I.Ya. HORBACHEVCHY TERNOPIL STATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY

Lection № 6

COMPLEX HOMEOPATHY.PRINCIPLES AS A RATIONAL

THERAPY.CLASSIFICATION AND

DISCRIPTION OF COMPLEX HOMEOPATHIC

PREPARATIONS.BASICS OF ITS TECHNOLOGY.

Although classical homeopaths keep true to Hahnemann’s principles in prescribing only single remedies, it has been found by clinical experience that some homeopathic remedies can be mixed together and administered successfully as a complex.

This method of treatment has become very popular.

In Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands there is a collective market of over 450 such branded products.

Complexes may also be mixtures of generic remedies in the same dosage form, for example:

ABC (Aconite, Belladonna and Chamomilla) for teething,

AGE (Arsen iod or Arsen alb, Gelsemium and Eupatorium) for influenza,

SSC (Silica, Sulphur and Carbo veg) for stomach problems,

usually in one potency, or patented mixtures sold under a trade name.

Weleda have a product in the UK comprising Feverfew, Nat Mur and Silica that is promoted for the treatment of headaches and migraine.

Another, for nausea, contains Arsen alb, Cocculus and Ipecac.

There are combination remedies in the New Era Tissue Salt range (known by the letters A to S) with specific indications for use.

Combination R, for teething, comprises Calc fluor, Calc phos, Ferr phos, Mag phos and Silica.

In New Zealand, Naturo Pharm of Rotorua have sports care and baby care ranges of complex remedies and Miers Laboratories of Wellington an OTC preparation called ‘No-Jet-Lag ’.

The South Australian producer Brauer also has a large range of complexes.

Soluble constituents are usually potentised individually and then mixed to give the required liquid potency prior to medication.

Insoluble ingredients are individually triturated with lactose.

Some of the French manufacturers combine zoological material within their complexes (e.g. Fel tauri, Ox gall).

The extremely popular Oscillococcinun (also called Oscillo) is a cold and flu remedy that contains elements derived from Muscovy duck liver.

None of these products is licensed or can be supplied legally in the UK by OTC sale.

Formula P5

recommended for ‘sinusitis, tonsilitis and throat disorders generally’

comprises: Ferrum phos 6x,

Calc iod 6x,

Silica 6x,

Baryta carb 6x,

Bryonia 3x,

Guaiacum 3x,

Belladonna 3x,

Lachesis 12x.

When prescribed, the remedy mixtures are written as ‘Powell PX’, where X represents a number from 1 to 64.

Some remedies have letters as well; for example, there is a 2B, a 3B and 28B and C.

Potencies at the 3x level contain concentrations of remedy comparable to the orthodox dose of 0.1 mg/100 ml, and have few indications in classical homeopathy.

Another range of complexes with specific indications is produced by the Dr Reckeweg Company in Bensheim, Germany.

The Reckeweg range comprises: •oral liquids, •injections, •topicals•eye drops, •all with multiple ingredients. The formulae are referred to by the letter ‘R’

followed by a number – most also have product names.

The following are examples:● R1 (‘Anginacid’) comprises 10 different remedies in a range of potencies and is indicated for ‘local inflammations of a catarrhal nature’

● R9 (‘Jutussin’), available as syrup and drops, also comprises 10 different remedies; it is claimed to be an effective expectorant

● R77 (anti-smoking drops) comprises six remedies for the withdrawal of smoking

● R95 (‘Alfalfa tonic’) comprises six different mother tinctures and four remedies in low potencies. It is recommended for anemia, convalescence and after a debilitating fever or surgery.

The manufacturers recommend that the oral drops are taken in a teaspoonful of water and always on an empty stomach.

A frequency of around three times a day is usually indicated, but this dose can be increased, especially at the start of treatment.

Why use a complex?There are three main reasons why a complex

is used:1. One may be that the prescriber is uncertain as to which remedy is the most appropriate. Giving a complex is seen as increasing the chance of a correct prescription. Thus if a prescriber cannot ascertain whether a sports injury is due to damaged soft tissue involving muscles (Ruta) or ligaments (Rhus tox) he or she may give both remedies, either as a complex or separately.

Why use a complex?2. The second reason is to treat more than

one symptom of the same condition, or more than one complaint at the same time.

The complex AGE given for flu comprises the following three remedies with their keynotes in parentheses:

Arsen iod (thin watery discharge, swollen nose),

Gelsemium (dull headache and fever)Eupatorium perf (the ‘sore muscles and

bones’ often associated with flu) and is given to mount a three-pronged

attack against the disease.

Why use a complex?3. The final reason for using complexes

is merely for convenience, to save time and trouble.

Opponents of this type of therapy maintain that even if this strategy works, the prescriber will not know which of the remedies cured the patient.

Some clinical trials have yielded positive effects but no provings have been carried out with complexes, and there is little information available to indicate how remedies might interact.

Remedy Complementary with Incompatible with

Aconite Arn, Bry, Coffea, Sulph Glonoinum

Allium cepa Phos, Puls, Sulph, Thuja Allium sat

Ambra gris Ign, Nat mur Staphysagria

Ammon carb Bell, Bry, Caust, Lycopod, Phos, Sepia

Lachesis

Antim crud Baryta carb, Ipecac, Sulph

Antim tart Ipecac, Nat sulph, Sulph Moschus

Apis mel Barta carb, Bell, Canth, Lycopod, Nat mur, Sulph

Phosphorus, Rhus tox

Argent nit Coffea

Arsen alb All sat, Carbo veg, Nat sulph, Phos, Psor, Pyrog, Sulph, Thuja

Pulsatilla

Baryta carb Ant tart, Dulc, Silica, Sulph Calc carb, Calc phos

Belladonna Calc carb, Hepar sulp, Lach, Nux vom, Sulph

Ac acetic, Dulc

Remedy Complementary with Incompatible with

Bryonia Bell, Phos, Puls, Rhus tox, Sulph

Calc carb

Calc carb Bell, Lycopod, Puls, Rhus tox Baryta carb, Bry, Kali bich, Ac nit, Sulph

Cantharis Bell, Phos Coffea

Carbo veg Caust, China, Dros, Kali carb, Lach, Phos, Sepia, Sulph

Carbo anim, Kreosotum

Chamomilla Bell, Bry, Lycopod, Mag carb, Silica, Sulph

Kreosotum, Zinc met

Coffea Acon Camph, Canth, Caust, Cocc, Ign

Colocynth Mag phos Caust

Gelsemium Sepia

Graphites Ars alb, Caust, Hepar sulph, Lycopod

Hepar sulph Calend, Merc sol, Psor, Silica

Ignatia Nat mur Coffea, Nux vom, Tabac

Ipecac Ant tart, Arn, Ars alb, Cuprum met

China

Remedy Complementary with Incompatible with

Kali bichArs alb, Phos, Psor Calc carb

LedumPuls China

LycopodChel, China, Graph, Iod, Lach, Puls

Coffea, Nux mosch, Sulph

Merc solBell, Podoph Ac acetic, Lach, Silica

Nat murApis, Arb nit, Ign, Lycopod, Sepia

Nux vomAesc, Kali carb, Sepia, Sulph Ac acetic, Ign, Puls, Zinc met

PhosphorusAll cepa, Ars alb, Carbo veg, Lycopod, Sepia

PulsatillaAll cepa, Ars alb, Lycopod, Nat mur, Sepia, Silica

Lach, Nux mosch, Nux vom

Rhus toxArs alb, Calc fluor Apis, Bryonia

RutaCalc phos

SepiaNat mur, Nux vom, Sulph Bryonia, Lachesis, Pulsatilla

Silica (Silicea)Puls, Thuja Merc sol, Nux mosch

SulphurAcon, Nux vom Lycopod

ThujaArs alb, Lach, Silica

Thank you for

attention!