Research - Influenza
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Homeopathic medicines for prevention of influenza and acute respiratory tract infections in children: blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial
Camila Monteiro Siqueira , Fortune Homsani , Venício Féo da Veiga, Carlos Lyrio, Haroldo Mattos, Sonia Regina Lambert Passos, José Nelson Couceiro, Carla Holandino Quaresma
Highlights
- •Homeopathic medicines minimized the symptoms of flu and acute respiratory infections considering 12 months of follow-up.
- •This pattern was not detected in the placebo group.
- •The homeopathic responses should be associated with prophylactic effect.
Background
Influenza and its complications are common at all ages, especially in children. Vaccines and anti-influenza drugs aim to prevent it. Preventative approaches with favorable risk profiles should be considered for flu, particularly since the evidence of the efficacy of anti-viral drugs is debated.
Methods
This pragmatic clinical trial was conducted in the Brazilian Public Health System in Petrópolis (BPHSP) with children aged from 1 to 5 years old. The medications used were mainly selected based on in vitro experiments (InfluBio), and in successful qualitative clinical experiences (Homeopathic Complex). Following informed parental consent, subjects were randomly distributed, in a blind manner, to three experimental groups: Homeopathic Complex, Placebo, and InfluBio. BPHSP health agents collected flu and acute respiratory infection symptomatic episodes monthly following the established protocol. The number of these episodes was registered in one year (2009–2010).
Results
Out of the 600 children recruited, 445 (74.17%) completed the study (149: Homeopathic complex; 151: Placebo; 145: InfluBio). The number of flu and acute respiratory infection symptomatic episodes detected in this clinical trial was low; however, it was different between homeopathic groups and placebo (p < 0.001). In the first year post-intervention, 46/151 (30.5%) of children in the placebo group developed 3 or more flu and acute respiratory infection episodes, while there was no episode in the group of 149 children who used Homeopathic Complex, and only 1 episode in the group of 145 (1%) children who received InfluBio.
Conclusion
These results suggested that the use of homeopathic medicines minimized the number of flu and acute respiratory infection symptomatic episodes in children, signalizing that the homeopathic prophylactic potential should be investigated in further studies.
Source : Journal Homeopathy
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Management of Influenza-Like Illness by Homeopathic and Allopathic General Practitioners in France During the 2009–2010 Influenza Season
Stéphane Vincent, Antoine Demonceaux, Didier Deswarte, Daniel Scimeca, and Marie-France Bordet.
1Laboratoires Boiron, Sainte Foy-lès-Lyon, France.
2Private practice, Reims, France.
3Private practice, Lille, France.
4Private practice, Maisons-Alfort, France.
Abstract
Objective:
This study was done to determine characteristics and management of patients in France visiting allopathic general practitioners (AGPs) and homeopathic general practitioners (HGPs) for influenza-like illness (ILI).
Materials and Methods:
Design: This was a prospective observational study. Settings/location: It was conducted in metropolitan France during the 2009–2010 influenza season. Subjects: Sixty-five HGPs and 124 AGPs recruited a total of 461 patients with ILI. Interventions: Patients were treated for ILI by their GPs. GPs and patients completed questionnaires recording demographic characteristics and patient symptoms when patients were included in the study. Patients reported satisfaction with treatment on day 4. Prescriptions were recorded by the GPs. Outcome measures: Outcome measures were patient characteristics, demographics, and symptoms at baseline; medications prescribed by type of physician; and satisfaction with treatment by type of physician and medication.
Results:
Most AGPs (86%), and most patients visiting them (58%) were men; whereas most HGPs (57%; p<0.0001), and most patients visiting them (56%; p=0.006) were women. Patients visiting AGPs were seen sooner after the appearance of symptoms, and they self-treated more frequently with cough suppressants or expectorants (p=0.0018). Patients visiting HGPs were seen later after the appearance of symptoms and they self-treated with homeopathic medications more frequently (p<0.0001). At enrollment, headaches (p=0.025), cough (p=0.01), muscle/joint pain (p=0.049), chills/shivering (p<0.001), and nasal discharge/congestion (p=0.002) were more common in patients visiting AGPs. Of these patients, 37.1% visiting AGPs were prescribed at least one homeopathic medication, and 59.6% of patients visiting HGPs were prescribed at least one allopathic medication. Patient satisfaction with treatment did not differ between AGPs and HGPs but was highest for patients treated with homeopathic medications only.
Conclusions:
In France, homeopathy is widely accepted for the treatment of ILI and does not preclude the use of allopathic medications. However, patients treated with homeopathic medications only are more satisfied with their treatment than other patients.
Source : The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. February 2013, 19(2): 146-152. doi:10.1089/acm.2011.0706.
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H3N2 homeopathic influenza virus solution modifies cellular and biochemical aspects of MDCK and J774G8 cell lines
Camila Monteiro Siqueira1, Beatriz Costa1, Ana Maria Amorim2, Marta Gonc¸alves2, Venıcio Feo da Veiga2, Morgana Castelo-Branco3, Christina Takyia3, Patrıcia Zancan4, Fernando Portela C^amara2,
Jose Nelson Couceiro2 and Carla Holandino1,*
1Departamento de Medicamentos-Faculdade de Farmacia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro e UFRJ,
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2Instituto de Microbiologia Professor Paulo de Goes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro e UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
3Instituto de Ci^encias Biomedicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro e UFRJ, Rio de, Janeiro, Brazil
4Departamento de Farmacos-Faculdade de Farmacia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro e UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Background: Influenza viruses cause highly contagious acute respiratory illnesses with significant mortality, especially among young children, elderly people, and individuals with serious medical conditions. This encourages the development of new treatments for human flu. Biotherapies are diluted solutions prepared from biological products compounded following homeopathic procedures.
Objectives: To develop a biotherapy prepared from the infectious influenza A virus (A/
Aichi/2/68 H3N2) and to verify its in vitro response.
Methods: The ultradiluted influenza virus solution was prepared in the homeopathic dilution 30dH, it was termed Influenzinum RC. The cellular alterations induced by this preparation were analyzed by optical and electron microscopy, MTT and neutral red assays. Glycolytic metabolism (PFK-1) was studied by spectrophotometric assay. Additionally, the production of tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) by J774.G8 macrophage cells was quantified by ELISA before and after infection with H3N2 influenza virus and treatment.
Results: Influenzinum RC did not cause cytotoxic effects but induced morphological alterations
in MadineDarby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. After 30 days, a significant increase (p < 0.05) in mitosis rate was detected compared to control. MDCK mitochondrial activity was changed after treatment for 10 and 30 days. Treatment significantly diminished (p < 0.05) PFK-1 activity. TNF-a in biotherapy-stimulated J774.G8 macrophages indicated a significant (p < 0.05) increase in this cytokine when the cell supernatant was analyzed.
Conclusion: Influenzinum RC altered cellular and biochemical features of MDCK and
J774G8 cells.
Source : Homeopathy (2013) 102, 31e40.
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The biotherapics Influenzinum and Oscilococcinum in the treatment of influenza virus flu.
Ana Luiza Marques de Oliveira1, Carla Holandino2, Camila Monteiro Siqueira2
1 Instituto Hahnemanniano do Brasil (IHB), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2 Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The influenza virus flu is a widespread illness which is responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths annually. About 20% of children and 5% of adults are infected with this virus every year. The disease is highly contagious and its transmission occurs by saliva particles of the infected person, expelled by breathing, talking and coughing [1]. Flu pandemics are generally caused by the appearance of a new subtype of the virus in humans, which occurs as a result of the existing flu in animal species transmitted to humans [2]. Despite the fact there are antiviral drugs, the virus develops mutations, creating resistance to these drugs in few days. Thus, the development of new therapies, including homeopathy, that can prevent and/or treat this disease becomes increasingly necessary. In this scenario, biotherapics appear as drugs that are made from biological products, such as secretions, tissues, organs whose compounding follows the homeopathic pharmacopeia. Objective: This study is a literature review on the treatment of flu with biotherapics used in clinical medicine, namely Influenzinum and Oscilococcinum. Method: Studies on the prescription of biotherapics for the prevention and cure of the flu as well as literature about the history and evolution of Homeopathy were reviewed in the present work. Influenzinum is a biotherapic made from the influenza vaccine from Pasteur Laboratory, while Oscillococcinum is obtained from the lysate of the liver and heart of the goose Anas barbaries. Results: Preliminary results showed that both medicines are widely used in clinical medicine. Influenzinum 9CH is prescribed for flu prevention and treatment, while Oscilococcinum is more used to reduce the severe symptoms in patients who already have the flu. Conclusion: Based on these results, it is possible to say that Influenzinum has a very important role in the prevention and cure of the influenza and Oscilococcinnum is useful in the relief of the symptoms caused by this disease
Source : Int J High Dilution Res 2011; 10(35): 94-94
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