Thursday, 11 March 2010

Research on homeopathy and international recognition

As well-known practising homeopaths, Drs. Prasanta and Pratip Banerji have been invited to present papers at international conferences since 1977; the earliest of these were at Athens in 1977, Hamburg in 1979, Acapulco in 1980, Rio de Janeiro in 1986, Cologne in 1991, and Cordoba in 1992.

It was at the 5th International Conference of Anticancer Research at Corfu, in Greece, that Drs. Banerji first caught the attention of mainstream international researchers. As the only practising homeopaths among the 1200 physicians and cancer researchers attending the Conference, they presented 16 brain tumour regression cases successfully treated with homeopathic medicines only. A large number of researchers from all over the world evinced great interest in undertaking collaborative research with PBHRF, with a view to find out how ultra-diluted medicines actually worked.

In March, 1998, Drs Banerji presented 14 cases relating to patients with various kinds of malignancies, mainly lung cancer, to the US Government’s National Cancer Institute which had launched its Best Case Program in 1991 to seek out alternative approaches to cancer treatment, and support research projects utilising therapies identified through this Program. The National Cancer Institute accepted the series in March, 1999, following a process of comprehensive scrutiny and queries, and presented it in July, 1999 to CAPCAM (Cancer Advisory Panel for Complementary and Alternative Medicine). This represented the first ever tie-up of a US Government health institution with any branch of alternative medicine for research on cancer treatment; moreover, the letter of agreement signed with PBHRF by the National Cancer Institute’s Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicines (OCCAM) and the National Institute of Health, Maryland, USA, is the first document in the world which recognises the importance of homeopathy in the treatment of lung cancer. On this, Dr Prasanta Banerji has said “Our sole purpose in submitting the Best Case Series was to tread a positive path in the establishment of homeopathy as a well-publicised and effective mode of complementary and alternative medical treatment”.

Corfu - Backed by four decades of research behind them Dr. Prasanta Banerji & Dr. Pratip Banerji presented their success stories in various international homeopathic conferences. It was during the 5th International Conference of Anticancer Research, Corfu, Greece, in the year 1995, they first caught US attention. The global impact was felt immediately after the Banerji’s, the only homeopathic practitioners among 1200 physicians attending the Greece conference, presented 16 brain tumor regression cases and cure with homeopathic medicines.

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston – The US department of alternative medicine followed the cases presented in Corfu with lab trials using Banerji’s homeopathic medicine on cancer cells at the The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) in Houston. Dr. Sen Pathak, Prof. Of Cell Biology & Genetics, at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, collaborated in this joint research between the PBHRF and the MDACC. The research work is now complete and published. An in vitro study with the medicines has shown brilliant results in killing brain cancer cells while activating the normal cells. The paper entitled “Ruta 6 selectively induces cell death in brain cancer cells but proliferation in normal peripheral blood lymphocytes: A novel treatment for human brain cancer” was jointly published with Pathak S, Multani AS, of the Department of Molecular Genetics, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA., in the October 2003 issue of the International Journal of Oncology. (PBHRF and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA conducted jointly an in vitro research study on the effectiveness of the medicines Ruta 6 and Calcarea Phosphorica 3X in destroying brain cancer cells while activating the normal cells. The research study was published in the form of a paper in the October 2003 issue of the International Journal of Oncology.)

National Cancer Institute (NIH), US - At present, the world leaders in the field of medical research are the American Universities. These institutions, due to their vast resources, today control all future trends in medical technology. One such mammoth institution is the US government’s National Cancer Institute which launched its Best Case Series Program in 1991 to seek out alternative approaches to cancer treatment and support prospective research projects utilising therapies identified through this program.

Dr Prasanta Banerji, Founder & Managing Trustee, PBHRF, & Dr Pratip Banerji, Co-founder & Deputy Managing Trustee, PBHRF, submitted their Best Case Series to NCI in March 1998. The Banerji’s put together 12 cases; “not our best cases”, said Dr Pratip Banerji, but most complete. It was a retrospective examination of 12 cases involving patients with various malignancies, of which, seven cases were of lung cancer. NCI accepted the series as complete in March 1999, and their presentation to the CAPCAM (Cancer Advisory Panel for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) occurred in July 1999. “Our sole purpose in submitting the Best Case Series was to tread a positive path in the establishment of homeopathy as a well-publicized and effective mode of complementary and alternative medicine treatment,” said Dr Prasanta Banerji. This resulted in a first ever tie-up of an US health institution with any branch of alternative medicine for research on cancer treatment. The letter of agreement, signed with PBHRF by US-based National Cancer Institute’s office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicines (OCCAM) and The National Institute of Health, Maryland, is the world’s first letter of agreement that recognises the importance of homeopathy in the treatment of lung cancer.

Dr. Prasanta Banerji and Dr. Pratip Banerji, were invited to present papers at a conference “Comprehensive Cancer Care 2000” sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) of the NIH, U.S.A. on June 09th – 11th 2000 at Arlington, VA, U.S.A. There they presented a paper entitled “Malignant Tumors: Restoration to health by Homeopathic Medicines.” Which was very well accepted by the audience in the conference.

At New Delhi 2001. Indian Science Congress, Millennium – In the year 2000, Dr. Prasanta Banerji and Dr. Pratip Banerji, were invited to present the theme scientific paper of the conference entitled: “Homeopathic treatment of Tuberculosis”. Another paper was presented at the same conference by Dr. Pratip Banerji entitled: “Malignant Tumors: A Homeopathic Approach”. This conference was attended by most of the leading scientists of India and there was an overwhelming response to both the presentations.

A Paper Entitled “Intracranial Cysticercosis: An effective treatment with alternative medicines” by Drs. Prasanta and Pratip Banerji was published in the journal “In Vivo” of the International Institute of Anticancer Research, Attiki, Greece, Volume 15, Issue No. 2, 2001.

Corfu, Greece, 2004: Invited speakers at the 5th International Conference of Anticancer Research. Presented on the treatment of different varieties of cancer by homeopathic medicines.

Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey, 2005: Presented on the treatment of cancer at a seminar specially organised for them.

Mumbai Feb 2006: Invited speakers at the 25th Annual Convention Of The Indian Association For Cancer Research & Silver Jubilee Symposium On Molecular Profiling And Cancer Management a paper entitled “Regression of malignant tumours following a new method of treatment utilizing homeopathic medicines”.

Poster presentation on preventive medicine for brain tumors at the 11th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuro-Oncology at Orlando, USA, in November 2006.

They were invited to give a presentation on the treatment of brain tumors by the University of Southern California which took place at the University of Southern California, Zilkha Neurogenetics Institute, Herklotz Seminar Room, 112, U.S.C. Keck School of Medicine in November 2006.

These apart, Drs Banerji of PBHRF have had numerous other scientific papers and monographs published, paper and poster presentations at important scientific conferences and meetings, and delivered lectures at important international seminars and symposia, during the 17 years of operations of the PBHRF. Some of the recent conferences are as below:

January 2009: Invited lecture entitled, “Contemporary thoughts, needs and the Sublimation of Homeopathy” at the SBL, Scientific Seminar, by Dr. Prasanta and Dr. Pratip Banerji.

November 2008 : Poster Presentation entitled “A Community – Based Protocol for Brain Tumour Treatment: Ruta and Calc Phos – at the 12th Annual Meeting of the Society of Neuro-Oncology at Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, by Prasanta Banerji, Pratip Banerji along with Dr. Barbara Sarter of the USC at Las Vegas.

November 2008, Poster Presentation entitled, “Homeopathic Protocol to Retard Progression of Chronic Renal Failure” by Prasanta Banerji, Pratip Banerji along with Dr. Barbara Sarter of the USC at Puerto Rico.

Valladolid, Spain, November 2008: 3 days theoretical course for physicians at the Medicine University of Valladolid, entitled “The Banerji Protocols: Simplifying Homeopathy”.

Barcelona, Spain, November 2008: 3 days practical workshop course for physicians at the Colegio Oficial de Médicos de Barcelona COMB (Medical Association), entitled, “The Banerji Protocols: Simplifying Homeopathy”.

Tenerife Island, Spain, November 2008: 3 days teaching seminar at Colegio Oficial Médicos de Santa Cruz, entitled “The Banerji Protocols: Simplifying Homeopathy”.

Kos, Greece, October 2008: 8th International Conference of Anticancer Research: MainSpeakers allotted 20 minutes for presentation entitled, “The Banerji Protocols: The Regression Of Malignant Tumours By A Non-Invasive And Non-Toxic Oral Medical Approach”.

Madrid, Spain, September 2008: IV Congreso Internacional de Medicinas Naturale: Invited Speakers allotted 1 hour 15 minutes for presentation entitled, “The Banerji Protocols: A Necessity for the Progress of Homeopathy”.

Valladolid, Spain, May 2008: III Congreso Nacional de Homeopatia, at the Facultad de Medicina de Valladolid: Invited Speakers allotted 1 hour 30 minutes for presentation entitled, “The Banerji Protocols: Simplifying Homeopathy for the betterment of suffering humanity”.

Toronto, Canada May 2007: Poster Presentation at the American Society of Microbiology’s 107th Annual General Meeting entitled. “Bitter Orange may be used to treat patients with Anti-Fungal Drug Resistant Candida Infection.”

DR. MOSHE FRENKEL OF M D ANDERSON CANCER CENTER, USA, AT PBHRF TO STUDY BREAST CANCER TREATMENT THROUGH HOMOEOPATHY

Dr. Moshe Frenkel, Associate Professor of Integrative Medicine and the Medical Director of the Integrative Medicine Program, Division of Cancer Medicine, Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine at The University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center, USA, undertook recently a week-long study of the Banerji Protocol of homoeopathic treatment at the Prasanta Banerji Homoeopathic Research Foundation (PBHRF).

Currently in charge of a multidisciplinary team offering consultation and treatment in the Center’s Integrative Medicine Clinic as well as The Place of Wellness to cancer patients who wish to integrate complementary and integrative medicine in their treatment, Dr. Frenkel is also involved in research. The main focus of his research activity is the rational integration of complementary medicine into the education and clinical practice of conventional medicine.

Worldwide, breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer after lung cancer , and the fifth most common cause of cancer death ; in India, studies reveal that breast cancer may soon replace cervical cancer as the most common type of cancer.

While The University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center offers treatment for every conceivable type of cancer, Dr. Frenkel said that the incidence of breast cancer has alarmingly been on the rise also in the USA. Laboratory experiments based on the Banerji Protocol have been successfully carried out at the Center for the treatment of breast cancer which will be an important aspect of the Center’s ongoing research collaboration with the PBHRF for the treatment of all types of cancer.

The objective of Dr. Frenkel’s visit was to acquire first hand knowledge of the Banerji Protocol of homoeopathic treatment in terms of its relevance to the Integrative Medicine Program of his Center. He said that the Banerji Protocol of homoeopathic treatment (based on the use of specific medicines, or their combinations, for specific diseases) was practical, a simplified mode of treatment, and easy to implement, with high percentages of success. Having met many cancer patients, and collected enough information about their treatment at PBHRF, Dr. Frenkel added that the Banerji Protocol of homoeopathic treatment has certainly proved its effectiveness to warrant serious study and research on a continuing basis, considering that a very high percentage of cancer patients in the USA now look for complementary modes of treatment.

PBHRF’S COLLABORATION WITH COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY CONTINUES

The Columbia University in the USA has initiated an Integrative Therapies Program for Children with Cancer in its Division of Pediatric Oncology. Dr. Elena Ladas, MS, RD, Director, and Dr. Kara M. Kelly, MD, Medical Director of the Program and three others from the University were at PBHRF, Kolkata in November, 2007. They met more than 30 paediatric cancer patients , observed individual cases and interacted with Dr. Prasanta Banerji, Dr. Pratip Banerji and other senior doctors of PBHRF to get a first-hand perspective on the Banerji Protocol of homoeopathic treatment for cancer.

As a follow up to their visit, the PBHRF has prepared and submitted a Best Case Series of case studies on paediatric cancer, for submission to the National Cancer Institute, USA, for the subsequent initiation of clinical trials at Columbia University. In vivo and in vitro experiments with PBHRF medicines were also proposed to be initiated at the University.

PBHRF’s collaboration with Columbia University is continuing, with a meeting between Dr. Kelly and Dr. Prasanta Banerji at the University held on July 21 this year to discuss research projects in detail, and also arrangements for the review of original pathology slides, MRI and /or CT scans of each of the patients identified.

The alarming increase in the number of children afflicted with cancer in recent years has become a subject of serious concern internationally, and the observations of the Columbia University experts on their visit to PBHRF may be of interest to many : ” We are impressed by the quality of life of pediatric cancer patients following the sole use of homeopathic medicines, compared to the quality of life offered by chemotherapy , surgery and radiation”.

HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT FOR FATAL MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASES AFTER FLOODS AND RAINS

The recent heavy rains, with widespread flooding and waterlogging in rural, semi-urban, urban and metropolitan areas inevitably causing pools of stagnant water, cannot but expose people once again to risks of various mosquito-borne diseases like Japanese encephalitis, malaria (including malignant malaria), dengue, filaria and chikungunya.

In a country like India with its heat, humidity, and heavily populated and congested residential areas, often with open drains, the most that one can do to prevent these mosquito-borne diseases is

a)use bednets, or mosquito nets; and
b)‘eliminate’, as much as possible ., mosquito breeding sites— like water storage containers, flower pots, old oil drums and other objects where water can collect.

While, on the one hand, prevention is difficult, there is no specific treatment for dengue and Japanese encephalitis, with antibiotics being ineffective against viruses and no effective anti-viral drugs having been discovered. What makes the problem really serious is that dengue, Japanese encephalitis and malignant malaria, can be fatal.

Doctors of the PBHRF, especially Dr. Prasanta Banerji who has been in practice for over 50 years, have through their experience treated these fatal mosquito-borne diseases in Kolkata, several towns in rural and semi urban West Bengal where it runs clinics, and in Bihar, following the regimen given below:

Japanese encephalitis

(Japanese encephalitis is one of the several mosquito-borne viral diseases which can affect the central nervous system and cause severe complications and death. Most infected persons develop mild symptoms, or no symptoms at all. In people who develop a more severe disease, Japanese encephalitis usually starts as a flu-like illness, with fever, chills, tiredness, headache, nausea and vomiting. The illness can progress to serious infection of the brain (encephalitis) and can be fatal. Among the survivors, serious brain damage, including paralysis, may occur. There is no specific treatment for Japanese encephalitis, a seasonal disease the patterns of which vary with the rainy seasons.

Antibiotics are not effective against viruses, and no effective anti-viral drugs have been discovered. Care of patients centres on the treatment of symptoms and complications).

At the PBHRF, the use of Belladonna for the treatment for Japanese encephalitis was suggested, based on the Banerji Protocols.

The Banerji Protocols are a new method of treatment using homoeopathic medicines. Specific medicines are prescribed for specific diseases. Diseases are diagnosed using modern/state-of-the art methods. This is done because modern diagnostic approaches incorporate and help in the selection of medicines, so that specific medicines could be easily prescribed for specific diseases.

Belladonna 3 or 30 or 200, normally the third potency, 2 pills in pill no. 40, 3 doses a day.

Cuprum Metallicum 6, 2 pills in pill no. 40, 3 doses a day.

Malaria

Natrum Muriaticum 30c, 1 dose = 2 pills, pill no. 40, one dose every morning .
Chininum Sulph 3x, 1 dose = 1 grain powder, one dose twice daily.
Vitex Neg O, 1 dose = 5 drops in 2ml of water, one dose twice daily.

Dengue

Eupatorium perfoliatum O, 1 dose = 5 drops in 10ml of water, 4 times a day, alternated with Rhus Toxicodendron 30, 1 dose = 2 pills, pill no. 40.

The Foundation has also received enquiries from internationally well-known institutes for research collaborations with regard to the treatment of mosquito- borne diseases.

CANCER SUPPORT TEAM FROM SPAIN VISITS

A three-member cancer support team from Spain concluded today their six-day study tour to Kolkata, undertaken to acquire first-hand knowledge of the Banerji protocol of homoeopathic treatment being offered at the Prasanta Banerji Homoeopathic Research Foundation (PBHRF). The team comprised clinical oncologist Dra. Natalia Eres and Dra. Montserrat Assens i Mampel –– both from Barcelona with backgrounds in homoeopathy and acupuncture, now working in Spain on a special project on cancer and homoeopathy, an important objective of which is to give support to cancer patients with complementary medicines and useful information — and Ms. Asuncion Pastor Caurtero from Valencia, the founder-member of www.ayudacancer.com, a very popular web portal for cancer support, which reaches out to a wide circle of cancer patients in Spain, as well as to Spanish-speaking people elsewhere in the world.

During their stay in Kolkata, the Spanish team interacted with cancer patients at PBHRF, studied their cases and had detailed discussions on the Banerji protocol of homoeopathic treatment of cancer with Dr. Prasanta Banerji, Founder & Managing Trustee and Dr. Pratip Banerji, Co-Founder and Dy. Managing Trustee . All three team members attached great importance to their visit to PBHRF to acquire first-hand knowledge about the Banerji protocol of homoeopathic treatment — Dra. Natalia Eres and Dra. Montserrat Assens i Mampel because it was an effective mode of cancer treatment without the use of chemotherapy and directly relevant to the special project on cancer and homoeopathy they were now working on , and Ms. Asuncion Pastor Caurtero because it would help her promote more effectively and widely, not only in Spain but to the entire Spanish-speaking world , the Banerji protocol of homoeopathic treatment through www. ayudacancer.com.

The visit of this Spanish team is an outcome of the tremendous response to Drs. Banerji’s presentation of a paper on the regression of brain tumours at a seminar specially organised for them in Madrid in April, 2007 by Ms. Asuncion Pastor Quartero of www. ayudacancer.com and others like Ms. Ana Jimenez and Ms. Julia Perez, as well as to the Banerji protocol of homoeopathic treatment through this web portal. It is also a prelude to an invitation to Drs. Banerji from the faculty of medicine of Sociedad Espanola de Medicina Homeopatica in Valladolid, Spain , where they will present a paper on the treatment of various types of cancer and other intractable diseases next month — May, 2008.

This year, Drs. Banerji have been inducted into the International Scientific Advisory Committee of the first International Virtual Congress of Biological and Natural Medicine in Spain where there has been in recent years encouraging response all around for the strengthening of PBHRF’s treatment support base.