Science without Prejudice (Indian Express)

Mains Paper 2:Health 
Prelims level: Arsenicum Album 30
Mains level: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health

Context: 

• The COVID-19 pandemic has fostered conversations on the efficacy of non-allopathic forms of medicine in combating the virus, including homoeopathy. 
• The pandemic is a challenge to the scientific community, which is dealing with an unknown pathogen. 
• However, scientists and doctors have known about viruses over the years from research literature and recurring episodes of seasonal flu-like symptoms.
• Homoeopathic practitioners too have been treating several viral diseases. This knowledge can be harnessed to combat COVID-19.

Corona virus:

• Corona virus is akin to several other pathogens that cause flu-lik1e symptoms.
• But the virus grafts itself on to human cells, making the task for the immune system more challenging.
• So COVID-19 is an infectious disorder of greater intensity than several other viral diseases.
• That is why there is no antidote to it yet. The disease is closely knitted to the patient’s fibres, which influence the body’s inner- dynamics.
• This makes it difficult to diagnose the disease early and treat it unless the dynamic principle of the body is brought in.

Highlighting the symptoms:

• We know about the symptoms caused by other SARS viruses. 
• This has given us considerable knowledge of coronaviruses and their pathogenicity.
• The past view of the virus is the sole means to know the character of the present coronavirus.
• This is an opportunity to know the individual’s suffering while allowing homoeopathy to choose possible similar remedies from within its system.
• This is actually the basis for all research work on the virus today.
• Unfortunately, there is much confusion over homoeopathy and COVID-19.
• This is reflected in the debate over the system of medicine after several states recommended a homoeopathy drug, Arsenicum Album 30, for prophylactic use.

Rationale behind homeopathic therapy:

• The therapeutic value of arsenic in homoeopathy must be appreciated in terms of principles embedded in this system of medicine.
• In its natural form, arsenic is a poison that has the capability to produce violent reactions which are similar to what it can cure.
• To judge the scale of this curative power, one must know the rationale behind homoeopathic therapy and the process by which homoeopathic medicines work.
• In this case, the transformation of crude arsenic into a dynamic energy specially adapted to harmonise the vital life forces that restore health.
• Homoeopathic therapy is based on the study of symptoms a substance causes.
• Arsenic Album has been used effectively in treating acute respiratory infections and several other conditions.
• About two months ago, the Ministry of AYUSH convened a meeting of homoeopathic experts along with members of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Central Council for Research in Homeopathy.
• The experts unanimously agreed that Arsenic Album could be used as a prophylactic for COVID-19.

Proving efficacy:

• Homoeopathic remedies have usually not had the technical support to prove their efficacy.
• Remedies like Arsenic Album, Antimonium Tartaricum, Bryonia Alba and Gelsemium, have been effectively used in the past.
• The novel coronavirus’s symptoms resemble those associated with Arsenic Album as a homoeopathic remedy. 
• In recent times, it has been observed that an appropriate dose of Arsenic Album and Gelsemium can remove susceptibility to the disease-causing agent.
• These remedies stimulate the body’s defence mechanism.
• Individual practitioners have used Arsenic Album as a prophylacticin the past against virus-related signs and symptoms.

Conclusion: 

• The experiences gathered so far have provided sufficient evidence and knowledge to apply them to the present situation.
• Arsenic Album has proved effective in non-resolving conditions where other so-called proven medicines have failed.
• Of course, no science is complete and all experiments are open for discussion, provided it is without prejudice.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1) Consider the following statements:
1. According to a recent study by TRAFFIC on the seizure and mortality of ‘common leopards’ the highest numbers of poaching incidents were reported from the States of Kerala and Odisha. 
2. TRAFFIC is a leading wildlife trade monitoring network across the world.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: B

Mains Questions:
Q.1)What are the differences between Allopathy and Homeopathy type of medicine? What are the rationale behind homeopathy therapy to combat COVID 19?