Prasanta Banerji

Integrative Nanomedicine: Treating Cancer With Nanoscale Natural Products

Finding safer and more effective treatments for specific cancers remains a significant challenge for integrative clinicians and researchers worldwide. One emerging strategy is the use of nanostructured forms of drugs, vaccines, traditional animal venoms, herbs, and nutraceutical agents in cancer treatment. The recent discovery of nanoparticles in traditional homeopathic medicines adds another point of convergence between modern nanomedicine and alternative interventional strategies. A way in which homeopathic remedies could initiate anticancer effects includes cell-to-cell signaling actions of both exogenous and endogenous (exosome) nanoparticles. The result can be a cascade of modulatory biological events with antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects. The Banerji Protocols reflect a multigenerational clinical system developed by homeopathic physicians in India who have treated thousands of patients with cancer. A number of homeopathic remedy sources from the Banerji Protocols (eg, Calcarea phosphorica; Carcinosin—tumor-derived breast cancer tissue prepared homeopathically) overlap those already under study in nonhomeopathic nanoparticle and nanovesicle tumor exosome cancer vaccine research. Past research on antineoplastic effects of nano forms of botanical extracts such as Phytolacca, Gelsemium, Hydrastis, Thuja, and Ruta as well as on homeopathic remedy potencies made from the same types of source materials suggests other important overlaps. The replicated finding of silica, silicon, and nano-silica release from agitation of liquids in glassware adds a proven nonspecific activator and amplifier of immunological effects. Taken together, the nanoparticulate research data and the Banerji Protocols for homeopathic remedies in cancer suggest a way forward for generating advances in cancer treatment with natural product–derived nanomedicines.

Homeopathy: Treatment of Cancer with the Banerji Protocols

Looking back into the history of mankind, one is often startled to find the emergence of some outstanding personalities at different intervals of time. Their thoughts and futuristic viewpoints revolutionized the existing perspective in the fields of science, philosophy and social order. The embodiment of such a personality in the field of medicine was Samuel Christian Friedrich Hahnemann, the father of homeopathy. He was born on the 10th April 1755 in the small town of Meissen, near Dresden in Germany. A doctor in the conventional medicine of his time, by 1790 he was recognized as one of the most distinguished physicians of his generation and was appointed physician to the king. Soon however, he became dissatisfied with contemporary medical ideas and the often cruel practices that ensued, as well as the drugs being prescribed. He realized that many of these medicines owed their pride of place in the Materia Medica due to their very biologically active nature, which could easily occasion death or produce new diseases on whomever they were applied. Disillusioned, Hahnemann renounced his practice of medicine. While engaged in translating a treatise on herbal medicine, he felt dissatisfied with the explanation given for the cure of malarial fever by giving cinchona bark. He took the drug himself in order to investigate the changes induced by it on his healthy system. Peculiarly, the symptoms of malaria made their appearance in him, one after the other, but without the chilly rigor. This reminded him of Hippocrates’ aphorism, “Similia similibus curentur,” meaning “Let likes be cured by likes” (Hobhouse, 2002).

Successful Treatment of Chronic Viral Hepatitis With High-dilution Medicine

Introduction: Two cases of viral hepatitis that had failed conventional therapy are presented. Both were subsequently treated with protocols using homeopathic medicines as detailed below. Both patients sustained remissions for 2 years after taking ultradilute natural medicines after their conventional treatment had been discontinued. Methods: The treatment protocol included Chelidonium majus 6X and Thuja 30C as the main medicines. Other homeopathic medicines were used as detailed below. Cases were confirmed with standard hepatitis antibody and viral measurements. Patients were followed for more than 2 years with measurements of viral counts, liver enzymes, and other relevant biomarkers of liver disease. Results: Both patients are alive and functioning normally in their home environments more than 2 years after treatment initiation. Discussion: We review the literature related to the chief medicines used in these cases and find that they have known and demonstrated therapeutic effects suggesting plausible mechanisms of action in these cases. Conclusions: Clinical trials of this homeopathic treatment protocol should be conducted to explore the therapeutic potential of these medicines for treatment of viral hepatitis.

Clinical response in osteogenic sarcoma patients treated with ultra-dilute medicines

Osteogenic sarcoma management is a challenge for the cancer community globally. Not much awareness or information about the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), more specifically treatment with ultra-dilute medicines, is available for such cases. Our experience in this will show that treatment of this dreaded disease with ultra-dilute medicines can be considered as a possible option. This treatment has been well tested in the clinical setting, by virtue of it being in use for decades with a good degree of success. This has inspired us to follow closely data available at our institution clinics where we treat this disease by using the “Banerji Protocols”. These protocols consist of the use of disease specific ultra-dilute medicines in specific dilutions, in pre-set dosage patterns. By this conservative treatment, surgical interventions such as amputation of affected parts can be avoided and the patient returned to health. Recent experimental studies of “Banerji Protocol” medicines used in cancer treatment have revealed that these medicines act both at the molecular as well as the genetic levels resulting in growth arrest and apoptosis in tumor cells. The findings suggest that such tumor cell specific cytostatic and cytotoxic effects could be responsible for the observed therapeutic efficacy of these medicines in cancer treatment. Correspondence to: Dr. Prasanta Banerji, PBH Research Foundation, 10/3/1 Elgin Road, Kolkata–700020, India, Tel: + 91 33 30582818; Fax: + 91 33 22877275; Email: info@pbhrfindia.org; prasantabanerji@gmail.com Dr. Pratip Banerji, PBH Research Foundation, 10/3/1 Elgin Road, Kolkata–700020, India, Tel: + 91 33 30582818; Fax: + 91 33 22877275; E-mail: info@pbhrfindia.org; pratipbanerji@gmail.com

Efficacy of Baptisia Tinctoria in the Treatment of Typhoid: Its Possible Role in Inducing Antibody Formation

Abstract Typhoid is one of the most serious infectious bacterial diseases in third world countries. It is usually treated by traditional antibiotics but due to the appearance of antibiotic resistant strains physicians opt for phyto products and other alternative medicines for the treatment of typhoid. Baptisia, an extract from indigo plant root, has been proved to be highly effective ultradilute medicine for the treatment of typhoid; however, the mode of action of the ultradilute extract is uncertain. Due to the antigenic variations of Salmonella it seems to induce immuno system by activating both T and B cells by the formation of antibodies. This principle seems to be highly effective for the development of typhoid vaccine. The present studies found that Baptisia administration possibly caused a salmonella-like reaction in the body as this extract produces an endogenous antibody similar to salmonella reaction. Thus, this study suggests that Baptisia tinctoria extract can be used for the prevention and treatment of typhoid.