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Arsenicum album (Arsen. alb.) is a frequently-used homeopathic substance derived from the metallic element arsenic. It is traditionally used to treat a syndrome of bodymind symptoms that include digestive disorders (especially food poisoning), insomnia, allergies, anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and it has been studied as a possible treatment for arsenic poisoning. The arsenic oxide in a homeopathic preparation is highly diluted, and so is considered generally safe, although rare reports of arsenic poisoning from poorly-prepared homeopathic treatments sold in India have been reported. When properly prepared, however, the extreme dilutions, typically to at least 1 in 10, or 12C in homeopathic notation, mean that it is extremely statistically unlikely that any pill contains even a molecule of the original arsenic used. While some small, unblinded studies have claimed an effect on reducing arsenic toxicity in mice, there is no known mechanism for how arsenicum album could remove arsenic from a body, and it is not considered effective medicine by the scientific community.

Use in homeopathy

According to Locke and Geddes, arsenicum album is one of the fifteen most important remedies in homeopathy, and is indicated for "treating" a particular "constitutional type", named after the remedy itself. In classical homeopathy, arsenicum album types are "tense, restless ambitious individuals" with a tendency toward hypochondriasis, pessimism and a meticulous attention to neatness and detail.

For homeopathic use, arsenicum album is prepared by separating arsenic from iron (as in arsenopyrite), cobalt, and/or nickel by baking at high temperatures. The powder is then ground and diluted with milk sugar (lactose). In the final dilution, there are normally no active molecules left. The final product is sold as tinctures (liquid), tablets, pellets, and powder.

Research studies

Several studies have been done into arsenicum album, however, homeopathic studies are known to have problems, such as evidence of bias, lack of rigour, and failure to blind the experimenters or subjects to which group is being analysed that prevent them from being considered definitive evidence for any effect. In addition, the ideas behind homeopathy are scientifically implausible and directly opposed to fundamental principles of natural science and modern medicine, which means that poorly-conducted, small, or unblinded studies are not considered scientific proof of efficacy.

One unblinded study reported that homeopathic doses of Arsenicum album were effective in helping rats excrete crude doses of arsenic out of their body. There were significant results (P<0.001) using Arsenicum album 10X, 14X, and 18X, though no effect was found at the 30X potency. The authors of another unblinded study of mice poisoned with arsenic and then given arsenicum album claimed statistically significant reductions were reported in biochemical markers of liver damage. "However, other scientists remain sceptical", and Andreas Gescher, a biochemical toxicologist interviewed by New Scientist, said "This kind of study uses a dilution so high there is hardly anything there... Is it really possible?" and went on to say that he was "extremely skeptical", but thought the study was "interesting".

References

1. ^ Lockie, Andrew and Geddes, Nicola. Homeopathy: The Principles and Practice of Treatment. DK Publishing, 1995. ISBN 0-7894-0148-7
2. Chakraborti, D; Mukherjee, SC; Saha, KC; Chowdhury, UK; et al. (2003). "Arsenic Toxicity from Homeopathic Treatment". Clinical Toxicology. 47 (1): 963–967. doi:10.1081/CLT-120026518. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
3. ^ Ernst E (2005). "Is homeopathy a clinically valuable approach?". Trends Pharmacol. Sci. 26 (11): 547–8. PMID 16165225.
4. Khuda-Bukhsh, AR, Pathak, S, Guha, B. Can Homeopathic Arsenic Remedy Combat Arsenic Poisoning in Humans Exposed to Groundwater Arsenic Contamination?: A Preliminary Report on First Human Trial, eCAM, doi:10.1093/ecam/neh124 –
5. ^ Mallick, P, Chakrabarti (Mallick), J, Bibhas, G, Khuda-Bukhsh, AR. Ameliorating Effect of Microdoses of a Potentized Homeopathic Drug, Arsencium Album, on Arsenic-Induced Toxicity in Mice. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2003,3:7.
6. J.C. Cazin et al.. "A Study of the Effect of Decimal and Centesimal Dilution of Arsenic on Retention and Mobilization of Arsenic in the Rat," Human Toxicology, July 1987
7. ^ Johnson T, Boon H (2007). "Where does homeopathy fit in pharmacy practice?". American journal of pharmaceutical education. 71 (1): 7. PMID 17429507.
8. ^ Shang A, Huwiler-Müntener K, Nartey L; et al. (2005). "Are the clinical effects of homoeopathy placebo effects? Comparative study of placebo-controlled trials of homoeopathy and allopathy". Lancet. 366 (9487): 726–732. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(05)67177-2. PMID 36 16125589 36. {{cite journal}}: Check |pmid= value (help); Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) Cite error: The named reference "shang" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
9. "The evidence of bias weakens the findings of our original meta-analysis. Since we completed our literature search in 1995, a considerable number of new homeopathy trials have been published. The fact that a number of the new high-quality trials (e.g. ) have negative results, and a recent update of our review for the most “original” subtype of homeopathy (classical or individualized homeopathy), seem to confirm the finding that more rigorous trials have less-promising results. It seems, therefore, likely that our meta-analysis at least overestimated the effects of homeopathic treatments." Linde et al, Impact of Study Quality on Outcome in Placebo-Controlled Trials of Homeopathy, J Clin Epidemiol Vol. 52, No. 7, pp. 631–636, 1999, doi:10.1016/S0895-4356(99)00048-7.
10. Ernst E (2002). "A systematic review of systematic reviews of homeopathy". Br J Clin Pharmacol. 54 (6): 577–82. PMID 12492603. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
11. "Report 12 of the Council on Scientific Affairs (A–97)". American Medical Association. Retrieved 2007-07-25.
    Linde K, Jonas WB, Melchart D, Willich S (2001). "The methodological quality of randomized controlled trials of homeopathy, herbal medicines and acupuncture". International journal of epidemiology. 30 (3): 526–531. PMID 11416076.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
    Altunç U, Pittler MH, Ernst E (2007). "Homeopathy for childhood and adolescence ailments: systematic review of randomized clinical trials". Mayo Clin Proc. 82 (1): 69–75. PMID 17285788.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
12. J.C. Cazin et al.. "A Study of the Effect of Decimal and Centesimal Dilution of Arsenic on Retention and Mobilization of Arsenic in the Rat," Human Toxicology, July 1987.
13. P. Turner, Homoeopathic Medicines and Antidotes: Some Controlled Investigations, Human Toxicology (1987)6,267-8.
14. ^ Bhattacharya, Shaoni (22 October 2003). "Homeopathy reduces arsenic poisoning in mice". New Scientist News Service. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)

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