Goddard

Nosodes in Homeopathy: Significant and Safe

Position Paper
Updated version Spring 2006

ECHAMP European Coalition on Homeopathic and Anthroposophic Medicinal Products Avenue Livingstone 33 – B – 1000 Brussels - Tel: +32-2-235.09.81 - Fax: +32-2-235.09.82 office@echamp.be - www.echamp.org

1 DEFINITION Nosodes are homeopathic preparations of organic material derived from inactivateddisease products, cultures of micro organisms (e.g. bacteria, fungi and viruses) or parasites, infected or pathologically changed material or decomposition products from humans or animals, rendered safe during the homeopathic manufacturing process. 2 THE POSITION In homeopathic prescribing nosodes play an indispensable role. This group of remedies has a tradition of more than two centuries. Resultsfrom clinical trials, post-marketing surveillance studies, and data collection in homeopathic practice show a long and safe track record. The manufacturing methods meet pharmacopoeia requirements and guarantee viral and microbiological safety. Therefore, patients, practitioners and professional organisations insist on the preservation of nosodes for homeopathic treatment. Art 1 of the EuropeanDirective 2001/83/EC as amended by 2004/27/EC1 defines a homeopathic medicinal product as: “Any medicinal product prepared from substances called homeopathic stocks in accordance with a homeopathic manufacturing procedure described by the European Pharmacopoeia or, in the absence thereof, by the pharmacopoeias currently used officially in the Member States.” National pharmacopoeias covering homeopathicmedicinal products are the German Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia2 or the French Pharmacopoeia3. 3. INTRODUCTION In Europe, homeopathy has a tradition of more than 200 years. Approx. 30,000 specialised medical doctors and around 100,000 practitioners practice homeopathic medicine. One out of four European families recognises homeopathic care as a form of therapy. Moreover, according to a studypublished in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization in 2000, more than 50% of complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) users are not ill, but evidently employ CAM in order to prevent illness. Although the true prevalence of the use of complementary and alternative medicine in the general population remains uncertain, available data suggests that complementary and alternative therapies are usedfrequently and increasingly. In France, a 1996 study of 130,000 prescriptions suggested significant benefits and savings as a result of homeopathic treatment. This survey also noted that the number of paid sick leave days by patients under the care of homeopathic physicians were 3.5 times less than patients under the care of general practitioners. Although homeopathic medicines in France represent 5%of all medicines prescribed by physicians, they represent only 1,2 % of all drug reimbursements due to their lower cost per prescription. In all, these findings confirmed the results of the 1991 French Government Report, which in turn showed a significantly reduced cost from
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homeopathic care versus conventional care. In all, these figures suggest further benefits and savings to thehomeopathic approach to health care. 4. SIGNIFICANCE OF NOSODES IN HOMEOPATHY The idea to use the infectious nature of certain diseases in a medical treatment was conceived, long before this was proven scientifically. Julian writes in the Materia Medica of the Nosodes that they were originally used as etiological medications, e.g. a diphtheria nosode for the treatment of diphtheria 4 . Soon, they wererecognised as medications of the terrain, qualifying for patients with constitutional diseases. Nosodes are applied according to homeopathic and isopathic principles world-wide for the treatment of acute as well as chronic diseases5 6. A 2005 survey conducted by ECH among their members, predominantly homeopathic doctors, veterinaries and dentists, revealed that 95% considered nosodes as important in...