Homeopathic Flu Guide: December 1 - 15, 2007

by Domenick J Masiello, DO, DHt

We are not yet into flu season and the only major condition that's out there currently is the Kali Bichromicum upper respiratory infection. Cases of it continue to appear with little further variation. The key is that no matter how it starts in the individual patient - pharyngitis, laryngitis, bronchitis or even vertigo, somewhere along the course of treatment, Kali Bichromicum will be needed.

Recently, there have been some news reports about a mutant strain of adeno virus. There are over 50 strains of adeno viruses that cause illness in humans and they typically cause the common cold but may also be responsible for conjunctivitis, bronchitis, gastrointestinal disease and even pneumonia. Local and national media outlets have been running stories about Ad14, a strain of adeno virus responsible for sickening recruits at Lackland Airforce base in Texas earlier this year. Several of the recruits ended up in intensive care. Last year, one infant girl died from this infection in New York City and in April of this year, 31 cases of this infection were reported in Oregon resulting in 7 deaths from severe pneumonia.

As is typical this time of year, frightful news reports about viruses are common. There is really nothing new about adeno viruses. They were first described in the 1950s and this specific serotype, Ad14, was discovered in 1955. A major epidemic amongst military recruits was reported as far back as 1969 in Europe. The most recent cases that are the focus of this year's reports may represent a mutation of the virus but even that is not unusual in the world of virology. There are talks about creating a vaccine against this virus for use in the military and perhaps the reintroduction of an antiviral drug for this condition that was previously used by the military.

The point for homeopathic patients is this: during the most virulent outbreak of a viral disease on this planet, the influenza pandemic of 1918, homeopathic patients did very well. The epidemicus remedy was Gelsemium and homeopathic physicians had the lowest morbidity and mortality rates from the disease compared to other types of physicians. The concept of the epidemicus remedy has worked in the past and will work in the future, fear mongering by the media notwithstanding.

The following links from the CDC will provide more information:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/respiratory/ead-ad14-factsht.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5645.pdf

Dr. Domenick Masiello, D.O. is board certified in Family Practice (C-FP), Osteopathic Manipulation (C-SPOMM) and Homeopathy (D.Ht.).  Dr. Masiello is published in many peer reviewed journals and continues to practice in New York City.  He graduated in 1985 from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his internship at Kennedy Memorial Hospital in New Jersey.  You can read more about Dr. Masiello here, and contact him for appointments at 212-688-4818.