Homeopathy: the need for continuous improvement of this therapeutic modality in times of pandemic
RESEARCH PAPER

 

Homeopathy the need for continuous improvement of this therapeutic modality in times of pandemic

Homeopatía necesidad de una superación continua de esta modalidad terapéutica en tiempos de pandemia

 

Arelys Cabrera Hernández¹ https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7126-6883
Carmen Xiomara Moré Chang²* https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9766-3905
Olga Pérez Castillo³ https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9766-3905
Lázaro Duniel Toboso Diaz4 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9416-3737

 

¹ Villa Clara University of Medical Sciences. "Santa Clara" University Polyclinic. Villa Clara. Cuba.
² University of Medical Sciences of Villa Clara. "Arnaldo Milián Castro" Clinical-Surgical University Hospital. Villa Clara. Cuba.
³ Villa Clara University of Medical Sciences. Department of Natural and Traditional Medicine. Villa Clara. Cuba.
4 Villa Clara University of Medical Sciences. "Captain Roberto Fleites" University Polyclinic. Villa Clara. Cuba.

 

* Author for correspondence. Email: kenyata@infomed.sld.cu

 

 

ABSTRACT

Infectious respiratory diseases frequently affect patients who attend consultations; they constitute one of the most incapacitating and even, if they are not taken care properly they generate a torpid evolution and can jeopardize the life of the patient. In its treatment allopathic medications are used, as well as therapeutic modalities of herbal and folk medicine. Taking into account the development of homeopathy in Cuba in recent years, it is proposed as an objective to emphasize the importance of improvement by health professionals in the use of this therapeutic modality, in order to use it at different levels of care for its relevance in times of pandemic.

MeSH: homeopathy; training; professional competence; education, medical.

RESUMEN

Las enfermedades respiratorias infecciosas afectan con frecuencia a los pacientes que acuden a consultas; constituyen una de las más incapacitantes e incluso, si no se atienden adecuadamente generan una evolución tórpida y pueden comprometer la vida del paciente. En su tratamiento se emplean medicamentos alopáticos, así como modalidades terapéuticas de medicina natural y tradicional. Teniendo en cuenta el desarrollo de la homeopatía en Cuba en los últimos años, se propone como objetivo enfatizar en la importancia de la superación por parte de los profesionales de la salud en el uso de esta modalidad terapéutica, a fin de utilizarla en los diferentes niveles de atención por su pertinencia en tiempos de pandemia.

DeCS: homeopatía, capacitación; competencia profesional; educación médica.

 

 

Submitted: 17/05/2021
Accepted: 17/05/2021

 

 

There is an experience of 10 years of work in the Homeopathic Pharmacy of Santa Clara in relation to infectious respiratory diseases; this drug is necessary to provide the primary care physician with one more tools to address this problem.

Since its foundation in 1997, the aforementioned pharmacy has treated a large number of patients and specialized medical consultation is provided there that treats a wide range of diseases, including respiratory diseases. As a means to better face the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, Cuba began the application of a homeopathic treatment to raise the body's defenses in its citizens; the drug in question was called Prevengho-Vir, and it is used in the prevention of viral and acute respiratory diseases since it increases human defenses.(1)

Respiratory track Infections (RTI) are those that affect the respiratory tract and can be caused by an infectious agent of any etiology (whether it is viral, bacterial, fungal, etc.),(2) they are very frequent in Cuba. They need adequate treatment to avoid complications that can cause death in patients. Treatment for these conditions must be individualized. Allopathic medicines, physical modalities and different techniques of herbal and folk medicine are used, among them, homeopathy.

Homeopathy is a medical discipline introduced in Cuba in the first half of the 19th century, which has advanced along the paths of science with well-established principles. This therapy was created by the German doctor Samuel Hahneman more than 200 years ago. This therapeutic method is immunomodulatory in the body and is considered excretory, detoxifying and improves organ functions.(3)

This form of traditional treatment has proven its effectiveness in various diseases, it renders patients a procedure with minimal side effects as already mentioned, in addition to constituting a new path in medical research. It is practiced around the world and it is estimated that approximately half a billion people receive them.

Throughout these last 10 years of uninterrupted work at the Homeopathic Pharmacy of Santa Clara, Villa Clara, the authors have studied the effects of drugs on patients through different investigations. The results, in almost all of those studied, have been excellent, which points to the effectiveness and safety of homeopathic remedies.

In the Guidelines of the Economic and Social Policy of Cuba it is defined that maximum attention should be paid to the development of Herbal and Folk Medicine (HFM), therefore it is very necessary to emphasize on providing therapeutic tools to health professionals in these issues and try to systematize permanent improvement, especially at the primary level of care.(4) As it is known, the COVID-19 pandemic has had negative effects on the population; therefore, continuing to improve professionals in this regard is a necessity.

Continuous improvement in the contents related to homeopathy, either through training courses and other postgraduate modalities that guarantee adequate training in the application of these treatments and others related to Herbal and Folk Medicine is pertinent and necessary in these moments.

 

BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES

1. Cuba usa tratamiento homeopático para subir defensas ante COVID-19. [Internet]. 2020 Disponible en: https://listindiario.com/las-mundiales/2020/04/06/612088/cuba-usa-tratamiento -homeopatico-para-subir-defensas-ante-covid-19

2. Álvarez Sintes R. Temas de Medicina General Integral. La Habana: Editorial Ciencias Médicas; 2014.

3. Moré Chang CX, Blanco Ramos C, Pérez de Alejo RL. Homeopatía: reclamo de superación en esta terapia para utilizarla en la Atención Primaria de Salud. EDUMECENTRO [Internet]. 2016 [citado 25/12/2020];8(1):[aprox. 3 p.]. Disponible en: http://scielo.sld.cu/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2077-28742016000500009

4. Partido Comunista de Cuba. VI Congreso. Lineamientos de la Política Económica y Social del Partido y la Revolución. Lineamiento No. 158. La Habana: PCC; 2011.

 

 

Declaration of interests

The authors declare not to have any conflict interest.

 

 

Authors' contribution

Arelys Cabrera Hernández, Carmen Xiomara Moré Chang, Olga Pérez Castillo and Lázaro Duniel Toboso Diaz: concept of the article, writing and approval of the final report.

 

 

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