Pharmacological Actions of Homoeopathic Drugs

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Preface Homoeopathy is evolving as a time tested therapy and the basic principles of Homoeopathy are gradually being accepted by the scientists of other allied sciences, viz. pharmacology, immunology, cellular and molecular biology, genetics etc. With the growing acceptance of Homoeopathy as a scientific method of treatment, the need for understanding the pharmacological action of the homoeopathic drugs is more than ever, especially so for the budding homoeopaths who would face a greater challenge in the times to come. Realizing the significance of pharmacology in Homoeopathy, Central Council of Homoeopathy (C.C.H.) has recently introduced the study of pharmacological actions of 30 drugs in the curriculum of first year B.H.M.S. course in the subject Homoeopathic Pharmacy. It is indeed a very good step of C.C.H. as it is bound to make the students understand the scientific basis of the drugs used in Homoeopathy in a better way. To promote this step further and to infuse interest in this subject among the teachers and students, the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy conceived the idea to publish a book on Homoeopathic Pharmacology, which catalogues the detailed study of the pharmacological actions of these 30 drugs.

Literally speaking, Pharmacology deals with the materialistic action of a drug on biological systems. This makes understanding the pharmacological action of homoeopathic drugs even more challenging, since existence of the material substance in the homoeopathic dilutions is not noticeable. Yet, in the light of the outcomes of research studies done by other allied scientists, it has become possible to formulate various hypothetical models regarding the actions of homoeopathic drugs. From a number of in-vitro and in-vivo studies on animal and plant models, the biological effects of the homoeopathic drugs have been proven conspicuously. Also, the advances in the study of homoeopathic pharmacology have made the fundamental understanding of Homoeopathy easier.

Unfortunately, no standard book is available to the teachers and students covering the details of pharmacological study of drugs used in Homoeopathy. Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy has made an effort to compile the pharmacological profiles of 30 drugs to cater to the needs of the learners who are desirous of further exploring the scientific angle of Homoeopathy. In the flow of contents of various sections of this book, the basic principal of Homoeopathy is correlated in the light of modern pharmacology in order to encourage the students to think on scientific lines. The book has been carefully designed for better understanding of various aspects of general pharmacology relevant to the study of pharmacological actions of the drugs used in homoeopathy, before it moves on to the more detailed aspects like influences of the ultra diluted medicines at sub-cellular and molecular level in its further chapters. Further, the information provided in the sections on working hypothesis of homoeopathic drug action, ultra low dose pharmacology and basic concepts of immunology, provides enough thought provoking material to the readers on the action of ultra diluted homoeopathic medicines.

The latest revelations and informative text incorporated in this first-of-its-kind book will not only help the undergraduate students, but the entire homoeopathic profession including P.G. scholars, teachers, research workers and those engaged in the R&D sectors of the pharma industries, such is my hope.

Introduction Homoeopathic pharmacology, or the study of the action of homoeopathic medicines, is gradually drawing the attention of its modern counterpart, both in terms of research and development. This aspect of homoeopathic science has long been awaiting adequate attention of its followers. However, in this fast-paced world of validated medical science, it is neither possible nor advisable to neglect this branch of Homoeopathy. A sound understanding of Homoeopathic Pharmacology will not only facilitate validating the action of homoeopathic drugs, but also contribute towards making the homoeopathic system of medicine accepted by the scientific community. To know about the action of homoeopathic drugs is to have an unprecedented wealth of knowledge of the principles of modern pharmacology, structure of homoeopathic drugs used in high potencies involving ultra-high dilutions accompanied by molecular agitation, and the pharmacology of homoeopathic drugs in general employed in treating the sick individual.

The pre-requisite of a drug to be used as homoeopathic medicine is to identify the primary action of the drug, in different potencies, in healthy persons. Ever since the discovery of Homoeopathy in the year 1796, this information is being compiled by various scientists from the known toxicological effects of drugs and the extensive trials of the drugs in suitable doses upon the animals and healthy human beings. As a result, there are over 4000 homoeopathic medicines in use in Homoeopathy today.

In modern system of medicine, Pharmacology is well understood, which focuses broadly on two aspects: pharmacokinetics (what body is doing the drug) and pharmacodynamics (what drug is doing to the body); that means it describes a dose response curve and the underlying mechanism of action of the drugs. However, in Homoeopathy, there is a dose dilution curve and mechanism of action of drugs is merely hypothesized. With the help of two-day's modern knowledge and parameters, the functioning of the homoeopathic drugs can be understood better and the book is an attempt to bridge the gap between general pharmacology and homoeopathic pharmacology, without undermining the principles and uniqueness of Homoeopathy.

The holistic picture of homoeopathic drug is composed of the changes that it brings about in the physical and/or the mental spheres of a healthy person, i.e. the drug-disease and also its specificity to a personality-type in causing this artificial disease. The objective symptoms of this psycho-somatic drug-disease picture are obtained by animal experiments and the subjective symptoms by human pathogenetic trials, i.e. the drug proving. The total action of any homoeopathic drug on healthy human beings thus constitutes the pharmacodynamics of that drug. The question "What does a drug cause in a healthy person?" is answered well in the annals of homoeopathic materia medica but "How's" and "Why's" of a homoeopathic drug's unique action have unfortunately remained enigmas till date. It is, however, possible to get answers to these questions by applying the principles of modern pharmacology to understand the mode of action of homoeopathic drugs. This matter has been taken up in this book in three parts.

Part-I deals with the general aspects of modern pharmacology, pharmacological basis of therapeutics, routes of drug administration and general aspects about drugs, viz. sources of drugs, margin of safety of a drug, dosage calculations and basics of body constituents and drug interactions, which result in responses. The principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics have been explained with examples. In the end of this part, the basics of Homoeopathy and the relevance of modern pharmacology in understanding the pathway of action of homoeopathic medicines have been discussed and a working hypothesis of homoeopathic drug action has also been proposed. Outcome research of ultra-low dose pharmacology and basic concepts of immunology have been dealt in the respective sections which support the action of homoeopathic medicines in ultra high dilutions and as immunomodulators.

Part-ll is the compilation of the pharmacodynamics of 30 homoeopathic drugs prescribed in the syllabus of Homoeopathic Pharmacy at Under Graduate level. This information has been collected from the researches carried out internationally. The references of the source of information are given at the end of each drug. Dr. Burt's description of the pharmacological actions described in his book "Physiological Materia Medica" has also been included under many drugs, especially at the places where sufficient latest pharmacological studies are not available.

Part-Ill exclusively deals with the experimental pharmacological studies undertaken by the C.C.R.H. The pharmacological actions of 4 drugs, i.e. Allium cepa, Cantharis, Crataegus oxyacantha and Cactus grandiflorus are elaborated in this part.

The subject matter of the entire book has been kept elementary keeping in mind the readers who are primarily concerned with the basic pharmacology, yet a careful perusal may raise interest in one to learn the subject in depth to explore the action and effects of ultra-high diluted medicines. Getting to know the real mechanism behind these poetized medicines which affect the human body in the most gentle and permanent way, should be the ultimate aim of every homoeopathic researcher, and hopefully one day, the homoeopathic scientists will discover if for the world. The first step towards this has already been taken in the form of this book.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages