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The Homoeo fever
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Homoeopaths in the State claim to have a "wonder drug" that can prevent dengue. The medicine has reportedly been administered to over 11 lakh people across the city and neighbouring districts. Over 1 lakh people have requested for the medicine at the Government Homoepathic Medical College in the city.
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God made the fly and forgot to tell why. The fly (the mosquito, to be precise), on its part, has made an empire out of God's own country. Its weapons of mass destruction include such devastating diseases as dengue fever and malaria. Our lakes, ponds, swamps, wells and even flowerpots function as trenches for the `occupier'. The vector in command is Aedes Aegypti, the dengue warlord.
Even as modern medicine struggles to get hold of an effective preventive to these killers, Samuel Hahnemman's followers in the State claim to have a "wonder drug" that can "prevent dengue and some other viral demons from manifesting in the human body".
The name of the medicine is Eupatorium Perfoliatum. The textbook says that Eupatorium Perfoliatum is "a plant, the juice of which is converted to a homoeopathic remedy. For prophylactic and early treatments, Eupatorium Perfoliatum is the remedy of choice."
According to homoeopaths, if used before the incubation period (generally, it is 10 days for dengue), the drug could function as a fort and ward off the invading Arbo virus. Some practitioners of modern medicine, however, dismiss the drug as a mere placebo.
Nevertheless, Eupatorium Perfoliatum has become a household term in the capital city. Almost every residents' association, school and office has procured this medicine.
The dengue paranoia has touched the ceiling. Dr. Sheela, lecturer, Community Medicine Department, Government Homoeopathic Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, says this preventive medicine "has been administered to over 11 lakh people across Thiruvananthapuram and neighbouring districts. "Over 1 lakh people have requested for the medicine," she adds.
The College authorities face a problem. They have enough and more medicine to meet the ever-increasing demands of the people. But they have run short of bottles and globules. "It is mandatory for all Government homoeopathic hospitals to buy the bottles and globules from Homco, the cooperative sector homoeopathic manufacturing unit at Alappuzha. But Homco has run out of stock," says Dr. Latheef, principal, Government Homoeopathic Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram. "Now, various NGOs and residents associations buy the globules and bottles from private practitioners and sources from outside the State, before approaching us for the medicine," he adds.
Even though the Government institutions are giving the medicine free of cost, private practitioners of homeopathy sell it. A `family pack' for four costs Rs. 50. There is no fixed norm as far as the dosage is concerned. "We, at the Government Homeopathic Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, prescribe three globules (two for kids), thrice daily for three days," says Dr. Sheela.
"The effectiveness of this preventive medicine is cent per cent," claims Dr. Latheef. "Not a single case of viral or dengue fever has been reported among those who have taken the course. "
One of the first panchayats to initiate the dengue prevention campaign was Parassala. Says Sathyanesan, Standing Committee chairman, Parassala Panchayat, "The prevention drive has been, by and large, successful. Only one death has been attributed to fever since the campaign; the victim was an alcoholic."
The homoeopaths are obviously celebrating their newfound fame. "Some cases of fever have been referred to our hospital from the Government Medical College," says Dr. Sheela.
But not all "mainstream" doctors are impressed with the way the dengue wave is being handled by the public, the Government and of course, the homoeopaths. "There is no scientific evidence to prove the effectiveness of a dengue preventive," says Dr. C. Jayakumar, associate professor, Medical College. "The homoeopaths have joined hands with the media to scare the public. Dengue is not the kind of killer it is made out to be. Its fatality rate is negligible in comparison with other diseases of its kind. The best way to prevent it is to destroy the habitat of mosquitoes," he adds.
The dengue invasion has, undoubtedly, resulted in a homoeopathy wave across the State. Whether their much-hyped drug would help in preventing the disease remains to be proved. Meanwhile, the death toll has risen. According to reports, more than 4,000 viral fever cases have been reported in the district. The epidemic control drive is assumed to be in full swing. But Aedes Aegypti and its army are far from being vanquished.
V. G. MURALIKRISHNAN
Illustration: Manoj
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