For the latest information about using homeopathic remedies for COVID-19, please refer to Part 2 of this series.
Symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection
People with COVID-19 generally develop signs and symptoms, including mild respiratory symptoms and fever, on an average of 5-6 days after infection (mean incubation period 5-6 days, range 1-14 days).
Most people infected with COVID-19 virus have mild disease and recover. Approximately 80% of laboratory confirmed patients have had mild to moderate disease, which includes non-pneumonia and pneumonia cases, 13.8% have severe disease (dyspnea, respiratory frequency 30/minute, blood oxygen saturation 93%, PaO2/FiO2 ratio <300, and/or lung infiltrates >50% of the lung field within 24-48 hours) and 6.1% are critical (respiratory failure, septic shock, and/or multiple organ dysfunction/failure). A study done in Wuhan China reports a mortality rate of 86% with covid-19 patients who are treated with invasive ventilation (ventilators) in hospitals.
Notably, the COVID-19 infection rarely seems to cause a runny nose, sneezing, or sore throat (these symptoms have been observed in only about 5% of patients).
Using Homeopathy for Epidemics
Homeopathy has had a long and successful history of use for risk reduction for epidemics such as smallpox, cholera, diphtheria, malaria, yellow fever, and leptospirosis. Homeopathy had a 98% rate of risk reduction during the deadly Spanish flu of 1918, compared to the 30% mortality rate of patients treated with Western allopathic medications.
Risk Reduction
Note that it is important to select one protocol and to not use all of the following remedies at once for risk reduction. The remedy or protocol should be selected in consultation with a professional homeopath.
In January 2020, the AYUSH Ministry in India issued a recommendation for risk reduction of coronavirus transmission. The Ministry recommended that homeopathic Arsenicum album 30C was to be taken once per day for 3 days as a risk reduction measure.
Under ‘The Banerji Protocols’ with Homeopathic medicines: For risk reduction of COVID-19 the best medicine is ‘Thuja 30‘. The suggested dose for this medicine will be, once daily for 7 days, then once a week for 3 weeks.
Dr. Bhatia recommends Bryonia alba 6CH or 30CH. It can be given (only to affected population) once a day, till days become warmer and the epidemic subsides (hopefully).
The Amma Resonance Foundation recommends Gelsemium based on the experience of around 30 homeopaths with confirmed cases of coronavirus in China (Source: Hong Kong Association of Homeopathy and Macau Association of Homeopathy). Their advice is to use Gelsemium C30 once a week as long as the outbreak is not near to where you live, and change to once daily for one week once it gets near and then change to twice per week. Justica adhatoda 3X (or D3) (Malabar nut, India) is also recommended, taken once daily 10 drops in a teaspoonful of water (increases your IgE levels to fight the virus).
Dr. Rajan Sankaran’s recommendation: Camphor 1m 4 pills twice daily 2 days..keep under tongue until melt..nothing but water 30mins before after.
Jeremy Sherr recommends taking Aconite twice daily for two days, then take Ant tart 200C alternating with Phos Ac twice daily each.
According to Dr. Andre Saine, in Hong Kong they were able to give 4-5% (about 300,000 out of 7 million people!) of the population Gels 30: the first week once a day, then once a week. 4-5% took at least one dose. No sick people were recorded. In Hong Kong the Corona incidence was relatively low. Now new people are coming to Hong Kong, and the incidence is rising. They now give Gels and Bry for risk mitigation. Macao (600.000 people) 50% got Gels. No sick people recorded.
Homeopathic nosodes (homeoprophylaxis) have been used for risk reduction during disease epidemics for hundreds of years. This is another possible viable option instead of or along with using the above remedies.
Management
In case of infection, an individualized consultation with a professional homeopath is strongly recommended.
Prof. Aaron To Ka Lun (PDHom, MARH), president of the Hong Kong Association of Homeopathy has gathered data from 30 homeopaths and tentatively speculated on a few possible genus epidemicus remedies: Gelsemium, Bryonia and Eupatorium perf.
In terms of the larger remedies, Dr. Paul Herscu has found that the main effective homeopathic remedies have been, in order of likelihood: Sulphur, Lycopodium, Bryonia, and then less likely Phosphorus, and Arsenicum album. By far, at this moment, he has found that the most common remedy is Sulphur. The more acute remedy seems to be Bryonia.
Dr. Bhatia believes that the remedy that covers the initial symptoms better is Bryonia alba; and that this remedy will work well as risk reduction too. He also believes that the remedy that covers the later symptoms best is Lycopodium and could be expected to help a large majority of people who develop Pneumonia.
Amma Resonance Healing Foundation’s current remedy recommendations are Bryonia, Lycopodium, Phosphorus, Gelsemium and Eupatorium perfoliatum (ordered in likelihood of being called for).
As of March 22, 2020, Dr. Massimo Mangialavori has treated 84 patients. His first choice is Chininum muriaticum, followed by Grindelia robusta and thirdly Camphora.
In consultation with his teacher, Dr. Rajan Sankaran, Iranian homeopath Dr Aditya Kasariyans has been successfully using Camphora 1M.
As of March 28, 2020, Jeremy Sherr has successful consulted and supervised over 200 confirmed COVID-19 cases from around the world, and has had no fatalities. Jeremy Sherr recommends giving Aconite at the very first signs of illness. Ant tart (stage 2, 3) has been his most useful remedy. The next most useful remedies used in his practice have been Phosphorus (stage 1, 2), Phosphoric Acid (stage 2) and Bryonia (all stages), Arsenicum (stage 1) and Mercurius (stage 1). Other remedies that may prove useful include Gelsemium, Croton tig, Spigelia, Kali bi, Pyrogen, Ars-i and Ant-ars.
Dr. Robin Murphy recommends giving Gelsemium, Arsenicum, or Camphora during the first stage of the illness. He recommends Aconite, Belladonna or Ferrum Phos for mild coronavirus infections. Arsenicum, Bryonia and Gelsemium have been Dr. Murphy’s top remedies during this pandemic. Other remedies that may prove useful include Bapt, China, Drosera, Eup per, Oscillo, Merc, Pyrogen, Rhus tox, and Pulsatilla.
Dr. Andre Saine feels that the better indicated remedies for the current COVID-19 pandemic are Bryonia, Beryllium metallicum, Gelsemium, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Camphora, Lobelia purpurescens, and Arsenicum. Other useful remedies (though this list is not exhaustive) include Ammonium mur, Mag mur, Carbo veg, Bapt, Cuprum met, Ferrum phos, Rhus Tox, Sabadilla, Sambucus, and Sanguinaria.
For dietary advice on how to protect oneself from any virus (including coronavirus), Sally Fallon of the Weston A Price Foundation has written two excellent articles: How To Protect Yourself From Coronavirus (Or Any Virus)
as well as another article that follows up on her earlier one: More on Coronavirus
For more lifestyle and supplement advice about keeping one’s immune system in optimal condition, please refer to Dr. Amy Rothenberg’s latest article: COVID-19 Thoughts and Recommendations: April 1, 2020
References
Coronavirus – analysis of symptoms – prevention and treatment by Dr. Bhatia
Editorial – Corona Virus – Alan V. Schmukler
Jeremy Sherr’s Second Update on the Coronavirus (Webinar). March 23, 2020
Jeremy Sherr’s Third Update on the Coronavirus (Webinar). March 29, 2020
Three Remedies I Have Used for COVID-2019 by Massimo Mangialavori. Hpathy. March 23, 2020.
2019 Novel Coronavirus (CoVID-19): Part VIII by Dr. Paul Herscu. March 13, 2020.
Disclaimer: This article is a compilation of homeopathic professionals’ experiences with treating their patients with individually selected homeopathic remedies. This article is not intended as medical advice and does not substitute for the advice of a health practitioner. Health Canada has not authorized any NHP to treat, prevent or cure COVID-19.