A Practical handbook of Homoeopathic Immunisation (The Complete Practitioner's Manual of Homoeoprophylaxis)

Homoeoprophylyaxis has been part of mainstream homeopathy since 1798, but its use remains controversial. Its history and evidentiary base is frequently misunderstood. This book aims to provide homeopaths, as well as practitioners of any modality and students with a complete grounding in the topic. It contains comprehensive instructions on how to implement both short-term and long-term HP programs, a thorough presentation of the evidentiary base of HP as well as an in-depth discussion of its philosophical underpinnings. This is the most comprehensive resource currently available on the challenging topic of homeopathic immunisations.

Dr Isaac Golden has been in clinical practice since 1984. He soon saw a need to develop and research the effectiveness and safety of a long-term homoeoprophylaxis (HP) program. His data collection from 1986 to 2004 led to him being awarded the first PhD in a homoeopathic research topic from a mainstream Australian university. The book represents the gathering of nearly 30 years practical experience in both using and researching HP.

It is a great pleasure to be able to offer a foreword to Isaac’s new text. This is an urgently needed book. Even though it is primarily aimed at and pitched for practitioners, it is also needed by students, sceptics, media and bureaucrats.

It is more than ironic that homeopathy, currently finding itself at the fringes of complementary medicine (CAM) and struggling against consistent and orchestrated attacks, 1s receiving significant validation from data coming out of research into homceoprophylaxis (HP). Controversial even to homeopaths, HP sends some medics and opponents of CAM apoplectic. Little about homeopathy is more poorly understood than this area. It has been like this from the outset. Over the years misuse of terms has been prevalent and there has been a profound lack of listening by those on different sides of the debate. Vaccination is a complex issue which cannot be addressed in any short discussion. It requires time and depth. There is significant debate about the effectiveness and long-term safety of certain vaccines, but its suggested alternative — HP — that is a perfect storm of controversy.

Some homeopaths are not against vaccination itself, as it is based on a very similar concept to homeopathy, yet raise concerns about possible long-term side-effects caused by toxic substances used in vaccines, such as aluminium oxide. Most homeopaths do not give direct advice on vaccinations. They recommend that patients discuss vaccination with their GP as well as specialist organisations that can provide information about the pro and cons of vaccination, so the patient can make an informed choice. But it must also be acknowledged that some other homeopaths are obstinately against vaccination and embrace all sorts of alternatives. They will not move from that position. They perceive vaccine damage as being a common occurrence in daily practice. They also point to the positive evidence suggested by HP programs. But some take it further, lazily making maverick statements and claims for which there is no credible evidence and going head to head with government agencies. This book will assist in understanding what can and cannot be claimed, what research has been undertaken to date, and what the gaps are in the research.

Then there are those who shy away from the HP debate because of its red hot inflammatory reaction from the conventional medical profession. It needs to be understood that HP puts medical homeopaths in an unenviable position. As vaccination and homeeoprophylaxis are so politically sensitive, they often seek to minimise any discussion on these topics in the media. For those medical homeopaths that absolutely recommended the vaccination schedule and are actively against HP this book will also provide food for thought.

But as well as homeopaths, sceptics and critics of homeopathy would benefit from reading and exploring Isaac’s research. Equally lazy statements about homeopathy having no credible research can no longer be sustained in the light of the latest developments in robust, high-end research into homeopathy found here. Further, the media need it for when they weigh into the debate. Pro and anti-vaccination networks need it to establish some clarity on just what each side is saying. Bureaucrats in regulatory settings in the halls of government need it, and professional organizations representing homeopathy and complementary medicine need it. Policy decisions need to be made and these tend to fall on the extremely conservative side.

Homeopathy as a whole, and advocates of homceoprophylaxis have benefited significantly from the results of recent research that suggest that it may be effective in countering epidemic disease. In this work, Isaac explores the unqualified success of an HP intervention programme led by Dr Bracho in Cuba in 2007, which involved a homeopathic medicine being given to 2.3 million people at high risk of infection with the potentially fatal disease Leptospirosis. The results suggest that the homeopathic medicine lead to a "drastic reduction" in the number of cases of the disease, "resulting in complete control of the epidemic." This study was carried out by the Finlay Institute — a company with decades of experience in the development and production of conventional vaccines. This evidence, coupled with Isaac’s own research in the field of HP for children’s infectious diseases make a compelling case for more exploration.

This book explores history, theory, philosophy, opinion and research. There is immense value in Isaac sharing his experience. But in addition, he has spent decades now collating and drilling down into the data. His personal experience and insights are set against the research publications and academic work he has engaged in. It is important to have such clear statements about what HP is and isn’t. From the opening paragraph the language used is careful and accurate. The debate is also placed in its historical context. I value that the time has been taken to explore the historical roots and application of HP. I find it intriguing to learn that the debate goes to the origins, to understand that HP was first employed in 1798 and vaccination in 1796.

Yet while measured in the most part, there is also a resilient position and a line drawn in the sand. There are some big statements too. HP in Isaac’s or a skilled homeopaths hands may have ‘provided unambiguous safety’, and his research points to this, but homeopathy is not a level playing field. Within countries like Australia and certainly worldwide there are clearly different levels of proficiency in practice and understanding and application of the theory of homeopathic medicine. In fact in the application of HP there have been some scary practices that have done nothing but harm to homeopathy in pushing the debate forward.

Isaac has strong opinions. Not everyone agrees. On the one hand, Isaac is not shy from butting heads with Professor George Vithoulkas or Dr Peter Fisher who don’t share his views from within the homeopathic community. Some homeopaths recommend that patients follow the recommended vaccination schedule, unless it is contra-indicated. Nor is he backward from taking on interviewers on Chanel 10 breakfast television in Australia. Moreover he is fine going up against medical professors and sceptics. In doing so, some homeopathic scholars and academics might disagree with his interpretation and emphasis of homeopathic history. In addition, he advocates empowering parents. Some public health officials in the halls of power would counter that parents don’t have the capacity or skills to untangle the issues and that public, servants are in the best seat to determine protection against epidemic disease. In his protocol he uses high potencies in the main. Not all homeopaths would agree. The challenge with protocols, even within natural medicine settings is that they are designed for the normal person, but where is that person, and do they exist? Often I have been asked to provide remedies for travel or domestic HP and have provided them along with the relevant literature, but I continue to get calls and emails about management issues; what to do for this acute or that drama that has come along and intervened in the process.

What is clear about Isaac is that politics don’t matter so much. Isaac is a follower of the Truth. That vaccination is a modern sacrament of modern medicine is no grounds for leaving it alone because it might court controversy or hot media attention. For him, in truth there is clarity and simplicity.

Ultimately this is an important book for more than just practitioners, but proponents of and opponents of homeopathy. The debate about vaccination is so emotionally laden. Those who are "pro" accuse those who are "anti" of killing babies by leaving them unprotected. Those who are "anti" accuse those who are "pro" of ruining the chronic health of entire populations. No one who passionately cares about health (and both sides of the debate do) wants to hear this. The only way forward is through dialogue, research and unemotional observation of the evidence. This work takes us firmly in that direction.

I had the good fortune to be able to undertake research in Cuba from 2008- 2014 thanks to the then President of the Finlay Institute Dr Concepcion Campa Huergo. However changes occurred in Cuba in 2015 which led me to make my first visit to India that year. A second visit occurred in 2016 at the kind invitation of Dr R. K. Manchanda, Director General of the Central Council of Research in Homeopathy which I hope will open up new research opportunities and provide evidence to interested Governments to take advantage of the pioneering initiatives being undertaken in India.

A meeting with Mr Kuldeep Jain of B Jain Publishing led to the decision to prepare a special Asian edition of my book The Complete Practitioners Manual of Homoeoprophylaxis which I published in 2012 with the aim of summarising my 30 years’ experience using homoeoprophylaxis. The main additions now made in this Edition to that work are a new Chapter (3.10) devoted to using HP to prevent Dengue Fever which is a significant problem in India and surrounding countries, plus a new section for parents (Part 4) which I transcribed from a small booklet Immunisation Options: A Simple Guide for Parents Who Care which was published in 2015.

It is hoped that this new edition written just for circulation in Asia will prove to be useful to health authorities, medical practitioners as well as parents in India and surrounding countries.

I hope that this work will describe all there is to be known about homeeoprophylaxis (HP), thus making it complete. I have been using and researching HP for nearly 30 years and this book is an attempt to record that knowledge and pass it on to others.

I also believe that a practitioner needs to be fully aware of what HP has to offer to be a complete practitioner (especially a homeopathic practitioner). I am not saying that they need to agree with, or personally use HP, only that they need to understand the principles and practices of the method and the choices which HP offers parents who are deciding whether to protect their children against targeted infectious diseases, and what options are available.

It seems with hindsight that part of my dharma (or purpose) this life has been to try to support one part of Hahnemann’s homeopathy that has been accepted by some, but greatly neglected and indeed shunned by other members of the international homeopathic community. I believe this has largely been due to a combination of ignorance and fear, and the proven way of dispelling both is by providing factual information.

And that is the clear purpose of this book — to fully explain what HP is, its history, and how to use the method in practice for both short-term and long-term prevention (Chapters 1-4); its proven and measured safety and effectiveness (Chapters 5 and 6); as well as to address various philosophical considerations about HP (Chapter 7); and finally to suggest a mechanism of action (Chapter 8). A brief Appendix comparing vaccination and homoeoprophylaxis is included.

This Manual is principally a resource for health practitioners from any modality, not just homeopaths, but of course may be of value to others with a deep interest in the topic. It is also intended to be a reference book for students of homeopathy who often receive inadequate training in HP.

**Contents and Sample Pages**