Electrohomeopathy

Electrohomoeopathy is a derivative of homeopathy that had its origins in the 19th century with the claims of Count Cesare Mattei. The name is derived from a combination of electro (referring to an electric bio-energy content supposedly extracted from plants and of therapeutic value, rather than electricity in its conventional sense) and homeopathy (referring to an alternative medicinal philosophy developed by Samuel Hahnemann in the 18th century). Electrohomeopathy has been defined as the combination of electrical devices and homeopathy,^[1] however some contend that it is the therapeutic use of homeopathic preparations of certain "electric bio-energy" herbs that is intended by the term. It is regarded as distinct from traditional homeopathy, which relies on serially diluted remedies of substances that cause similar symptoms to those as it is attempting to cure as its primary form of treatment, electrohomeopathy, however, does not directly follow the "law of similars".^[2] Like traditional homeopathy, modern day applications of electrohomeopathy are generally regarded by the medical and scientific communities as pseudoscience or quackery.

History and criticism

The discipline was developed initially by Cesare Mattei (1809–1896) in the latter part of the 19th century. Mattei, a nobleman living in a castle in the vicinity of Bologna,^[3] studied natural science, anatomy, physiology, pathology, chemistry and botany. He ultimately focused on the supposed therapeutic power of 'electricity' in botanical extracts. Massei made bold, unsupported, claims for the efficacy of his treatments including the claim that his treatments offered a non-surgical alternative to cancer.^[4] His treatment regimens were met with scepticism by medical orthodoxy:

The electrohomeopathic system is an invention of Count Mattei who prates of "red," "blue," and "green" electricity, a theory that, in spite of its utter idiocy, has attracted a considerable following and earned a large fortune for its chief promoter.^[5]

Notwithstanding criticisms, including a challenge by the British medical establishment to the claimed success of his cancer treatments,^[6] electrohomeopathy (or Matteism, as it was sometimes known at the time) had adherents in Germany, France, the USA and the UK by the beginning of the 20th century; electrohomeopathy had been the subject of approximately 100 publications and there were three journals dedicated to it.^[7]

After Mattei's death, his work was built upon by Theodore Krauss (1864–1924) who amplified the number of available treatments, including the introduction of injectable forms of treatment, and modernised production processes.^[8]

Philosophy

Remedies are derived from what are said to be the active micro nutrients or mineral salts of certain plants. One contemporary account of the process of producing electrohomeopathic remedies was as follows:

As to the nature of his remedies we learn...that...they are manufactured from certain herbs, and that the directions for the preparation of the necessary dilutions are given in the ordinary jargon of homeopathy. The globules and liquids, however, are " instinct with a potent, vital, electrical force, which enables them to work wonders." This process of "fixing the electrical principle" is carried on in the secret central chamber of a Neo-Moorish castle which Count Mattei has built for himself in the Bolognese Apennines...The "red electricity" and "white electricity" supposed to be "fixed" in these "vegetable compounds" are in their very nomenclature and suggestion poor and miserable fictions.^[9]

According to Mattei's own ideas however, every disease originates in the change of blood or of the lymphatic system or both, and remedies can therefore be mainly divided into two broad categories groups to be used in response to the dominant affected system. Mattei wrote that having obtained plant extracts, he was "able to determine in the liquid vegetable electricity". Allied to his theories and therapies were elements of Chinese medicine, of medical humours, of apparent Brownianism, as well as modified versions of Samuel Hahnemann's homeopathic principles.^[10] Electrohomeopathy has some associations with Spagyric medicine, a holistic medical philosophy claimed to be the practical application of alchemy in medical treatment, so that the principle of modern electrohomeopathy is that disease is typically multi-organic in cause or effect and therefore requires holistic treatment that is at once both complex and natural. 114 plants are used in the preparation of electrohomeopathic medicines. The medicines are prepared by following the three major steps of spagyrism: purification, separation and "cohobation"(also known as cold fermentation).^[8] Electrohomeopathic remedies include:

• Scrofoloso remedies - act on scrofulous disorders and the metabolism.
• Linfatico remedies - act on both blood and lymphatic systemss.
• Angioiticos remedies - act on blood vessels and the circulatory system.
• Canceroso remedies - act on cellular construction and the chronic degeneration of lymph.
• Febrifugo remedies - act on fevers and all types of intermittent diseases, as well as disorders of the spleen and liver.
• Vermifugo remedies - act on the intestines, but also on the other parts of our organism; also for worms.
• Pettorale remedies - act on the respiratory system and bronchial tubes.
• Venereo remedies - general constitutional effect and for venereal infections.^[7]

As well as the categories of remedy, practitioners recognise five (and sometimes more) "electric fluids" or electricities: red (a stimulant); white (sedative); blue (anti-haemorrhagic); green (analgesic); yellow (intestinal remedy).^[8]

Modern usage

Although there have been few or no published controlled trials of the efficacy of electrohomeopathy, it continues to be practised. A symposium took place in Bologna in 2008 to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Cesare Mattei,^[11] with faculty from India, Pakistan, Germany UK,and the USA. The discipline is practised predominantly in India and Pakistan (although it is not a recognised healthcare discipline in India),^[12] but there are also a number of electrohomeopathy organisations and institutions worldwide.

Plants used in electrohomeopathy

Some of the plants used for Electrohomeopathic remedies.^{[citation needed]}

1. Arnica montana
2. Allium sativum
3. Atropa belladona
4. Achillea millefolium
5. Allium cepa
6. Aesculus hippocastanum
7. Avena sativa
8. Artemisia cina
9. Althaea officinalis
10. Artemisia abrotanum
11. Aconitum napellus
12. Anthemis nobilis

References

1. ^ Naturopathy and Its Professors (1932)
2. ^ Bellavite et al., 'Immunology and Homeopathy. 1. Historical Background, Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2005 2(4):441-452
3. ^ www.italiaplease.it
4. ^ sciper.org
5. ^ EJ Kempf, "European Medicine: a Resume of Medical Progress During the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries", Medical Library and Historical Journal, 1906 March; 4(1): 86–100.
6. ^ GW Potter, "Matteism: An Exposure", British Med J, August 13, 1892
7. ^ ^{a b} JO Baylen, "The Mattei cancer cure: a Victorian nostrum", Proc Am Philos Soc. 1969 Apr;113:149-76.Links
8. ^ ^{a b c} A Singh, "Electrohomeopathy and Spagyrism", Alchemy Journal Volume 5 No. 3. Autumn 2004 Alchemy Lab
9. ^ The Mattei Fable, British Med J Jan 17, 1891
10. ^ Alberto Lodispoto, 'L'Electromiopathie du Comte Cesare Mattei', Zeitschrift für Klassische Homöopathie (English abstract) 1971; 15: 130-135
11. ^ www.cesaremattei.com
12. ^ The Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Research Desk) orders no. R14015/25/96-U&H (R) (Pt.), 25th November, 2003

Further reading

• Mattei, Count Cesare The Principles of Electrohomoeopathy: a new science, 1880
• Gliddon, Aurelius J L Stepping Stones to Electro-Homoeopathy, 1892 (reprinted 2010)
• Krauss, Theodor Die grundgelete der-Elektro homoopathie, 1921