A clínica da similitude / The clinical practice of similarity

Agradecemos a gentileza do convite para proferir esta conferência no interessante momento em que, por iniciativa da comissão organizadora deste XXII Congresso Brasileiro de Homeopatia, são convidados observadores e palestrantes da área não homeopática com a intencionalidade de nos questionar e quebrar a assim chamada auto referência. Trazemos aqui algumas considerações sobre a Clínica da Similitude, que esperamos possam contribuir para a compreensão do nosso modelo e levantar questionamentos sobre a nossa prática. Foi-nos ensinado que a ciência começa na filosofia clássica como um projeto de conhecimento do homem, valendo-se inicialmente apenas da razão, incorporando posteriormente o trabalho experimental para a sua evolução e aperfeiçoamento. Nesse contexto observamos que, como consequência do resgate acidental de Hahnemann, a Homeopatia nasce bem dentro da proposta de experimentação buscando, a seguir, valer-se da razão para tentar compreender o conhecimento que ali se mostrava. (AU)

Mercurius solubilis en el tratamiento de pacientes con estomatitis aftosa recurrente / Mercurius solubilis in the treatment of patients with recurrent aphthous estomatitis

Se realizó ensayo clinicoterapéutico controlado, de fase II B, de 112 pacientes con estomatitis aftosa recurrente, atendidos en la Clínica Estomatológica "José Luis Tassende" de Santiago de Cuba, desde enero hasta diciembre de 2013, para evaluar la eficacia del Mercurius solubilis en el tratamiento de estos. La muestra fue distribuida de forma aleatoria, mediante orden de llegada, en 2 grupos (uno de estudio y uno control), con 56 integrantes cada uno. Los primeros fueron tratados con Mercurius solubilis y los segundos con los remedios homeopáticos habituales. Para la validación estadística de la información obtenida se emplearon el porcentaje, el test de Ji al cuadrado, con 95 % de confiabilidad, y la probabilidad exacta de Fisher. Entre los grupos estudiados no existieron diferencias significativas en relación con la remisión de la intensidad del dolor, la recuperación de la integridad epitelial y la curación al tercer, quinto y séptimo días de tratamiento. Se demostró que esta terapia alternativa fue tan eficaz como el bórax.

A controlled clinical and therapeutical trial, of phase II B, was carried out on 112 patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis, assisted in "José Luis Tassende" Stomatological Clinic in Santiago de Cuba from January to December, 2013, to evaluate the effectiveness of the Mercurius solubilis in their treatment. The sample was randomly distributed, through arrival order, in 2 groups (a study group and a control group), with 56 members each. The first ones were treated with Mercurius solubilis and the seconds with the habitual homeopathic remedies. For the statistical validation of the obtained information, the percentage, the chi square test, with 95% of confidence, and the exact probability of Fisher were used. There were no significant differences among the studied groups in relation to the remission of the pain intensity, the recovery of the epithelial integrity and the cure at the third, fifth and seventh days of treatment. It was demonstrated that this alternative therapy was as effective as borax.

Ação dos medicamentos homeopáticos Arnica montana, Gelsemium sempervirens, Belladonna, Mercurius solubillis e nosódio sobre o crescimento in vitro da bactéria Streptococcus pyogenes / Action of homeopathic medicines Arnica montana, Gelsemium sempervirens,Belladonna, Mercurius solubillis and nosode on in vitro growth of Streptococcus pyogenes

Introdução: As bactérias são os micro-organismos com maior potencial patogênico para o ser humano. As infecções causadas por elas são na sua maioria graves e devem ser tratadas com drogas antibacterianas. Uma dessas bactérias patogênicas é Streptococcus pyogenes, causadora de diversas infecções, incluindo amigdalite, erisipela e ndocardite, sendo que em alguns pacientes ocorre febre reumática como complicação pós-infecção. Diversos trabalhos na literatura demonstram efeitos biológicos em bactérias após contato com soluções ultra-diluídas. Embasados nessas informações, propusemos avaliar o efeito dos medicamentos homeopáticos Belladonna (Bell), Mercurius solubillis (Merc), Gelsemium sempervirens (Gels) e nosódio de S. pyogenes no crescimento in vitro da bactéria S. pyogenes. Arnica montana (Arn) foi usado no presente trabalho como controle, por não ser, aparentemente, indicada no tratamento de infecções bacterianas. Materiais e métodos: Os medicamentos foram utilizados nas diluições de 12cH e 30cH, nas concentrações de 2, 4 e 6 gotas em 3 mL de meio BHI (Brain Heart Infusion) com 100µL da bactérias na concentração 0,5 da escala de McFarland. A solução foi incubada a 37ºC por 20 horas e submetida à leitura em espectrofotômetro a 600nm. Resultados: Os medicamentos nosódio e Bell nas diluições 12cH e 30cH com 2, 4 ou 6 gotas inibiram significativamente o crescimento in vitro de S. pyogenes, enquanto Arn 30cH na concentração de 6 gotas estimulou esse crescimento. Conclusão: Medicamentos homeopáticos podem ter ação sobre o crescimento in vitro de bactérias, sendo que essa ação pode estar relacionada a sua aplicação clínica.

Introduction: Bacteria are the microorganisms with greatest pathogenic potential for human beings. The infections caused by bacteria are usually serious and require treatment with antibacterial drugs. One of such pathogenic bacteria is Streptococcus pyogenes, which is associated with several infections diseases, including tonsillitis, erysipela and endocarditis, being that rheumatic fever might occur as a post-infection complication. There are records in the literature of biological effects in bacteria subjected to ultra-diluted solutions. On those grounds, we sought to test the effects of homeopathic medicines Belladonna (Bell), Mercurius solubillis (Merc), Gelsemium sempervirens (Gels) and S. pyogenes nosode on the in vitro growth of S. pyogenes. Arnica montana (Arn) was used as control, as it is believed not to have any effect in the treatment of infections. Materials and methods: The homeopathic medicines were used in dilutions 12cH and 30cH in concentration 2, 4 and 6 drops/3 mL of BHI (Brain Heart Infusion) with 100 µL of bacteria in concentration 0.5 McFarland scale. The solution was incubated at 37 ºC for 20 hours and read in spectrophotometer at 600 nm. Results: Medicines nosode and Bell in dilution 12cH and 30cH and concentration 2, 4 and 6 drops induced significant inhibition of the in vitro growth of S. pyogenes; Arn30cH in concentration 6 drops promoted bacterial growth. Conclusion: Homeopathic medicines might have an action on the in vitro growth of bacteria, which might be related with their clinical applications.

Effects of 200cH medications on mice bone marrow cells and macrophages. / Effects of 200cH medications on mice bone marrow cells and macrophages.

Paracelsus once wrote: "All things are poison and nothing is without poison, only the dose permits something not to be poisonous." Latter Hahnemann formulated the law of similars, preparations which cause certain symptoms in healthy individuals if given in diluted form to patients exhibiting similar symptoms will cure it. Highly diluted natural complexes prepared according to Hahnemann?s ancient techniques may represent a new form of immunomodulatory therapy. The lack of scientific research with highly diluted products led us to investigate the in vivo and in vitro actions of commonly used medications. Here we describe the results of experimental studies aimed at verifying the effects of Mercurius solubilis, Atropa Belladonna, Lachesis muta and Bryonia alba. All medications were at 200cH dilution. Animals were maintained for 7 days and were allowed to drink the medications, which were prepared in a way that the final dilution and agitation (200cH) was performed in drinking water. The medication bottle was changed and sucussed every afternoon. Coculture of non treated mice bone marrow cells and in vitro treated peritoneal macrophages were also performed. After animal treatment the bone marrow cells were immunophenotyped with hematopoietic lineage markers on a flow cytometer. We have determined CD11b levels on bone marrow cells after culture and co-culture with treated macrophages and these macrophages were processed to scanning electron microscopy. We have observed by morphological changes that macrophages were activated after all treatments. Mercurius solubilis treated mice showed an increase in CD3 expression and in CD11b on nonadherent bone marrow cells after co-culture with in vitro treatment. Atropa Belladonna increased CD45R and decreased Ly-6G expression on bone marrow cells after animal treatment. Lachesis muta increased CD3, CD45R and, CD11c expression and decreased CD11b ex vivo and in nonadherent cells from co-culture. Bryonia alba increased Ly-6G, CD11c and CD11b expression ex vivo and when in co-culture CD11b was increased in adherent cells as well as decreased in nonadherent cells. With these results we have demonstrated that highly diluted medications act on immune cells activating macrophages, and changing the expression profile of hematopoietic lineage markers. Highly diluted medications are less toxic and cheaper than other commonly used medications and based on our observations, it is therefore conceivable that this medications which are able to act on bone marrow and immune cells may have a potential therapeutic use in clinical applications in diseases were the immune system is affected and also as regenerative medicine as it may allow proliferation and differentiation of progenitor cells.

Desde la tribuna de materia médica mercurius solubilis / From the rostrum of medical matters mercurius solubilis

Se trata del óxido negro de mercurio, medicamento que se prepara a través de fórmulas poco definidas y un producto final muy variable en su composición, por lo cual muchos laboratorios prefieren dispensar el Mercurius vivus o Mercurius metálico.

O simillimum em farmacodermias com hipersensibilidade aos analgesicos / The simillimum in dermatitis medicamentosa with drug hypersensivity

4 casos de farmacodermia com fator desencadeante e concomitante representado por analgesicos, sao tratados segundo a lei do semelhante, sem considerar a etiologia na prescricao