Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
Q: What are Homeopathic remedies?
Dr. Hansen:
Homeopathic remedies are natural substances that are considered drugs under the law in the U.S. The Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. § 301. Section 201(g)(1) of the Act. 21 U.S.C. § 321) defines the term “drug” as “articles recognized in the official United States Pharmacopœia, official Homœopathic Pharmacopœia of the United States (HPUS), or official National Formulary or any supplement to any of them. The Homeopathic remedies included in Biological Defense Kit are OTC (over-the-counter) drugs intended for temporary relief of symptoms in self-limiting conditions that do not require the diagnosis of a physician.
Q: Are the Homeopathic Biological Defense Remedies designed to be taken in place of conventional antibiotics or vaccines?
Dr. Hansen:
No, the Homeopathic Biological Defense Remedies are designed to be taken as a natural immune aid, or in addition to any standard conventional medical therapy that may be advisable for these biological agents. However, in the case of Smallpox, Viral Hemorrhagic Fever and Botulism, there are no antibiotics or vaccines currently available. In the case of Anthrax, the Plague and Tularemia, antibiotics are available and should be taken as soon as possible. The Homeopathic Biological Defense Remedies can be taken to boost host defenses in the early stage of exposure and to treat symptoms before a diagnosis is made. If a laboratory test confirms the diagnosis of a biological agent, the Homeopathic Biological Defense Remedy can continue to be taken as a supportive measure to reduce symptoms and boost the host defenses.
Q: How are the Homeopathic Biological Defense Formulas developed?
Dr. Hansen:
In order to formulate the Homeopathic Biological Defense formulas for the CDC Category A Biological Agents, I have selected the top three or four homeopathic medicines that most closely match the symptoms known to be associated with the disease. I have chosen these remedies based on classical homeopathic principals and historic use. In the case of Anthrax, Smallpox and Botulinum, there are specific homeopathic vaccines (Anthracinum, Variolinum, and Botulinum, respectively) that were developed more than one hundred years ago from the organism or its toxins. These are included in the formulas with additional homeopathic medicines that have been used in the past to treat these diseases when they were prevalent.
Q: Can the Homeopathic Biological Defense Remedies be taken to prevent infections?
Dr. Hansen
I believe that homeopathic medicines offer the safest and most effective protection that we have in the prevention of the serious consequences of biological agents. Between 1846 and 1897, the famous Homeopathic Physician, Dr. Boenninghausen used the homeopathic remedy Thuja occidentalis, which is commonly known as the Tree of Life, for the treatment of smallpox. He “found Thuja both preventive and curative in an epidemic of small-pox. It aborted the process and prevented pitting.”
The principal behind the development of the Homeopathic Biological Defense Remedies is similar to that of the flu vaccine. Each year, the flu vaccine contains three virus strains, representing the flu viruses most likely to circulate in the United States in the upcoming winter. When the match between the virus strains in the vaccine and the circulating viruses is close, the vaccine prevents illness in up to 90% of healthy people under the age of 65.
By combining 3 or more homeopathic remedies that match the symptoms of the Biological Agents, I believe the host immune resistance can be enhanced. Hundreds of my patients and millions of French, English, Germans and Italians, who have used homeopathic remedies for decades, have reported that they routinely prevent infections.
Q: How do Homeopathic remedies work?
Dr. Hansen:
Homeopathy was discovered by a German physician, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, in 1790. Hahnemann discovered that the body possesses inherent reactive forces that can be stimulated to fight disease from within. This was a new concept in the 18th Century. Hahnemann found that a small amount of an active substance similar to the infecting organism, chemical, or biological agent would alert and augment the defense mechanisms of the organism to prepare for, resist and counter the potential threat. Furthermore, through strictly controlled clinical trials, Hahnemann discovered and catalogued hundreds of new homeopathic medicines that could be employed in this manner against specific symptoms.
The principle of Homeopathy is similar to that of vaccinations. In fact, in 1796, six years after Hahnemann discovered Homeopathy, Edward Jenner, theorized that he could use cowpox to prevent smallpox, because cowpox is similar to but milder than smallpox. Jenner collected pus from cowpox sores on the hands of milkmaid Sarah Nelmes and inoculated an eight year old boy by the name of James Phipps. Phipps developed a fever but nothing more. Then two months later Jenner inoculated Phipps with pus from active smallpox. The boy never developed smallpox. Because cowpox is similar to smallpox, it stimulated the host defenses to fight off smallpox and recover quickly with only minimal symptoms.
Homeopathy treats the individual not the disease. The symptoms are the guiding determinant not the organism, chemical or biological agent that is causing the disease. Homeopathic remedies are selected based on a similar match of symptoms. When a substance that can cause similar symptoms is homeopathically diluted, it provokes the inherent host defenses to react and recover.
Q: Does the Homeopathic Biological Defense Kit contain several remedies for each of the diseases you listed (so that the precise remedy could be matched to the symptom picture)?
Dr. Hansen:
Yes, each formulation contains 3 or more key homeopathic remedies that together cover the entire constellation of symptoms associated with each of the Biological Agents.
Q: Is there any research on the effectiveness of the remedies included in the Homeopathic Biological Defense Kit against Anthrax, Smallpox, Plague, or Botulism? For example, is there any information on past use of homeopathic remedies for the Plague or Smallpox, perhaps in Hahnemann’s time?
Dr. Hansen:
Yes, we have several homeopathic references that list the most common homeopathic medicines used to treat four out of five of the CDC Category A list of Biological Agents, including Anthrax, Smallpox, the Plague and Botulism. There are multiple historical references that praise the use of these homeopathic remedies during epidemic outbreaks. In 1901, John Henry Clarke, M.D. wrote, “The recent outbreak of plague in the East has recalled the fact that Ignatia amara has earned a reputation as curative even in that disease (plague). Honigberger relates that when plague was raging in Constantinople, he administered “minute doses” of it (Ignatia) to patients affected with plague with the best success. Later on he himself caught the disease in India, and cured himself with the same remedy.” (H.W. xxxiii.51). Thuja occidentalis, which is commonly known as the Tree of Life, was praised by Dr. Boenninghausen. He said, “I found Thuja both preventive and curative in an epidemic of small-pox. It aborted the process and prevented pitting.”
Q: Have homeopathic remedies been used successfully in cases of Hemorrhagic Fever in Africa in recent years??
Dr. Hansen:
A: No. There are no reports that I am aware of that indicate that homeopathic medicines have been used to treat Hemorrhagic Fevers. These are relatively new infections that include Ebola Virus, Marburg Virus and Crimean Congo Virus. However, the Hemorrhagic Fevers all cause symptoms very similar to those caused by snake venom poison and mercurial cyanide. Since the venom from snakes, such as Crotalus horridus (Rattle Snake) contains cyanide hydrates of soda and other salts, they share similar symptoms with the homeopathic remedy Mercuris cyanatus. Both of these homeopathic medicines have been used in extremely dilute doses to treat symptoms similar to those found in Hemorrhagic Fevers, including bleeding from all of the body orifices. Homeopathic Biological Defense H is a combination of the homeopathic remedies that are known to provide symptomatic relief for symptoms similar to those of patients who have Viral Hemorrhagic Fever.
Q: What is Influenzinum?
Dr. Hansen:
Influenzinum is an oral homeopathic vaccine prepared according to the standards of the Homeopathic Pharmacopia of the United States, containing a dilution of the virus strain known to be prevalent in the United States this year.
Q: Are there any side effects associated with Influenzinum?
Dr. Hansen:
Influenzinum has been used throughout the world by millions of people for decades without any side effects.
Q: Is the Oral Homeopathic Flu Vaccine, Influenzinum, a one-person dose?
Dr. Hansen:
Influenzinum is packaged in a multi-dose tube, with a special dispensing twisting mechanism. The tube contains 85 granules. One dose equals 3 granules. Since each person requires 1 dose (3 granules) once per week for 4 weeks, there is enough vaccine in each tube to vaccinate 7 people.
Q: What is Flu Solution?
Dr. Hansen:
Flu Solution is a homeopathic medicine developed in France where it is known as Oscillococcinum. It is the number one over-the-counter flu medication in France, where it has been used for over 60 years. The homeopathic medication is an antiviral vaccine extracted from duck liver and heart.
A study in the April 1998 issue of the British Homeopathic Journal reported that 17.4 percent of those taking Oscillococcinum were symptom-free the day after treatment began, compared to 6.6 percent of those taking placebos. In a similar study published in the March 1989 issue of the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 24.6 percent of those with mild to moderate symptoms had recovered by the second day, compared to 11.9 percent of those taking placebos. No significant side effects were found in either study.
Q: How does Flu Solution differ from the Oral Flu Vaccine Influenzinum?
Dr. Hansen: Flu Solution is not a vaccine; it was developed to treat the symptoms of the flu once it is contracted. If taken as soon as symptoms commence, I have found in my practice that the symptoms will resolve almost immediately following just one or two doses.
Q: What is Phytobiotic?
Dr. Hansen:
Phytobiotic is a natural combination of herbs known to provide broad-spectrum protective action against both viruses and bacteria, as well as the stimulation of the host immune response. It is recommended for the Flu, as well as Colds, Sinusitis, Pharyngitis, Laryngitis, and other upper respiratory tract infections.