Homeopathic hope from Snake venom for AIDS, Ebola, Hep-B

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  • JSPS College, IICT studies show venom drug can check RT enzyme
  • RT converts RNA of Virus into DNA, helps multiply into billions
  • Mumbai doctor’s study to source medicine from HIV
  • Studies opens floodgates of research into efficacy of drugs

Hyderabad, April 04, 2015: A homeopathic experiment with snake venom on HIV has given rise to excitement among scientists to work on a possible relief to AIDS and Ebola patients.

Research by doctors at the Hyderabad-based JSPS Govt. Homeopathic Medical College, and Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) Hyderabad, show that Homeopathic medicine from snake venom, Crotalus Horridus, has positively shown that it can arrest the multiplication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

In another pioneering two-year long study, Mumbai-based homeopath Dr Rajesh Shah has developed a new medicine for AIDS patients, sourced from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) itself. The drug has been tested on humans for safety and efficacy and the results are encouraging. Dr Shah’s scientific paper for debate has just been published in Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy (IJRH), the Official publication of the Central Council for Research in Homeopathy (CCRH) in its online edition.

These and other research studies will be presented at the two-day World Homeopathy Summit to be held at Mumbai from April 11, 2015. Scientists and doctors from across 25 countries have confirmed their participation at the Summit being organized by the NGO Global Homeopathy Foundation (GHF), the organisation’s managing trusytee Dr Sreevalsa Menon said.

Scientifically speaking, Crotalus Horridus has inhibited reverse transcriptase or RT – an enzyme which is utilized by viruses like HIV and Hepatitis-B to convert the viral RNA into viral DNA so that they multiply into billions and wreck patients.

“Our experiment entails that the homeopathic drug has the capacity to act on HIV, Heb-B and so on,” Prof. Dr Praveen Kumar, Head of Department of Practice of Medicine at JSPS College , said and quickly pointed out : “It is too early to declare anything big, but our work has certainly opened the floodgates of advanced research and clinical testing.”

Dr S Chandrasekhar, Deputy Director of IICT said interestingly Ebola virus also uses the RT and Crotalus Horridus can hopefully bring some cheer to these patients in times to come.

Dr.Prathama S Mainkar, Fellow QRS Division of Natural Products Chemistry CSIR-and IICT said her team experimented with homeopathic dilutions as well but found that the medicine made out of snake venom was the most useful.

For years, Homeopathy has been adapting the process of converting snake venom and poison from deadly scorpions, spiders and wild bees into medicinal substances by transforming them into nano-particles that have proved safe and effective for patients.

GHF has invited conventional doctors as well to participate in the meet and update themselves on the “significant” research that has been going on for the past 15 years, Dr Menon said.

Central Council for Research in Homeopathy (CCRH), a premium government body under AYUSH, is the collaborator with GHF for the summit. Scientists from eminent institutes of pure science such as IIT-B, ICMR, TIFR, BARC, Haffkine, ICT, and Bose will also be presenting their research in homeopathy at the summit.

The summit will also focus on the need to integrate both the systems of medicine to meet challenges posed by various diseases because mono-therapy may not work for all patients.

Homeopathy has gained increasing popularity and there is a resurgence of interest in many developed countries. On the other side the system is being criticized for inadequate clinical evidences, in spite of considerable and encouraging research work. The practitioners, students and the followers of homeopathy often are unaware about the scientific advances in the field due to inadequate exposure.

The summit will aim at debunking fears and setting facts straight, Dr Shah said. Among those who will share their research experiences at the summit include Dr Paulo Bellavite (Italy – Dipartimento di Patologia e Diagnostica, University di Verona), Dr Eswara Das (India -Ex-Director, National Institute of Homoeopathy, Kolkata), Dr Gustav Brucha (Cuba -Researcher at Finlay institute, Dr Alexander Tournier (UK -Homeopathy Research Institute, London), Dr Carla Holandino, (Brazil -Professor of Pharmacy at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro).

GHF, founded by a group of homeopathic activists with the mission of spreading the benefits of homeopathy to the masses across the world, is a non-government non-profit making group. Its objectives include: to work for the growth of the science so that homeopathy could benefit those suffering from various ailments and to support the professionals to be able to serve the society well.
CCI Newswire