Homoeo medicine Belladona could prevent Japanese encephalitis Virus

Belladona, a commonly used homoeopathic medicine, could prevent the highly lethal Japanese Encephalitis (JE) virus infection, according to anew Indian study.

The laboratory studies conducted at the School of Tropical Medicine (STM), Kolkata aimed to assess the prophylactic action of Belladonna in homoeopathic potencies on Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM) of chick embryo infected with the JE virus, have found that the homeo remedy could be playing a important role in preventing the viral infection.

The School of Tropical Medicine, Kolkata conducted the Belladona study in collaboration with Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH),under the Deptt. of AYUSH, Govt. of India.

The results of the study showed a significant decrease in the pocks (discrete foci of cell proliferation and necrosis) count when the JE virus infection on CAM was challenged with homoeopathic medicine Belladonna in different potencies, in comparison to placebo.

The results of the study are published in the latest issue of the American Journal of Infectious Diseases, with the title ,” Decreased Intensity of Japanese Encephalitis Virus Infection in chick Chorioallantoic Membrane under influence of Ultra diluted Belladonna Extract”, by the principal investigator Dr. Bhaswati Bandopadhyay, assistant professor of Virology, School of Tropical Medicine.

Dr Bandhopadhyay’s team included co-nvestigator Dr. Satadal Das, Pathology specialist, Dr. Chandan Saha, assistant professor of Pharmacology (STM), Dr. Milan Sengupta, Research Associate and scientists of Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy.
JE presents a significant risk to humans and animals, particularly in Southeast Asia (including India), where around 50,000 cases and 10,000 deaths occur per year, essentially affecting the children below 10 years of age.

The data reveal that about 50% of the patients who develop Japanese encephalitis suffer from permanent neurologic defects and 30% of them die due to the disease. Further, the JE virus has shown a tendency to extend to other geographic areas.

The outcome of the study was also presented by Dr. Bhaswati Bandopadhyay at the 25th Clinical Virology Symposium held from 19th to 22nd April 2009 by the PAN American Society for Clinical Virology, Florida, USA.

Critics have been skeptical about of Homeopathy as they denounce the therapy as placebo.

“The study thus provides a new ray of hope in preventing JE through Homoeopathy, although more researches are needed on this front,” commented Prof. C. Nayak, Director General of CCRH.

What is Japanese encephalitis?

Japanese encephalitis is the leading cause of viral encephalitis in Asia. In endemic areas annual incidence ranges from 10-100 per 100000 population.

Case fatality averages 30% and a high percentage of the survivors are left with permanent neuropshychiatric sequelae.

There is no effective drug treatment for this disease. In recent decades, Japanese encephalitis virus has caused
epidemics in previously unaffected countries like India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam.

No effective environmental control is known. Although socioeconomic improvement and changes in agricultural practices are likely to reduce viral transmission, large-scale vaccination of affected populations with an effective and affordable vaccine appears logical at least in the short term.

The impact of large-scale Japanese Encephalitis vaccination is documented in some regions of China and systematic vaccination has contributed to significant decline in incidence in Japan, Republic of Korea and Thailand.