A homeopathic experiment with snake venom on HIV has given rise to excitement among scientists to work on a possible relief to AIDS and Ebola patients. Research by doctors at the city-based JSPS Government Homeopathic Medical College and Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), shows that homeopathic medicine from snake venom (Crotalus Horridus), has positively shown that it can arrest the multiplication of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

The research studies will be presented at the two-day World Homeopathy Summit in Mumbai from April 11. Scientists and doctors from across 25 countries will participate at the summit being organised by the NGO Global Homeopathy Foundation (GHF).

Scientifically speaking, Crotalus Horridus has inhibited reverse transcriptase or RT - an enzyme which is utilised by viruses like HIV and Hepatitis-B to convert the viral RNA into viral DNA. They multiply into billions and wreck patients.

“Our experiment entails that the homeopathic drug has the capacity to act on HIV, Heb-B and so on,” said Prof. Dr Praveen Kumar, HoD of Practice of Medicine at JSPS College.

“It is too early to declare anything big, but our work has certainly opened the floodgates of advanced research and clinical testing,” he added.

Dr S Chandrasekhar, deputy director of IICT noted, “Interestingly Ebola virus also uses the RT and Crotalus Horridus. The research can hopefully bring cheer to these patients in times to come.”

Dr Prathama S Mainkar, fellow QRS division of Natural Products Chemistry CSIR and IICT said that her team experimented with homeopathic dilutions as well but found that the medicine made out of snake venom was the most useful.

“For years, Homeopathy has been adapting the process of converting snake venom and poison from deadly scorpions, spiders and wild bees into medicinal substances by transforming them into nano-particles that have proved safe and effective for patients,” Dr Mainkar said.