Homeopathy can be effective in managing viral infections such as COVID-19
Homeopathy may provide safe prophylaxis against modern infectious diseases such as the novel coronavirus, passed on from animals to humans
Homeopathy has effectively treated severe and life-threatening viral infections in the past and may well play a crucial role in combating COVID-19
A cure for COVID-19 is not available in homeopathy, but in the absence of any side-effects and adverse interactions with conventional medicines, homeopathy can play an important role in the fight against COVID-19.
With COVID-19 spreading like wildfire through the globe and very little achieved in terms of a vaccination or a preventive medicine, there is evidence to suggest that homeopathy may be able to provide safe prophylaxis against modern infectious diseases such as the novel coronavirus, passed on from animals to humans. Conventional medicine is still struggling to find specific treatment for novel viruses and medical research laboratories are yet to discover an effective vaccination.
The current phase is crucial in generating evidence that will inform prescription practices for this illness for the immediate future. Homeopathy has effectively treated severe and life-threatening viral infections in the past and may well play a crucial role, particularly, in COVID-19 patients not responding to conventional medicines.
Commenting on the effectiveness of homeopathy in treating viruses and infections, eminent homeopath, Padma Shri, Dr. Kalyan Banerjee and founder, Dr. Kalyan Banerjee’s Clinic said, “Homeopathy has a long history of prophylaxis against epidemics and a lot has been said about increasing the immunity with homeopathy. Historically, homeopathy was used to treat and protect against the Spanish flu epidemic after World War 1. A researcher called Marino has published peer reviewed research about homeopathic prophylaxis against swine flu and dengue.”
With the national capital region having witnessed epidemic conditions of both these diseases, Dr. Kalyan Banerjee’s Clinic prescribed for over 20,000 cases, year on year, of these diseases during their peak phases in the Delhi-NCR region as well as the rest of the country. These prescriptions were not only for protective effect, but also for treating very complicated cases of severe acute respiratory distress arising from both these infections.
Dr. Kushal Banerjee, a second-generation homeopath at the Clinic said, “Dengue and swine flu can result in multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (M.O.D.S.) which can be life threatening. Homeopathic prescriptions have frequently helped patients in intensive care. We noted similar positive effects in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (S.A.R.S.) cases as well. This is the kind of background that informs homeopathic advice on modern infectious diseases like the novel clinical entity, COVID-19.”
While a cure or vaccine for COVID-19 is not available in homeopathy, in the absence of any side-effects and adverse interactions with any conventional medicines along with a robust safety profile and repeated evidence-based successes in prophylaxis against viral infections, homeopathy may play an important role in the fight against COVID-19.
Dr. Kushal Banerjee added, “Over the last ten years, treatment of an average of 20,000 cases over several cycles of these diseases can be considered enough anecdotal evidence as their protective effect and outcomes have been quite encouraging. Conventional medicine, too, does not have any specific treatment for COVID-19 and suggested medicines like hydroxychloroquine as well as anti-viral medicines in different combinations are also still in the trial stage, achieving only variable degrees of success. Homeopathy, with its rich and consistent history of addressing viral infections, both as prophylaxis and treatment, should be considered a serious therapeutic option. Just as conventional medicine is engaged in the treatment and prevention of COVID-19 with little or no evidence base to work with, homeopathy should be, too.”
About Dr. Kalyan Banerjee
Dr. Kalyan Banerjee has been associated with several government agencies such as the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, formerly a member of their Governing Council, and the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) of the Ministry of AYUSH, holding a seat in the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia Committee and the Standing Finance Committee. The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri in 2009, for his contributions to Medicine.
About Dr. Kushal Banerjee
Dr. Kushal Banerjee received his undergraduate degree from Indraprastha University and completed his MD in Homeopathy from Ludhiana. He went on to read for a Master of Science in Evidence Based Medicine at the University of Oxford. The best available information indicates that he is the only homeopath to have ever been admitted to read at Oxford. He is a member of the British Register of Complementary Medicine, England. He has lead authored research on homeopathy with collaborators from the University of Oxford and Imperial College, London. This is the only example of such a collaboration between these two institutions on homeopathy. He is the only homeopath to have ever been selected to present a paper at 'Evidence Live' - a prestigious convention organised by the Centre for Evidence Based Medicine, University of Oxford and the British Medical Journal.
Brief on Dr. Kalyan Banerjee’s Clinic
The Clinic was founded in 1977 and now treats several hundred patients every day. The rates of cure achieved here, far surpass conventional homeopathy and the Clinic has built a reputation for effective, evidence-based practices with patients and illnesses that are complicated, difficult and in many cases, life threatening. The Clinic and the Dr. Kalyan Banerjee Society have been responsible for several million charitable prescriptions over four decades. Facilitation of research, publication and protocol development are amongst their various philanthropic activities. The clinic also has branches in Noida and Gurgaon. The distinctive USP of the Clinic is that all patients are provided prescriptions and names of medicines.
