Homeopathy for Influenza

 

Home
Articles
Remedies
Resources.htm
Classes
Reading list
Remedy Kit
Contact us

 

 Homeopathy in Influenza - a Chorus of Fifty in Harmony. by W.A. Dewey, MD., University of Michigan.  The Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy, May 1921 (click on the link for a PDF of the original article)                          

Synopsis by Sally Tamplin

According to the Dewey article the use of aspirin either directly or indirectly was the cause of more loss of lives than the influenza illness itself. Frank Newton, M.D and many of the other physicians indicated that its indirect action came through the fact that aspirin was taken until it caused prostration and then the patient developed pneumonia. A principle druggist from Montreal declared that 900 patients died from influenza. They were directed to take a 5 – grain aspirin tablet every three hours, but more took ten grains every three hours. It is important to point out that at this time aspirin was a relatively new drug and because large doses were prescribed it obviously had a highly toxic effect upon the body. Today physicians do not prescribe aspirin in these doses; the inherent danger of toxicity is known and understood.

“In several cases aspirin weakened the heart, depressed the vital forces, increased the mortality in mild cases and made convalescence slower. In all cases it masks the symptoms and renders immeasurably more difficult the selection of a curative remedy.”

Guy Stearns, M.D; New York

 Many of the physicians who practiced the conventional medicine of the day were using aspirin, iodized lime, opiates and quinine and they commonly spoke about losing 60% of their pneumonia cases. The homeopathic physicians avoided the use of aspirin and other drugs prescribed in material doses and subsequently had a very low death rate. Arthur Grimmer M.D.declared that the development of pneumonia was a rare occurrence if a good homeopathic physician was called during the first 24 hours of an attack of influenza.

“I attended over one hundred cases without any fatalities. I never deviated from the homeopathic remedy. I never gave aspirin …. This epidemic should encourage us to renewed faith in Homeopathy.”

 G.H.Wright, M.D; Forest Glen, Md.

                               Frank Wieland, M.D; Chicago

In a plant of 8.000 workers we had only one death.Gelsemium was practically the only remedy used, there was no use of either aspirin or vaccination.

                                 E.Fisher, M.D; Chicago:

In the Public Health service in New Mexico among the Mexican population chiefly Veratrum viride, Gelsemium and Bryonia were introduced and excellent results followed their use in influenza. No cases died under homeopathic medication.

                                    C.B.Stouffer, M.D; Ann Arbor:

We treated over 300 cases of influenza among the members of the Student army Training Corps with no deaths.Gelsemium, Bryonia and Ferrum phosporicum were the leading remedies. Only in those cases having had aspirin was convalescence delayed and pneumonia produced.

 

                           W.F.Edmundson, M.D; Pittsburgh:

One physician in a Pittsburgh hospital asked a nurse if she knew any better than what he was doing, because he was losing so many cases.

 “Yes, Doctor, stop Aspirin and go down to a homeopathic pharmacy, and get homeopathic remedies.”

 The Doctor replied;  “But that is homeopathy.”

 “I know it, but the homeopathic doctors for whom I have nursed have not lost a single case.”

                    Cora Smith King, M.D; Washington D.C:

Three hundred and fifty cases were treated and I only lost one.

                     F.A.Swartwout, M.D; Washington D.C:

Eleven men reported 3,600 cases with 6 deaths. My records show 750 cases with one death.Gelsemium, Bryonia and Eupatorium were the remedies chiefly.

             Dean W.A.Pearson of Philadelphia:

Collected 26,795 cases of influenza treated by homeopathic physicians with a mortality rate of 1.05%, while the average old school was 30%.

                        E. F.Sappington, M.D; Philadelphia:

Fifteen hundred cases were reported at The Homeopathic Medical Society of the District of Columbia, with but fifteen deaths. Recoveries in the National Homeopathic Hospital were 100%

          H.A.Roberts, M.D; Derby, Connecticut:

Thirty physicians responded to my request for data. They reported 6,602 cases with 55 deaths, which is less than 1%:

                          G.B.Stearns, M.D; New York:

Though the international Hahnemannian Association I have collected 17,000 cases of influenza with mortality rate of 4%

           H.H.Crum, M.D; Ithaca, New York:

I had 300 cases and one death; one good homeopathic doctor had 275 cases and no deaths. I am health officer for my city.

                      E.C.Price, M.D; Baltimore:

Dr.M.I.Roger of Portsmouth, N.H; treated 331 cases with two deaths.Dr.G.G.Bascomb of Lake Wilson, Minnesota; 300 cases with no deaths.

                       T.G.Barnhill, M.D; Findlay, Ohio:

I treated 455 cases of influenza and 26 cases of pneumonia with no deaths. Remedies: Gelsemium, Bryonia and Apis.

                 T.A.Mc Cann, M.D; Dayton, Ohio:

I have treated 1,000 cases of influenza. I have the records to show my work. I have no loses. Please give all credit to homeopathy.

                                    Lloyd Brothers, Cincinnati:

One thousand eclectic physicians were asked to name the remedies most useful in influenza and in pneumonia. Over 75% named Aconite and Bryonia in pneumonia.

               J.G.Dillon, M.D; Fargo, N.D:

76 cases developed in a children’s home without any complicating pneumonia or death. Most of the cases were Bryonia and Gelsemium, which seemed to be successful in carrying them through to complete recovery.

           Wm.E.Leonard, M.D; Minneapolis:

In some 150 cases treated in the first flu epidemic Gelsemium and Bryonia were the chief remedies. Very few had pneumonia, none that I treated from the beginning.

                         C.P.Bryant, M.D; Seattle:

I treated over 100 cases of influenza and pneumonia, lost two cases, one who had taken aspirin for a week when pneumonia developed before I was called; the other a very malignant case with a very high temperature from the onset.Remedies;Gelsemium,Eupatorium,Bryonia etc;

                                A.B.Palmer, M.D; Seattle:

I treated approximately 500 cases which included pneumonia, lost two cases; never used Aspirin nor permitted it to be used.

Chief drugs were Belladonna, Gelsemium, and Sticta for the throat symptoms, Mercurius, Natrum muriaticum and Kali muriaticum.

                            Wm.Boericke, M.D; San Francisco:

I treated approximately 50 cases of influenza, had two pneumonias, all recovered. Remedies Gelsemium, Bryonia and Rhus Tox chiefly.

 

 

The Dewey article is an extremely clear testament to the effectiveness of homeopathic remedies that were used to treat influenza and the pneumonia that often developed. Many of the physicians indicate that they were always successful when a suitable homeopathic remedy was given at the beginning of the illness. However, prescribing proved more difficult when a patient would be seen some time into the illness and especially if they had taken aspirin. It is in these scenarios that a physician possibly lost a patient.

“The reasons why children fared better than adults in the influenza epidemic were:

·        They were seen earlier by the physician.

·        They were not drugged.

·        They were not filled up with aspirin.

·        They were put to bed.

·        They were given the proper remedy and had a fine chance.”

Dr.J.P.Cobb, Chicago.