COVID-19 a homeopathic perspective and finding the genus epidemicus and prevention.

Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases.

COVID-19 also called as Novel Coronavirus 19, is a viral infection caused by such a coronavirus. This is an animal to human transmission disease, where the virus is transferred from an infected animal to humans and then spreads rapidly from human to human.

MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION

Under the microscope, the Coronavirus is a single strand RNA virus. It has protein spikes on its surface and these resemble a crown. Hence the name CORONA - which in Latin means CROWN.

HISTORY

This Coronavirus has a long history. The similar type of infection was detected in 2003 and was labeled as SARS, and in 2012 as MERS

SARS - Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, it was caused by a Coronavirus, where the transmission was from Bats to Civets to Humans.

MERS - Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, it was caused by a Coronavirus, where the transmission was from Bats to Camels to human.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Common signs of COVID-19 are

1. Fever
2. Dry Cough
3. Pneumonia.
4. Breathlessness
5. Myalgia
6. Fatigue

In severe cases, where the immunity is very low, pneumonia gets complicated and it leads to ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome), which can lead to septic shock, and Hypotension.

RISK

Individual who are at high risk to contact COVID-19 are 

1. Old people over 60 yrs of age
2. People having underlying conditions like Hypertension and Diabetes
3. Immuno-compromised patients

SPREAD

COVID-19 spreads from airborne transmission It spreads via tiny droplets from an infected person, when he coughs or sneezes, the tiny droplets, which contains the Coronavirus, get transmitted to the person who is in close contact with the infected person. It enters the body through the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, and eyes.

INCUBATION PERIOD

The minimum incubation period is 5 days to 24 days.

DIAGNOSIS

An examination of the throat swab for the RT-PCR assay is done to detect the virus.

PREVENTION

Since Coronavirus spreads through tiny droplets of saliva, direct contact is to be avoided

1. Avoid traveling to places around disease outbreak
2. Stay 2-3 meters away from heavily infected persons
3. Avoid crowded places. 
4. Use HAND WASHING practices frequently. Use an alcohol-based sanitizer and scrub your hands thoroughly.
5. Avoid touching the T area i.e. Eyes, Nose, and Mouth.

HOMEOPATHICAPPROACH 

Homeopathy treats the Man in disease and not disease in Man. Hence the best prophylactic against the disease/epidemic is the constitutional homeopathic medicine. A person who is already taking homeopathic medicine need not worry about the epidemic diseases as the Right constitutional medicines is already working to boost his immunity thus preventing illness.

However when a large number of people are affected by the same disease also called an epidemic disease, then, in that case, a GENUS EPIDIMICUS remedy can be the next line of defense against such a disease. 

To find a GENUS EPIDEMICUS, we need to observe a few cases and then understand what is the common symptoms exhibited by most of these cases and accordingly a common GENUS EPIDEMUCUS can be found which can then be administered to a large group of patients.

Is finding genus epidemicus a right homeopathic approach?

Though there may some arguments against the use of specific remedies for particular diseases, at times of emergencies like the COVID-19 disease, it necessitates the use of Genus Epidemicus. "It is perfectly legitimate homeopathy to take a number of cases and having found the drug-disease which corresponds most closely to the disease in all its developments, to give that drug in a routine fashion to all cases which do not manifestly call for some other drug. The use of Baptisia in this way in the influenza epidemics has saved me a great deal of brain-work and has cut short, often in a few hours, many an attack of the disease. That does not mean that I have given no other remedy; on the contrary, I have had to use in some case or other almost every remedy in the materia medica; but the knowledge of the doctrine of the genius epidemicus has saved a vast amount of trouble, nevertheless...." Clarke.

CHALLENGES TO FIND GENUS EPIDEMICUS IN COVID-19

COVID-19 has affected many provinces of Mainland China and Wuhan, the epicenter of COVID-19 is under complete lockdown and there is no way to reach these patients. However today due to the vast development in technology and through the use of Internet, much data is available on the WHO websites and other government websites. A close study into this data has helped to understand the common symptoms of the disease. Based on this information we should be able to find the Genus Epidemicus for COVID-19

Common symptoms reported for COVID-19

As per the research data available following were the symptoms seen in a group of patients

1. Fever - (98.6%)
2. Non-productive cough - (59.4%)
3. Dyspnoea - (31.2%)
4. Fatigue (69.6%)
5. Myalgia (34.8%)
6. Lymphopenia - (70.3%)
7. Prolonged Prothrombin Time (58%)
8. CT Chest - shows bilateral patchy shadow or ground-glass opacity (100%)
9. ARDS (61%)
10. Arrhythmia (44%)
11. Organ dysfunction and shock - (30%)

Less Common symptoms were

1. Headache
2. Dizziness
3. Abdominal pain
4. Diarrhea
5. Nausea
6. Vomiting

CT scan studies showed following affections in lungs

Right Upper lobe - 67 %

Right Middle Lobe - 48 %

Right Lower Lobe - 16 %

Left Upper Lobe - 16 %

Left Lowe Lobe 17 %

Dominant distribution pattern in the lungs

Peripheral - 86%
Perihilar - 5%
Upper zone - 14%

Lower Zone 38%

Upper Lobe and Lower Lobe - 38%

From the above research data, it can be well understood that the totality of symptoms which help in finding the Genus Epidemicus is

We need a remedy which

1. Has fast progression
2. Non-productive cough - Remedy having Dry cough as a prominent symptom 
3. Lymphopenia - A remedy good for viral fever
4. Increased prothrombin time - a Bleeder remedy
5. ARDS - Remedy good for Asthmatic/suffocative breathing
6. SHOCK - Remedy which has collapse due to respiratory issues

Common Remedies which comes are

ACON, ant-t, ARS, CON, CUPR, iod, ip, lach, lyc, MERC, op, PHOS, SABAD, sep, SULPH, verat,

These common remedies need to be differentiated by analyzing other characteristic symptoms. Also the CT chest, will help us to know which lobe of the lung is affected and accordingly the right remedy can be selected. For more differentiating points can refer to the book Treatise of Acutes.

If we take a keynote symptom observed for COVID-19 which is, collapse with respiratory complaints then the most Important Remedy which comes up is Hydrocyanic Acid. This is the most suitable genus Epidemicus for the current COVID-19 infection. Following are the symptoms

HydrocyanicumAcidum

·       Spasmodic constriction in the larynx, feeling of suffocation, pain and tightness in chest, palpitation; pulse weak, irregular.

·       Collapse, due to some pulmonary condition not a cardiac collapse.

·       Noisy and agitated breathing. Dry, spasmodic, suffocative cough. Asthma, with contraction of throat. Whooping-cough. Paralysis of lungs (Aspidosperma). Marked cyanosis; venously congested lung.

MYTHS ABOUT ARSENIC ALB AS MEDICINE FOR CORONAVIRUS
There is a lot of information circulating on social media as "Arsenic Alb as preventive medicine for coronavirus." As explained earlier, all those patients who are already taking homeopathic medicines are being given medicines for improving immunity. Hence there is no need to take Arsenic Alb as preventive for coronavirus. And if they ever get any symptoms of fever, cold or cough, its good to contact their homeopath for the next course of action.

Those who are not under any homeopathic medicines should still wait and visit a homeopathic practitioner in their area, and seek a proper genus epidemicus remedy which can be any one of the above-listed medicine. Arsenic alb is one of the suggested genus epidemicus from the group but this not the only medicines.

For more information visit www.homoeocare.co.in 

Disclaimer.

This Genus epidemicus is just an indication and should always be taken under the guidance of a qualified homeopathic practitioner in your area. This information does not substitute a proper consultation of a registered practitoner/doctor in your area.

References:

1. https://pubs.rsna.org/doi/10.1148/radiol.2020200370

2. https://pubs.rsna.org/doi/full/10.1148/radiol.2020200490

3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1770245/

4. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/middle-east-respiratory-syndrome-coronavirus-(mers-cov)

5. https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus