Many people thought that the risk of Mad Cow Disease (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy or B.S.E.--also called Human Variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease) of the late 80's and 90's in England and other parts of Europe was pretty much over since media coverage has diminished and scientists, government bureaucrats and farmers have realized that the most likely primary cause was feeding rendered meat and bone meal from infected animals to primarily vegetarian animals, including carcasses from members of their own species. In short practicing Cannibalism in animal husbandry. Cannibalism is the main cause for Kuru , a T.S.E. that is common in cannibalistic societies such as the natives of Paupua New Guinea. But the problem persists, despite the lowered level of media hype. T.S.E. diseases manifest in many forms, of which Mad Cow Disease is only one, though the most threatening to Humans from potential infection from beef. This problem stemmed primarily from ignorance and avarice. The ignorance of farmers regarding the ill effects of giving animal feed to vegetarian animals, coupled with the avarice of feed companies to increase their profits by rendering sick and diseased animals remains, including road kill, into "meat and bone meal" (which a primary ingredient in most animal feed products, including pet foods) seem to be the primary causes of B.S.E.

It seems that for the most part, this practice has been eliminated at least in The European Union and along with the brutal and tragic mass incineration of livestock herds, the number of new cases have dwindled. But there seems to be no respite for the semi-domesticated and wild herds of deer, elk, reindeer, caribou and related animals who are exhibiting chronic wasting and lack of muscular control--two common symptoms of the diseases in this class. And in addition to this alarming increase in incidence of T.S.E. here in the United States, there remain a small and unfortunate group of sufferers from other T.S.E. diseases all over the world, such as Creutzfeld-Jacob's Disease, Kuru, Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker syndrome, Fatal Familial Insomnia and Alper's Syndrome. And in animals who suffer from Scrapie in sheep, T.M.E. (transmissible mink encephalopathy) in mink, C.W.D. (Chronic Wasting Disease) in muledeer and elk and B.S.E. or Mad Cow disease in cattle, there remain precious few answers from an allopathic medical perspective.

T.S.E. remains a group of fatal diseases from an allopathic approach. I think Homeopathy offers at least a partial solution here, since Homeopathy works provided the remedy is correctly chosen no matter what the pathogenic causation may be. This is one of Homeopathy's great strengths, eliminating the need to find an effective physiological or antibiotic treatment for diseases. The correctly chosen similar remedy will stimulate the Vital Force to perform the necessary healing processes.

Animals are generally incinerated en masse, including the poor healthy members of the herd that are condemned to death by the mere chance alone that they may be carrying the prion disease. A prion is considered the infectious agent in all T.S.E. diseases and is defined as a "small proteinaceous infectious particle which resists inactivation by procedures that modify nucleic acids". And humans afflicted with T.S.E. diseases suffer the unfortunate fate of slowly increasing paralysis, dementia and ultimate death by infection such as pneumonia with little bodily strength left to fight the disease due to increasing paralysis and sclerosis and ulceration of the brain and nervous tissues. Modern Allopathic Medicine has no clinically effective treatment for these diseases either in Human Beings or animals. I think Homeopathy offers great hope in these cases if treatment begins fairly early in the disease progression. The only treatment thus far is to palliate any pains or discomfort to administer a feeding tube and to give sedatives and antispasmodic medications until the patient dies. For poor animals the herds are "culled" and incinerated, even if just one animal in the whole ranch is found with the disease.

Development of T.S.E. diseases is either of genetic origin, through contaminated blood, from senile decay, from transplant or donor tissue or through ingestion of contaminated tissues, especially brain or nervous tissues that contain prions. Prions are protein strands that have become infected with this disease which contain no DNA material and represent one of the great puzzles of medicine today, with no effective available to date. This work strives to change that by presenting an homeopathic analysis of the clinical symptoms of many C.J.D. and B.S.E. patients combined into one repertorization, synthesizing many cases into one generalized disease study. The desired results will be the selection of a small group of hopefully effective remedies for these diseases from which practitioners may chose the most appropriate remedy for the case they are treating. This is, in effect, creating a new rubric for T.S.E. diseases. It will grow as more information, clinical experience and data are compiled, but it is a good starting point where little hope exists.

One can read about the reported incidents of Mad Cow Disease in animals listed by date and country here. Another useful link for a general overview of T.S.E. diseases is here. This is a more scientific site, very well presented. There are many reports on this disease to illustrate the scope of this problem. Here is a report by David Brown of The Washington Post "Human Version of 'Mad Cow' on Rise" , from March 2002. Just this December 2002 there was a report on four new C.J.D. deaths in France allegedly attributed to British beef illegally served in a popular restaurant chain, violating the ban on British beef passed in 1996.

Since C.J.D. and New Variant C.J.D. or B.S.E. represents the forms of T.S.E.s that is most commonly documented as the patients decline, providing a greater source of symptoms on which to draw and since humans provide many more symptoms than animals due to the latter's inability to communicate, I will focus on these symptoms for this homeopathic analysis of these disorders. Keep in mind that each individual case may require a different remedy, as is always the case when using Homeopathic Medicine, but we should be able to come up with a short list of remedies that fit the general characteristics of most cases which practitioners can use as a starting point for remedy selection. Bear in mind that this list will not always contain the curative remedy for all cases and that Homeopaths and Homeopathic Veterinarians must take each case individually to find the effective remedy.

Where this is not possible as with an entire herd of animals, then it is appropriate to choose two or three of the most likely remedies that individuals of the herd need and give them to the entire population. But it is always best to individualize. This can be done with a herd of animals if the veterinarian takes just a couple of minutes to observe each animal and chose one remedy from a short list that seems to be needed by most members of the herd. Another point that is vital to bear in mind is that Homeopathic Medicine will only have a chance of curing cases that have not progressed to the final stages where significant brain tissue is destroyed. My hope is that with rapid diagnosis and administration of the most similar homeopathic remedy to the patient, be they human or animal, many lives can be spared and much suffering can be alleviated.

The conglomerate of symptoms presented here are a compilation of many cases of C.J.D. and B.S.E. (nvCJD). No attempt is made to distinguish between the diseases and they are being viewed as variations of the same disease. Many cases will have symptoms that vary somewhat from the typical progression of the disease and these characteristic and individualistic symptoms should be used by the attending Homeopathic Practitioner to decide on the correct remedy for that case, which may or may not be included in the list. The desired result of the analysis of the symptoms of these diseases taken together is to produce a relatively short list of most likely indicated homeopathic remedies that will be of use in future cases, providing they are treated in time.

It is the responsibility of the attending Homeopath to individualize treatment for their patients and not to employ rote or shortcut prescribing methods, which inevitably fail. Classical homeopathic principles and methods must be used no matter what the disease name to obtain favourable results, though information based on laboratory test results, autopsies and so forth help the practitioner to decide on a remedy which has the necessary tissue and system affinities to be effective, analyzed along with the individual symptoms of the case.

This work is intended as a useful reference work designed to assist the practitioner who must treat patients with T.S.E. It is not to be used for self-treatment or keynote prescribing by lazy practitioners who do not wish to fully and carefully take the case and analyze the symptoms dispassionately and logically. As the Generae Epidemicae of these diseases are discovered, hopefully we can begin to treat livestock and wild herds of animals affected for T.S.E. and not resort to culling and incineration. The remedies needed in humans will also be needed in the animal forms of the disease, with some individual exceptions.

This disease is accompanied by elevated blood proteins. This is significant since the disease is attributed to a prion which is a bent or misshapen protein strand which is devoid of genetic material that causes adjacent proteins to loose their shape also, with the resultant loss in their function. The brain tissue being largely proteinaceous and without significant protection in its structure other than the skull is extremely susceptible to destruction from this disease which attacks the brain and nervous system from within. Most cases of these diseases are mistakenly misdiagnosed at first as psychiatric disorders or cerebral vascular accidents due to the manifestation of bizarre and violent behaviors at the onset of the disease and the paralysis and neuropathy often seen after strokes. Often the misdiagnoses continue until a brain biopsy is suggested to confirm the disease. Many cases of Alzheimer's Disease are said to be misdiagnosed cases of C.J.D.

The general appearance of the disease is one of loss of memory, brain and motor control and functions with fairly rapid paralysis and decline following. Dementia, ataxia, myoclonus and loss of appetite with the resulting emaciation, falling, disorientation, convulsions and finally pneumonias, coma, total paralysis and death characterize these diseases.

All symptoms are noted as being characteristic of either the onset (O), the middle (M) or late (L) stages of the disease. Symptoms listed in italics were found to be more intense, common or typical in most patients.

• (O) Can not think. Great confusion. Nothing makes sense to him. Does not understand the simplest things. Making mistakes in mathematics, formerly performed with ease.
• (O) Great memory loss. Forgets what he just heard said to him. Forgets even the simplest things like how to sign his name, who is President, how to start his car, drive to work, plug in a fan, mow the lawn, et c.
• (O) Extreme nervousness. Anguished and beside himself. So nervous, feels she will go berserk. Fear of going insane.
• (O) Great sadness; depression; feels something terrible is happening inside her but can't explain.
• (O) Feels drunk, intoxicated or drugged without taking anything.
• (O) Weeping uncontrollably; without knowing why; continuously for two weeks.
• (O) Very moody. Violent mood swings. Sweet one moment, demonic the next.
• (O) Locks herself in her bedroom for hours, days.
• (O,M) Feels he is about to die. Premonition of death.
• (M) Desire to fight. Aggressive behavior. Screams at others; attacks, berates, strikes, bites and threatens others. Normally of a very sweet disposition, now controlling, jealous and malicious.
• (M) Great fear; extremely fearful; panic attacks; anxiety attacks; manias with intense fright. Claustrophobia. Paranoia. Agoraphobia. Fears to leave home. Easily startled or frightened.
• (M) Angry, threatening, violent tantrums and destructive manias; breaking things; cursing.
• (M) Singing.
• (M) Feeling of frustration.
• (M) Suspicious. Mistrustful. Paranoid.
• (M) Refuses treatments, medicines, help. Refuses to be touched.
• (M) Blames others for his symptoms which he does not correctly perceive; e.g., wets his trousers and blames wife for spilling water on him.
• (M) Threatens to kill loved ones, wife, family members. Wakes in terror at night pointing a gun at wife's head and screams, "Freeze!", as she returns to bed from the bathroom.
• (M) Making useless purchases. Buys things he has no need for.
• (M) Annoyed by little things. Very irritable.
• (O,M) Feels as if in a dream. Thinks everything is one big dream.
• (M) Quiet, childish, silly, tittering delirium. Dementia. Eating motions, sexual mania, muttering, picking at things, repeats things over and over et c.
• (M) Bites or strikes those who try to feed or assist him.
• (M) Sense of direction gone. Gets lost driving; can not find his home; even gets lost inside his own home.
• (M) Bipolar behavior; aggressive or passive-aggressive behavior; shockingly violent or hateful; acts as if possessed at times. Dr. Jeckel and Mr. Hyde behavior.
• (M) Delusions and hallucinations. Thinks a violent TV program is real; starts in fear. Sees insects that are not present; sees angels.
• (M) Night terrors. Wakes screaming and in a state of fear.
• (M) Does not recognize spouse, other family members or close friends.
• (M) Irrational, bizarre or inappropriate behavior, speech and thinking. Talks nonsense. Does not make sense.
• (M) Indifference to personal hygiene, table manners or even exposure of private parts. Is out of bed or in company naked. (O) Indifference to usually enjoyed activities, foods, people, et c.
• (M) Groaning, moaning, howling, growling and making animal type noises.
• (M) Is completely spaced out, in a trance-like state; stares blankly or is semi conscious and then lapses into unconsciousness. Answers, then relapses.
• (M) Crawling on the floor; can not walk.
• (M) Feels he is suffering hellish torments. Delusion, he is in hell.
• (M) Delusion is possessed. Family members feel an evil presence in the house. Acts as if possessed by a demon or demons.
• (M) Scrapes the skin off over her shins. (Could be a physical symptom, could be from intense itching, but that is not explicitly stated in the account.)
• (L) Trance-like state or semi-consciousness alternating with furious rage and paranoid delusions.
• (L) Prolonged periods of unconsciousness. Can not be roused. Unresponsive state. Coma.

• (O) Dizziness; vertigo; lack of balance and coordination. Dizzy spells.
• (O) Blurred vision; can't see well; having trouble reading. Double vision. Very sensitive to light. (M) Seeing in a tunnel; brown spots. One eye fixed, the other able to move. Eyes protruded. (L) Loss of most of vision. Complete blindness.
• (O) Headaches. Frequent and severe head pains. Migraines.
• (O) Numbness or lack of proper functioning of toes, feet or legs. Peripheral neuropathy. Burning in soles of feet at night. Numb heals.
• (O) Profuse rhinitis and sinus discharges, worse after a hot meal.
• (O) Slurred speech. Indistinct articulation. Voice weak, hoarse.
• (O,M) Paralysis of a single muscle or functional group of muscles; e.g., the patient can't swallow, or can't move his foot. Can't speak. Patient can't blink, eyelids must be moved for her.
• (O,M) Extreme weakness; great fatigue; must sleep a long time to have the energy to move at all; no energy to do anything.
• (O,M) Lack of muscle control and coordination. Running into things, falling, dropping things, stumbling, ataxia, et c.
• (O,M) Sensitivity to strong odors. Loss of sense of smell.
• (O,M) Nausea. No appetite from nausea. Qualmishness. Vomiting. (L) Must be fed by feeding tube.
• (M) Lack of muscular and cerebral control so acute she cannot drive or do many physical tasks.
• (M) Involuntary bending at the waist and slumping forward when trying to walk or stand.
• (M) Gagging, choking, coughing when eating or drinking or when being fed by hand.
• (M) Can't hold up head.
• (M) Hand tremors.
• (M) Nystagmus and other eye movement symptoms. Involuntary eye movements; one eye moves alone; strange eye motions. Or no movement, staring at one point.
• (M) Whole body shakes uncontrollably. Insomnia because whole body vibrates in bed.
• (M) Sexual dysfunction. Sexual mania with impotence in males.
• (M) Great desire for sweet things. Little appetite for anything else. No interest in favorite foods. Refuses to eat.
• (M) Burning stinging pains all over back. Is convinced that he has bees all over his back.
• (M,L) Seizures with vomiting. Vomiting with flu-like symptoms.
• (M,L) Incontinence of urine. Retention of urine, must have a catheder in urethra to void urine. Extreme constipation, requires suppositories, enemas or laxatives to move bowels. Paralysis of the intestines.
• (M,L) Hands and feet turn inwards. Wrist drop.
• (M,L) Great loss of flesh and weight. Emaciation. Wasting without appetite. Must be forced to eat or fed through a feeding tube.
• (L) Hands and feet swollen, purple.
• (L) Near or complete paralysis. Ascending paralysis which started primarily in the lower extremities and has progressed to complete paralysis.
• (ALL) Painlessness. No pain experienced in most cases, though disease is serious and fatal.
• (M) Involuntary motions; jerking of limbs, myoclonus; often without patient being aware of it. (L) Convulsions of limbs; petite and grand mal seizures, must be restrained. Seizures. Convulsions with unconsciousness. Convulsions alternating with comatose state. Opisthotonus.
• (L) Shingles. Herpes zoster.
• (L) Pneumothorax.
• (L) Pneumonia, inflammation of the lungs. High fevers and rapid heart beat.
• (L) Oily, rancid body odors.
• (L) Convulsions with paralysis. Increasing paralysis and comatose state interrupted by violent grand mal seizures; must be restrained.
• (L) Destruction of the brain tissue. Brain becomes riddled with holes, spongy. Ulceration of the brain. Brain rot. Caries of the brain.
• (L) Febrile states. High fevers.
• (ALL) High blood protein levels.