Homeopathic Anthrax and other related questions.......

By Jacob Schor

  I was recently interviewed by the Denver Post about the use of homeopathic medicines to prevent Anthrax.  I made what I thought was an intelligent answer carefully presenting several sides of the debate that is currently going on amongst homeopathic practitioners.  Then I tactfully told the reporter that the story she was writing was encouraging people to worry needlessly.

  I've received a number of emails  about natural antibiotics  to fight biological terrorism I'm not advising anyone to switch to a garlic diet, bathe in sterilizing solutions or take the homeopathic vaccines against anthrax.  It's very simple.  At this point in time the odds of being exposed to anthrax are low, infinitesimally low.  The problem is not one of imminent infection with weapons of mass destruction but psychological stress.

  The problem is that we have been attacked,  and we are still as a country under attack.  We are afraid and  there seems to be very little to do to control the situation.  People try to protect themselves by worrying about preventing anthrax with homeopathic preparations, or if more conventional minded, stockpiling Cipro.  The problem for most of this country is not anthrax but fear and the resulting anxiety.

   At this point when people ask what they should be doing different to take care of themselves I focus on several different things:

1. If they are having new psychological or medical symptoms since September 11, I consider homeopathic remedies that are used to treat shock and grief. Common remedies for shock include arnica, aconite, camphor, and carbo-veg. There are specific homeopathic medicines for insomnia caused by grief.

1. There are others prescribed for fear of infection.  These make more sense than a homeopathic vaccine against anthrax.  Aside from a basic multivitamin,  I've been suggesting higher doses of Vitamin B-complexes as these seem to be helpful during times of stress, and these certainly are times of stress.  There are a number of herbs that as a group are called adaptogens.  These herbs  increase our capacity to handle stress.  Such herbs as licorice, Siberian ginseng, Korean ginseng, ashwagandha and cordyceps all have this trait and might be reasonable choices.

1.  But often the simpler things work best.  If you haven't been sleeping well, this is the time to try  a bedtime tea of soothing herbs, such as chamomile, passionflower, skullcap or even valerian.  Too lazy to scavenge these up, simply use Celestial Seasoning's Sleepy Time Tea.  If listening to the news is wrecking havoc with your digestion, try a tea made of fennel seeds or mint  to calm things back down

The most important thing is to recognize the amount of stress our new world has brought us and consciously do things to cope.  Sleep a little more, exercise a little more often, find someone to talk to. We are living in difficult times.  Many people may need a little extra help to keep functioning well.  At this point, here in Denver , the problem is stress and worry, but luckily not anthrax.

Jacob Schor, N.D., a Park Hill neighbor. majored in Food Science and Product Development as an undergraduate at Cornell University , and received his doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine at National College in Portland , Oregon in 1991. He served as President of the Colorado Association of Naturopathic Physicians from 1992-1999 and maintains a private practice at the Denver Naturopathic Clinic.