Homoeopathy treatment for dengue

Dr. Tilak S. Fernando phD

It was indeed invigorating to read excerpts of an interview conducted with the Health Minister (Daily News May 6) where many of the burning issues covering healthcare were discussed. I was particularly struck by a special mention about new plans that are on the drawing board to control dengue fever and the efforts that are being taken by a Presidential Task Force to combat this disease.

Dengu prevention and treatment should be given equal importance.

I would like to record some of the vital facts contained in an interview I conducted (and published almost a year ago) with Dr Mass R. Usuf, (PhD, MD (Acu), MFHom), a practitioner of Alternative Medicine, on the subject of dengue fever.

Dr Usuf is the former Senior Vice President of the National Association of Homeopaths and Affiliates, and Country Co-ordinator for Natural Healthcare Worldwide (Switzerland) vis-a-vis the free post-tsunami homoeopathic medical camps conducted by him and his team of doctors in the East coast where over 27,000 patients have been treated free over the past few years.

He has always maintained that dengue fever (and even Chikungunya) is a disease which can be easily prevented to a great extent by homoeopathic prophylactic (preventive) treatment.

According to Dr Usuf empiric treatment has proved the efficacy of homoeopathic prophylaxis. Therefore, the dengue menace would assume the character of a much localized spread of some mild viral happening instead of assuming alarming epidemic proportions with tragic consequences by providing such prophylactic treatment in all homoeopathic hospitals/dispensaries islandwide, and by setting up temporary homoeopathic prophylactic centres in schools and community centres in major cities.

Dr Usuf's contention would be to brief the new Health Minister on this and to request him to liaise with the Indigenous Medicine Ministry and together work out a plan for the prevention and treatment of dengue fever.

Dr Usuf is confident that those suffering from dengue fever (even Chikungunya) would find rapid relief by taking homoeopathic treatment.

A patient affected by dengue fever, he states, would be up and about within 48 hours with all distressing symptoms receding fast. Timely homoeopathic treatment even prevents a patient progressing into the severe forms of dengue fever - dengue shock/haemorrhage - which can lead to loss of life.

He recommends three versatile Homeopathy drugs which are given as prophylactics on a bi-weekly/weekly basis against dengue (and Chikungunya). These drugs are devoid of any side effects and can be administered even to a day-old infant.

The few complicated cases (shock/haemorrhage) can be easily treated by adding one or two other homoeopathic drugs as per symptoms manifested, he said.

As the homeopathic drugs are cheap, Dr Usuf says by treating people with homoeopathic prophylactic (preventive) treatment, the Government coffers will not be strained unlike in the present circumstances where the health services have to spend millions in treating dengue patients with extended hospital stay.

Dr Usuf has seen many young and old patients afflicted with dengue fever and Chikungunya taking no longer than 48 hours to recuperate with no complications, no hospitalization and no fatalities.

Chikungunya has come and is virtually gone. It is dengue time now. To add to the misery people once faced the threat of Swine flu too.

However Dr Usuf is confident that it is opportune to mention that homeopathy has ample, cheap and versatile drugs to combat all these diseases.