20 years ago: The British Homoeopathic Journal, October 1988

Approaching AIDS

Several papers in this issue focussed on this recently identified disease. In his editorial,[ ¹ ] Peter Fisher stated “There is a widespread, but more-or-less instinctive feeling in the homoeopathic world that homoeopathy has something important to offer in the therapy of this epidemic. After all, it could be argued that homoeopathy would hardly have outlived Hahnemann had it not been for the cholera epidemics of the 19^th century in which homoeopathy achieved dramatic successes in many parts of the world … But AIDS is a new disease and we would certainly not be justified in assuming that a similimum for every, or even any case of the disease must exist within the current material medica … In this issue of the British Homoeopathic Journal we have begun the systematic application of the homeoepathic method to the new and terrible problem of AIDS”.

The first paper is a proving of certain antibodies entitled “The effect of anti-tissue antibodies in healthy volunteers” [ ² ] by Pascal Sequin. As infection by the virus was known to modify the T4 lymphocytes and the macrophages, a substance was needed which would produce the same type of modification in a healthy volunteer, and so lead to therapy. Antilymphatic serum (ALS), normally used following organ transplantation, was shown to be capable of this, but the study was incomplete because of difficulties with its use; in particular, the large doses required. The anti-tissue anti-body, anti-reticulo-endothelial system serum (anti-RES), was effective in very small doses, so this was used in the proving; which was novel, in that the treatment was given by suppository, but, more importantly, that the main parameters recorded were not subjective sensations, but immunological values. In their therapeutic work, the authors use both anti-RES and anti-diencephalon sera for healthy carriers who are HIV positive.

Two more papers investigate the possibility of a similimum for this new condition. “Cyclosporin: Similimum for AIDS?” [ ³ ] is by M J B Finnegan. The author detailed the identification of Cyclosporin A from new fungal strains in 1969/70 in the US and Norway; and its extremely effective use in preventing graft rejection. In 1983, Sell et al had described similarity between AIDS and Cyclosporin A- immuno-suppression and proposed that a Cyclosporin A-like compound of fungal origin could be responsible for AIDS. Two pages describe its mechanism of action. The significant area of immunological dysfunction common to this agent and HIV suggests a possible similimum, and invites a proving experiment. The other paper “Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: Is Phytolacca Americana homoeopathic to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome? [ ⁴ ] is by M K S Irwin. The materia medica of Phytolacca (common name Pokeweed) has many similarities to AIDS; especially in its affinity for glandular tissue. It has many uses in the varied manifestations of both AIDS-related complex and fully developed AIDS once the symptoms have been carefully studied; but the author concluded that it does not appear to be specifically homeopathic to the pathology of AIDS, especially at the cellular level, where it stimulates both T and B lymphocytes to divide. But “Pokeweed mitogen (PWM) is now well established as a research tool in immunology. It can also be used clinically to assess a patient's immune response. Lymphocytes of patients who are infected with HIV respond poorly to PWM. Patients with HIV infection who respond least appear to have the worst prognosis”.

The final paper, “AIDS, some early clinical experience” [ ⁵ ] is by Michael Strange. Peter Fisher, in his editorial, described it as the largest group of AIDS patients receiving homeopathic treatment yet reported – about 200. He was impressed by its scale and quality.

• References

• 1 Fisher P. Editorial. Br Hom J 1988; 77: 209-210.
• 2 Seguin P. The effect of anti-tissue antibodies in healthy volunteers. Br Hom J 1988; 77: 211-214.
• 3 Finnegan M.J.B. Cyclosporin: Similimum for AIDS?. Br Hom J 1988; 77: 215-218.
• 4 Irwin M.K.S. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: is Phytolacca Americana homoeopathic to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome?. Br Hom J 1988; 77: 219-223.
• 5 Strange M. AIDS, some early clinical experience. Br Hom J 1988; 77: 224-227.
• 6 Fisher P. Research abstract: a turning point for homoeopathy. Br Hom J 1988; 77: 228-230.
• 7 Debbas N.M.G., Wiseman P.J.T. Press reactions to Benveniste. Br Hom J 1988; 77: 231-232.
• 8 Randi J., Fisher P. Nature V. Benveniste: an exchange of correspondence. Br Hom J 1988; 77: 233-234.
• 9 Swayne J. Joining the grown ups: academic challenge and responsibility in homoeopathic medicine. Br Hom J 1988; 77: 235-244.
• 10 Fisher P. Homoeopathy at the dawn of the year 2000: the first Congress of the OMHI. Br Hom J 1988; 77: 251-253.
• 11 Ullman D. Homoeopathy in America: a status report. Br Hom J 1988; 77: 267-270.