Classical Homeopath Robert Lee Dalpé, N.D. presents his proposed Genus Epidemicus for S.A.R.S., Veratrum viride. The symptoms of S.A.R.S., its general and specific characteristics and essence match this very much overlooked and unique homeopathic medicine. Veratrum viride should not be used in tincture or very low forms, as it can be dangerous with its depressing effects on the heart. It shoud be employed only according to strict Classical Homeopathic procedures and indications, according to Hahnemann's and other Classical Homeopaths' instructions, in potencies of the 3c dynamic attenuation and higher only. Frequent or automatic repetition is also contraindicated and one must follow the instructions of their Homeopathic Practitioner for best results. Instructions are given on how to use the remedy both prophylactically as an Oral Homeopathic Vaccine and therapeutically in cases of the illness. No guarantee of success for either prevention or the treatment of S.A.R.S. is given and the information is presented to practitioners around the world in an attempt to help stem the spread and death toll of this epidemic, in absence of effective methods at the present time. With the inadequate presentation of S.A.R.S. case symptoms presented by allopathic practitioners, which were limited to blood test results, virus analysis, generalized gross symptoms and theories, this remedy was difficult to discover, but I think it is correct and hope it will be at least of some help to practitioners who find themselves faced with treating patients with this disease and in prevention in the general population. Although I have seen no cases of S.A.R.S. directly, I feel this remedy has something to offer medicine in this unusual epidemic. This research was based purely on secondary sources combined with broad repertorization techniques and the employment of Classical Homeopathic Principles and methods of analysis.

Clarke points out that Veratrum album tends to grow in mountain meadows while Veratrum viride grows in swamps and wet meadows.(4) This is interesting considering that S.A.R.S. originated in China's Southernmost Guangdong Province where the climate is subtropical and rainfall totals average 1.5 meters per year. A very warm and moist environment, indeed. Don't confuse Veratrum viride, American White Hellebore, with Veratrum viridis, Green Hellebore. They are not the same medicine. The remedy that I have found to resemble S.A.R.S. in so many ways is Veratrum viride, American White Hellebore. It is also called Indian Poke. N.O. Melanthaceae of the Liliaceae.(4) Again, just to be very clear, not Veratrum album and not Veratrum viridis. Veratrum viride is closely related to the very commonly needed homeopathic constitutional remedy or polycrest, Veratrum album. They have many symptoms in common but are very different. Veratrum album does not cover the symptoms of S.A.R.S. the way its sister remedy does. It lacks the great tendency to congestion of the lungs and other organs that any remedy being considered for employment against S.A.R.S. must have in its power and affinity. Veratrum viride should not be taken in herbal form, but only in potentized homeopathic form purchased from an homeopathic pharmacy. These are widely available in The West, but in China the closest homeopathic pharmacies are in India. I could not find any homeopathic pharmacies listed on the Internet for China, Hong Kong or Taiwan. There are many in India, however, where Homeopathy continues to flourish.

There are other homeopathic medicines that can help treat this epidemic disease and many other Homeopaths have offered this information so I won't repeat it, but I feel this is the main remedy which covers the whole of the disease as it has been described. Not every case of S.A.R.S. may respond positively to Veratrum viride and every case will have to be taken by the attending Homeopath and the individualized similimum found. No guarantees are given as to the therapeutic value of this medicine in S.A.R.S. Attending physicians and Homeopathic Practitioners must evaluate the the similarity of this remedy to the cases they may be treating and they must make the final decision whether to employ the medicine or not themselves. I take no responsibility for the results of the use of this medicine for either the prevention or treatment of S.A.R.S., but offer this theoretical work to the global medical community as a possible vaccine and treatment which must be evaluated and verified in clinical settings. I encourage practitioners to write articles and papers on their findings regarding the prophylactic and therapeutic value of Veratrum viride and the S.A.R.S. epidemic, to email me their findings or to create an entry here in the Classical Homeopathy Yahoo! Group (see the links on the left side of any page). Also, it is very much advised that one does not treat or medicate oneself; that you seek the professional services of a competent Homeopathic Practitioner for both prophylaxis and treatment of S.A.R.S. Treating oneself with Homeopathy for serious diseases is never advisable.

One must keep in mind a very important point when evaluating Veratrum viride as it relates to S.A.R.S. All the severe cases were hospitalized and therefore received various and multiple allopathic medications from the very start of the febrile stage of the illness. One of the reported complications of S.A.R.S. from the National Institutes of Health, Medline Plus page on S.A.R.S. is Myelodysplastic Syndromes (impaired bone marrow function) which could have an iatrogenic origin from the harsh combinations of drugs used to treat S.A.R.S., many of which have now been dubbed ineffective. This, of course, will skew the symptom pattern and you will not have textbook examples of Veratrum viride cases before you as a result, though indeed the similimum may still be said remedy.

In the absence of a predefined standard allopathic therapy for this disease (most allopathic researchers predict a possible vaccine in from two to five years), these patients have been bombarded with anything doctors think might help their patients including antipyretics, broad-spectrum antibiotics, ribavirin, corticosteroids, medications for nausea, diarrhea and vomiting, et c. This is understandable considering the high fatality rate, but these medications inevitably have the effect of suppressing mental and physical symptoms of both the subjective and objective type. So, bear this in mind and focus on the most important symptoms of the disease and not the minutia when considering Veratrum viride in S.A.R.S. Remember, remedy selection is based on the symptoms presented by the patient and a remedy should not be rejected if the patient does not present all the symptoms listed in the materia medicas for that remedy. As long as the essence, generals and most important symptoms of the disease are covered by the remedy, it should be considered. Experienced Homeopaths know this and are not caught up in confusing details and minor symptoms of cases which can lead to failure to find the similimum.

Also Medical Doctors don't record or report symptoms that they feel are simple variations of a disease or what they consider typical presentations for a disease. For example, they wouldn't necessarily report details of delirium that patients present with high fevers, but only report "high fever over 38 degrees Celsius". Or they may not record or report peculiar or strange expressions or statements of the patient, attributing them to disorientation or somehow otherwise trivializing symptoms. Also, they may not consider many valuable symptoms that Homeopaths would note right away as symptoms at all. This only follows when only allopathic practitioners are attending epidemic cases. In future it would be much more helpful to have Homeopaths present as well. This is the major reason that researching this epidemic from secondary sources has been so time-consuming and difficult. Medical doctors are not trained to see symptoms acurately and in an individual and unbiased manner. Homeopaths are. They should be part of any international or UN-related research or fact-finding mission for epidemic diseases. The chances of containing a huge epidemic, bioterrist attack or any other medical emergency of global proportions is greatly multiplied when you have the heads of the two major medical systems working side-by-side on the project. Hey, two heads are better than one! Now back to S.A.R.S.

Here are some relevant excerpts from various standard materia medicas of Homeopathic Medicine: Sudden, violent congestion; cerebellar or thoracic; with nausea and vomiting, weakness, staggering, et c. Congestion, vaso-motor, especially to the base of the brain in the medulla, the chest, stomach, heart and capillaries.(1) Violent congestive conditions; base of brain; medulla; lungs; with nausea and vomiting, and weakness; markedly uneasy sensation in the whole body; twichings and convulsions; muscular prostration; sudden effects.(2) Congestive stage and early manifestations of hepatization in pneumonia.(3) Hale was chiefly instrumental in introducing Veratrum viride to Homeopathy, using it in fevers and particularly in pneumonia. Violent pains attending inflammation. Congestion, hyperpyrexia, influenza, myalgia and pneumonia (applicable clinical indications).(4)

Stupefaction; congestion. Mental confusion, loss of memory; vertigo(7). Temporary delirium. Quarrelsome and delirious, striking and kicking; changed to happy and comical state(6). Depression and prostration. Great fear of death. When not vomiting, lay in a stupor. Loquacity with exaltation of ideas.(4) Delirious symptoms have not been reported in accounts of S.A.R.S. cases, but I suspect some were present in many cases with prolonged, high fevers at least to some degree but were just considered a manifestation of the high fevers by doctors. Also the delirium symptoms would be more prominent in meningitis, stroke and other states of cerebral congestion, for which the remedy can be used, but would not be seen so much in pneumonia. The congestion is primarily thoracic in S.A.R.S., though some cases had severe headaches as well.

Congestion intense, almost apoplectic. Bloated, livid face. Pain from nape of neck. Vertigo with nausea.(3) A major headache remedy; sick headaches with nausea and/or vomiting; as if head bound tightly; rush of blood to the head; fullness in the head; throbbing, aching, buzzing in the ears; head feels full and heavy.(4)

The concomitance of congestive symptoms, and also of nausea and vomiting, form one of the leading indications of Veratrum viride in a great variety of cases.(4)

Dyspnea. Violent cough from very start. Pneumonia.(1) Congestion of lungs. Slow heavy breathing; as if a load on chest. Dyspnea.(2) Breathing: labored, must sit up, cold sweat on face; difficult, convulsive, almost to suffocation; sensation of a heavy load on chest. One of Homeopathy's greatest pneumonia remedies, symptoms agreeing.(5) Pulse slow, soft, weak, irregular, intermittent. Rapid pulse, low tension.(3) Congestion of chest with rapid respiration, nausea, vomiting; dull burning in region of heart(7).

Hyperpyrexia or rapidly oscillating temperature with sweat. Cold clammy or hot sweat.(2) Cold shivers, head and feet cold and numbed, crept up arms and legs as if enveloped in damp clothing. Heat followed dizziness and nausea; icy coldness followed the heat.(4)

Feverishness; depressed in mind and body, weak, pains in shoulder and all over body as from influenza, with prickling, irritating rash on forehead, face and chest.(4)

Considerable fatigue of muscles. Lassitude. A general feeling of languor and quietness; a sense of exertion on going up stairs; decided feeling of weakness. Indescribable feeling of lassitude and weakness in the limbs. Prostration, faintness; collapse. Weakness; tremors; inability to control muscles(6).

One of the characteristic and confirmatory symptoms of Veratrum viride is a red (or white or dry) streak down the center of the tongue. This symptom does not have to be present for Veratrum viride to be indicated, but it usually is. Check for it. This is an example of a valuable characteristic symptom that most allopathic practitioners wouldn't even observe as a symptom per se, let alone report.

Of course, the most important symptom that a prophylactic and therapeutic remedy for S.A.R.S. must be able to prevent is death from asphyxia, paralysis of the lungs, edema of the lungs. Paralysis and failure of lungs as well as other organs from congestion. Some fatal clinical symptoms are listed in the repertory and not in the materia medicas, as materia medicas focus on curing diseased states and don't generally list end pathology or causes of death. Veratrum viride is practically the number one remedy for congestive states leading to organ failure, the other symptoms of the case agreeing. See the S.A.R.S. Introduction and Repertorization Page to view these rubrics. Of course, Veratrum viride is strongly listed or "Veratrum" without specification of species, in which case, both may be considered. You should keep a copy of the remedies from the S.A.R.S. Introduction and Repertorization Page (two lists of remedies in red) since some of these remedies may turn out to be needed as complimentary remedies in S.A.R.S. cases. Hahnemann points out in Organon that epidemics are fueled primarily by the psoric miasm so keep your eye on Sulphur and other psoric remedies in the lists especially. Also, if I had to chose a "runner up remedy" it would be Antimonium tartaricum. It may be useful in cases with greater amounts of mucus production and lung noises, perhaps with a bacterial complication to the viral infection and the drowsy mental state and cold, clammy sweats. It also has a great tendency to lung and heart failure in respiratory diseases.

Use of Veratrum viride, as stated before, must be under the supervision of a competent Homeopath. Never use the remedy in material doses (tincture) or in potencies lower than 3c, as it has been known to stop the heart when taken in non-potentized form when not homeopathic to the case (allopathic use). Homeopaths learned in the nineteenth century that it was a mistake to use this (or any other) remedy when the symptoms of the remedy do not match the symptoms of the case; i.e., the remedy is not the similimum. It was thought that this remedy would bring down the heart rate in pneumonia and other inflammatory cases in material doses. This was a non-homeopathic use that killed some patients. Always employ the dynamically prepared remedy, in single, infrequent doses, that is homeopathic to the whole case to avoid such problems. This aphorism applies to all of Classical Hahnemannian Homeopathy, not just to S.A.R.S. cases. These are the fundamental guidelines for safe and effective Homeopathic Therapeutics.

General guidelines for homeopathic practitioners are as follows for S.A.R.S. oral prophylaxis or vaccine. Remedies should not be repeated automatically but as indicated. Don't follow the instructions on the bottles of homeopathic remedies. They are totally contrary to Classical Homeopathic Principles and Hahnemannian guidelines for safe use of Homeopathy. A dose of homeopathic medicine is always the minimum amount required. More is not better in Homeopathy. Less is. A dose of medicine consists in one large medicated pellet or a few small ones, if they come in this size, thrown into the mouth without water and allowed to dissolve naturally. It doesn't have to be under the tongue. One should not eat or drink or french kiss anyone for about 15 minutes after taking a medicine. Don't eat or drink just before taking the medicine either. That's it. Several pellets should not be taken. Repetition 3 or 4 times a day is totally out of the question. I don't know where these guidelines came from or if they stem from ignorance of Homeopathy or greed based on the desire to sell more medicine, but they are not in accord with Classical Homeopathic Principles and administration of large and repeated doses of an homeopathic medicine may make you quite ill. So follow your Classical Homeopathic practitioner's advise and if they suggest you take repeated doses of a remedy, I suggest you find another practitioner. Veratrum viride is no medicine to fool around with.

Assuming that you are not presently on a constitutional homeopathic remedy, then these guidelines can be generally followed by practitioners who wish to administer Veratrum viride as a S.A.R.S. Oral Homeopathic Vaccine for their patients. If the patient is already on homeopathic therapy and it is working well, it is generally not adviseable to take any other homeopathic medicines for any reason, as it will interfere with the Vital Force's healing reaction to your constitutional remedy. Homeopathic medicines taken at appropriate intervals when indicated and suggested by your practitioner will actually protect you from diseases and negative influences on your health already, without needing to take a vaccine remedy for an epidemic disease. Your constitutional remedy acts like an umbrella and is stronger than natural diseases, even epidemics, according to Samuel Hahnemann, M.D. in his Organon (see aphorisms 27-33).

The following recommendations are addressed to practitioners and are not guidelines for self medication, which is not advised. For infants and toddlers only a single dose of 6c. For children 2-12 a single dose of either 12c or 15c. For adolescents and adults, a single dose of 30c should suffice. For those at higher risk who live in the highly affected areas the single dose potencies can be raised: 12c for babies, 30c for children and 200c for adults. For those at highest risk such as employees in hospitals with S.A.R.S. patients a single dose of 200c or 1M may be taken for prophylaxis. Repetition should not be done automatically, but if the epidemic risk still exists a month after the first dose, another single dose can be taken. If exposure has occurred with confirmed cases, an additional repetition of the remedy would be appropriate, but not several doses. If you take too much Viratrum viride, you will begin to prove the remedy. That means that you will start to poison yourself with the medicine and develop S.A.R.S. type symptoms. This is the reason behind the warning against automatic repetition of homeopathic medicines. The correct and appropriate amount of the remedy is safe and should be prophylactically or therapeutically effective, if Veratrum viride is indeed confirmed to be demonstrated clinically as the Genus epidemicus of S.A.R.S. As my research has demonstrated, it seems very likely, though clinical use of the remedy in patients sick with the disease will be the ultimate test. Anyone who has used the remedy for either prophylaxis or treatment of the disease can join my Classical Homeopathy Yahoo! Group and post the information there.

For actual cases of S.A.R.S. it is recommended that Homeopaths follow standard Classical Hahnemannian Homeopathic Methods and not stray from these tried and true methods. For those near death by failure of lungs, heart or liver a single dose of 10M, not repeated until the results are observed would be appropriate. For elderly patients with chronic diseases it may be better to start with a single dose of 1M. Don't push the remedy. If it is working curatively in a case, then you will see an improvement of the case within 24 hours. Don't repeat the remedy if you begin to see improvement after giving the remedy. Allow the patient's Vital Force to fully respond to the single dose first and recover some strength. Commonly patients who need Veratrum viride show improvement after sleep. Generally if a patient falls asleep after the administration of a remedy, it is a good sign. Monitor the vital signs to be sure.

If improvement occurs but only lasts a couple of days, then a single repetition of the remedy in the same potency as first administered is indicated. Again wait and allow the Vital Force to respond. If again improvement occurs, wait and don't repeat. If after a week of improvements, the patient's recovery begins to slow, then a single dose of the next hightest potency would be indicated. If no improvement occurs after that, the case must be retaken and a new remedy must be found to match the patients symptoms. But if Veratrum viride has helped, even if only a little, it will have taken the patient away from the danger of organ paralysis. And, as always, never change the remedy if it has helped, either repeat first in the same potency and if necessary in the next highest potency to be sure the medicine has done all it can do. Stay with the medicine that has helped. This is another very important Law of Classical Homeopathy.

If the first remedy no longer helps the case after repetition and going to the next highest potency then retake the case and find the new indicated remedy. Always decide on the remedy for a case based on the individual totality of symptoms at the time and don't force a remedy that is finished to do more than it can do in a case. Homeopathy is not a static science of healing. The remedy changes as the patient's condition changes. If you continue to repeat a remedy that is no longer useful in the case now, you will only cause the patient to prove the remedy and make finding the next remedy more difficult. Frequently one remedy is needed then, after a period of time, that remedy will not help the case any more and a new complimentary or supplemental remedy must be found. This is standard homeopathic practice and a perfect example of why laypersons should not administer homeopathic medicines to themselves in chronic and serious conditions. Homeopathy does not work like Allopathy and its medicines should not be taken like allopathic medicines.

1. C.M. Boger, M.D. A Synoptic Key of the Materia Medica.
2. Dr. S.R. Phatak. Materia Medica of Homeopathic Medicines.
3. William Boericke, M.D. Pocket Manual of Homeopathic Materia Medica.
4. John Henry Clarke, M.D. A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica.
5. Dr. M.L. Tyler. Homeopathic Drug Pictures.
6. Timothy F. Allen, A.M., M.D. Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica.
7. Constantine Hering, M.D. The Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica.