Page 11 - Winter 18-19

Raj Machanda provided an ‘Overview of Homeopathy in India’ and ‘Evidence Based Homeopathic Dermatology’. Homeopathy was introduced to India in 1810, and it has been well received. The Ministry of AYUSH includes homeopathy and other CAM modalities, and its practitioners have equal status, and regulations to ensure quality, as other medical practitioners. Homeopathy has decreased antibiotic use, and the AMR problem. Patients want choice in their medical system, and the extensive AYUSH education system is growing. A weakness is the lack of research, and inadequate critical thinking in education, and a threat is the attempts to defame homeopathy. Raj next described the results of some of his research in the use of homeopathy in dermatology cases. These are graphically illustrated in the book that he co-authored, ”Textbook of Dermatology for Homeopaths” by Machanda and Gupta.
Rosaria Ferreri of Italy presented ‘Diabetes Type 2 Patients, Homeopathy and Integrated Medicine: Preliminary Results of a Clinical Study in the Center of Integrated Medicine’. Rosaria demonstrated how integrative care with homeopathy, diet and lifestyle changes, and dietary supplements resulted in decreased need for conventional medicines, improved lab parameters, decreased obesity, decreased co-morbidities, and improved quality of life.
Mirjam Blatnik relayed her experiences with ‘Veterinary Homeopathy in an Everyday Clinic in Slovenia’. Mirjam’s hospital provides multiple care modalities to small animal and equine patients: conventional, homeopathy, acupuncture, TCVM, osteopathy, and chiropractic. Mirjam notes that the in depth case taking of homeopathy builds trust with owners, and homeopathy provides multiple benefits to patients.
Susanne Diez of Austria described her ‘Fruitful Collaboration between Homeopathy and Cardiology’. Susanne has cardiac patients referred to her by her cardiologist husband. These patients may have mental signs exacerbating the disease, they may want to decrease conventional medicine, they might be in high risk group but not
symptomatic, or they may want homeopathy first. Susanne described several of these cases, and discussed some remedies she finds particularly useful for certain acute conditions.
Sara Eames of the UK finished the educational portion of the conference with an inspirational talk on ‘Homeopathy at the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine: Past, Present, and Future’. The RL Homeopathic Hospital was founded in 1849 by Dr. Quinn, who was cured of TB by Hahanemann. Sara noted that it is helpful to homeopathy to have rich and well connected friends, like Dr. Quinn, and, currently, the Royal Family. Sara outlined the current diminution of the RLHH to the RLIH, though she notes that homeopathy has had trouble getting respect throughout its history. In the 1854 cholera epidemic, a health board inspector doubted that RLHH’s 16% mortality was genuine, as opposed to 63% mortality elsewhere; he concluded that he would much rather
be treated by homeopathy, yet his report was suppressed until political pressure was brought to bear. In 1883, the RLHH and a wealthy benefactor offered money for other hospitals to provide beds for homeopathic patients, yet all the hospitals declined. Don’t these stories sound familiar?
Sara Eames posits that some are threatened by homeopathy because it doesn’t fit conventional thinking, it may sound implausible to rigid minds, it can not be patented
and encourages self-care, and there is a massive health care lobby. She urged us to be flexible, creative, and positive, because homeopathy has a solution to all health care problems.
The conference closed with great thanks to our Bulgarian organisers, our speakers, and all who worked to produce an excellent educational and social program. Thank you!
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