EDITORIAL – Aug 2020 – A Holistic Approach to COVID-19

The dominant hypothesis about COVID-19 has been that the immune system over reacts creating a Cytokine storm which damages organs. Thus, treatment has been geared toward suppressing the immune system. However, new research from Washington University School of Medicine (U.S.)¹ suggests that, though there is an initial hyper-inflammatory phase, immune suppression by the virus is the real cause of death. Based on this concept, doctors recently gave covid patients interleukin-7 (IL-7), a cytokine immune stimulant. They found that lymphocytes, normally destroyed by covid, returned to a reference level.

The question is, should doctors suppress the immune system or try to enhance it?  There’s the dilemma.  In either case, it will be difficult to solve this problem with a reductionist approach. There are numerous immuno-suppressive drugs, but they have potentially deadly side effects. There are more limited immune enhancing methods, but they too can have serious side effects, and which one do you choose? Does the patient need IL-7, IL-12, IL-21 or some entirely different factor?

Wouldn’t it be better to let the organism “decide” through its innate homeostatic mechanism, developed over millions of years, exactly which cells and biochemicals it needs and in what amounts? But how do you activate that mechanism, when apparently, it’s not working properly?

In homeopathy we refer to this innate intelligence that restores homeostasis as the “vital force”. It encompasses much more than what is normally called the immune system.  But how do you guide that mechanism in a person who is ill?  You match the symptoms of the patient with a substance that is able to produce similar symptoms. That mimics the disease and causes the vital force to initiate the healing process. It does this from the inside out, directing the body to produce, in just the right amounts, whatever it needs to heal. No outside chemical intervention can ever match that precision.

It doesn’t matter whether the immune system is under reacting or over reacting, the appropriate homeopathic remedy will restore order. When it is functioning properly, the vital force has a natural feedback mechanism. It knows when to initiate a physiological change, to what extent, and when to stop. Therefore, there are no side effects.

The general understanding of the immune system is that it consists of various cells and chemicals that fight infection and other diseases. However, the vital force has a broader function, as it attempts to sustain life regardless of the threat. For instance, it is well known that an emotional shock, like death of a life partner, can trigger deep depression, physical illness and even death. Though there is no detectable disease after such a shock, the vital force has been disrupted.  In such an instance, homeopathic remedies can restore psychic and physiological balance before damage is done.

These concepts are second nature to any homeopath as our practice depends on them. We see the truth borne out with every cure.  Yet, they don’t exist even dimly, in the minds of conventionally trained doctors.

Having been involved in homeopathy for some 30 years, and knowing that homeopaths are daily curing covid-19 patients, it is difficult for me to constantly read, “There are currently no effective treatments for covid-19”.

1 Association of Interleukin 7 Immunotherapy With Lymphocyte Counts Among Patients With Severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

In this issue:

EDITORIAL –   A Holistic Approach to COVID-19  – Alan V. Schmukler

–– Letters to the Editor  – Hpathy.com

 

HOMEOPATH IN THE HOT-SEAT:

Dr. Alberto Sacristán Rubio – President of the National Assembly of Homeopathy in Spain, is interviewed by Katja Schütt

 

FEATURED:

–– Online Homeopathy Course by George Vithoulkas

–– 50% Discount on Homeopathy Foundation Course

–– Buy Dr. Bhatia’s Lectures on Organon of Medicine – the International bestseller!

 

ARTICLES:

–– Acute Prescribing – Challenges and Solutions – Dr. Ajit Kulkarni

––  Therapeutics of Acute Respiratory Tract Infections – Dr. Ajit Kulkarni

––  A Biography of Dr. Guy Beckley Stearns

––   Migraine and Homoeopathy – Dr. Jagdish Thebar

–– Letter from Samuel Hahnemann to Constantine Hering -circa 1841

–– The Soul of Remedies – Baryta ars / Baryta sulph – Dr. Rajan Sankaran

––  Viewing the 6 Genotpes through the Lens of Autism Spectrum – Allyson McQuinn

–– Homeopathic Survival Kit for Families Under Lockdown – Elizabeth Adlaian

––  The Periodic Table: Another Look at The Homeopathic Constitutions – Jeff Korentayer

––  Homeopathy as an Ally In Running – Dr. Alberto Sacristan Rubio

––– TIDBITS  71 – Blood From the Sword that Wounded You -Elaine Lewis

––  TIPS & SECRETS – Alan V. Schmukler

 

CLINICAL CASES:

–– COVID 19 in A 90-Year Old Russian Woman – Molly Caliger

––  Placenta Humanum Cases from Pediatric Practice – Mike Andrews

–– Depression with Vertigo in a Man of 56 – Dr. Ronak Shah

––  My Success with Lesser Remedies – Dr. Rajiv Peres

––  Enlarged Adenoids in a Child of Two – Drs. Prajakta Vaidya & Preety Shah

–– Type 2 Diabetes in a Girl of 8 – Dr. Vrushali Saraswat

–– Hypothyroidism in a Woman of 30 – Dr. Reetesh Shet

––  Enlarged Adenoids in a Boy of 10 – Dr. Nishtha Bhatt

––  Cholelithiasis in a Woman of 92 – Dr. Kavita Chandak

 

RESEARCH:

–– Homeopathic Vaccination and Prophylaxis – Thomas A. Kruzel, N.D.

 

BOOK REVIEWS:

Matridonal Remedies in Daily Practice by Heinz Wittwer  – Reviewed by Rochelle Marsden

 

VETERINARY:

–– Ask the Holistic Vet – Aug 2020 – Deva Khalsa

 

CARTOONS:

–– Go to School!  –      Alan V. Schmukler

 

PLAY CROSSWORDS!:

–– Homeopathy Crossword –  August 2020

 

SOLVE THE CASE QUIZ:

–– Revisiting: It’s A Mary Tyler Moore Show Quiz! – Elaine Lewis

–– QUIZ  –  Fear of COVID-19  – Elaine Lewis – Shana Lewis

 

AGROHOMEOPATHY:

–– The Plant Doctor – Radko Tichavsky – August 2020