Experiência de Macaé/RJ com homeopatia e dengue, 2007-2012 / Homeopathy and dengue: Macaé, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2007-2012

No Brasil, a primeira epidemia documentada clínica e laboratorialmente foi em 1981-1982 e desde então vem ocorrendo no Brasil de maneira continuada, intercalando-se com a ocorrência de epidemias, geralmente associadas com a introdução de novos sorotipos. Em Macaé, RJ, ocorreram epidemias em 2002, 2007 e 2010. A Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de Macaé vem implementando mecanismos para o efetivo enfrentamento da dengue através de uma política de saúde baseada na intersetorialidade e a partir de 2007 se agregou ao plano de contingência a utilização de medicamento homeopático. No presente artigo são apresentados os resultados da aplicação profilática de medicamentos homeopáticos, assim como os critérios de escolha dos mesmos entre os anos 2007 e 2012. A utilização da homeopatia foi implantada facilmente, com um custo de financiamento condizente às condições socioeconômicas e culturais do país e contou com grande adesão da população...

The first documented dengue epidemic took place in Brazil in 1981-1982; from that time onwards dengue became endemic, with periodic epidemic outbreaks associated with the introduction of new serotypes. In Macaé, Rio de Janeiro, epidemic outbreaks occurred in 2002, 2007 and 2010. The Municipal Health Secretary consequently established an ongoing multi-sector policy for control of dengue, which began to include homeopathy starting 2007. The present article analyzes the results of prophylactic application of homeopathic medicines and the criteria to choose them from 2007 to 2012. Homeopathy was easily implemented, with low cost and was massively accepted by the local population...

La isoprofilaxis no es homeoprofilaxis ni inmunización homeopática, si no inmunización isopática, y no se fundamenta en el modelo epistemológico Homeopático: respuesta a Golden (parte 2 de 2) / The isoprophylaxis is not homeoprophylaxis or homeopathic immunization, if not isopathic immunization, and not based on the homeopathic epistemological model response to Golden (part 2 of 2)

Existen opiniones controversiales dentro de la Homeopatía en relación con la inmunizacióntradicional, las cuales señalan que ésta puede producir efectos adversos en algún porcentaje de la población que la recibe, e incluso agravar enfermedades crónicas, por lo que se ha propuesto una vacunación con preparados de elementos bacterianos llevados a dinamizaciones homeopáticas en un esquema de vacunación isoprofiláctica que podría sustituir a la vacunación tradicional. En esta publicación, el doctor Teixeira realiza un análisis de este tipo de propuestas, señalando las ventajas y desventajas de las mismas. Desde su propio enfoque analiza también las opiniones que tienen varios organismos internacionales al respecto, y afirma que nada se compara en protección y seguridad a una prescripción homeopática individualizada que siga las premisas epistemológicas de este método.Del mismo modo, el autor establece que, mientras no se tengan estudios clínicos de alta calidad metodológica que demuestren la seguridad y eficacia de una isoprofilaxis, ésta no podrá sustituir a los esquemas de vacunación tradicional...

There are controversial opinions within homeopathy regarding traditional immunization, which refer that this may cause side effects in some percentage of the population receiving it, and may even aggravate some chronic diseases, this has led to propose a vaccination with bacterial elements homeopathically prepared in an isprophylactic vaccination scheme that could replace the traditional vaccination.In this paper, Dr. Texeira performs an analysis of such proposals, showing their advantages and disadvantages. From his own approach he also analyzes the opinions of several international organizations, he says that nothing compares in safety and security as an individualized homeopathic prescription guided by the homeopathic epistemological premises. In the same way, the author states that as long as clinical studies of high methodological quality demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of a isoprofilaxis, don’t exist, this type of prophylaxis cannot replace the traditional vaccination schedules...

La isoprofilaxis no es homeoprofilaxisni inmunización homeopática, sino inmunización isopática, y no se fundamenta en el modelo epistemológico homeopático: respuesta a Golden (parte 1 de 2) / The isoprophylaxis is not homeoprophylaxis homeopathic immunization, but allopathic immunization, and not based on the homeopathic epistemological model response to Golden (part 1 of 2)

La Homeopatía puede utilizarse para la prevención de enfermedades epidémicas (homeoprofilaxis) siempre que los medicamentos sean escogidos individualmente, de acuerdo al ‘principio de semejanza sintomática’ y a la totalidad de los síntomas característicos de una epidemia dada (remedio del ‘genio epidémico’), como demuestran un gran número de ejemplos en la literatura. El uso de nosodes para prevención de epidemias (isoprofilaxis), es decir, escogidos en función del ‘principio de identidad etiológica’, con total omisión de la individualización sintomática y los estudios patogenésicos, no tiene fundamento en el modelo epistemológico homeopático. Hasta que no se disponga de evidencias científicas confiables que atestigüen su eficacia y seguridad, no es posible indicar el remplazo de las vacunas tradicionales por una ‘inmunización isopática’, pues representaría una contravención de los principios bioéticos de ‘beneficencia’ y ‘no-maleficencia’. Aunque es cierto que muchos homeópatas indican sistemáticamente tal remplazo, éste es criticado por instituciones homeopáticas de todo el mundo. En este artículo, discuto más extensamente aspectos epistemológicos, éticos y científicos de estas modalidades de profilaxis que abordé someramente en una revisión anterior...

Homeopathy might be employed for the prevention of epidemic diseases (homeoprophylaxis) provided remedies are selected on an individual basis in compliance with the ‘principle of symptom-based ilitude’ and according to the totality of symptoms peculiar to a given epidemic (remedy of the ‘epidemic genius’ or ‘genus epidemicus’), as countless examples in literature. The use of nosodes for the revention of epidemic diseases (isoprophylaxis), i.e., selected based on the ‘principle of etiological identity’ with full neglect of symptom-based individualization and pathogenetic trials, is not supported by the homeopathic epistemological model. As long as there are no reliable scientific evidences attesting to its efficacy and safety, ‘isopathic immunization’ might not be indicated as a regular placement of classical immunization, as it would mean a transgression of the bioethical principles of ‘beneficence’ and ‘non-maleficence’. Although many homeopathic practitioners systematically indicate that practice, it is condemned by homeopathic institutions worldwide. In this article, I elaborate on epistemological, ethical and scientific features of these disparate approaches to prophylaxis, which I had summarily addressed in a previous review...

A proposal for efficient rapid control of the Ebola hemorrhagic fever

A major catastrophe hit Western Africa and we would like to put a definite end to that nightmare. Ever since in its initial identification in 1976, the Ebola virus is endemic in Zaire (currently, Democratic Republic of the Congo – DRC), where it has exerted devastating effects. For many years now, the virus has mercilessly attacked our fellow men, killing entire families overnight and leaving thousands of children orphan.The current, being the seventh epidemic of Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) in the RDC, also broke out in West Africa - Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone Nigeria and Senegal.The World Health Organization (WHO) called specialists from several countries and concentrated efforts that might result in a practical contribution to the control of cases. It is worth to observe that the epidemic has caused more than 1,400 deaths in 2014, being the fatality rate 60 to 90%.

Homeopatía: ¿un enfoque preventivo de la medicina? / Homeopathy: a preventive approach to medicine?

Aplicando el principio de similitud terapéutica, la Homeopatía busca estimular alorganismo para que reaccione en contra de su propia perturbación. Para que losmedicamentos homeopáticos puedan despertar respuestas homeostáticas eficacesdeben ser individualizados, esto significa que deben ser elegidos en función desu similitud con el conjunto de síntomas característicos de los pacientes. De estamanera, teniendo el propósito de disminuir la susceptibilidad individual que predispone a la enfermedad, los medicamentos homeopáticos curan y generan efectospreventivos en muchas enfermedades humanas. Por otra parte, los medicamentos homeopáticos pueden tener indicaciones específicas en el tratamiento y prevención de enfermedades epidémicas, con la condición de que también se elijan de acuerdo con el conjunto particular de síntomas peculiares de una epidemia determinada, a saber, el llamado “genio epidémico”, como lo muestran varios ejemplos históricos. En este trabajo se analiza la actualización de las bases epistemológicas de la Homeopatía de Hahnemann desde el enfoque médico preventivo, las evidencias científicas que apoyan su aplicación clínica y los requisitos mínimos para emplearla tanto terapéutica como preventivamente en las epidemias.

By applying the principle of therapeutic similarity, homeopathy seeks to stimulate theorganism to react against its own disturbs. For homeopathic medicines to awakeneffective homeostasis responses they must be individualized, this means that itmust be chosen according to their similarity to the set of characteristic symptoms inpatients. In this way, by aiming at decreasing individual susceptibility predisposingto disease, homeopathic medicines have healing and preventive effects in many human illnesses. On the other hand, homeopathic medicines may have specificindications in the treatment and prevention of epidemic diseases provided they arealso chosen according to the particular set of symptoms peculiar to a given epidemic,viz. the so-called “epidemic genius”, as historical examples show. This updatepaper discusses the epistemological foundations of Hahnemann‟s homeopathyas a preventive medical approach, the scientific evidences supporting its clinicalapplication and the minimum requirements to employ it both therapeutically andpreventively in epidemics.