Homeopathy could cure swine flu, say experts

The AYUSH department, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India stated in a meeting that the homeopathic substance arsenicum album derived from the metallic-element arsenic could not only prevent swine flu but also treat it.

The meeting was convened by the AYUSH department and chaired by Dr. Diwan Harish Chand vice-president of governing body Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH).

The Times of India (TOI) quoted a Union Health Ministry official as saying, “The experts suggested that the substance arsenicum album could be taken as preventive medicine against flu-like illnesses including swine flu.”

Homeopathy as swine-flu cure
Doctors practicing homeopathy state that swine-flu and similar influenzas could find a cure in alternative medicine.

At the meeting, doctors recommended adults to take four pills of Arsenicum Album-30 every day on an empty stomach for three days as prophylactic medicine (drug that guard against diseases) against flu-like illnesses.

Two pills of the drug were prescribed for children to be taken in the same manner each day.

The doctors further stated that the dosage should be repeated after a month in prevalence of flu-like conditions.

Moreover, the expert group present at the meeting advised people on adopting hygienic measures put forth by the ministry of health and family welfare for disease prevention.

Other benefits of homeopathy
The homeopathy experts stated that in the past also, various flu epidemics such as the Spanish flu and bird flu have been effectively averted and cured by homeopathic remedies like gelsemium, bryonia, influenzinum, and oscillococcinum.

Daily News and Analysis (DNA) quoted a homeopathy practitioner, Dr Rajesh Patel as saying, “Homeopathy can not only prevent but also cure H1N1.”

“As they have no side-effects, homeopathic medicines can be administered to people falling under the high risk category, including infants, pregnant women, and the elderly,” Patel added.

Homoeopath Padma Govindan stated, “Homeopathic medicines do not target the causative organisms directly, but bolster the body’s immune system instead.”

Arsenicum album (Arsen. alb.) is a frequently used homeopathic substance derived from arsenic and is one of the fifteen most important remedies in homeopathy.

It is used by homeopaths to cure various symptoms such as digestive disorders (especially food poisoning), insomnia, allergies, anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.