Therapy Biomedical - International Academy of Homotoxicology
Therapy Biomedical - International Academy of Homotoxicology
Therapy Biomedical - International Academy of Homotoxicology
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Journal <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Biomedical</strong><br />
<strong>Therapy</strong><br />
Volume 3, Number 1 ) 2009<br />
Integrating Homeopathy<br />
and Conventional Medicine<br />
Neuroendocrine<br />
Dysfunction<br />
• Psychogenic Factors in Gastrointestinal Pathology<br />
• Bioregulatory Treatment <strong>of</strong> Dysautonomia
)<br />
Contents<br />
In Focus<br />
Applied Bioregulation in Neuroendocrine Disease:<br />
Chronic Stress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4<br />
What Else Is New? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8<br />
Fr o m t h e P ra c t i c e<br />
Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders Associated<br />
With Pseudarthrosis: Presentation <strong>of</strong> a Clinical Case . . . . . . 10<br />
Around the Globe<br />
Verona – More Than Just Romeo and Juliet ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15<br />
Practical Protocols<br />
Bioregulatory Treatment <strong>of</strong> Dysautonomia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16<br />
In memoriam<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Michael F. Kirkman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17<br />
Re f re s h Yo u r H o m o t ox i c o l o g y<br />
Psychogenic Factors in Gastrointestinal Pathology . . . . . . . 18<br />
M a r ke t i n g Yo u r P ra c t i c e<br />
Communication in Your Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20<br />
Specialized Applications<br />
The Acupuncture Approach to the<br />
Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22<br />
Making <strong>of</strong> ...<br />
Manufacturing <strong>of</strong> Traumeel Injection Solution<br />
Part I: From Work Preparation to Filling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26<br />
Meet the Expert<br />
Dr. Arturo O’Byrne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29<br />
Research Highlights<br />
Nervoheel N vs. Lorazepam for Mild Nervous Disorders . . . 30<br />
) 2<br />
Published by/Verlegt durch: <strong>International</strong> <strong>Academy</strong> for <strong>Homotoxicology</strong> GmbH, Bahnackerstraße 16,<br />
76532 Baden-Baden, Germany, e-mail: journal@iah-online.com<br />
Editor in charge/verantwortlicher Redakteur: Dr. Alta A. Smit<br />
Print/Druck: VVA Konkordia GmbH, Dr.-Rudolf-Eberle-Straße 15, 76534 Baden-Baden, Germany<br />
© 2009 <strong>International</strong> <strong>Academy</strong> for <strong>Homotoxicology</strong> GmbH, Baden-Baden, Germany<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
)<br />
Stress and the Immune System<br />
Dr. Alta A. Smit<br />
Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI)<br />
has come a long way since Walter<br />
Cannon’s early work with animals.<br />
Cannon observed that any<br />
change in emotional state (such as<br />
anxiety, distress, or rage) was accompanied<br />
by total cessation <strong>of</strong> stomach<br />
movements. Cannon’s research culminated<br />
in his seminal work, Bodily<br />
Changes in Pain, Hunger, Fear and<br />
Rage, published in 1915. 1<br />
Hans Selye then drew on Cannon’s<br />
research for his own animal experiments.<br />
Selye subjected animals to a<br />
variety <strong>of</strong> adverse physical and mental<br />
conditions and observed consistent<br />
adaptations that allow the body<br />
to heal and recover. The General<br />
Adaptation Syndrome Selye described<br />
is still important in bioregulatory<br />
medicine today. 2<br />
Even conventional medicine increasingly<br />
recognizes the mind-brain<br />
connection and psychoneuroendocrinoimmunology<br />
(PNEI). For instance,<br />
stress at work is associated<br />
with cardiovascular risk factors such<br />
as BMI, hypertension, and lipid levels.<br />
The Whitehall studies examined<br />
this possible larger relationship between<br />
work stress and cardiovascular<br />
disease in depth. 3<br />
Bioregulatory medicine recognizes<br />
and tests for autonomic dysfunction<br />
as one <strong>of</strong> the main obstacles to regulatory<br />
ability in patients. For example,<br />
heart rate variability is one <strong>of</strong><br />
the main risk factors for cardiac disease.<br />
4<br />
In this issue, we present a variety <strong>of</strong><br />
articles on the effects <strong>of</strong> stress on the<br />
immune system, which have been<br />
well-known for decades. In the focus<br />
article, Dr. Jesús Agudo gives a<br />
general introduction to the subject.<br />
Dr. Mónica Name presents a case<br />
study demonstrating the effect <strong>of</strong><br />
bioregulatory medicines on bone<br />
healing. Dr. Butch Levy examines<br />
the role <strong>of</strong> acupuncture in the treatment<br />
<strong>of</strong> autonomic dysfunction, and<br />
Dr. Bert Hannosset contributes a<br />
treatment protocol for dysautonomia.<br />
In Research Highlights, we present the<br />
results <strong>of</strong> a study investigating the<br />
effectiveness <strong>of</strong> Nervoheel in mild<br />
nervous disorders, and our marketing<br />
specialist <strong>of</strong>fers tips on successful<br />
communication with your patients.<br />
We also examine how ampoule<br />
medications are manufactured (Part<br />
1) and continue our Meet the Expert<br />
series with an introduction to Dr.<br />
Arturo O’Byrne <strong>of</strong> Colombia.<br />
It is with great sadness that we remember<br />
another expert, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />
Michael Kirkman. His sudden death<br />
this year leaves a huge void in the<br />
world <strong>of</strong> homotoxicology. Dr. Damir<br />
Shakambet, who worked closely<br />
with Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Kirkman in the UK,<br />
contributes a heartfelt obituary.<br />
Dr. Alta A. Smit<br />
References<br />
1. Quick JC, Spielberger CD. Walter Bradford<br />
Cannon: Pioneer <strong>of</strong> stress research.<br />
<strong>International</strong> Journal <strong>of</strong> Stress Management.<br />
1994;1(2):141-143.<br />
2. Selye H. A syndrome produced by diverse nocuous<br />
agents. Nature. 1936;138(3479):32.<br />
3. Marmot M. UCL Department <strong>of</strong> Epidemiology<br />
and Public Health: Whitehall II Study.<br />
2008. UCL web site. http://www.ucl.ac.uk/<br />
whitehallII/. Updated February 27, 2008.<br />
Accessed July 14, 2009.<br />
4. Institute <strong>of</strong> HeartMath Research Staff. Science<br />
<strong>of</strong> the heart: exploring the role <strong>of</strong> the<br />
heart in human performance. Institute <strong>of</strong><br />
HeartMath web site. http://www.heartmath.<br />
org/research/research-science-<strong>of</strong>-the-heart.<br />
html. Accessed July 14, 2009.<br />
) 3<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
) In Focus<br />
Applied Bioregulation in Neuroendocrine Disease<br />
Chronic Stress<br />
By Jesús Agudo, MD<br />
) 4<br />
Chronic stress is <strong>of</strong>ten a reaction to the stimuli <strong>of</strong> a more<br />
or less hostile environment, to which most people living<br />
in the 21st century have succumbed. With increasing<br />
clarity, chronic stress is shown to be a causative agent <strong>of</strong><br />
numerous diseases, especially those <strong>of</strong> neuroendocrine<br />
origin. A new cross-functional medical specialization is<br />
appearing, propelled by increasingly detailed knowledge<br />
about the biological foundations <strong>of</strong> the relationship<br />
between stress and a variety <strong>of</strong> diseases: psychoneuroimmunology.<br />
The history <strong>of</strong> medicine has been<br />
a constant struggle between<br />
monism and dualism, between those<br />
researchers who consider the human<br />
being to be a unit and those who see<br />
in the individual the confluence <strong>of</strong><br />
2 separate entities: physical and<br />
spiritual, material and immaterial,<br />
metabolism and emotions, body and<br />
soul.<br />
If we go back some 2,600 years,<br />
Hippocrates had already declared<br />
that health was a state inherent to<br />
the individual, whom nature had endowed<br />
with self-healing abilities.<br />
Furthermore, while a person lived in<br />
harmony with nature, his or her<br />
health would be maintained or, were<br />
it lost, could easily be recovered.<br />
Disease was only an imbalance resulting<br />
from a failure to observe the<br />
rules <strong>of</strong> Hygeia. Thus, the physician’s<br />
mission would be to help individuals<br />
recover the lost equilibrium<br />
and teach them to live in<br />
accordance with the laws <strong>of</strong> nature<br />
(vis medicatrix naturae).<br />
In contrast, students <strong>of</strong> the school <strong>of</strong><br />
Aesculapius believed that for every<br />
disease there was a determined<br />
cause, a separate treatment, and<br />
some organs or systems involved,<br />
and that the most prestigious physician<br />
was the one who made the diagnosis<br />
and prescribed the correct<br />
treatment. This compartmentalized<br />
and highly specialized vision is that<br />
which now dominates “modern”<br />
medicine, one in which the idea <strong>of</strong><br />
the individual is, incorrectly, not<br />
considered to be an indivisible entity,<br />
a single unit with one material<br />
component and another apparently<br />
immaterial component.<br />
Fortunately, in the second half <strong>of</strong><br />
the 20th century, the development<br />
<strong>of</strong> that highly specialized and fragmented<br />
medicine, with an impressive<br />
ability to delve into the core <strong>of</strong><br />
the most subtle physiological processes,<br />
converged with the other,<br />
more humanist medicine descended<br />
from Hippocrates, which pays attention<br />
to the psycho-emotional aspects<br />
<strong>of</strong> humankind. We could say that<br />
the more cartesian-reductionist and<br />
more fiercely material medicine has<br />
discovered the influence <strong>of</strong> the human<br />
soul on physiopathological<br />
processes.<br />
It is, therefore, absolutely fascinating<br />
that more than 2,000 years ago,<br />
the pineal gland was described by<br />
Galen, who credited it with the ability<br />
to regulate the flow <strong>of</strong> thought;<br />
in the 17th century, it was described<br />
by Descartes as the seat <strong>of</strong> the rational<br />
soul. What is surprising is the<br />
insight, from ancient times, that this<br />
area would be the gateway between<br />
body and soul and the approximation<br />
<strong>of</strong> what was being described to<br />
what we know today about the interrelationships<br />
between emotions<br />
and their physical responses.<br />
The study <strong>of</strong> the relationships between<br />
mind and body has been<br />
termed psychoneuroimmunology,<br />
and what we are truly faced with is<br />
the most refined, holistic concept <strong>of</strong><br />
medical science.<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
) In Focus<br />
Stress<br />
Brain<br />
A<br />
Adrenaline<br />
ACh+ 5-HT+ IL-1+ CRH+ GABA- NA+/–<br />
+<br />
–<br />
IL-1 RA<br />
NA<br />
ACh<br />
GABA<br />
Noradrenaline<br />
Acetylcholine<br />
γ-Aminobutyric acid<br />
Hypothalamus<br />
CRH+<br />
AVP+<br />
Pituitary<br />
–<br />
–<br />
IL-1, IL-6, TNF-a<br />
Monocytes<br />
Macrophages<br />
5-HT<br />
5-Hydroxytryptamine<br />
IL-1 RA Interleukin 1<br />
receptor antagonist<br />
TNF<br />
IL<br />
ACTH<br />
Tumor necrosis factor<br />
Interleukin<br />
Corticotropin<br />
NA/A+<br />
ACTH+<br />
AVP<br />
Arginine vasopressin<br />
Adrenal gland<br />
Cortisol +/–<br />
CRH<br />
Corticotropinreleasing<br />
hormone<br />
Figure 1: Relationship between the cortex, hypothalamus, pituitary gland,<br />
and adrenal glands (after Lack and Wright 1 )<br />
The hypothalamic-<br />
pituitary-adrenal system<br />
The stimuli generated in the cerebral<br />
cortex by adverse situations such as<br />
stress or various pathological mental<br />
processes will create a response in<br />
the limbic system that triggers the<br />
release <strong>of</strong> several neurotransmitters<br />
(e.g., acetylcholine, 5-hydroxytrypta<br />
mine, interleukin [IL] 1, corticotropin-releasing<br />
hormone [CRH],<br />
γ-aminobutyric acid [GABA], and<br />
noradrenaline). These neurotransmitters<br />
will ultimately activate the<br />
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis<br />
according to the cascade described<br />
later (Figure 1).<br />
Corticotropin-releasing hormone<br />
and arginine vasopressin (AVP) are<br />
produced in the paraventricular nuclei<br />
<strong>of</strong> the hypothalamus. These substances<br />
are carried to the anterior<br />
pituitary gland, where they regulate<br />
the secretion <strong>of</strong> adrenocorticotropic<br />
hormone (ACTH or corticotropin).<br />
Adrenocorticotropic hormone travels<br />
through the bloodstream to the<br />
cortex <strong>of</strong> the adrenal glands, where<br />
it stimulates the synthesis and release<br />
<strong>of</strong> glucocorticoids (GCs).<br />
In turn, these GCs exert a negative<br />
feedback on several targets, including<br />
the adrenal cortex, inhibiting<br />
their own secretion; the pituitary<br />
gland, inhibiting ACTH production;<br />
and even the hypothalamus itself,<br />
down-regulating the release <strong>of</strong><br />
ACTH and AVP. Glucocorticoids<br />
also act on the hypothalamus<br />
through the production <strong>of</strong> GABA,<br />
which ultimately inhibits this organ’s<br />
synthesis <strong>of</strong> CRH and AVP.<br />
Another intermediate feedback regulator<br />
<strong>of</strong> the release <strong>of</strong> CRH in this<br />
process would be the one exerted on<br />
the noradrenergic and serotonergic<br />
neurons. 2<br />
Finally, we must not forget that the<br />
brain will also exert an influence on<br />
the sympathetic and endocrine system<br />
by means <strong>of</strong> the CRH that regulates<br />
the sympathetic nervous system.<br />
This has nerve endings in the<br />
bone marrow, thymus, and spleen,<br />
which are the cell factories responsible<br />
for cellular and humoral immunity.<br />
The psychoneuroimmuno<br />
logy <strong>of</strong> stress<br />
It is now clear that CRH plays a<br />
fundamental role in the response to<br />
stress. Administration <strong>of</strong> CRH produces<br />
a broad suppression <strong>of</strong> immune<br />
functions similar to that observed<br />
in depression or chronic<br />
stress.<br />
Corticotropin-releasing hormone<br />
regulates immune functions through<br />
a central pathway and a peripheral<br />
pathway. By means <strong>of</strong> the central<br />
pathway, it notably suppresses the<br />
proliferation <strong>of</strong> lymphocytes and<br />
phagocytosis by neutrophils while<br />
increasing the number <strong>of</strong> neutrophils<br />
and cellular aggregation. It also<br />
decreases the quantity and activity<br />
<strong>of</strong> natural killer (NK) cells and<br />
IgG levels. In the peripheral pathway,<br />
its activity is based on the CRH<br />
receptors that exist on macrophages,<br />
monocytes, and helper lymphocytes.<br />
Corticotropin-releasing hormone<br />
reduces the replication and survival<br />
<strong>of</strong> spleen cells while simultaneously<br />
encouraging the migration <strong>of</strong> monocytes.<br />
) 5<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
) In Focus<br />
) 6<br />
We have already seen how stress activates<br />
the production <strong>of</strong> CRH directly<br />
in the hypothalamus and indirectly<br />
through noradrenergic and<br />
serotonergic neurons. However, it<br />
also activates the autonomic nervous<br />
system. For these tasks, mediation<br />
by intermediaries such as acetylcholine,<br />
IL-1, and serotonin is required.<br />
Meanwhile, to balance this reaction,<br />
stress-inhibiting substances are also<br />
present, such as GABA; opioid peptides,<br />
whose producing neurons are<br />
closely related to CRH-producing<br />
neurons to establish an equilibrium;<br />
and a third group (e.g., adrenaline/<br />
noradrenaline) that acts on various<br />
senses.<br />
With respect to the sympathetic nervous<br />
system, we could say that in<br />
states <strong>of</strong> stress it will be activated by<br />
CRH, and on being stimulated, it<br />
will produce adrenaline and noradrenaline.<br />
Peripherally, these substances<br />
will trigger a series <strong>of</strong> actions,<br />
such as an increase in blood<br />
pressure, blood glucose, heart rate,<br />
alertness, and vigilance, and inhibit<br />
the sensation <strong>of</strong> hunger and growth<br />
through the suppression <strong>of</strong> growth<br />
hormone (GH).<br />
Stress affects various<br />
vital areas<br />
The immune system<br />
According to recent studies, the role<br />
<strong>of</strong> cortisol in the inhibition <strong>of</strong> the<br />
immune system appears to consist <strong>of</strong><br />
suppressing the ability <strong>of</strong> immune<br />
cells to activate their own telomerase<br />
to reproduce their telomeres each<br />
time the cell divides. The telomere<br />
would, therefore, be shortened, a<br />
characteristic observed in pathological<br />
conditions, such as human immunodeficiency<br />
virus infection, osteoporosis,<br />
coronary heart disease,<br />
and even aging. 3<br />
Cancerous diseases<br />
Stress significantly reduces the activity<br />
<strong>of</strong> NK cells. 4 In laboratory experiments<br />
on animals subjected to<br />
stress, the rate <strong>of</strong> pulmonary metastases<br />
from induced breast cancers<br />
doubled.<br />
Studies <strong>of</strong> women who underwent<br />
surgery for carcinoma <strong>of</strong> the breast<br />
have also shown a significantly reduced<br />
NK cell count in patients with<br />
high stress levels compared with<br />
those who controlled their stress, resulting<br />
from uncertainty about the<br />
treatment or prognosis <strong>of</strong> their disease.<br />
5<br />
Infectious diseases<br />
In laboratory experiments on animals<br />
subjected to stress conditions,<br />
their response to the flu virus decreased<br />
significantly. Along with<br />
high levels <strong>of</strong> plasma corticosterone,<br />
a decrease in the mononuclear cell<br />
population and a 60% to 95% decrease<br />
in IL-2 production in lymphoid<br />
organs were observed.<br />
In preschool-aged children subjected<br />
to various situations <strong>of</strong> environmental<br />
stress, several changes in the<br />
CD4, CD8, and NK cell counts were<br />
observed, which have been correlated<br />
with respiratory diseases. 4<br />
Another experiment conducted on<br />
astronauts found that during periods<br />
<strong>of</strong> stress, there was a decrease in antibodies<br />
to the Epstein-Barr virus<br />
nuclear antigens, along with an increase<br />
in adrenaline and noradrenaline<br />
in the urine and a decrease in<br />
virus-specific T lymphocytes. This<br />
led to the reactivation <strong>of</strong> the Epstein-Barr<br />
virus in 11 <strong>of</strong> 28 astronauts.<br />
6<br />
Wound healing<br />
There also appears to be evidence<br />
from in vitro studies showing that<br />
fibroblasts would be less effective in<br />
matrix repair for recovery from injuries<br />
and wounds in situations <strong>of</strong> psychological<br />
stress, precisely because<br />
<strong>of</strong> the presence <strong>of</strong> high tissue levels<br />
<strong>of</strong> corticosteroids. In one study <strong>of</strong><br />
student volunteers who underwent<br />
small incisions on mucous membranes,<br />
the healing time was 40%<br />
longer during examination periods<br />
than during vacation periods. This<br />
longer duration was associated with<br />
a 30% decrease in IL-1 levels during<br />
examination periods. 7<br />
Stress and allergies<br />
In a joint experiment, physicians<br />
and psychologists studied the relationship<br />
between stressful situations<br />
and an increase in the most common<br />
signs <strong>of</strong> allergies (rhinitis, sneezing,<br />
coughing, and conjunctivitis), along<br />
with the peculiarity that the allergic<br />
symptoms worsened in the following<br />
days while the stress stimulus<br />
continued. Analytically, this translates<br />
to a significant increase in IL-6<br />
and catecholamines in the blood <strong>of</strong><br />
stressed patients with symptoms <strong>of</strong><br />
allergies.<br />
There is another mediator, vasoactive<br />
intestinal polypeptide, that has<br />
been found in increased quantities<br />
in children who have experienced<br />
significant stress (typically parental<br />
separation) and that is closely linked<br />
to sensitization and the onset <strong>of</strong> allergic<br />
phenomena. 9<br />
In another recent experiment performed<br />
in Canada, 10 it was found<br />
that maternal stress in the first 7<br />
years <strong>of</strong> the child’s life has a significant<br />
influence on the rates <strong>of</strong> childhood<br />
asthma because mothers in<br />
this situation are less likely to interact<br />
with and show affection to their<br />
children. This is recognized by the<br />
child’s immune system, which could<br />
be considered an “affective” transmission<br />
<strong>of</strong> stress.<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
) In Focus<br />
Systemic lupus erythematosus,<br />
depression, and stress<br />
Distinct immunological changes<br />
have been found in patients with depressive<br />
syndromes <strong>of</strong> various degrees<br />
and clinical manifestations. 11<br />
In contrast to healthy control subjects,<br />
an increase in B lymphocytes,<br />
antinuclear antibodies, and serum<br />
immunoglobulins can be observed<br />
in patients with depressive syndromes.<br />
Thus, depressive illnesses<br />
can demonstrate a certain relationship<br />
to autoimmunity. Also, many<br />
autoimmune diseases are characterized<br />
by major episodes <strong>of</strong> depression,<br />
especially systemic lupus erythematosus,<br />
regardless <strong>of</strong> treatment<br />
with GCs.<br />
With depression in general, prolonged<br />
activity in the adrenal cortex<br />
is a factor that makes recovery notably<br />
difficult. These are patients in<br />
whom the administration <strong>of</strong> corticosteroids<br />
does not exert a negative<br />
feedback on their own cortisol levels.<br />
12<br />
Growth and stress<br />
As previously mentioned, sustained<br />
stress causes high levels <strong>of</strong> CRH,<br />
which in turn inhibits GH and insulinlike<br />
growth factor 1. The circulating<br />
corticosteroids also exert a<br />
negative feedback on GH production<br />
by the pituitary gland. 2<br />
Stress and sleep<br />
Patients experiencing stress have a<br />
poor quality <strong>of</strong> sleep as a cause and<br />
a result <strong>of</strong> stress. 5,13 Failure to follow<br />
circadian rhythms due to a lack <strong>of</strong><br />
sleep reduces the amount <strong>of</strong> melatonin<br />
in the blood to below required<br />
levels. It is, therefore, presumed that<br />
its antioxidant activity cannot be<br />
performed. Also, melatonin’s likely<br />
activity <strong>of</strong> promoting immunity by<br />
inhibiting the production <strong>of</strong> gonadotropins<br />
is inhibited. 1,14<br />
Bioregulatory approach to<br />
stress<br />
A fascinating opportunity remains<br />
open for bioregulatory medicine to<br />
establish treatment protocols consisting<br />
<strong>of</strong> immune regulatory medicines<br />
(e.g., Echinacea compositum<br />
and Engystol), medicines supporting<br />
brain function (e.g., Cerebrum<br />
compositum, Thalamus compositum,<br />
Ypsiloheel, Neuro-Injeel, Tonico-Injeel,<br />
Nervoheel, and Ignatia-<br />
Homaccord), and the classic<br />
organoregulators, such as Ovarium<br />
compositum, Pulsatilla compositum,<br />
Coenzyme compositum, Hepar<br />
compositum, Testis compositum,<br />
Thyreoidea compositum, Galium-<br />
Heel, and Ubichinon compositum.<br />
Neurexan, a medication for nervousness<br />
and insomnia, has recently been<br />
shown in preliminary studies to be<br />
possibly useful in anticipatory anxiety.<br />
15 |<br />
References<br />
1. Lack LC, Wright HR. Chronobiology<br />
<strong>of</strong> sleep in humans. Cell Mol Life Sci.<br />
2007;64(10):1205-1215.<br />
2. Rosales Estrada M. Síndrome de inflamación de<br />
las mucosas: tratamiento antihomotóxico. Colombia:<br />
M. Rosales Estrada; 2005.<br />
3. Choi J, Fauce SR, Effros RB. Reduced telomerase<br />
activity in human T lymphocytes<br />
exposed to cortisol. Brain Behav Immun.<br />
2008;22(4):600-605.<br />
4. Song C, Leonard BE. Fundamentals <strong>of</strong> Psychoneuroimmunology.<br />
Chichester, England:<br />
Wiley & Sons; 2000.<br />
5. Andersen BL, Farrar WB, Golden-Kreutz<br />
D, et al. Stress and immune responses after<br />
surgical treatment for regional breast cancer.<br />
J Natl Cancer Inst. 1998;90(1):30-36.<br />
6. Stowe RP, Pierson DL, Barrett AD. Elevated<br />
stress hormone levels relate to Epstein-Barr<br />
virus reactivation in astronauts. Psychosom<br />
Med. 2001;63(6):891-895.<br />
7. Glaser R, Kiecolt-Glaser JK. Stress-induced<br />
immune dysfunction: implications for health.<br />
Nat Rev Immunol. 2005;5(3):243-251.<br />
8. Stress, anxiety can make allergy attacks even<br />
more miserable and last longer. ScienceDaily<br />
Web site. http://www.sciencedaily.com/<br />
releases/2008/08/080814154327.htm.<br />
Published August 17, 2008. Accessed July<br />
14, 2009.<br />
9. Stress during childhood increases the risk <strong>of</strong><br />
allergies. e! Science News Web site. http://<br />
esciencenews.com/articles/2008/06/18/<br />
stress.during.childhood.increases.risk.allergies.<br />
Published June 18, 2008. Accessed<br />
July 14, 2009.<br />
10. Kozyrskyj AL, Mai XM, McGrath P, Hayglass<br />
KT, Becker AB, Macneil B. Continued<br />
exposure to maternal distress in early life is<br />
associated with an increased risk <strong>of</strong> childhood<br />
asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med.<br />
2008;177(2):142-147.<br />
11. Eiguchi K, Soneira SG. Psiconeuroinmunoendocrinología<br />
en enfermedades autoinmunes<br />
(LES). Archivos de Alergia e Inmunología Clínica.<br />
2002;33(suppl 1):S8-S16.<br />
12. McEwen BS. Physiology and neurobiology<br />
<strong>of</strong> stress and adaptation: central role <strong>of</strong> the<br />
brain. Physiol Rev. 2007;87(3):873-904.<br />
13. Zisapel N. Sleep and sleep disturbances: biological<br />
basis and clinical implications. Cell<br />
Mol Life Sci. 2007;64(10):1174-1186.<br />
14. Plant TM. Hypothalamic control <strong>of</strong> the pituitary-gonadal<br />
axis in higher primates: key<br />
advances over the last two decades. J Neuroendocrinol.<br />
2008;20(6):719-726.<br />
15. Dimpfel W. Psychophysiological effects <strong>of</strong><br />
neurexan on stress-induced etropsychograms:<br />
a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled<br />
study in human volunteers.<br />
NeuroCode-AG Web site. http://www.<br />
neurocode-ag.com/Poster%20Stresskongress%20Teil%20A.pdf<br />
and http://www.<br />
neurocode-ag.com/Poster%20Stresskongress%20Teil%20B.pdf.<br />
Accessed July 14,<br />
2009.<br />
) 7<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
Hearing voices when there is nobody<br />
around? A recent study suggests that<br />
high caffeine consumption may<br />
increase a pre-existing tendency<br />
to hallucinate.<br />
Getting a good night’s sleep reduces<br />
the risk <strong>of</strong> catching a viral infection.<br />
Link between caffeine and<br />
hallucinations?<br />
The more expensive<br />
the better?<br />
For good health,<br />
get enough sleep<br />
) 8<br />
A new research study, conducted at<br />
Durham University, UK, examines a<br />
possible link between high caffeine<br />
consumption and an increased tendency<br />
to hallucinate. The study assessed<br />
typical caffeine consumption<br />
<strong>of</strong> 200 students, along with stress<br />
levels and proneness to common<br />
hallucinatory experiences such as<br />
hearing voices when no one is present.<br />
“High caffeine users” consuming<br />
more than the equivalent <strong>of</strong><br />
seven cups <strong>of</strong> instant c<strong>of</strong>fee a day<br />
were three times more likely to hear<br />
voices than “low users” consuming<br />
less than one cup-equivalent.<br />
What’s the theory behind this research?<br />
As a result <strong>of</strong> traumatic<br />
events in their past, many hallucination-prone<br />
individuals respond to<br />
current stress by producing increased<br />
amounts <strong>of</strong> the stress hormone cortisol.<br />
Caffeine consumption further<br />
increases release <strong>of</strong> the stress hormone,<br />
and this extra cortisol boost<br />
might exacerbate a pre-existing tendency<br />
to hallucinate.<br />
The authors call the findings a first<br />
step in better understanding how<br />
nutrition affects hallucinations. More<br />
research is needed to see if changes<br />
in caffeine intake might help people<br />
to better cope with distressing hallucinations<br />
or reduce the frequency<br />
<strong>of</strong> these experiences.<br />
Personality and Individual Differences.<br />
2009;46(4):562-564.<br />
“If it’s not expensive, it can’t be any<br />
good.” Many people seem to approach<br />
medical care with this attitude. In an<br />
American study, 82 healthy volunteers<br />
were given what they thought<br />
was a new pain reliever. In reality, all<br />
<strong>of</strong> the subjects received identical<br />
placebos, but half <strong>of</strong> them were told<br />
that the price per tablet was $2.50,<br />
while the others were allowed to believe<br />
the medication was very lowpriced.<br />
The analge sic effects <strong>of</strong> the<br />
fake medication were then tested using<br />
mild electrical shocks to induce<br />
pain. Subjective sen sations <strong>of</strong> pain<br />
were significantly reduced in the<br />
group receiving the supposedly<br />
more expensive medication in comparison<br />
to the other group.<br />
JAMA. 2008;299:1016-1017<br />
Enjoy food and lose weight<br />
Eating rapidly to the point <strong>of</strong> satiety<br />
increases the risk <strong>of</strong> obesity. When<br />
3,287 Japanese women and men<br />
were surveyed about their eating<br />
habits, respondents who said they<br />
tended to eat fast until they felt full<br />
were three times more likely to be<br />
overweight than people who ate<br />
slowly and enjoyed their food. It<br />
seems that weightwatchers should<br />
not only pay attention to what they<br />
eat but also to how they eat.<br />
BMJ. 2008;337:a2002<br />
People who sleep well and long<br />
enough are less susceptible to viral<br />
infections, according to a study <strong>of</strong><br />
153 healthy men ranging in age<br />
from 21 to 55 years. The subjects<br />
were surveyed about the quantity<br />
and quality <strong>of</strong> their sleep over a 14-<br />
day period, after which they were<br />
infected by administering nose<br />
drops containing rhinoviruses. Researchers<br />
found that subjects who<br />
slept longer and better got sick less<br />
<strong>of</strong>ten than participants who slept<br />
less. For example, participants who<br />
got eight hours <strong>of</strong> sleep or more<br />
were approximately 2.94 times less<br />
likely to catch colds than those who<br />
slept for seven hours or less. The effects<br />
<strong>of</strong> sleep efficiency (actual sleeping<br />
time as a percentage <strong>of</strong> total time<br />
in bed) were even greater: Participants<br />
with 92 percent efficiency or<br />
less were 5.5 times more likely to<br />
develop a cold than those with 98<br />
percent efficiency or more. The immune<br />
system appears to need adequate<br />
sleep to effectively fend <strong>of</strong>f<br />
germs.<br />
Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(1):62-67<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
) What Else Is New?<br />
During a coughing attack, airborne<br />
pathogens will be propelled into the<br />
surrounding air for about four meters.<br />
Sexy women wear red<br />
“Red-light” districts and sexy red<br />
lingerie suggest that the color red<br />
has long been associated with male<br />
sexual drive, but this connection had<br />
never been scientifically confirmed.<br />
To test men’s responses to the color<br />
red in relationship to women’s sexual<br />
attractiveness, participants were<br />
shown photos <strong>of</strong> women in front <strong>of</strong><br />
different colored backgrounds. Other<br />
pictures showed the women wearing<br />
different colored tops. The study<br />
found that men saw women posing<br />
in front <strong>of</strong> a red background or<br />
wearing red tops as sexually more<br />
desirable than the same women in<br />
other photos. Red had no effect on<br />
the men’s assessment <strong>of</strong> the women’s<br />
other qualities such as intelligence<br />
or kindness. Women shown the<br />
same photos seemed to be colorblind<br />
when it came to rating the attractiveness<br />
<strong>of</strong> other women.<br />
J Pers Soc Psychol. 2008;95(5):1150-<br />
1164<br />
Communicating with<br />
patients through positive<br />
images<br />
We humans still think best in images,<br />
and abstract numbers are difficult<br />
for most <strong>of</strong> us to remember. Health<br />
care practitioners should also use<br />
this fact to their advantage and enhance<br />
their communication with patients<br />
by using pictures and graphic<br />
elements. Researchers from New<br />
Zealand recently investigated the<br />
best way to convey important information<br />
about treatments to patients.<br />
Two-thirds <strong>of</strong> the patients questioned<br />
preferred graphically presented<br />
information to pure numbers<br />
and percentages. Positive formulations<br />
were also considered help ful.<br />
In other words, it is generally better<br />
to emphasize the benefits <strong>of</strong> a particular<br />
therapy instead <strong>of</strong> stressing<br />
the possible risks <strong>of</strong> leaving a condition<br />
untreated.<br />
Ann Fam Med 2008;6(3):213-217<br />
Keep your distance to<br />
stay healthy<br />
Many diseases are transmitted by<br />
airborne drops. At work, in the subway,<br />
while shopping – wherever we<br />
meet other people, we are bombarded<br />
with germs. People who are already<br />
sick and coughing are especially<br />
likely to contaminate the air<br />
with germ-filled spray. A recent<br />
study investigated how fast this<br />
cloud spreads around a cougher.<br />
Scien tists from the USA calculated<br />
the speed <strong>of</strong> spread at up to eight<br />
meters per second over a period <strong>of</strong><br />
approximately half a second. This<br />
means that an attack <strong>of</strong> coughing<br />
propels germs into the surroundings<br />
for about four meters. Anyone who<br />
wants to make it through cold season<br />
unscathed would do well to<br />
keep their distance from other people.<br />
N Engl J Med. 2008;359(15):e19<br />
FOR PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY<br />
The information contained in this journal is meant for pr<strong>of</strong>essional use only, is meant to convey general and/or specific worldwide scientific information relating to the<br />
products or ingredients referred to for informational purposes only, is not intended to be a recommendation with respect to the use <strong>of</strong> or benefits derived from the<br />
products and/or ingredients (which may be different depending on the regulatory environment in your country), and is not intended to diagnose any illness, nor is it<br />
intended to replace competent medical advice and practice. IAH or anyone connected to, or participating in this publication does not accept nor will it be liable<br />
for any medical or legal responsibility for the reliance upon or the misinterpretation or misuse <strong>of</strong> the scientific, informational and educational content <strong>of</strong> the<br />
articles in this journal.<br />
The purpose <strong>of</strong> the Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> is to share worldwide scientific information about successful protocols from orthodox and complementary practitioners.<br />
The intent <strong>of</strong> the scientific information contained in this journal is not to “dispense recipes” but to provide practitioners with “practice information” for a better<br />
understanding <strong>of</strong> the possibilities and limits <strong>of</strong> complementary and integrative therapies.<br />
Some <strong>of</strong> the products referred to in articles may not be available in all countries in which the journal is made available, with the formulation described in any article or<br />
available for sale with the conditions <strong>of</strong> use and/or claims indicated in the articles. It is the practitioner’s responsibility to use this information as applicable<br />
and in a manner that is permitted in his or her respective jurisdiction based on the applicable regulatory environment. We encourage our readers to share<br />
their complementary therapies, as the purpose <strong>of</strong> the Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> is to join together like-minded practitioners from around the globe.<br />
Written permission is required to reproduce any <strong>of</strong> the enclosed material. The articles contained herein are not independently verified for accuracy or truth. They have<br />
been provided to the Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> by the author and represent the thoughts, views and opinions <strong>of</strong> the article’s author.<br />
) 9<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
) From the Practice<br />
Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders<br />
Associated With Pseudarthrosis<br />
Presentation <strong>of</strong> a Clinical Case<br />
Mónica Name Guerra, MD<br />
Bone fatigue is a considerable risk factor causing fractures<br />
in high-performance athletes, as a result <strong>of</strong> many extrinsic<br />
and intrinsic factors. This article describes a 13-year-old<br />
girl, a pr<strong>of</strong>essional skater with a fracture <strong>of</strong> the femur and<br />
atrophic pseudarthrosis 10 months after initial surgical<br />
treatment. A metabolic disturbance was found at the<br />
biological medical consultation; this was managed<br />
holistically, and the patient’s fracture healed after<br />
2 months <strong>of</strong> antihomotoxic and integrative treatment.<br />
The use <strong>of</strong> unsuitable equipment,<br />
very intensive training schedules,<br />
and inappropriate diets are<br />
among the external risk factors that<br />
predispose towards bone pathology<br />
in athletes. Age; mechanical biophysical<br />
factors arising from the<br />
bone-muscle relationship, which alter<br />
physiological alignment; bone<br />
density; and metabolic or hormonal<br />
imbalances are intrinsic causes <strong>of</strong><br />
stress fractures and pseudarthrosis.<br />
Prepubertal girls and women, as a<br />
result <strong>of</strong> the physiological changes<br />
inherent to their sexual development<br />
and monthly hormonal fluctuation,<br />
are a population especially at risk. 1<br />
In 1986, the US Food and Drug<br />
Administration defined pseudarthrosis<br />
as nonhealing <strong>of</strong> a fracture<br />
9 months after injury. However, depending<br />
on the bone and the site <strong>of</strong><br />
the injury, this period may vary. In<br />
fractures <strong>of</strong> the long bones in the<br />
middle third <strong>of</strong> the femur, a waiting<br />
period <strong>of</strong> 6 months is allowed,<br />
whereas neck fractures should heal<br />
within 3 months after the trauma. 2<br />
Although the exact cause <strong>of</strong> pseudarthrosis<br />
is not clear, it is believed that<br />
local factors (e.g., infection and poor<br />
vascularization) and systemic factors<br />
(e.g., nutritional state and hormonal<br />
balance) contribute to nonhealing <strong>of</strong><br />
fractures. Although there are opposing<br />
opinions, there is considerable<br />
bibliographic evidence implicating<br />
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory<br />
drugs and corticoids as important<br />
factors in fractures that are not healing.<br />
3<br />
Pseudarthrosis can be hypertrophic<br />
or hypervascularized and atrophic<br />
or avascular.<br />
Figure 1: Fracture<br />
Figure 2: Intramedullary pin<br />
(June 26, 2004)<br />
Figure 3: Pseudarthrosis at follow-up<br />
) 10<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
) From the Practice<br />
Figure 4: Second operative procedure<br />
Figure 5: Postoperative view 5 months<br />
after the second operative procedure<br />
Clinical case<br />
The patient is a 13-year-old sportsperson<br />
who, on June 25, 2004, experienced<br />
a displaced fracture in the<br />
middle third <strong>of</strong> the right femur (Figure<br />
1), which required surgical treatment<br />
with an intramedullary pin<br />
(Figure 2).<br />
A 5-month postoperative followup<br />
X-ray showed pseudarthrosis<br />
(Figure 3). Thus, from an orthopedic<br />
viewpoint <strong>of</strong> the mechanical instability<br />
and hypertrophic pseudarthrosis,<br />
a further intervention changing<br />
the pin for one <strong>of</strong> a larger<br />
diameter with double distal locking<br />
was performed on November 17,<br />
2004 (Figure 4).<br />
Five months after the second operative<br />
procedure, the fracture was classified<br />
as atrophic pseudarthrosis<br />
(Figure 5), and the treating orthopedic<br />
surgeon proposed a third intervention.<br />
The patient decided to consult<br />
a biological medicine specialist<br />
to obtain a second opinion.<br />
The consultation on April 13, 2005,<br />
showed that the patient was in pain,<br />
with no support from the lower<br />
right limb, and had a high consumption<br />
<strong>of</strong> nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory<br />
drugs.<br />
The results <strong>of</strong> the Meridian Stress<br />
Assessment (developed by Reinhold<br />
Voll) were pancreatic and splenic<br />
dysfunction (Table 1); therefore,<br />
clinical laboratory tests were performed<br />
to complete the investigation<br />
(Table 2). These test results<br />
showed a state <strong>of</strong> hypercortisolism<br />
with a normal basal insulin level (no<br />
postprandial insulin test result was<br />
available). The postprandial glucose<br />
response at 30 minutes was normal;<br />
however, at 1 hour, it was very low.<br />
The thyrotropin level was in the<br />
normal range, the free thyroxine<br />
level was normal, and the triiodothyronine<br />
level was not obtained. The<br />
parathyroid hormone level was normal;<br />
the result <strong>of</strong> bone densitometry<br />
showed osteopenia.<br />
Organ Right side Left side<br />
Lymphatic deg. 48 46<br />
Lung 54 46<br />
Large intestine 34 56<br />
Central nervous<br />
system deg.<br />
42 46<br />
Circulation 46 48<br />
Allergy deg. 42 42<br />
Parenchyma deg. 34 42<br />
Endocrine 46 46<br />
Heart 52 46<br />
Small intestine 44 58<br />
Pancreas 18<br />
Spleen 16<br />
Liver 44 46<br />
Joint deg. 46 36<br />
Stomach 54 52<br />
Fibroid deg. 58 48<br />
Skin deg. 66 58<br />
Fat deg. 56 58<br />
Gallbladder 70 52<br />
Kidney 54 52<br />
Bladder 48 56<br />
Uterus/prostate 48 54<br />
Laboratory test Patient value Reference value<br />
Urinary cortisol, µg/24 h 60.86 5-55<br />
Basal blood glucose, mg/dL 79 70-105<br />
Postprandial blood glucose at 30 min, mg/dL 125 > 110<br />
Postprandial blood glucose at 1 h, mg/dL 74 120-170<br />
Postprandial blood glucose at 2 h, mg/dL 94 70-120<br />
Thyrotropin, µUI/mL 2.40 0.35-5.50<br />
Free thyroxine, ng/dL 1.06 0.93-1.70<br />
Parathyroid hormone, pg/mL 31.3 11.0-79.5<br />
Basal insulin, µU/mL 5.02 2.60 -24.90<br />
Table 1:<br />
Meridian Stress Assessment results*<br />
Table 2:<br />
Clinical laboratory results<br />
* Normal values, 40-60; Irritation, 61-80;<br />
Inflammation, 81-100; Weakness, 31-39;<br />
Degeneration, < 30<br />
) 11<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
) From the Practice<br />
Figure 6: Consolidated fracture (June 23,<br />
2005)<br />
) 12<br />
Treatment was started as follows:<br />
• Osteoheel,<br />
1 tablet 4 times per day<br />
• Strumeel,<br />
1 tablet 4 times per day<br />
• Momordica compositum,<br />
1 ampoule twice weekly,<br />
10 doses<br />
• Placenta compositum,<br />
1 ampoule twice weekly,<br />
10 doses<br />
• Acidum citricum-Injeel,<br />
1 ampoule twice weekly,<br />
10 doses<br />
• Lymphomyosot, 1 ampoule<br />
twice weekly, 10 doses<br />
Nutritional changes reducing the intake<br />
<strong>of</strong> rapidly absorbed carbohydrates<br />
(refined sugars) and avoiding<br />
high-sodium processed foods (ready<br />
meals and fast food) were recommended.<br />
At the 2-month clinical follow-up,<br />
pain was absent, normal electrical<br />
measurements <strong>of</strong> the pancreas (44)<br />
and spleen (48) were noted, and radiography<br />
showed healing <strong>of</strong> the<br />
fracture (Figure 6); therefore, the intramedullary<br />
pin was removed (Figure<br />
7). Laboratory findings at the<br />
end <strong>of</strong> treatment were normal.<br />
Discussion<br />
According to the Meridian Stress<br />
Assessment, this patient had an abnormality<br />
<strong>of</strong> the pancreas. Her low<br />
glucose level, using the result <strong>of</strong> the<br />
oral glucose tolerance test at 60<br />
minutes, indicates hypoglycemia and<br />
a state <strong>of</strong> chronic hypercortisolism.<br />
This state <strong>of</strong> transitory hypoglycemia<br />
leads to a functional imbalance<br />
<strong>of</strong> the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal<br />
cortex axis 4-6 ; therefore, the response<br />
is an increase in β-adrenergic<br />
activity in the hypothalamus, with<br />
the release <strong>of</strong> the growth hormones<br />
somatotrophin and corticotropin<br />
and increased secretion <strong>of</strong> cortisol<br />
and epinephrine. 5,6<br />
The cortisol acts like a counterregulating<br />
hormone and induces the<br />
production <strong>of</strong> glucose, activating the<br />
gluconeogenesis pathway. If the hypoglycemia<br />
persists, the level <strong>of</strong> cortisol<br />
rises, conforming a state <strong>of</strong><br />
chronic hypercortisolism.<br />
The increased cortisol levels in this<br />
patient could be secondary to the<br />
hypoglycemia and stress produced<br />
by competitive exercise and the influence<br />
<strong>of</strong> interleukin 6 as a chronic<br />
inflammatory cytokine. 7<br />
Intense exercise by high-performance<br />
athletes suppresses the function<br />
<strong>of</strong> the T cells and natural killer<br />
cells and increases the release <strong>of</strong><br />
cortisol and interleukin 6 proinflammatory<br />
factors. 7<br />
Cortisol causes a reduction in bone<br />
formation and an increase in resorption<br />
by various mechanisms<br />
(Figure 8). 8<br />
Cortisol antagonizes the action <strong>of</strong><br />
1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3<br />
or calcitriol,<br />
which acts on the osteoblast by<br />
increasing the synthesis <strong>of</strong> tissue<br />
growth factor β (TGF-β) and raising<br />
the number <strong>of</strong> insulinlike growth<br />
factor receptors, whose anabolic effect<br />
regulates bone growth and tissue<br />
repair. 8-12 Vitamin D 3<br />
increases<br />
the synthesis <strong>of</strong> osteocalcin and osteopontin<br />
by improving the mineralization<br />
<strong>of</strong> the collagen fibrils <strong>of</strong><br />
the bone when they are depleted.<br />
9-12<br />
The formation <strong>of</strong> hydroxyapatite alters<br />
with sodium/calcium interchange<br />
in the renal distal tubules,<br />
where phosphorus and magnesium<br />
are also lost. Each gram <strong>of</strong> sodium<br />
ion in urine corresponds to 26.3 mg<br />
<strong>of</strong> lost calcium; therefore, salty and<br />
fast food diets are not recommended.<br />
13<br />
Ingesting oily seeds and extra virgin<br />
vegetable oils rich in polyunsaturated<br />
fatty acids and conjugated linoleic<br />
acid increases the absorption<br />
rate <strong>of</strong> calcium in the cells and reduces<br />
osteoclastogenesis. 14<br />
Acidification secondary to the ingestion<br />
<strong>of</strong> refined sugar and proteins<br />
with sulfur atoms (methionine and<br />
cysteine) alters the mineralization<br />
and metabolism <strong>of</strong> the bone. 9<br />
The concentration <strong>of</strong> protons in the<br />
plasma and in the extracellular fluid<br />
is about 40 nM, corresponding to a<br />
pH <strong>of</strong> 7.4; to stabilize and alkalize<br />
this, there are systems that include<br />
balancing phosphate with calcium<br />
and magnesium ions originating<br />
from the bone matrix at the expense<br />
<strong>of</strong> weakening the bone. 9<br />
According to the personal analysis<br />
that I have made <strong>of</strong> this clinical case,<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
) From the Practice<br />
Figure 7: Fracture without intramedullary<br />
pin (November 28, 2006)<br />
antihomotoxic medications could<br />
hypothetically have acted in the following<br />
manner in healing the fracture:<br />
1. Antihomotoxic medications,<br />
which contain low doses <strong>of</strong> antigens,<br />
could have stimulated the<br />
production <strong>of</strong> TGF-β from the<br />
lymphocyte line T-helper cell 3.<br />
This TGF-β intervenes in the reconstruction<br />
<strong>of</strong> the bone matrix<br />
by inhibiting the activation <strong>of</strong><br />
the osteoclasts and stimulating<br />
the action <strong>of</strong> the osteoblasts,<br />
promoting the healing <strong>of</strong> the tissue<br />
and the resolution <strong>of</strong> the inflammation.<br />
15-18<br />
2. The bioregulatory effect <strong>of</strong> Momordica<br />
compositum in the<br />
pancreas in controlling hypoglycemia<br />
and secondary hypercorti<br />
solism could be the result<br />
<strong>of</strong> a possible improvement in the<br />
expression <strong>of</strong> glucotransporters<br />
in the cells and hypothetically<br />
might increase the secretion<br />
<strong>of</strong> amylin and preptin. These<br />
2 polypeptides are cosecreted<br />
with insulin from the β cells <strong>of</strong><br />
the pancreas; their function is to<br />
stimulate osteoblastic proliferation,<br />
reduce osteoblastic apoptosis,<br />
and inhibit osteoclastic activity.<br />
19-25<br />
3. Possibly, Acidum citricum-Injeel,<br />
a Krebs cycle catalyst and calcium<br />
metabolism regulator that<br />
improves the absorption <strong>of</strong> vitamin<br />
D, could act in the renal tubule<br />
cells by stimulating the mitochondrial<br />
1a-hy droxylase res<br />
pon sible for transforming 25-<br />
hydroxycholecalciferol (in acti ve)<br />
into 1,25-dihydroxy cholecalciferol<br />
(active) or calcitriol.<br />
Figure 8: Effects <strong>of</strong> cortisol on bone 8<br />
GI Ca absorption<br />
Renal Ca absorption<br />
Bone resorption<br />
LH – FSH<br />
Testosterone<br />
Estrogen<br />
Cortisol<br />
Osteoprotegerin<br />
Osteoporosis<br />
Muscle strength<br />
Osteoblastic<br />
apoptosis<br />
GI<br />
Ca<br />
Gastrointestinal<br />
Calcium<br />
Bone formation<br />
LH<br />
Luteinizing<br />
hormone<br />
Growth factors<br />
FSH<br />
Follicle-stimulating<br />
hormone<br />
) 13<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
) From the Practice<br />
) 14<br />
Conclusion<br />
Antihomotoxic treatment drains the<br />
matrix (Lymphomyosot), regulates<br />
the endocrine function <strong>of</strong> the pancreas<br />
(Momordica compositum),<br />
regulates thyroid function (Strumeel),<br />
solves the problem <strong>of</strong> avascular atrophic<br />
pseudarthrosis (Placenta compositum),<br />
and re-establishes the<br />
metabolic balance <strong>of</strong> bone, the intrinsic<br />
calcium metabolism, and vitamin<br />
D absorption (Osteoheel and<br />
Acidum citricum-Injeel).<br />
Pseudarthrosis is not an exclusively<br />
mechanical problem. It must be confronted<br />
integrally, from the pr<strong>of</strong>ession<br />
or lifestyle to the metabolism <strong>of</strong><br />
the organism, the diet, the neuroendocrine<br />
system, and immunological<br />
modulation. “The whole organism<br />
suffers with the fracture <strong>of</strong> a long<br />
bone.” 26 |<br />
References<br />
1. DeFranco MJ, Recht M, Schils J, Parker RD.<br />
Stress fractures <strong>of</strong> the femur in athletes. Clin<br />
Sports Med. 2006;25(1):89-103, ix.<br />
2. Cleveland KB. Delayed union and nonunion<br />
<strong>of</strong> fractures. In: Canale ST, Beaty J, eds.<br />
Campbell’s Operative Orthopaedics. 11th ed.<br />
Philadelphia, PA: Mosby; 2007:chapter 56.<br />
3. Koester MC, Spindler KP. Pharmacologic<br />
agents in fracture healing. Clin Sports Med.<br />
2006;25(1):63-73, viii.<br />
4. Fruehwald-Schultes B, Kern W, Born J,<br />
Fehm HL, Peters A. Hyperinsulinemia<br />
causes activation <strong>of</strong> the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal<br />
axis in humans. Intern J Obes.<br />
2001;25(suppl1):S38-S40.<br />
5. Arias P, Arzt E, Bonet E. Estrés y procesos de<br />
enfermedad. Buenos Aires, Argentina: Biblos;<br />
1998.<br />
6. Suliman AM, Freaney R, McBrinn Y, et al.<br />
Insulin-induced hypoglycemia suppresses<br />
plasma parathyroid hormone levels in patients<br />
with adrenal insufficiency. Metabolism.<br />
2004;53(10):1251-1254.<br />
7. Rosales Estrada M. Síndrome de inflamación<br />
de las mucosas: tratamiento antihomotóxico.<br />
2nd ed. Colombia: M. Rosales Estrada;<br />
2005.<br />
8. Rubin MR, Bilezikian JP. The role <strong>of</strong> parathyroid<br />
hormone in the pathogenesis <strong>of</strong><br />
glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis: a reexamination<br />
<strong>of</strong> the evidence. J Clin Endocrinol<br />
Metab. 2002;87(9):4033-4041.<br />
9. Koolman J, Röhm K. Bioquímica: texto y atlas.<br />
3rd ed. Stuttgart, Germany: Panamericana;<br />
2004.<br />
10. Clark R. The somatogenic hormones and<br />
insulin-like growth factor-1: stimulators <strong>of</strong><br />
lymphopoiesis and immune function. Endocr<br />
Rev. 1997;18(2):157-179.<br />
11. Kurtz A, Matter R, Eckardt KU, Zapf J.<br />
Erythropoiesis, serum erythropoietin, and serum<br />
IGF-I in rats during accelerated growth.<br />
Acta Endocrinol (Copenh). 1990;122(3):323-<br />
328.<br />
12. Gómez JM. The role <strong>of</strong> insulin-like growth<br />
factor I components in the regulation <strong>of</strong> vitamin<br />
D. Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2006;7(2):125-<br />
132.<br />
13. Shortt C, Madden A, Flynn A, Morrissey PA.<br />
Influence <strong>of</strong> dietary sodium intake on urinary<br />
calcium excretion in selected Irish individuals.<br />
Eur J Clin Nutr. 1988;42(7):595-603.<br />
14. Bhattacharya A, Banu J, Rahman M, Causey<br />
J, Fernandes G. Biological effects <strong>of</strong> conjugated<br />
linoleic acids in health and disease.<br />
J Nutr Biochem. 2006;17(12):789-810.<br />
15. Abbas AK, Lichtman AH, Pillai S. Inmunología<br />
celular y molecular. 6th ed. Barcelona,<br />
Spain: Elsevier Saunders; 2008:3-16, 243-<br />
263, 267-301.<br />
16. Heine H. Homotoxicología: Una síntesis de las<br />
orientaciones médicas basadas en las ciencias<br />
naturales. 3rd ed. Baden-Baden, Germany:<br />
Aurelia-Verlag; 2004:79-85.<br />
17. Weiner HL, Mayer LF. Oral tolerance: mechanisms<br />
and applications. Ann N Y Acad Sci.<br />
1996;778:1-451.<br />
18. Weiner HL, Friedman A, Miller A, et al.<br />
Oral tolerance: immunologic mechanisms<br />
and treatment <strong>of</strong> animal and human organspecific<br />
autoimmune diseases by oral administration<br />
<strong>of</strong> autoantigens. Annu Rev Immunol.<br />
1994;12:809-837.<br />
19. Cornish J, Callon KE, Bava U, et al. Preptin,<br />
another peptide product <strong>of</strong> the pancreatic<br />
β-cell, is osteogenic in vitro and in vivo. Am<br />
J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2007;292(1):<br />
E117-E122.<br />
20. Dacquin R, Davey RA, Laplace C, et al. Amylin<br />
inhibits bone resorption while the calcitonin<br />
receptor controls bone formation in<br />
vivo. J Cell Biol. 2004;164(4):509-514.<br />
21. Valenzano KJ, Heath-Monnig E, Tollefsen<br />
SE, Lake M, Lobel P. Biophysical and biological<br />
properties <strong>of</strong> naturally occurring high<br />
molecular weight insulin-like growth factor<br />
II variants. J Biol Chem. 1997;272(8):4804-<br />
4813.<br />
22. Buchanan CM, Phillips AR, Cooper GJ.<br />
Preptin derived from proinsulin-like growth<br />
factor II (proIGF-II) is secreted from pancreatic<br />
islet β-cells and enhances insulin secretion.<br />
Biochem J. 2001;360(pt 2):431-439.<br />
23. Alam AS, Moonga BS, Bevis PJ, Huang CL,<br />
Zaidi M. Amylin inhibits bone resorption by<br />
a direct effect on the motility <strong>of</strong> rat osteoclasts.<br />
Exp Physiol. 1993;78(2):183-196.<br />
24. Cornish J, Callon KE, Cooper GJ, Reid IR.<br />
Amylin stimulates osteoblast proliferation<br />
and increases mineralized bone volume in<br />
adult mice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun.<br />
1995;207(1):133-139.<br />
25. Cornish J, Callon KE, King AR, Cooper GJ,<br />
Reid IR. Systemic administration <strong>of</strong> amylin<br />
increases bone mass, linear growth, and adiposity<br />
in adult male mice. Am J Physiol Endocrinol<br />
Metab. 1998;275(4, pt 1):E694-E699.<br />
26. Sodi-Pallares D. Magnetoterapia y tratamiento<br />
metabólico. Publisher unknown; 1994:84.<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
) Around the Globe<br />
Verona – More Than<br />
Just Romeo and Juliet ...<br />
By Anita Bania, MD<br />
From November 6 to 8, 2008, in<br />
Verona, Italy, the <strong>International</strong><br />
<strong>Academy</strong> for <strong>Homotoxicology</strong> presented<br />
a practice-based training for<br />
Polish doctors whose practices combine<br />
conventional medical training<br />
with elements <strong>of</strong> homeopathy, homotoxicology,<br />
acupuncture, homeosiniatry,<br />
and mesotherapy. The small<br />
group <strong>of</strong> students, all experienced<br />
clinicians, included three internal<br />
medicine specialists and two pediatricians.<br />
The training took place in Dr. Ivo<br />
Bianchi’s private medical practice,<br />
which he runs together with his wife<br />
and daughter. Dr. Bianchi sees patients<br />
<strong>of</strong> virtually all ages, ranging<br />
from infants to geriatric patients.<br />
The group had close contact with<br />
selected patients, had access to their<br />
histories, and was able to examine<br />
them. Each patient was then discussed<br />
in detail to determine individually<br />
optimized therapies and<br />
recommendations.<br />
Dr. Bianchi had invited two guest<br />
speakers to contribute to the training.<br />
Dr. Lugero Graziolli gave a lecture<br />
and practical demonstrations on<br />
“Esthetic Biological Medicine: Diagnosis<br />
and Therapies,” placing particular<br />
emphasis on biochemical and<br />
electromagnetic homeostasis in the<br />
Sightseeing in Verona<br />
human body and the loss <strong>of</strong> normal<br />
matrix functions in the course <strong>of</strong> the<br />
aging process. Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Sergio Serrano<br />
introduced the therapeutic use<br />
<strong>of</strong> biophotons and singlet oxygen<br />
and demonstrated their practical applications<br />
in traditional mesotherapy<br />
and biomesotherapy to the group.<br />
Dr. Bianchi is a seasoned expert on<br />
Krebs cycle catalysts and enthusiastically<br />
endorses their use in therapy,<br />
both in his youngest patients (such<br />
as low birth-weight babies) and in<br />
mature and elderly patients. We analyzed<br />
individual clinical case studies<br />
under Dr. Bianchi’s guidance. From<br />
the perspective <strong>of</strong> conventional<br />
medicine, all <strong>of</strong> these cases were at<br />
least very interesting and <strong>of</strong>ten very<br />
challenging. All <strong>of</strong> Dr. Bianchi’s patients<br />
had undergone very thorough<br />
diagnosis, <strong>of</strong>ten in university hospitals,<br />
and their discharge summaries<br />
and hospitalization information<br />
were available. Dr. Bianchi conducted<br />
detailed repertorization <strong>of</strong> each<br />
individual patient, applying the<br />
rules <strong>of</strong> classical homeopathy and<br />
homotoxicology, and determined<br />
the position <strong>of</strong> each patient’s condition<br />
on a neurovegetative outline he<br />
has developed and enriched with<br />
additional elements drawn from homotoxicology,<br />
Chinese medicine,<br />
and conventional medicine.<br />
The training itself was very intense<br />
but well-organized, and the sessions<br />
were just the right length. Between<br />
sessions, we were also able to enjoy<br />
the charming sights <strong>of</strong> the town <strong>of</strong><br />
Verona and see the international<br />
horse show gala HORSELYRIC, for<br />
which Verona is now famous.<br />
We found participating in this training<br />
to be highly rewarding and recommend<br />
it to all practitioners interested<br />
in homotoxicology and holistic<br />
medicine.|<br />
For more information on<br />
practice-based training in<br />
bioregulatory medicine,<br />
please contact the <strong>International</strong><br />
Society <strong>of</strong> <strong>Homotoxicology</strong><br />
and Homeopathy at<br />
info@isohh.de<br />
At the end <strong>of</strong> the training, the<br />
participants received certificates<br />
(far left and right: Dr. Ivo Bianchi<br />
and his wife Marina).<br />
) 15<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
) Practical Protocols<br />
Bioregulatory Treatment<br />
<strong>of</strong> Dysautonomia<br />
By Bert Hannosset, MD<br />
Dysautonomia, formerly called<br />
neurasthenia, exists in two<br />
forms: familial dysautonomia and<br />
non-familial dysautonomia.<br />
Familial dysautonomia is an autosomal<br />
recessive genetic disease, the<br />
result <strong>of</strong> mutation in the IKBKAP<br />
gene on chromosome 9. It occurs<br />
exclusively in Ashkenazi Jews; there<br />
are currently 350 known living cases<br />
worldwide. To date, the disease<br />
remains incurable.<br />
Non-familial dysautonomia, a disease<br />
or malfunction <strong>of</strong> the autonomic<br />
nervous system, is much more<br />
common. In this disorder, the human<br />
body fails to properly regulate<br />
blood pressure (e.g., orthostatic hypotension),<br />
heart rate (e.g., postural<br />
orthostatic tachycardia syndrome),<br />
temperature, vascular constriction/<br />
dilation, and blood supply to the<br />
brain. The results are unpredictable<br />
fainting, low blood pressure, lightheadedness,<br />
dizziness, problems<br />
with concentration (“brain fog”),<br />
headaches, fatigue, heart palpitations,<br />
exercise intolerance, insomnia,<br />
hot flashes, chills, weakness, seizures,<br />
pain, and disability. The causes<br />
<strong>of</strong> non-familial dysautonomia are<br />
not fully understood but are thought<br />
to include viral infections, exposure<br />
to toxic chemicals, genetic factors (a<br />
variation in the angiotensin II type I<br />
receptor gene), autoimmune disorders<br />
(antibodies to neuronal nicotinic<br />
acetylcholine receptors <strong>of</strong> the<br />
autonomic ganglia), adrenal disorders,<br />
and trauma (injury or emotional<br />
trauma, which damages the autonomic<br />
nervous system). (See protocol<br />
in Table 1.)|<br />
DET-phase<br />
Basic and/or<br />
symptomatic<br />
Regulation therapy*<br />
Optional<br />
Sympathicodermal<br />
Impregnation<br />
• Ignatia-<br />
Homaccord<br />
D&D<br />
IM<br />
• Advanced supportive<br />
detoxification and drainage<br />
followed by the<br />
• Detox-Kit<br />
• Tonsilla compositum<br />
• Vertigoheel (dizziness)<br />
• Tonico-Injeel (exhaustion)<br />
• Cralonin (cardiac weakness)<br />
• Aurumheel (low blood pressure)<br />
• Traumeel (injury)<br />
OR<br />
• Sympathicus suis-Injeel<br />
if available; if not, use<br />
• Engystol (post-viral)<br />
• Cerebrum compositum<br />
Notes: Ignatia and Moschus = basic homeopathic treatment for dystonia. Advanced supportive detoxification and drainage consists <strong>of</strong><br />
Hepar compositum (liver), Solidago compositum (kidneys), and Thyreoidea compositum (connective tissue; also regulates glandular<br />
functions [e.g., pineal body, thyroid, and adrenals]); Coenzyme compositum and Ubichinon compositum for cellular detoxification and<br />
drainage. The Detox-Kit consists <strong>of</strong> Lymphomyosot, Nux-vomica-Homaccord, and Berberis-Homaccord. Tonsilla compositum downregulates<br />
the Th-2 pathway and supports adrenals. Sympathicus suis-Injeel supports the autonomic nervous system. Cerebrum compositum<br />
supports the central nervous system and improves blood flow.<br />
Dosages: Ignatia-Homaccord: 15 drops 3 times per day. Regulation therapy: 1 ampoule <strong>of</strong> each medication 1-3 times per week. Detox-Kit:<br />
30 drops o f each medication in 1.5 liters <strong>of</strong> water; drink throughout the day.<br />
) 16<br />
Table 1: Protocol for dysautonomia<br />
* Antihomotoxic regulation therapy consists <strong>of</strong> a three-pillar approach: detoxification & drainage (D&D), immunomodulation (IM),<br />
and organ regulation (OR)<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
In memoriam<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Michael F. Kirkman<br />
died on Saturday, January 18 on<br />
the Isle <strong>of</strong> Wight, United Kingdom.<br />
He had lectured at St. Andrew’s<br />
Medical School; his medical knowledge<br />
ranged from pathology and<br />
tropical diseases to homeopathy, homotoxicology,<br />
and nutrition. He was<br />
one <strong>of</strong> the first doctors to apply an<br />
integrative concept <strong>of</strong> medicine that<br />
included environmental factors and<br />
detoxification.<br />
He had the courage to challenge<br />
medical conventions and found<br />
himself in the first line <strong>of</strong> attack for<br />
his use <strong>of</strong> homeopathic sarcodes and<br />
nosodes. Like Drs. Reich, Gerson,<br />
Bach, and Reckeweg before him, his<br />
dogged persistency, academic ability,<br />
and zeal to advance the “art <strong>of</strong> medicine”<br />
enabled him to carry on with<br />
his mission. He wrote a textbook on<br />
tissue microenvironment and lectured<br />
and published articles worldwide.<br />
He was one <strong>of</strong> the first certified<br />
lecturers <strong>of</strong> the <strong>International</strong><br />
<strong>Academy</strong> for <strong>Homotoxicology</strong> (IAH)<br />
and won an award for the best lecture<br />
at the first IAH rollout in Baden-<br />
Baden, Germany in April 2003.<br />
He founded not only one <strong>of</strong> the first<br />
nutritional colleges in the UK (the<br />
European College <strong>of</strong> Nutrition at<br />
the Royal Society for Public Health)<br />
but also the first College <strong>of</strong> <strong>Homotoxicology</strong><br />
in the UK; with colleagues,<br />
he started the first postgraduate<br />
course in bioregulatory<br />
medicine. Last but not least, he was<br />
involved in teaching a course in bioregulatory<br />
medicine at the Biomedic<br />
Centre in the UK in collaboration<br />
with two colleagues, Drs Shakambet<br />
and Bosh.<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Michael F. Kirkman<br />
(1936 – 2009)<br />
His guidance and support were crucial<br />
to those following this path,<br />
and he was full <strong>of</strong> warmth and enthusiasm<br />
for new projects. His mentorship,<br />
wise guidance, and friendship,<br />
along with his witty and<br />
creative mind, will be greatly missed.<br />
His funeral was held on February 4,<br />
2009 on the Isle <strong>of</strong> Wight. Pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />
Kirkman is survived by his wife<br />
Muriel.<br />
Damir A. Shakambet, MD<br />
Hans-Heinrich Reckeweg Award 2010<br />
Join in – have your experience rewarded<br />
Heel annually honors outstanding scientific research in<br />
the field <strong>of</strong> a unique homeotherapeutic system (homotoxicology)<br />
with the Hans-Heinrich Reckeweg Award.<br />
The main award (€ 10,000)<br />
is presented for scientific work <strong>of</strong> fundamental theoretical<br />
and/or practical significance in antihomotoxic<br />
medicine in the fields <strong>of</strong> human and veterinary medicine.<br />
The incentive award (€ 5,000)<br />
is presented for promising results arising from clinical,<br />
case-based or fundamental research in antihomotoxic<br />
medicine in the fields <strong>of</strong> human and veterinary medicine.<br />
The prize money is intended to fund further research.<br />
Both prizes are awarded for research carried out in a<br />
laboratory or registered practice. All results must be<br />
new, convincing and previously unpublished, and research<br />
should not have involved animal testing.<br />
The deadline for submissions is May 31, 2010.<br />
For more information contact:<br />
Biologische Heilmittel Heel GmbH,<br />
Department <strong>of</strong> Research,<br />
76532 Baden-Baden, Germany<br />
Phone +49 7221 501-227,<br />
Fax +49 7221 501-660, info@heel.de,<br />
www.heel.com<br />
) 17<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
) Re f r e s h Yo u r H o m o t ox i c o l o g y<br />
Psychogenic Factors in<br />
Gastrointestinal Pathology<br />
By Bruno Van Brandt<br />
Medical Education Manager <strong>of</strong> the IAH<br />
) 18<br />
Is half a glass <strong>of</strong> water half full or half empty? Although the<br />
reality remains the same, the way individuals look at it will<br />
definitely change their emotional state. Half full or half<br />
empty makes the difference between positivism and negativism,<br />
between stress and inner peace, between psychogenic<br />
factors that will, over the ideomotorical rule in psychology,*<br />
enhance or inhibit physical condition or strength.<br />
Emotional triggers <strong>of</strong> immune<br />
disorders are very well-known<br />
in modern medicine, especially<br />
where psycho-neuro-endocrino-immunological<br />
(PNEI) effects are seen<br />
as a major trigger within psychosomatic<br />
diseases. 1 Serotonin, adrenaline,<br />
dopamine, and glutamate are<br />
major neurotransmitters in the central<br />
nervous system. Serotonin and<br />
adrenaline especially are secreted in<br />
response to stress and emotion. All 4<br />
neurotransmitters mentioned are<br />
also present in a second, almost prehistorical,<br />
and <strong>of</strong>ten forgotten brain,<br />
called the enteric brain.<br />
This enteric nervous system, located<br />
in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract<br />
(more precisely in the epithelial lining<br />
<strong>of</strong> the esophagus, stomach, and<br />
small and large intestines), is a major<br />
subject in the study <strong>of</strong> neurogastroenterology<br />
and plays an important<br />
role in irritable bowel syndrome<br />
(IBS). According to some researchers,<br />
up to 95% <strong>of</strong> the serotonin<br />
available in the body is located in<br />
the GI tract; <strong>of</strong> this 95%, 90% is in<br />
the enterochromaffin cells, and the<br />
remaining 10% can be found in enteric<br />
neurons. Serotonin plays a key<br />
role in the initiation <strong>of</strong> peristaltic<br />
and secretory reflexes. 2<br />
Although the enteric brain is described<br />
as part <strong>of</strong> the peripheral nervous<br />
system, it is also defined as the<br />
second brain, 3 in addition to the primary<br />
central brain. The central nervous<br />
system can influence the enteric<br />
brain and vice versa. 3 This<br />
could be a possible explanation as to<br />
why an emotional stressor or anxiety<br />
can indirectly induce IBS.<br />
During stress, the brain will induce,<br />
over the brain-gut axis, mast cell degranulation<br />
in the intestinal tract.<br />
By this degranulation, histamine<br />
and phospholipids are set free in<br />
large numbers, inducing inflammatory<br />
pathways. Activation <strong>of</strong> the gut<br />
immune system may disrupt normal<br />
gut motility, leading to common<br />
symptoms such as diarrhea, cramping,<br />
and bloating. 4<br />
The inflamed tissues render the enteric<br />
nerves overly sensitive and<br />
overactive, deregulating the production<br />
<strong>of</strong> serotonin. Both low and<br />
high levels <strong>of</strong> serotonin can cause<br />
problems. The same molecule, when<br />
available in a too low or a too high<br />
concentration, may induce the same<br />
clinical symptom: cramps. As Paracelsus<br />
already stated centuries ago,<br />
“the dose makes the poison.”<br />
Low levels <strong>of</strong> serotonin are not only<br />
associated with depression, shortterm<br />
memory, and concentration<br />
deficits, but also, at the level <strong>of</strong> the<br />
enteric nervous system, with bowel<br />
problems such as constipation with<br />
spasm (IBS-C). Emotional stress,<br />
over the PNEI system, can thus induce<br />
changes within serotonin levels<br />
at the level <strong>of</strong> the GI tract and can<br />
induce spasms (Figure 1). A stressrelated<br />
nervous or anxious state will<br />
increase the prevalence or intensity<br />
<strong>of</strong> intestinal spasm over the braingut<br />
axis. 5<br />
Increased levels <strong>of</strong> serotonin are associated<br />
with intestinal problems<br />
too, such as is seen in diarrhea<br />
accompanied by cramps (IBS-D). 6<br />
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor<br />
package inserts <strong>of</strong>ten mention<br />
both symptoms as possible adverse<br />
effects because <strong>of</strong> the medicationinduced<br />
decreased reuptake <strong>of</strong> serotonin<br />
and thus the increased serotonin<br />
availability and activity levels.<br />
* Every thought or idea makes the body gravitate to fulfill that thought or idea. William James, The Principles <strong>of</strong> Psychology (1890)<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
) Re f r e s h Yo u r H o m o t ox i c o l o g y<br />
The conventional medical approach<br />
to IBS is <strong>of</strong>ten the use <strong>of</strong> antispasmodic<br />
agents, such as hyoscine butylbromide,<br />
to relieve spasms and<br />
cramps. Research in conventional<br />
medicine also reports the symptomrelieving<br />
effects <strong>of</strong> benzodiazepines<br />
in patients with IBS, 7,8 pointing at<br />
the psychogenic factors that increase<br />
the physical symptoms over the<br />
brain-gut axis. A combination therapy<br />
<strong>of</strong> an antispasmodic medication<br />
with a benzodiazepine seems to<br />
have synergic therapeutic effects in<br />
the relief <strong>of</strong> IBS symptoms. 9 Treatments<br />
aimed at the gut-brain interface<br />
are in development, but have<br />
been difficult to establish because <strong>of</strong><br />
adverse effects. 10<br />
Bioregulatory treatment<br />
It is thus interesting to look at a bioregulatory<br />
approach in these patients.<br />
In a comparative study, Nervoheel<br />
was found to be noninferior<br />
to lorazepam, a benzodiazepine prescribed<br />
worldwide, in the treatment<br />
<strong>of</strong> mild nervous disorders. 11 Spascupreel<br />
is a bioregulatory antispasmodic<br />
medication that will induce<br />
symptomatic relief <strong>of</strong> spasmodic<br />
conditions <strong>of</strong> the intestinal tract. In<br />
a comparative study versus hyoscine<br />
butylbromide, it was shown to possess<br />
a noninferior therapeutic effect<br />
in treating intestinal cramps. 12 This<br />
effect <strong>of</strong> Spascupreel can be used in<br />
conditions such as IBS, and, if it is<br />
applied together with a psychogenic<br />
relaxing drug such as Nervoheel, a<br />
synergistic action on the gut-brain<br />
axis may be possible. In this way, a<br />
bioregulatory alternative can be <strong>of</strong>fered<br />
for the combination <strong>of</strong> antispasmodic<br />
agent–tranquilizer in<br />
conventional therapy <strong>of</strong> IBS.<br />
Given the PNEI link between the<br />
central and enteric brain and the experience<br />
in conventional medicine<br />
(i.e., antispasmodic drugs in combination<br />
with tranquillizers have a<br />
stronger symptom-relieving effect in<br />
IBS), it can be stated that Nervoheel<br />
might play an important therapeutic<br />
role in the bioregulatory relief <strong>of</strong><br />
IBS symptoms. Although some benzodiazepines<br />
are known to be addictive,<br />
13 to my knowledge, no such<br />
risk has ever been reported for Nervoheel.<br />
Thus, Nervoheel is a safe alternative<br />
to benzodiazepines. In the<br />
same way, Spascupreel is a safe and<br />
effective alternative to hyoscine butylbromide<br />
in the symptomatic relief<br />
<strong>of</strong> patients with IBS. Known adverse<br />
effects <strong>of</strong> hyoscine butylbromide include<br />
constipation, dry mouth, trouble<br />
urinating, and nausea. Other adverse<br />
effects, which are very unlikely<br />
but reported, include rash, itching,<br />
swelling <strong>of</strong> the hands or feet, trouble<br />
breathing, increased pulse, dizziness,<br />
diarrhea, vision problems, and<br />
eye pain. To my knowledge, none <strong>of</strong><br />
these adverse effects have ever been<br />
reported with Spascupreel.<br />
In conclusion, bioregulatory treatment<br />
may <strong>of</strong>fer a viable alternative<br />
Stress<br />
Mood disturbances<br />
• Anxiety<br />
• Depression<br />
Central nervous system (brain)<br />
Autonomic nervous system<br />
in the management <strong>of</strong> conditions in<br />
which the gut-brain interface causes<br />
deregulation <strong>of</strong> the enteric nervous<br />
system, the second brain.|<br />
References:<br />
1. Sivik T, Byrne D, Lipsitt D, Christodoulou G,<br />
Dienstfrey H, eds. Psycho-Neuro-Endocrino-<br />
Immunology (PNEI). Amsterdam, the Netherlands:<br />
Elsevier; 2002. Excerpta Medica<br />
<strong>International</strong> Congress Series 1241.<br />
2. Grider JR, Kuemmerle JF, Jin JG. 5-HT released<br />
by mucosal stimuli initiates peristalsis<br />
by activating 5-HT4/5-HT1p receptors<br />
on sensory CGRP neurons. Am J Physiol.<br />
1996;270(5 pt 1):G778-G782.<br />
3. Gershon MD. The enteric nervous system:<br />
a second brain. Hosp Pract (Minneap).<br />
1999;34(7):31-32, 35-38, 41-42 passim.<br />
4. Törnblom H, Lindberg G, Nyberg B, Veress<br />
B. Full-thickness biopsy <strong>of</strong> the jejunum<br />
reveals inflammation and enteric neuropathy<br />
in irritable bowel syndrome. Gastroenterology.<br />
2002;123(6):1972-1979.<br />
5. Taché Y. Stress and irritable bowel syndrome:<br />
unravelling the code. <strong>International</strong> Foundation<br />
for Gastrointestinal Disorders Web<br />
site. http://www.iffgd.org/store/viewproduct/211.<br />
Accessed July 14, 2009.<br />
6. Singh RK, Pandey HP, Singh RH. Correlation<br />
<strong>of</strong> serotonin and monoamine oxidase<br />
levels with anxiety level in diarrhea-predominant<br />
irritable bowel syndrome. Indian J Gastroenterol.<br />
2003;22(3):88-90.<br />
7. Tollefson GD, Luxenberg M, Valentine R,<br />
Dunsmore G, Tollefson SL. An open label trial<br />
<strong>of</strong> alprazolam in comorbid irritable bowel<br />
syndrome and generalized anxiety disorder.<br />
J Clin Psychiatry. 1991;52(12):502-508.<br />
8. Leventer SM, Raudibaugh K, Frissora CL, et<br />
al. Clinical trial: dext<strong>of</strong>isopam in the treatment<br />
<strong>of</strong> patients with diarrhoea-predominant<br />
or alternating irritable bowel syndrome. Aliment<br />
Pharmacol Ther. 2008;27(2):197-206.<br />
9. Ritchie JA, Truelove SC. Treatment <strong>of</strong> irritable<br />
bowel syndrome with lorazepam, hyoscine<br />
butylbromide, and ispaghula husk. Br<br />
Med J. 1979;1(6160):376-378.<br />
10. Sanger GJ. 5-Hydroxytryptamine and the<br />
gastrointestinal tract: where next? Trends<br />
Pharmacol Sci. 2008;29(9):465-471.<br />
11. van den Meerschaut L, Sünder A. The homeopathic<br />
preparation Nervoheel N can <strong>of</strong>fer<br />
an alternative to lorazepam therapy for mild<br />
nervous disorders. Evid Based Complement<br />
Alternat Med. Published October 25, 2007.<br />
doi:10.1093/ecam/nem144.<br />
12. Müller-Krampe B, Oberbaum M, Klein P,<br />
Weiser M. Effects <strong>of</strong> Spascupreel versus hyoscine<br />
butylbromide for gastrointestinal cramps<br />
in children. Pediatr Int. 2007;49(3):328-334.<br />
13. Cappell H, Busto U, Kay G, Naranjo CA,<br />
Sellers EM, Sanchez-Craig M. Drug deprivation<br />
and reinforcement by diazepam in a<br />
dependent population. Psychopharmacology<br />
(Berl). 1987;91(2):154-160.<br />
Enteric nervous system<br />
Figure 1: Stress alters the function<br />
<strong>of</strong> the gastrointestinal tract via the<br />
Intestines<br />
brain-gut axis.<br />
Smooth muscle<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1<br />
) 19
) M a r k e t i n g Yo u r P r a c t i c e<br />
Communication in Your Practice<br />
By Marc Deschler<br />
Marketing specialist<br />
) 20<br />
An American study shows that faulty communication is<br />
management’s biggest problem. As a physician, you probably<br />
spend 90 percent <strong>of</strong> your working time communicating,<br />
both consciously and unconsciously. In the long term,<br />
miscommunication that leads to actual misunderstandings<br />
can put your practice at risk.<br />
Review the requirements <strong>of</strong><br />
good communication and make<br />
improvements as needed:<br />
1. Good communicators are made,<br />
not born. Every day brings new<br />
opportunities to practice and refine<br />
this ability.<br />
2. We communicate even when<br />
we’re not saying anything. For<br />
example, if you keep your eyes<br />
fixed on the patient’s chart,<br />
you’re giving him the (mistaken)<br />
impression you are not really interested<br />
in his problem – his most<br />
important problem, otherwise he<br />
wouldn’t be there! Pay careful<br />
attention not only to what you<br />
say, but also to what you do.<br />
3. Most <strong>of</strong> the information that gets<br />
stored in the brain is received<br />
through visual channels, and you<br />
can take advantage <strong>of</strong> this fact by<br />
using written information to<br />
supplement your words. Informational<br />
materials give patients<br />
a second chance – if they didn’t<br />
understand something completely,<br />
they can read about it later.<br />
An additional tip: To reinforce<br />
your competence in your patients’<br />
minds, print all informational<br />
materials on your own letterhead.<br />
4. Assume that anything you’re trying<br />
to say can always be misunderstood.<br />
This will lead to better<br />
communication on your part,<br />
since you will choose your words<br />
differently and observe reactions<br />
more closely.<br />
5. Not everything you say has to be<br />
print-ready and error-free. It’s<br />
more important that your patients<br />
understand what you’re<br />
saying. Avoid pretentious technical<br />
jargon.<br />
6. Defining an illness is no help to<br />
the patient. She wants to know<br />
what it means for her, and she<br />
needs to be able to interpret your<br />
message correctly.<br />
7. It’s not what you say, but how<br />
you say it. Pay attention to how<br />
you say something and to how<br />
you reinforce it with body language<br />
because nonverbal communication<br />
is by far the most<br />
important contributing factor.<br />
8. On the phone, nonverbal communication<br />
is eliminated, so you<br />
and your team should make a<br />
special effort to use visual imagery<br />
when you speak.<br />
Repeatedly monitor the communication<br />
behavior <strong>of</strong> your staff and <strong>of</strong>fer<br />
training and suggestions for improvements<br />
as needed.<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
A clear structure, whether in<br />
communication, documentation, or<br />
filing, will save you time and money.<br />
The answering machine<br />
No one likes talking to a machine.<br />
Not surprisingly, according to one<br />
study, almost 60 percent <strong>of</strong> callers<br />
hang up when they get a machine,<br />
and <strong>of</strong> those who do leave a message,<br />
only 16 percent are identifiable.<br />
Clearly, though, your answering<br />
machine is one <strong>of</strong> the most<br />
important advertisements for your<br />
practice. What do you need to keep<br />
in mind when recording your message?<br />
1. Include your name in your greeting.<br />
For example, “Hello, this is<br />
John Sample at XYZ practice.”<br />
2. Meet the caller halfway: “Thank<br />
you for calling. Even though we<br />
can’t answer the phone right<br />
now, we’re still here for you.”<br />
3. Suggest an action: “Please don’t<br />
hang up, but …”<br />
4. In closing, thank them again for<br />
calling.<br />
Your phone message should be wellprepared,<br />
not just an afterthought.<br />
Write out an appropriate text and<br />
read it in a clear and friendly voice,<br />
quietly and not too slowly. Your message<br />
should flow, so concentrate on<br />
what you’re saying but don’t rush it.<br />
Check your machine now and then<br />
by calling yourself. Your voice will<br />
sound different over the phone than<br />
it does when you’re recording. The<br />
tapes in analog machines eventually<br />
wear out; replace them periodically.<br />
To make sure you get the information<br />
you need from your callers, try<br />
handing out cards to your patients<br />
with the most important “W” questions<br />
you need in order to return<br />
their calls:<br />
• Who is calling? (name)<br />
• What are you calling about?<br />
• Where can you be reached?<br />
(phone number? E-mail address?)<br />
• When is a good time to reach<br />
you?<br />
Even if you choose not to <strong>of</strong>fer patients<br />
the option <strong>of</strong> leaving a message,<br />
your recorded statement should<br />
be appropriate and convincing and<br />
leave them with a pr<strong>of</strong>essional impression<br />
<strong>of</strong> your practice.<br />
Optimizing record-keeping<br />
It’s always worth looking for opportunities<br />
to improve the organization<br />
<strong>of</strong> your practice, including patient<br />
chart management, which can be a<br />
half-time job in itself if poorly designed.<br />
To avoid unnecessary expense<br />
to your practice, follow these<br />
rules for chart management:<br />
1. The fewer files you have, the<br />
faster you can find any individual<br />
chart. Make sure to keep all <strong>of</strong><br />
each patient’s information together<br />
in one place!<br />
2. Sort through the files regularly.<br />
Inactive folders simply slow<br />
down your search.<br />
3. Alphabetization is almost always<br />
the best filing system. Using as<br />
many index cards/tabs as possible<br />
makes it easier to find what<br />
you need quickly.<br />
4. Re-file charts as soon as possible<br />
after adding to them. Don’t leave<br />
them lying around for someone<br />
to deal with later.<br />
5. Formats and labeling should be<br />
kept consistent so you know<br />
where to look for what you need<br />
without searching.<br />
6. More than three identifying characters<br />
(first and second letter <strong>of</strong><br />
last name, first letter <strong>of</strong> first<br />
name) get unwieldy. Color coding<br />
(for example, for year <strong>of</strong><br />
treat ment) can speed up access.<br />
7. File tabs or insert cards should<br />
be used to indicate status.<br />
8. Documentation should be completed<br />
immediately after a service<br />
is rendered. Here, too, a<br />
well-conceived and consistent<br />
structure is important.<br />
9. For preparing patient charts,<br />
you’ll need a date stamp, a stamp<br />
for diagnostic reports, etc. Charts<br />
prepared for house calls must<br />
also include a blank prescription<br />
form.<br />
10. A quick glance before re-filing<br />
the chart should be enough to<br />
ensure that all necessary entries<br />
have been made.<br />
If you have the equipment and technical<br />
know-how, by all means get rid<br />
<strong>of</strong> paper charts a.s.a.p. You will eliminate<br />
a lot <strong>of</strong> administrative work,<br />
and that expensive EDP system will<br />
finally pay for itself ! In many cases,<br />
the improved work flow even makes<br />
additional investment in new EDP<br />
work stations worthwhile.|<br />
) 21<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
) Specialized Applications<br />
The Acupuncture Approach to the<br />
Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis<br />
and Its Interaction With the<br />
Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Systems<br />
By Butch Levy, MD, LAc<br />
) 22<br />
In contemplating this article, I was struck by the opportunity<br />
to connect and integrate an approach to a Western<br />
anatomical/physiological concept while reflecting on the<br />
use <strong>of</strong> Chinese medicine and homotoxicology. The sympathetic/parasympathetic<br />
system, or autonomic nervous<br />
system (ANS), can be translated into paradigms <strong>of</strong> activity<br />
and interaction using the Oriental construct <strong>of</strong> acupuncture<br />
tsubos, or holes, and using homeopathic combinations as<br />
therapeutic interventions. This combined usage is called<br />
homeosiniatry*.<br />
In the US perception <strong>of</strong> acupuncture,<br />
points reflect an anatomical<br />
location where a needle is inserted.<br />
Changing the rotation <strong>of</strong> the needle<br />
infers a method <strong>of</strong> enhancing or diminishing<br />
its effect (i.e., clockwise is<br />
tonification and counterclockwise is<br />
sedation).<br />
The Japanese approach to needling<br />
technique views acupuncture locations<br />
as specific holes. The needle is<br />
inserted along a vector, with a direction<br />
and depth. This requires palpatory<br />
acumen that translates into a<br />
precise connection into the path <strong>of</strong><br />
flow desired.<br />
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is<br />
the common conduit for therapy, be<br />
it physiological stimulation <strong>of</strong> the<br />
nervous system, the Yin and Yang<br />
energies <strong>of</strong> Asian medicine, or the<br />
electrical signature <strong>of</strong> natural molecules,<br />
as is seen in homeopathy. 1<br />
Within the ECM lie the biological<br />
features that allow nerve impulses to<br />
signal and transmit information for<br />
homeostasis. Layered on that, the<br />
similar concepts <strong>of</strong> Yin and Yang<br />
theory are reflected within the same<br />
ECM, with cylindrical spirals <strong>of</strong><br />
acupuncture holes acting as a transit<br />
system, via the meridian system, for<br />
similar information transmission<br />
concerning the body’s balance. 2<br />
Within the Oriental system, the<br />
ECM represents an equivalent concept,<br />
expressed as the Triple Heater.<br />
It is said to convey the Qi that is essential<br />
in energy transformation and<br />
metabolism. It is considered to be<br />
the fluid interface surrounding cells;<br />
in modern interpretation, it is considered<br />
to be the extracellular environment<br />
<strong>of</strong> the cell.<br />
The importance <strong>of</strong> these statements<br />
is to act as the starting point to treating<br />
patients with problems <strong>of</strong> the<br />
sympathetic/parasympathetic system,<br />
by being able to act in creative<br />
ways based on the practitioner’s assessment<br />
<strong>of</strong> the patient. It is <strong>of</strong>ten<br />
the situation that a single paradigm<br />
<strong>of</strong> therapy is inadequate to treat the<br />
complexity <strong>of</strong> issues generated within<br />
the body. This certainly is true<br />
regarding the sympathetic/parasympathetic<br />
system influences within<br />
us. To integrate these unique therapies<br />
requires a brief review <strong>of</strong> the<br />
connections that make them compatible<br />
for the treatment <strong>of</strong> sympathetic/parasympathetic,<br />
or ANS,<br />
imbalance.<br />
Autonomic nervous system<br />
The aspect <strong>of</strong> the nervous system<br />
that is involved in our discussion is<br />
the ANS. Originating in the hypothalamus,<br />
fiber tracts from the various<br />
nuclei (e.g., medial, lateral, anterior)<br />
travel from the hypothalamus<br />
into the intermediate brain and<br />
through the lower brain, making<br />
connections with multiple other nuclei<br />
there before descending into the<br />
spinal cord. These other nuclei also<br />
contribute essential information for<br />
ANS regulation. These pathways are<br />
called the hypothalamospinal tract<br />
* “Homeo” from homeopathy, “sin” from sinology = study <strong>of</strong> Chinese culture, and “-iatry” from Greek iatros = healer (figuratively: medicine)<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
) Specialized Applications<br />
Acupuncture needles are inserted<br />
into specific points on the body in<br />
order to relieve pain and/or restore<br />
health and well-being.<br />
(HST) and carry information that<br />
activates, stimulates, inhibits, or balances<br />
sympathetic and parasympathetic<br />
signals. The sympathetic system<br />
dominates during activity in the<br />
body and is energy consuming. The<br />
parasympathetic system dominates<br />
when the organism is in resting<br />
phases, including digestion and<br />
sleep cycles.<br />
The sympathetic nervous system is<br />
under the direct control <strong>of</strong> corticotrophin-releasing<br />
hormone (CRH)<br />
in the hypothalamus. Its stimulation<br />
creates an excitatory response in the<br />
sympathetic system while turning<br />
<strong>of</strong>f parasympathetic responses, in<br />
preparation for the fight, fright, or<br />
flight response. Some <strong>of</strong> the direct<br />
effects seen via increased norepinephrine<br />
(adrenaline) are stimulation<br />
<strong>of</strong> cardiac muscle, an increase in<br />
heart rate and breathing, an increase<br />
in blood glucose, sweating, and vasoconstriction.<br />
At the same time,<br />
blood volume is expanded via the<br />
CRH activation <strong>of</strong> the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone<br />
system. When<br />
situations <strong>of</strong> perceived threat occur,<br />
anticipatory readiness is also reflected<br />
in increased muscle activity and<br />
visual acoustic startle, reduced appetite,<br />
and an inherent protective anxiety<br />
to “get out <strong>of</strong> town” or leave the<br />
scene quickly. To assist these preparations,<br />
the visceral tissues become<br />
quiescent, until the danger has<br />
passed.<br />
The spinal parasympathetic system<br />
is composed <strong>of</strong> the cranial division<br />
(cranial nerves III, VII, IX, and X)<br />
and the sacral division (S2-S4).<br />
These cranial nerves interconnect<br />
with the HST fibers via their nuclei,<br />
located in the midbrain, pons, and<br />
brainstem. The principal HST parasympathetic<br />
functions include pupillary<br />
and lens adjustments, salivation,<br />
heart rate, movement and<br />
secretions in the gastrointestinal<br />
tract, urination, defecation, and erection.<br />
Specifically, cranial nerve IX<br />
influences the carotid body and sinus<br />
and the pharyngeal mucosa.<br />
Cranial nerve X is related to the larynx<br />
and trachea and the thoracoabdominal<br />
viscera to the level <strong>of</strong> the<br />
splenic flexure. The sacral plexus involves<br />
the colon distal to the splenic<br />
flexure, the rectum, and the bladder.<br />
The HST <strong>of</strong> the sympathetic system<br />
extends from T1 to L2/3. The fibers<br />
exit the spinal cord as preganglionic<br />
fibers that release acetylcholine,<br />
which innervates their nearby<br />
preaortic and paravertebral postganglionic<br />
receptors, which then release<br />
norepinephrine. These chemical<br />
transmitters then affect the pupils,<br />
sweat glands, blood vessels, lungs,<br />
abdominal viscera, and gastrointestinal<br />
tract. The ANS helps coordinate<br />
and regulate stimuli coming<br />
from the external and internal environment.<br />
Asian medicine<br />
The seemingly opposite parts <strong>of</strong> the<br />
ANS imply energies <strong>of</strong> mutual dependence<br />
when considered within<br />
the paradigm <strong>of</strong> Asian medicine. It<br />
is the Yin and Yang that are considered<br />
as the framework <strong>of</strong> movement<br />
and stillness, night and day, light<br />
and dark, with each aspect requiring<br />
a comparison to its counterpart to<br />
make sense. Although the final step<br />
for our consideration <strong>of</strong> homeosiniatry<br />
is specific injection <strong>of</strong> tsubos, or<br />
holes, there are essential constructs<br />
in Asian practice that themselves can<br />
act to create an enhancement <strong>of</strong> energy<br />
or the opposite effect <strong>of</strong> reducing<br />
or dampening energetic effects.<br />
The movement <strong>of</strong> energy, or Qi, is<br />
considered to travel unidirectional<br />
under normal circumstances, along<br />
each specific meridian pathway.<br />
Needling a tsubo along this direction<br />
<strong>of</strong> flow is considered tonifying<br />
or sympathetically stimulating. Needling<br />
techniques that are in the direction<br />
opposite or counter to established<br />
meridian flow will slow or<br />
reduce the energy flow, are considered<br />
sedating or quieting to the system,<br />
and would be considered parasympathetic.<br />
In protocols using electrical stimulation,<br />
a sympathetic or parasympathetic<br />
effect can be created via the<br />
circuits used. Electrical charge travels<br />
from negative (silver needle or<br />
black grip) to positive (gold needle<br />
or red grip), and electrical flows can<br />
be used to augment or diminish energy<br />
solely by adjusting the direction<br />
<strong>of</strong> flow <strong>of</strong> the electricity. Practitioners<br />
can also influence the<br />
activation <strong>of</strong> sympathetic activity by<br />
) 23<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
) Specialized Applications<br />
Figure 1: Back Shu points used in<br />
treating disorders <strong>of</strong> the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal–sympathetic/<br />
parasympathetic system.<br />
low-frequency electrical stimulation<br />
in the range <strong>of</strong> 2 to 10 Hz. These<br />
frequencies are used, for example, in<br />
facial nerve palsies and for historic<br />
treatments that were designed to upregulate,<br />
so to speak, weak energy<br />
systems within the body. To create a<br />
parasympathetic flow, high-frequency<br />
electrical stimulation can be used,<br />
ranging from 100 to 200 Hz for local<br />
my<strong>of</strong>ascial injury to 1500 Hz for<br />
sedation <strong>of</strong> the central nervous system,<br />
thereby affecting higher brain<br />
centers for pain regulation (and a<br />
down-regulation <strong>of</strong> pain).<br />
BL 13 Lung<br />
BL 14 Pericardium<br />
BL 15 Heart<br />
BL 16 Governing vessel<br />
BL 17 Conception vessel<br />
BL 18 Liver<br />
BL 19 Gall bladder<br />
BL 20 Spleen<br />
) 24<br />
Injection sites<br />
The classic choices for acupuncture<br />
holes that may be integrated to synergistically<br />
relate to homeosiniatry<br />
might include the 8 extra vessels,<br />
back Shu points (Figure 1), and<br />
source and auricular points. The extra<br />
vessel meridians <strong>of</strong> Yin/Yang<br />
Wei (Pericardium 6 and Triple Heater<br />
5) connect and distribute all the<br />
Yin and Yang, respectively. The Yin/<br />
Yang Qiao vessels (Kidney 6 and<br />
Urinary Bladder 62) balance all the<br />
Yin and Yang for muscle coordination<br />
in the body. Also, the Du Mai<br />
channel, the source <strong>of</strong> all Yang Qi,<br />
or sympathetic energy, can be augmented<br />
by needling from the lower<br />
spine up and can be quieted or sedated<br />
by needling from the scalp<br />
down. For the sympathetic concept,<br />
this would mean increasing the<br />
movement in the Yang organs; for<br />
the parasympathetic concept, the Qi<br />
energy would be augmented in the<br />
Yin organs.<br />
The use <strong>of</strong> auricular points adds an<br />
essential synergism for balance<br />
within the brain and ANS. Using a<br />
point locator allows exact locations<br />
for treatment. Traditional interpretations<br />
used to imply that when one<br />
BL 21 Stomach<br />
BL 22 Triple heater<br />
BL 23 Kidney<br />
BL 25 Large intestine<br />
BL 27 Small intestine<br />
aspect <strong>of</strong> the ANS was on, the other<br />
was <strong>of</strong>f, and vice versa. Our society<br />
today creates levels <strong>of</strong> continuing<br />
stressors, and <strong>of</strong>ten the continued<br />
pressure on both aspects <strong>of</strong> the ANS<br />
results in imbalances that do not fit<br />
conventional rules. Using such a<br />
testing device, areas such as the pi-<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
) Specialized Applications<br />
In homeosiniatry, bioregulatory<br />
medications are injected into<br />
acupuncture points.<br />
tuitary, hypothalamus, preganglionic<br />
and postganglionic nerves, vagus,<br />
parasympathetic nerves, and amygdala<br />
can be accessed and therapeutically<br />
used.<br />
The back Shu points represent a<br />
level <strong>of</strong> interaction that would be<br />
used to affect the individual organs<br />
that are influenced by the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal–sympathetic/parasympathetic<br />
system. The first<br />
line relates to organ dysfunction,<br />
whereas the second line has great<br />
benefits in emotional issues that affect<br />
its adjacent organ.<br />
Practical application<br />
Some practical examples <strong>of</strong> homeosiniatry<br />
that have application in the<br />
clinic would include the following.<br />
Starting at the hypothalamus, it<br />
would be ideal to directly affect its<br />
function! Tonsilla compositum contains<br />
hypothalamus and can act toward<br />
directly targeting at the hypothalamic<br />
level. Its effect would,<br />
therefore, generalize to the entire<br />
system. Points <strong>of</strong> injection should<br />
be ones that have general regulatory<br />
ability, such as Stomach 36 or Spleen<br />
6. More <strong>of</strong>ten, therapy must be designed<br />
to indirectly affect the system,<br />
at the feedback loop to the hypothalamus<br />
or at the organ itself.<br />
Because hypothalamic CRH controls<br />
the production <strong>of</strong> cortisol, the<br />
negative feedback loop to CRH<br />
is activated when the hypothalamus<br />
senses increased cortisol. Therefore,<br />
using medications that contain<br />
cortisol will reduce the production<br />
<strong>of</strong> CRH and slow or regulate the<br />
fight or flight response (i.e., sympathetic<br />
outflow). Tonsilla compositum<br />
(for overall immune stimulation),<br />
Thyreoidea compositum (for<br />
connective tissue metabolism), and<br />
Pulsatilla compositum (for support<br />
during chronic inflammation) all<br />
contain cortisone in dilution and<br />
can be used to reduce the output <strong>of</strong><br />
CRH and with it sympathetic activity.<br />
Major organs that are activated by<br />
sympathetic stimulation are the<br />
heart, lungs, and the associated circulatory<br />
system. To affect these organs,<br />
especially in chronic conditions,<br />
the back Shu points can be<br />
injected. Because fight or flight is an<br />
excess condition, the points chosen<br />
on the Urinary Bladder line (Urinary<br />
Bladder 14, Pericardium; and Urinary<br />
Bladder 15, Heart) are tight<br />
and tense, indicating overactivity.<br />
Chronic myocardial weakness or<br />
coronary circulatory problems can<br />
be treated with Cactus compositum.<br />
Cor compositum can be used for<br />
palpitations, and Cralonin can be<br />
used for chest pains. The lung area,<br />
Urinary Bladder 13, can receive<br />
treatment for bronchospasm, using<br />
Mucosa compositum for wheezing<br />
and cough, Traumeel for inflammation,<br />
or Engystol for immune stimulation.<br />
In contrast, when sympathetic activation<br />
is quieted down, ideally the<br />
parasympathetic system is activated.<br />
Their innervations primarily involve<br />
smooth muscle contraction and<br />
movement within many hollow organs.<br />
The Master Point <strong>of</strong> the Yin<br />
Qiao, Kidney 6, is considered regulatory<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Vagus, and Atropinum<br />
compositum is very useful for cramping<br />
and imbalanced peristalsis. Point<br />
choices might also include the<br />
source points or back Shu points for<br />
the large and small intestines, the<br />
spleen and stomach, and the urinary<br />
bladder and gallbladder. Spascupreel<br />
is effective for intestinal cramps and<br />
bladder spasm and irritability.<br />
In conclusion, any discussion regarding<br />
the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal–ANS<br />
really requires<br />
chapters to credibly explain each <strong>of</strong><br />
the topics mentioned in this brief<br />
discussion. What I have attempted<br />
to relate is that the complexity <strong>of</strong><br />
disease and our rapidly expanding<br />
technology have created a need to<br />
look beyond individual areas <strong>of</strong><br />
focus and embrace a new holism<br />
<strong>of</strong> care. It is necessary to integrate<br />
multiple disciplines, concepts, and<br />
images to achieve results that succeed.<br />
|<br />
References<br />
1. Oschman J. Energy Medicine. Dover, NH:<br />
Churchill Livingstone; 2008:141.<br />
2. Pischinger A. The Extracellular Matrix and<br />
Ground Regulation. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic<br />
Books; 2007:106.<br />
) 25<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
) Making <strong>of</strong> …<br />
Manufacturing <strong>of</strong><br />
Traumeel Injection Solution<br />
Part I: From Work Preparation to Filling<br />
By Larissa Wörthwein-Mack<br />
) 26<br />
To minimize the risk <strong>of</strong> contamination with microorganisms,<br />
special requirements apply to the manufacture <strong>of</strong><br />
sterile medications. The standards are high, both for spatial<br />
and technical conditions and for employee qualifications.<br />
For example, manufacturing must take place in so-called<br />
cleanrooms <strong>of</strong> the appropriate classes, and spatial separation<br />
<strong>of</strong> the different production steps is required.<br />
Modern homeopathic combination<br />
products like Traumeel<br />
(which is used to treat inflammation<br />
and injuries) contain multiple ingredients.<br />
In Traumeel injection solution,<br />
there are 14 different active<br />
in gredients, primarily plant substances<br />
such as arnica, chamomile,<br />
and calendula. These raw materials<br />
are processed into mother tinctures<br />
and single potencies in accordance<br />
with current regulations <strong>of</strong> the German<br />
Homeopathic Pharmacopeia<br />
(HAB) and the European Pharmacopeia<br />
(Ph. Eur.).<br />
Production <strong>of</strong> a sterile<br />
dosage form<br />
All manufacturing steps involving<br />
open containers must take place in<br />
Class C cleanrooms, which can be<br />
accessed only through airlocks and<br />
in appropriate protective clothing.<br />
High performance filters reduce the<br />
particulate count in the air, and the<br />
rooms are under positive pressure<br />
with more than 20 air exchanges<br />
per hour. Pressure differentials <strong>of</strong><br />
10-15 Pa between cleanrooms <strong>of</strong><br />
different classes ensure that when<br />
the door <strong>of</strong> a cleaner room is opened,<br />
the air streams out and contaminated<br />
air cannot flow in. The air is tested<br />
at regular intervals for particulate<br />
counts and microbiological loads.<br />
All exposed surfaces in the cleanrooms<br />
must be smooth and easy to<br />
clean. The special requirements that<br />
apply to employees engaged in manufacturing<br />
sterile products include<br />
regular training in sterile manufacturing,<br />
hygiene, and microbiology.<br />
Of course high standards <strong>of</strong> personal<br />
hygiene are also a must, and inside<br />
the cleanroom, employees are<br />
not allowed to wear jewelry or<br />
make-up! Regular medical checkups<br />
are also required.<br />
The steps in the production <strong>of</strong> sterile<br />
ampoules are: work preparation,<br />
bulk production, filtration, filling,<br />
ste ri lization, inspection, labeling,<br />
and packaging. Each individual production<br />
step takes place in accordance<br />
with clearly defined procedures<br />
and current GMP (Good<br />
Manufacturing Practice) guidelines.<br />
Written production instructions for<br />
each product detail all <strong>of</strong> the individual<br />
steps in its production. The<br />
production instructions are based on<br />
the company’s manufacturing specifications,<br />
the CTD-HD (Common<br />
Technical Document – Manufacturing<br />
Documentation), which is submitted<br />
to the regulatory agency.<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
) Making <strong>of</strong> …<br />
Producing potency mixtures from<br />
individual potencies according to<br />
manufacturing specifications<br />
Specially trained employees conduct<br />
in-process controls (IPC) at regular<br />
intervals during production. These<br />
controls serve to monitor and direct<br />
the production process, ensuring<br />
high quality and compliance with<br />
all requirements at every stage <strong>of</strong><br />
processing.<br />
The production process<br />
The first step takes place in the Work<br />
Preparation department, where<br />
batch-specific production instructions<br />
are drawn up. In these documents,<br />
employees will record every<br />
detail <strong>of</strong> the processes involved in<br />
producing the batch.<br />
In the Bulk Production department,<br />
the 14 active ingredients (mother<br />
tinctures, single potencies, and triturations)<br />
are manufactured in accordance<br />
with the production guide.<br />
Ethanol-water mixtures in varying<br />
concentrations are used as the potentizing<br />
medium.<br />
The next step is production <strong>of</strong> the<br />
so-called bulk solutions. The individual<br />
potencies and triturations are<br />
combined into potency mixtures,<br />
which are then further potentized<br />
with water for injection. The resulting<br />
intermediate products are then<br />
mixed in large stainless steel tanks,<br />
and a specific amount <strong>of</strong> sodium<br />
chloride is added to produce an isotonic<br />
solution.<br />
IPC workers take samples <strong>of</strong> the finished<br />
bulk solution and test for a<br />
variety <strong>of</strong> parameters including pH,<br />
isotonicity, and appearance. The<br />
bulk solution is released for further<br />
processing only if all values fall<br />
within the required ranges. This step<br />
Manual potentization <strong>of</strong><br />
a potency mixture<br />
Stainless steel batching tank for<br />
producing the solution<br />
Filtering the bulk solution through<br />
a sterile membrane<br />
) 27<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
) Making <strong>of</strong> …<br />
Interim storage <strong>of</strong> the bulk solution<br />
in sterile disposable containers<br />
is followed by bulk filtration, which<br />
removes suspended matter and reduces<br />
germs. The filter is a sterile<br />
membrane filter with a pore size <strong>of</strong><br />
0.22 µm. The filtered solution is<br />
filled into sterile, flexible, disposable<br />
containers.<br />
The used filter is then tested for integrity,<br />
and if it passes the test, the<br />
filtered batch <strong>of</strong> bulk solution is<br />
transported to the filling equipment<br />
in disposable containers with capacities<br />
ranging from 10 to 50 liters.<br />
The containers are connected to the<br />
filling equipment, and the required<br />
quantities <strong>of</strong> glass ampoules are prepared.<br />
Before the actual filling takes<br />
place, a test run <strong>of</strong> a certain number<br />
<strong>of</strong> ampoules is filled to check for accuracy<br />
<strong>of</strong> the fill quantity.<br />
If the fill quantities match the target<br />
value, the machine is cleared for filling.<br />
Precisely measured fill quantities<br />
are then pumped into the sterile<br />
glass ampoules through six filling<br />
nozzles. Finally, a blowpipe is used<br />
to seal the open ampoules by melting<br />
their necks to create a closure.<br />
Each machine can fill up to 18,000<br />
ampoules per hour.<br />
In the next issue, you will learn<br />
about the further steps required to<br />
produce a finished, customer-ready<br />
product.|<br />
) 28<br />
Filling and heat sealing the sterile glass<br />
ampoules<br />
Photos by Sonja Bell<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
) Meet the Expert<br />
Dr. Arturo O’Byrne<br />
By Catherine E. Creeger<br />
Arturo O’Byrne was born in<br />
1951 in Cali, Colombia, into a<br />
long line <strong>of</strong> medical doctors. He received<br />
his first practical instruction<br />
in surgery from his father in their<br />
family-owned clinic.<br />
Young Arturo was very interested in<br />
photography and designing educational<br />
materials, and in college he<br />
collaborated with many <strong>of</strong> his pr<strong>of</strong>essors<br />
on audiovisual presentations<br />
for classes. This skill in developing<br />
innovative educational tools would<br />
later become one <strong>of</strong> the foundations<br />
<strong>of</strong> his pr<strong>of</strong>essional activities. He<br />
graduated from the Universidad del<br />
Cauca in Popayán, Colombia in<br />
1976 with a diploma in surgery.<br />
During his student years, the climate<br />
in Popayán aggravated the asthma<br />
he had suffered from since childhood.<br />
His search for better health<br />
led him to the Colombian physician<br />
Dr. Germán Duque, who pioneered<br />
biological medicine in South America.<br />
Duque’s treatments produced a<br />
lasting cure within a few months.<br />
This introduction to alternative<br />
therapeutic methods, including homeopathy<br />
and homotoxicology,<br />
marked a radical and irrevocable<br />
turning point in Dr. O’Byrne’s life.<br />
On Duque’s advice, Dr. O’Byrne<br />
travelled to Europe to learn about<br />
integrative biological medicine firsthand.<br />
(Later, as medical director <strong>of</strong><br />
Santa Margarita Hospital in La<br />
Cumbre, he would become the first<br />
to obtain authorization for a pilot<br />
program in biological medicine in a<br />
National Health Service hospital.)<br />
Back in Colombia, he studied sports<br />
medicine and nutrition in Cali,<br />
where he later also held pr<strong>of</strong>essorships<br />
in biology and physiology.<br />
From 1987 to 1989, as medical director<br />
<strong>of</strong> the pr<strong>of</strong>essional cycling<br />
team “Café de Colombia,” he based<br />
the athletes’ training and maintenance<br />
program on biological medicine.<br />
During this time, the team<br />
achieved international standing in<br />
particular in mountain racing, resulting<br />
in first places in the 1987<br />
Vuelta a España and the 1988 Dauphiné<br />
Libéré and a third place in the<br />
1988 Tour de France. His work with<br />
other sports teams had similar results<br />
and generated considerable interest<br />
in biological therapies in<br />
sports medicine in Colombia.<br />
In 1989, Dr. O’Byrne founded the<br />
teaching hospital “Centro de Medicina<br />
Biológica Dr. O’Byrne” in<br />
Cali and began giving courses and<br />
talks for doctors. Since then, his ongoing<br />
efforts in disseminating homotoxicology<br />
and biological medicine<br />
have led him to travel widely,<br />
especially in Latin America. Over<br />
the course <strong>of</strong> seventeen years, he has<br />
logged more than four million flight<br />
miles and given more than 650 seminars!<br />
Throughout this time, he has remained<br />
dedicated to producing<br />
state-<strong>of</strong>-the-art educational material.<br />
In 2007, with his son Daniel, he<br />
founded BioMD-SA, an academic<br />
services center focusing on pr<strong>of</strong>essional<br />
production <strong>of</strong> high-definition<br />
3D animation, medical illustration,<br />
etc. His home workstation has three<br />
LCD screens (internet, PowerPoint,<br />
and Photoshop) in use simultaneously.<br />
For entertainment on his long<br />
trips, he downloads music <strong>of</strong> all<br />
genres to his I-pod. (The airlines<br />
serve vanilla ice cream with Baileys<br />
Irish Cream, which also helps to<br />
pass the time!) Dr. O’Byrne enjoys<br />
playing guitar at family gatherings<br />
and is a natural at salsa dancing, but<br />
he is always eager to get back to his<br />
medical projects as soon as the festivities<br />
are over. This is the mark <strong>of</strong><br />
a true scientist!|<br />
) 29<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
) Research Highlights<br />
Nervoheel N vs. Lorazepam for<br />
Mild Nervous Disorders<br />
By Mary A. Kingzette<br />
) 30<br />
Introduction<br />
Complementary and alternative<br />
medicine (CAM) is being used more<br />
<strong>of</strong>ten, both in Europe and in the<br />
United States. One <strong>of</strong> the main reasons<br />
for the increase in CAM is the<br />
adverse effects seen with conventional<br />
medications, leading to the<br />
withdrawal <strong>of</strong> some <strong>of</strong> these drugs<br />
from the market. It is believed that<br />
CAM medications are better tolerated<br />
than conventional medications.<br />
One <strong>of</strong> the frequent uses <strong>of</strong> CAM is<br />
for treatment <strong>of</strong> functional nervous<br />
disorders, including insomnia, distress,<br />
anxiety, restlessness, and burnout.<br />
In this study, Nervoheel N, a<br />
CAM medication, was compared<br />
with lorazepam, a conventional benzodiazepine,<br />
for the treatment <strong>of</strong><br />
functional nervous disorders. Specifically,<br />
the effectiveness and tolerability<br />
<strong>of</strong> the 2 medications were<br />
compared. The purpose <strong>of</strong> the study<br />
was to show the noninferiority <strong>of</strong><br />
Nervoheel N vs. lorazepam.<br />
Nervoheel N is a preparation based<br />
on the principles <strong>of</strong> homotoxicology.<br />
Lorazepam has a relatively short<br />
half-life and is favored over longacting<br />
benzodiazepines for the<br />
short-term relief <strong>of</strong> anxiety. Benzodiazepines<br />
are contraindicated for<br />
long-term use because <strong>of</strong> their addictiveness<br />
and adverse effects.<br />
The present study was a preliminary<br />
open-label prospective nonrandomized<br />
cohort investigation. To our<br />
knowledge, it is the first study to<br />
evaluate the effectiveness <strong>of</strong> Nervoheel<br />
N in a clinical setting.<br />
Methods<br />
This study was performed in 39<br />
centers in Belgium and the Netherlands;<br />
these centers <strong>of</strong>fer both conventional<br />
and CAM therapy. Patients<br />
enrolled were18 years or older and<br />
suffered from headache, heart palpitations,<br />
backache, indigestion, lack<br />
<strong>of</strong> appetite, mild sexual dysfunction,<br />
fatigue, listlessness, sleep disturbances,<br />
restlessness, or lack <strong>of</strong> concentration.<br />
Patients excluded were<br />
those who were unable or did not<br />
want to participate in the study and<br />
those taking both Nervoheel N and<br />
lorazepam.<br />
The study duration was a maximum<br />
<strong>of</strong> 4 weeks. Patients were examined<br />
at the start <strong>of</strong> treatment, after 2<br />
weeks <strong>of</strong> treatment, and after 4<br />
weeks <strong>of</strong> treatment.<br />
Physicians decided the treatment<br />
used for each patient (after discussion<br />
with the patient), and any other<br />
medications taken were not changed<br />
during the study. The dose <strong>of</strong> Nervoheel<br />
N given was 1 tablet 3 times<br />
a day; the dose <strong>of</strong> lorazepam given<br />
was 2 to 3 mg daily for sedation and<br />
anxiety and 2 to 4 mg nightly for<br />
insomnia. Variations in the dose<br />
were allowed if determined to be in<br />
the patient’s best interest.<br />
The effects <strong>of</strong> treatment were determined<br />
in conversation between the<br />
practitioner and the patient. The severity<br />
<strong>of</strong> symptoms was evaluated<br />
on a 4-point scale (0 indicates<br />
asymptomatic; 1, mild; 2, moderate;<br />
and 3, severe). The overall effect <strong>of</strong><br />
the therapies was evaluated on a<br />
5-point scale (excellent, good, satisfactory,<br />
no improvement, and worsening<br />
<strong>of</strong> symptoms). Tolerability<br />
was determined by patient-reported<br />
adverse events evaluated by the physician.<br />
Overall tolerability <strong>of</strong> the<br />
treatments was evaluated as excellent,<br />
good, moderate, or poor.<br />
Results<br />
A total <strong>of</strong> 248 patients were included<br />
in this study (136 in the Nervoheel<br />
N group and 112 in the lorazepam<br />
group). After 2 weeks <strong>of</strong><br />
treatment, 128 patients in the Nervoheel<br />
N group and 106 patients in<br />
the lorazepam group were examined.<br />
At the final 4-week examination,<br />
the numbers <strong>of</strong> patients included<br />
were 134 and 111, respectively.<br />
There were several differences between<br />
the 2 groups at enrollment:<br />
Patients in the lorazepam group<br />
were older and were more likely to<br />
be men, to smoke, and to use alcohol<br />
or c<strong>of</strong>fee regularly than patients<br />
in the Nervoheel N group. However,<br />
none <strong>of</strong> these differences were statistically<br />
significant.<br />
There was also no significant difference<br />
in the number <strong>of</strong> nervous disorders<br />
between the 2 groups (predominately<br />
2-4 disorders). In both<br />
groups, the most common com-<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
) Research Highlights<br />
Sepia, one <strong>of</strong> the ingredients <strong>of</strong><br />
Nervoheel N, is prepared from the<br />
secretion <strong>of</strong> the inkgland <strong>of</strong> the<br />
cuttlefish (Sepia <strong>of</strong>ficinalis).<br />
plaints included emotional distress,<br />
jitteriness, and anxiety; and the most<br />
common reasons given for the complaints<br />
included work-related anxiety,<br />
stress, and family-related anxiety.<br />
Most patients in both groups<br />
(> 70%) had not received previous<br />
treatment for their condition.<br />
In both groups, there were significant<br />
differences from baseline: The<br />
sum <strong>of</strong> symptom scores improved by<br />
4.4 points in the Nervoheel N group<br />
and by 4.2 points in the lorazepam<br />
group. However, there was not a<br />
significant difference between the<br />
2 groups.<br />
For both groups, the greatest symptom<br />
improvement was seen at the<br />
2-week examination, with slight<br />
continued improvement until the<br />
4-week examination. Even though<br />
most patients chose to maintain<br />
treatment for longer than 4 weeks,<br />
less than 10% did so for longer than<br />
6 weeks. The average duration <strong>of</strong><br />
treatment was 31 days in the Nervoheel<br />
N group and 29 days in the<br />
lorazepam group.<br />
There was no significant difference<br />
between the 2 groups in overall<br />
therapeutic results (rated as excellent<br />
to good by 72.1% <strong>of</strong> the Nervoheel<br />
N group and 73.7% <strong>of</strong> the lorazepam<br />
group; P = 0.84).<br />
The tolerability <strong>of</strong> both treatments<br />
was very good, with only one patient<br />
in each group experiencing an<br />
adverse event (both considered unlikely<br />
to be treatment related).<br />
Notably, the overall patient-assessed<br />
tolerability was significantly better<br />
for the Nervoheel N group vs. the<br />
lorazepam group: Tolerability was<br />
rated as excellent in 81.9% vs. 45.5%<br />
<strong>of</strong> patients (P < 0.001).<br />
There was no significant difference<br />
between the 2 groups in compliance<br />
scores (P = 0.35), with compliance<br />
ratings <strong>of</strong> excellent or good for approximately<br />
90% <strong>of</strong> both groups.<br />
Discussion<br />
This study showed that Nervoheel<br />
N, a homotoxicological medication,<br />
can effectively treat mild nervous<br />
disorders, including aches, palpitations,<br />
indigestion, lack <strong>of</strong> appetite,<br />
mild sexual dysfunction, fatigue,<br />
listlessness, sleep disturbances, restlessness,<br />
and lack <strong>of</strong> concentration.<br />
The study indicated that Nervoheel<br />
N was better tolerated than lorazepam,<br />
a traditional benzodiazepine<br />
medication used to treat these disorders.<br />
This being an open-label observational<br />
trial, there are limitations to<br />
such a study that are inherent in the<br />
design. First, the enrollment criteria<br />
for mild nervous disorders are somewhat<br />
subjective because there are no<br />
standardized rating scales for these<br />
disorders.<br />
Second, the evaluations were left<br />
mostly to the physician’s discretion,<br />
which could result in greater physician<br />
bias. However, the fact that the<br />
enrolling centers <strong>of</strong>fer both complementary<br />
and conventional medicine<br />
may reduce this factor in this case.<br />
Third, baseline differences between<br />
groups are inherent in the design <strong>of</strong><br />
observational studies, as was also<br />
found in the present study.<br />
There were also other differences<br />
between the 2 treatment groups<br />
(older patients and more male patients,<br />
with different lifestyle habits,<br />
in the lorazepam group), which were<br />
addressed with propensity score<br />
analysis but would not exclude all<br />
bias.<br />
However, the strength <strong>of</strong> observational<br />
studies is not so much to show<br />
efficacy, but to show effectiveness in<br />
a practice-based setting and to demonstrate<br />
tolerability, in which this<br />
study succeeded.<br />
In conclusion, this 4-week study<br />
showed that Nervoheel N (a homeopathic<br />
treatment) was not inferior<br />
to lorazepam (a conventional benzo<br />
diazepine treatment) for the<br />
short-term relief <strong>of</strong> mild nervous<br />
symptoms. In addition, significantly<br />
more patients rated the tolerability<br />
<strong>of</strong> Nervoheel N as excellent compared<br />
with the tolerability <strong>of</strong> lorazepam.<br />
|<br />
Reference<br />
van den Meerschaut L, Sünder A. The homeopathic<br />
preparation Nervoheel N can <strong>of</strong>fer an alternative<br />
to lorazepam therapy for mild nervous<br />
disorders. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med.<br />
Published October 25, 2007. doi:10.1093/<br />
ecam/nem144.<br />
) 31<br />
Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biomedical</strong> <strong>Therapy</strong> 2009 ) Vol. 3, No. 1
IAH Abbreviated<br />
Course<br />
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2 Click on Login and register.<br />
3 Go to Education Program.<br />
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) 32<br />
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