ABSTRACT
The effect of homeopathic medicine on biological and physical system is directly related to its potency [1]. However, from physico-chemical point of view it is difficult to explain this effect at such high dilution, as then the existence of even trace amount of particle is questionable. It has been reported that during the process of potentization, a large amount of mechanical energy gets transferred to the medium due to succussion [2]. This energy in all probability reduces the size of the drug aggregates. The drug then penetrates easily through the membrane barrier, and thereby gives rise to enhanced activity of the medicine. It has been experimentally proved by us and supported by others that indeed a reduction of size of the aggregates takes place with increase in potency [3]. Using five different homeopathic medicines, their sizes at three different potencies have been estimated and a general mathematical expression relating the size of the particle (Y) and the corresponding potency (X) has been derived as follows Y = a X -n. (AU)
Subject(s)
Pharmacodynamics of Homeopathic Remedy , High Potencies , Mechanisms of Action of Homeopathic Remedies , NanomedicineABSTRACT
Random night blood samples were examined from 528 subjects in an endemic zone of lymphatic filariasis, in the coastal region of West Bengal. There were 136 cases out of 528 who were symptomatic, with or without recurrent episodes of fever, lymphangitis and lymphadenitis and with various degrees of lymphoedema. Examination of blood samples revealed microfilaria in 43 cases of which 42 were asymptomatic and only one was symptomatic with lymphoedema. All the microfilariae were of the species Brugia malayi.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Animals , Brugia malayi , Child , Child, Preschool , Cross-Sectional Studies , Developing Countries , Elephantiasis, Filarial/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Incidence , India/epidemiology , Infant , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
A study was undertaken to elucidate the life cycle of the parasite A.oraoni, isolated from man. For the purpose, operculated eggs were isolated from faeces of oraon tribals belonging to the village Bandipore, district North 24-Parganas of West Bengal province of India. The purified eggs were incubated at different temperatures, salinity and pH. Larvae (miracidia) could be observed to develop between the 7th and 8th day of incubation at a temperature range between 22 degrees-30 degrees C. While the optimum pH was observed to be neutral, larval development did not take place at salinity beyond 0.8 per cent. To identify the correct intermediate host, all available species of snails from the study village were colonised and infected with the laboratory hatched miracidia from human derived operculated eggs. It was observed that of all the snails infected, only Lymnaea supported the development of rediae from miracidia, which could be observed on the 32nd post infection day. Considering the results of the experimental study, it was hypothesised that Lymnaea spp. of snails under natural condition also, might act as the first intermediate host for A. oraoni.