Haffkine Institute is a one of the oldest biomedical research institutes in the country. It was established in 1899 and is named after the scientist (Dr. Waldemar Mordecai Haffkine) who invented the plague vaccine. Since then, Haffkine Institute has emerged as a multi-disciplinary Institute engaged in training, research and testing of various aspects of infectious diseases.
MUMBAI: Haffkine Institute, the 116-year-old historical research institute in Parel that has done cutting-edge research work in the field of infectious diseases, has worked out a homeopathic medication for tuberculosis.
At a time when several western nations, including Australia and the United Kingdom, have expressed their reservations against homeopathy, Haffkine Institute delved deep into the alternative medicine’s sub-chapters on nosodes—better known as homeopathic vaccines—to prepare an anti-TB concoction. “We are not experts in homeopathy but, as microbiologists, we understand the principles of infectious diseases,” said Haffkine Institute’s director Dr Abhay Chowdhury.
His team tied up with homeopath Dr Rajesh Shah for the project, which started in March-April 2014.
Anti-TB medicines are mainly allopathic and homeopathy has had little role so far, admitted Dr Shah. “But we believe that our new nosode can complement allopathic medicines given to TB patients, including those with multi-drug-resistant TB,” he said.
In fact, a research paper published in Homeopathy Journal in 2014 said “add-on homeopathy in addition to standard therapy appears to improve outcome in MDR-TB”.
“Nosodes are used against infectious diseases such as anthrax, tuberculosis etcetera. However, there have been no new nosodes in recent times,” said Dr Shah. For the collaboration with Haffkine, he took an old nosode prepared using the sputum of a TB patient as well as other microbiological samples of patients suffering from MDR-TB, and decided to rework it.
After preparing a culture of these microorganisms, the Haffkine team worked on making the medicine using age-old homeopathic techniques but in modern settings. “Homeopathic medicines are prepared using the process of potentization or step-wise dilutions. We did the same but more scientifically by using molecular techniques,” said Dr Sandeepan Chowdhary, a scientific officer with Haffkine who was a part of the study. He said that Haffkine-nosode, which now has a standardized formula, is undergoing animal trials. [Source]
It is said in the above report that, what is introduced is a “homeopathic medication for tuberculosis”, a “standardized formula”, and it is undergoing “animal trials”!
That means, it is not an ordinary type of homeopathic drug, but a STANDARDIZED FORMULA. Kindly note, it is not being proved by homeopathic methods, but by ANIMAL TRIALS like what is done regarding allopathic drugs!
It is said to be prepared by taking an “old nosode prepared using the sputum of a TB patient”, and it was added with “other microbiological samples of patients suffering from MDR-TB”, which were “potentized” using “molecular techniques,”
Obviously, it means that it is not an ordinary homeopathic preparation, but a COMPOUNDED FORMULA aimed for marketing!
What is this “molecular technique” of potentization? Any new “molecular technique” could be devised only it the molecular processes happening during potentization is correctly understood. What is it?
They claim it is a “a homeopathic medication for tuberculosis.” In homeopathy, no drug is actually aimed at a particular disease. Prescriptions are made on the basis of principle of similia. In the case of new drug , it is for TUBERCULOSIS, without any consideration of symptoms or similia!. It is an “an anti-TB concoction.”!
Most funny part of their claims is, “we believe that our new nosode can complement allopathic medicines given to TB patients, including those with multi-drug-resistant TB,”
Means, it is not a CURE for tuberculosis. They “believe” it will “complement” anti-TB drugs. Without ANTI-TB ALLOPATHIC DRUGS, this ‘formula’ is not of any use in the treatment of TB!
Even plain water will COMPLEMENT allopathic drugs. No need of a homeopathic FORMULA, if it acts only as COMPLEMENT to allopathic drugs!
This report demonstrates how business people creates BIG NEWS from nothingness, in order to make BIG MONEY from nothingness, by cleverly utilizing the label of homeopathy!
Take one or more existing TB nosodes, add them with some other ‘micro-organisms’ claimed to be potentized using some mysterious NEW ‘molecular techniques’, make a compound formulation and introduce it as a ‘standardized anti-TB drug’; then create an aggressive media hype as if a great ‘fundamental research’ has been done in homeopathy! That is being done by Haffkine Institute in recent days.
No explanations given regarding the ACTIVE PRINCIPLES contained in this ‘ANTI-TB DRUG’! No explanations given regarding the BIOLOGICAL MECHANISM by which this “drug” produce an anti-TB effect. Yet they claim it is a ‘fundamental research’ and a ‘historical invention’!
No explanations given regarding the NEW “molecular techniques” they used for potentization. Please remember, any “molecular techniques’ of potentization could be devised only if the exact ‘molecular processes’ involved in potentization is thoroughly understood. If Haffkine Institute has finally understood it, it will be the greatest fundamental research ever happening in homeopathy. But they do not make such a claim about such an achievement, or share such an information. Instead, they are creating media hype about an anti-TB “standardized formula” aimed for MARKETING in a big scale!
Kindly notice, they do not claim this NEW FORMULA will cure TB. They only “hope” that it will “complement” allopathic treatment! They are conducting “animal trials” to verify their “hope”! Is it not a joke?
Haffkine institute, who is creating an aggressive media hype about their claim to have developed an “anti-TB homeopathic formula’ is expected to provide direct answers to the following simple questions:
1. What are the ACTIVE PRINCIPLES of this “anti-TB” drug, as you claim it to be prepared by a “molecular technique”?
2. What is the exact BIOLOGICAL MECHANISM by which this drug act upon living organism and produce a curative or “complementary”effect as you claim?
3. What is the ‘molecular process’ involved in potentization? As you claim to have developed a ‘new molecular techmique’ for potentization, you will be aware of it also, as a new ‘molecular technique’ cannot be developed without knowing the ‘molecular process’.
4. Is this a ‘single drug’ or a ‘combination formula’?