A Study of Siberia's Medicinal Plants Used in Homeopathy

Abstract

Background A current priority of national health care in Russia is to expand the range of drug substances, based on naturally occurring compounds, to use for treating socially significant diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Objective The main objective of our study was to compile a contemporary list of Siberia's ‘homeopathic plants’, describing for each plant the corresponding therapeutic indications or main symptoms of disease.

Methods The textbook, Global Resources of Homeopathic Medicinal Raw Materials, was used to scrutinize the 709 species that are allowed for use in Russia, designating each of the 709 as either indigenous or non-indigenous to the region of Siberia. A homeopathic repertory, containing description of more than 1,800 single-component homeopathic medicines, was used to identify Siberia's medicinal plants used in homeopathy, along with the medical indications of each.

Results The medicinal plants of Siberia used in homeopathy comprise 137 species of flowering plants, gymnosperms and sporophytes, belonging to 52 families. The most represented are the Compositae, Rosaceae, and Lamiaceae families.

Conclusion The inventory of Siberian plants has allowed us to identify the plants of this region used in homeopathy and will help to inform research on additional species with the potential for introduction into homeopathic practice.

Keywords

homeopathy - medicinal plants - Siberia

Highlights

• We aimed to compile a contemporary list of Siberia's ‘homeopathic plants’, describing for each plant the therapeutic indications or symptoms of disease.

• A homeopathic repertory was used to identify Siberia's medicinal plants used in homeopathy.

• The medicinal plants of Siberia used in homeopathy belong to 52 families and comprise 137 species of flowering plants, gymnosperms and sporophytes.

• The inventory of Siberian plants will help to inform research on additional species with the potential for introduction into homeopathic practice.

• References

• 1 Belodubrovskaya GA, Zhokhova EV. Nomenclature of Medicinal Plants Used in Homeopathy. Guidance Manual. Saint-Petersburg: SPbHFA; 1998
• 2 Kiseleva TL, Smirnova YA, Blinkov IL. Brief Encyclopedia of Modern Herbal Medicine with the Basics of Homeopathy. Moscow, Russia: Naturotherapeutists Professional Association Publishing House; 2010
• 3 Samylina IA, Sorokina AA. Atlas of Medicinal Plants and Raw Materials. Moscow: KMK; 2008
• 4 Patudin AV, Tereshina NS, Mishchenko VS, Gubanov IA. Global Resources of Medicinal Raw Materials. Kirov: Print House - Vyatka; 2006
• 5 Vavilova NM. Homeopathic Pharmacodynamics. “Homeopathic Center”, Smolensk. Parts 1 and 2. Moscow: Everest; 1994
• 6 Ladygina EY, Frolova LN, Kiseleva TL. , et al. Morphological and anatomical study of freshly collected aconite monkshood raw material. Publication 1. The above-ground part. III Russian homeopathic congress: Proceedings. Moscow: Publishing House of the Federal Scientific Clinical and Experimental Center of Traditional Diagnostic and Treatment Methods of Russian Health Care; 2007:200–203
• 7 The State Register of Medicinal Drugs. Official publication in 2 volumes. Moscow: Medicine; 2004
• 8 Nekratova AN. Forest Flora of Kuznetsky Alatau [dissertation abstract]. Novosibirsk, Russia; 2005
• 9 Alefirov AN. Homeopathy. Complete Encyclopedia. Saint-Petersburg Publishing House, Ves‘; 2001
• 10 Minaeva VG. Medicinal Plants of Siberia, 5th ed., revised and updated. Novosibirsk: Nauka; 1991
• 11 Kosmodemyanskiy LV. Diagnostic Analysis Repertory [computer program “DAR”] Version 5.0; 2015
• 12 Sinelnikov VV. Dr. Sinelnikov's homeopathy: full pathogenesis of medicinal drugs. Materia Medica. Repertorium. Moscow: Tsentrpoligraf; 2007
• 13 Olsen S. Trees and plants that heal. Germany: Narayana Verlag; 1997
• 14 Madaus G. Lehrbuch der biologischen Heilmittel. Hildesheim and New York: Georg Olms Verlag; 1979