebola virus. The CDC reports that 23% of physician reported cases of influenza are actually influenza. The remaining 77% is other viruses. So the actual instances of influenza are very low.
A timeline of influenza like epidemics start up and then reduce as is the population seems to gain resistance to that virus. Since the virus can adapt using the DNA of other strains that are initially not strains endangering humans, again a new one from the or virus strain develops and again there is a pandemic or epidemic. Hahnemann experienced an influenza epidemic during his early years of practice. In middle age, there was one epidemic, but it did not affect Germany. Finally, at the end of his life he probably died from bronchitis as a sequel to an epidemic that was occurring at that time.
Writing about the early epidemic Hahnemann said that the same remedy cannot be used for every epidemic. Locally there is a different remedy required. Definition of palliation: the disease becomes milder but does not decrease the time needed for healing. Camphor is an example of a remedy that only palliates. In the repertory, under influenza camphor does not belong there in bold because it is only palliative. Nux vomica, in contrast, is in bold and belongs there.
In the beginning of an epidemic, the symptoms are not distinct. You need to take the case of several patients in your area to find the genus epidemic. The rare disease symptoms are less obvious until you see several instances in different patients. The flu tends to change, so unlike older diseases like polio there is no standard remedy.
Homeopropholaxis (like a vaccination that prevents the worst symptoms of the flu or prevents susceptibility to the flu) is needed when a patient knows that the epidemic is coming and he can't afford to get sick or because each he is weak or economically unstable.
The Cochrane Review is the gold standard of alternative medicine publications. (See Cochrane Library) A review of studies about the efficacy of influenza shows that the evidence of studies is at best inconclusive.
(Ellen: Since there are many non-influenza viruses that will look like influenza in their initial stage, studies should be difficult to do.) These reported viruses vary from the rhinovirus to the Ebola virus. The CDC reports that 23% of physician reported cases of influenza are actually influenza. The remaining 77% are over viruses. So the actual instances of influenza are very low.
A timeline of the frequency of influenza-like epidemics shows that they start up and then frequency reduces as the population seems to gain resistance to that virus. Since the virus can adapt using the DNA of other strains that are initially not strains endangering humans, again a new one from the or virus strain develops and again there is a pandemic or epidemic.
As an example of this we like changing frequency of epidemic diseases, Hahnemann experienced an influenza epidemic during his early years of practice. Again, there was one epidemic when he was middle aged, but it did not affect Germany. So he had very little exposure to influenza. Taylor believes that at the end of his life he probably died from bronchitis, which probably was a sequel to an epidemic that was occurring at that time.
Writing about the early influenza epidemic, he observed what we now know, that the same remedy cannot be used for every epidemic. Locally there is a different remedy required. Definition of palliation: the disease becomes milder but does not decrease it in like. Camphor is an example of a remedy that only palliates influenza. In the Synthesis repertory, under influenza, camphor does not belong there at all. Camphor is he in bold letters. Nux vomica, is in bold and belongs there.
In the beginning of an epidemic (the first few cases or the first few hours?) symptoms are not distinct. You need to take the case of several patients in that area to find the genus epidemicus. The rare disease symptoms are less obvious until you see several patients. Note that the flu tends to change, so unlike older diseases like polio remedies from previous years are not necessarily relevant in the next year.
Homeopropholaxis is needed when a patient knows that the epidemic is coming and can't afford to get sick because he is weak or economically poor.
The Lancet reported a phenomenal study where the Lancet editors didn't know the study was a homeopathic remedy. In this study, the P=3 of statistical significance was very high. You don't find this in normal medical, clinical studies. 500 plus participants had symptoms of influenza: stiffness, lumbar or particular pain and shivers and rectal temperature of 30°C (100.4. F). In a blind study half received the placebo and half the remedy, oscillcoccinum.
In the cases described above Taylor would have looked for the genus epidemicus. He would use oscillcoccinum in the first few hours of the flu epidemic and for people who say they want to prevent getting the flu.
He goes to a standard medical textbook, Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine to repertorize the symptoms of flu. Then he gets Gelsemium and Eupatorium perfoliatum (bone great flu, Dengue flu). But this means they are among the common flu remedies, and not that they are more important than other remedies)
He draws out the symptoms of the flu in a Boenninghausen x diagram with the following sectors in each part of the x -- (The physical size of the diagram forces you to limit the number of symptoms)
Locations (typical symptoms of the flu, but what is most characteristic in this case.): (fever is systemic) nose/, upper respiratory
Concomitants: (effect on non-respiratory system symptoms, but usually are characteristic of the flu): Headache. Body aches, Discomfort of skin
Pace: remittent (get a bit better then gets sick again (related definitions: Intermittent means you get totally better then get sick, Periodic: a set cycle that repeat when you get sick.) that is erratic. Looking at the repertory, aconite and belladonna should not be under influenza. There pace is not remittent.
Descriptions and sensations : (focus on the description of the main previous symptoms. These are details about other larger symptoms are described. What is characteristic and what is rare, strange and peculiar. Preferences would go here.)
Modalities:( what ameliorates or aggravate symptoms. These could vary greatly among individuals.) Here, a succession of stages is a specific section of the repertory in the fever chapter.
Dunham says you should not automatically give aconite at the beginning of the fever. This is because you can confuse the symptoms, especially in a person of low vitality. If you give a remedy that is really not the simillum, you delay healing and make it difficult to give the really curative remedy.
(Irene Villes critique: He thinks that influenza prepared by Biron is good, especially if it is the more recent influenza virus. Others argue that if you going to use a recent virus, you want to use it more dissimilar remedy which it. The rule of homeopathic remedy power is that they are similar and not identical. Thus the older Influenzinum is more powerful because it is more dissimilar.)
He would use Arsenicum, Bryonia, Gelsemium, Nux vomica, Rhus Tox. Sanguinaria and Spigallia are the top remedies for influenza. 90% of the epidemics of recent years have been these remedies. Spigalia has a strong family resemblance to Nux vomica. Each has a headache similar to Sanguinaria that it makes it distinct from Nux vomica. It radiates from the upper neck to the forehead. Or over the eye
Kali-bi and kali iodatum are not as obvious as the above remedies. There was a flu that started as Ars as the genus epidemicus except for those people who resisted signs of the flu and came into the clinic after their symptoms were well developed. Then they had the thick yellow green tenacious snot. Also people who would improve with Ars. needed Kali-bic, They might not fully recover and they would go to Kali-bic. Kali-bic can also be followed by nux-vomica.
Kali-i is not typical, but we should be looking for it. Look in Phatak MM.
Nux followed by Gels.
Septic flu remedies are much sicker than the above remedies. see Arn, Bapt, pyrogen. Septic means the blood is dark with toxins.
Arn, Ars-i, bapt, Chel, Ip, Kali-bi, pyrogen, sticta and that are the next ranking remedies he would use. When the course of the influenza becomes, he reviews the following remedies: Ant-t, Caust, Carb-v, Phos, Puls, Sang. Tub-a.
The following remedies have peculiar symptoms that are not typical to flu. But you should recognize them immediately if you have them in the context of flu.
Ipecacuanha-- Always Brochospasm (wheezing / asthma) vomiting, spasm of the finger. These symptoms will be secondary to the main respiratory complaints of influenza.
Sanguinary High fever, aching of neck extending to the forehead, feeling the neck has to crack, rawness in the throat. Also in influenza that progresses down into the lungs or does not recover.
Autimonium-t. To exhausted to cough up the phlegm that is in their chest. When they can cough up the phlegm they are relieved.
Carbo-v cold, but want a fan on them.
Phosphorus in pneumonia following influenza. Most often they are going to be sanguinaria.
Tuberculium aviare/ or tub. avis very little in the repertory. But does not fit the specific picture of phosphorus.
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