Polio - The Disease
Polio is a virus which lives in the intestine. It is normally a harmless infection causing mild digestive upset. If it travels to the blood stream and from there to the nervous system, it can cause paralysis in 1:75 adults and 1:1000 children.
The virus is spread mainly by hand-to-mouth contact from infected faeces; or by ingesting contaminated food or water. It is extremely rare in Western countries, but more significant in areas where sanitation and hygiene are poor. The incubation period ranges from 3 to 21 days. Between 80% and 98% of cases remain unnoticed, or pass as gastric 'flu-like symptoms. About 1% of cases result in paralysis, of which between 5% and 10% have respiratory muscle involvement. Polio epidemics occur cyclically. The great epidemics were in the 1910s, the 1930s and the 1950s. In the 1950s, there was intense pressure to find the "magic vaccine". There had been terrible outbreaks of Polio at this time, mainly because nutrition was poor, sugar intake was high and people were still recovering from the war. However, by 1956, when the vaccine campaign began, Polio incidence had already declined by 82%. After the vaccine was introduced the statistics were manipulated to give the impression that the vaccine was responsible for this decline:
-
One way was to rename the disease viral meningitis or cocksackie virus .
-
And the disease itself was redefined: a patient needed to be paralysed for at least 60 days before Polio was diagnosed.
Between 1985 and 2002, 41 cases of paralytic polio were reported in the UK. 30 of these were vaccine associated, i.e. passed on through the stool or saliva of a person recently vaccinated with the oral vaccine. 6 of the 41 acquired the virus overseas and a further 5 (all before 1993) from unknown sources.
Worldwide, reported cases of polio fell from 35,251 in 1988 to 677 in 2003 (ref: World Health Organisation, 2004). WHO concluded that Europe, the Americas and Western Pacific regions have eliminated polio arising from the wild virus.
Symptoms
Headache and general malaise; gastro-intestinal disturbance (i.e. diarrhoea, vomiting); sore throat; stiffness of neck and back; aching muscles.
On the fourth or fifth day, if muscles are affected, paralysis may spread during the following 36 hours. Coughing, swallowing or speech may be affected. As with any disease, susceptibility is the key.
Treatment and Prevention
The no. 1 preventative measure is to avoid contaminated food and water. The second most important preventative measure is to ensure a healthy digestive system.
Rest in bed; physiotherapy can help muscles recover; homeopathic remedies can treat many of the symptoms associated with Polio. Gelsemium is the main homeopathic remedy, for its action on muscles and motor nerves. Recovery occurs in most cases.
Homeopathic Prophylaxis
Poliomyelitis 30c or Lathyrus 30c - 1 dose a week for 3 weeks following contact.
Gelsemium (Yellow Jasmine)
-
Take in 30c or 200c potency, every 3-4 hours as needed
-
'Flu-like symptoms; Polio
-
Trembling in limbs; tremors or twitchings of muscles
-
Heaviness, exhaustion, drooping eyelids
-
Weakness in limbs; loss of muscular power and control
Lathyrus (Chick Pea)
-
Take in 30c or 200c potency, every 3-4 hours as needed
-
A very excellent remedy for spinal and paralytic symptoms : it affects the anterior and lateral columns of the spinal cord
-
Useful in wasting diseases; Poliomyelitis
- Excessive rigidity in legs; spastic gait
A H Grimmer noted: " Lathyrus Sativa has the same affinity to the same centres in the spinal cord and brain as the virus Poliomyelitis and is the most perfect antidote both for prevention and cure" [Ref. Agrawal]