Homeopathy, Immunity, and Understanding the Coronavirus

At the moment, the world is filled with fear and uncertainty surrounding the Coronavirus. While the situation continues to develop, it’s important to remember that the actual risk of contracting the virus remains relatively low for most people. There are many sensible steps we can take to protect ourselves and our loved ones, both through everyday hygiene and supporting our health.

If you do happen to fall ill, certain natural medicines and supplements may help reduce both the severity and length of the illness.

About the Coronavirus (Covid-19)

The first coronavirus was identified in 1937, linked to an infectious bronchitis virus in birds. Since then, similar viruses have been responsible for around 15–30% of common colds.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), data from 17,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases show:

• 83% experience mild symptoms, often with little or no breathing difficulties
• 15% develop more severe symptoms
• 3% become critically unwell
• 1–3% mortality rate, mainly affecting those over 50 with weakened immune systems or pre-existing health conditions

Putting Mortality Rates into Perspective

The level of panic around the 2019–2020 Coronavirus outbreak has been disproportionate when compared to its mortality rate. Other diseases have historically shown much higher fatality rates:

• SARS – 9.6%
• Bird Flu (H5N1) – 50%
• Ebola – 25–90%
• Dengue – 1%

Covid-19 and Children

One piece of reassuring news for parents: fewer than 2.5% of reported cases are in children under 18, and most of these young patients have only mild, flu-like symptoms.

Typical Symptoms

Based on 55,924 confirmed cases (Feb 2020):

Fever, dry cough, fatigue, sputum production, shortness of breath, sore throat, headache, muscle or joint pain, chills, nausea, nasal congestion, and diarrhoea.

Another clinical study in China reported:

Fever, dry cough, breathing difficulty, tiredness, muscle aches, headache, and a small number with runny noses.

Homeopathy’s Track Record in Epidemics

Homeopathy works on the principle of “like cures like,” using substances that would create similar symptoms in a healthy person to help a sick person recover.

For over 250 years, homeopathy has played a role in treating and preventing diseases such as influenza, cholera, pneumonia, yellow fever, and diphtheria.

During the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic—which claimed 50–100 million lives—homeopaths reported outstanding results. Out of 26,795 influenza cases documented by Dr W.A. Pearson in the United States, the mortality rate was just 1.05%, compared to 30% under conventional treatment. Remedies such as Gelsemium, Bryonia, and Eupatorium were among the most commonly used.

Homeo-Prophylaxis in Epidemics

In many outbreaks, a single remedy—known as the Genus Epidemicus—matches the majority of patients’ symptoms in that region. This remedy can be used both for active cases and preventively.

For example, during a Japanese Encephalitis outbreak in India in 1999, Belladonna was given preventively to over 171,000 people. A follow-up study of more than 71,000 individuals found no cases of the disease.

Homeopathic Support for Covid-19

In India, the government recommended Arsenicum album as a preventive measure. Other practitioners have suggested remedies such as Influenzinum, Oscillococcinum, Camphora, and Bryonia.

Reports from homeopaths treating Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong, Macau, and Iran point to Bryonia, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Gelsemium, Camphora, and Antimonium tartaricum as particularly useful, depending on the patient’s specific symptoms.

Other possible remedies, based on symptom profiles, include: Lycopodium, Phosphorus, Kali carbonicum, Sulphur, Arsenicum iodatum, Belladonna, Mercurius, Kali bichromicum, and Argentum nitricum.

The right remedy or preventive approach should always be tailored to the individual and prescribed by a qualified homeopath. By supporting your immune system naturally and addressing symptoms promptly, you can make yourself more resilient to viruses and other acute illnesses.

Originally authored by Tina Horrell, adapted with permission for Homeopathy247.com.