Arcenicum Album-30: Can ‘Ars Alb-30’ protect you from Covid-19? AYUSH Ministry thinks so

Vials of Arcenicum Album-30 – a compound known to treat a range of symptoms such as insomnia, digestive disorders, allergies, anxiety and even depression – are flying off the shelves of homoeopaths after the AYUSH Ministry declared it a “preventive” against Coronavirus disease a few weeks ago.

Panic-stricken citizens are flocking to homoeopathy doctors for consultation, and also to get prescriptions for arcenium album. Manufacturers of this compound – derived from the metallic element arsenic – have been dealing with “three-times bigger orders” since the AYUSH (Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha & Homoeopathy) directive.

“We’re manufacturing more of Arcenium Album after the government order,” says SS Dey, owner of Sett Dey & Co Homoeo Labs.

“A lot of our distributors are coming back to us for more… In fact, the demand has gone up many times over in the last few days,” Dey adds.

A 10ml vial of Arcenicum Album comes in the price range of Rs 30 and Rs 50; imported brands (mostly from Germany) are available at homoeo shops for roughly Rs 100 – 150 for 10ml bottles. The compound is sold in tinctures, powder and tablets.

According to homoeopaths, a 10ml vial of arcenicum album-30 (30 being the power recommended) can be consumed by many people, considering the low dosage required for positive effect. The Ministry, in consultation with Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), has advised one dose of the compound in empty stomach for three days. The dose should be repeated one month later, if Covid infections prevail in the community, the ministry recommends.

“We’ve issued an advisory explaining suitable medicines in many forms of traditional medicines… These are advised as preventive measures only,” says Shripad Yesso Naik, MoS (independent charge), AYUSH Ministry.

“But modern medicine experts are asking for scientific validation; now where can we get scientific validation for medicinal systems that are more than 1000 years old – like Ayurveda? These medicines have already proven their effectiveness,” says the Minister.

Homoeopaths believe “add-on preventive care” along with “standard care” (allopathy) will greatly reduce the incidence of Covid among Indians. They list out “proven case studies” citing the use of homoeopathic medicine to treat dengue and nipah virus patients. Some of them even reminisce the role played by homoeopathy during the fatal ‘Spanish flu’ outbreak over a 100 years ago.

“We’re making no claim that Arcenicum Album would cure Covid patients,” clarifies Dr. Anil Khurana, director-general (in-charge), CCRH. “It is only prescribed to boost immunity of people… if you have a strong immune system, you’re less susceptible to catch infections,” he reasons.

According to Dr. Jo Mathew, national secretary of Indian Homoeopathic Medical Association, the base of homoeopathic treatment is very symptomatic. “Each patient may show a different symptoms to the same disease. We analyse these symptoms and then prescribe drugs for the whole disease,” says Dr. Mathew.

But experts in modern medicine feel homoeopathy is not adequate or well-equipped to handle a fast-spreading pandemic like Covid. At best, they are willing to view homoeopathic medicines as immunity boosters.

“People have to be clear that there is no cure for Coronavirus as yet. They can take homeopathy medicines to boost their immune system; but be very sure that it’s not a treatment for Coronavirus,” warns a senior health ministry official.

But homoeopaths do not seem to agree with standard care specialists.

“We’ve experience spanning hundreds of years, treating patients during outbreaks and epidemics. Homoeopathy has given a lot of cure; and mortality rate is very low in the form of medicine,” contends Mathew.

“We do not have any access to Covid patients, so we still don’t know what medicines would be effective. But if we get a chance, we’ll be able to make some positive impact,” he adds.

CCRH and homoeopathic professionals’ associations have written to the government to avail their services to combat Covid epidemic. There are over 2 lakh qualified homoeopaths who can work alongside allopathic doctors, they suggest.

“We’re trying our best to help in these trying times… We’re talking to the government to take help from traditional form of medicines too,” the AYUSH Minister assures.

Homoeopathy experts like Dr. Khurana and Dr. Mathew claim to treat various types of influenzas on a daily basis. They are also aware that Covid is not a simple viral infection, and is a fast-spreader.

“We know this type of flu has to be treated differently,” affirms Dr. Khurana.

“All we’re asking is to add on homoeopathy to the standard care (allopathy)… if our medicines does not interfere with standard care medication, I see no harm in using homoeopathy to treat Covid patients,” he adds.

Homoeopaths believe, China used traditional medicines to cure 60% of their Covid patients. “So, why don’t we do the same?” quips Khurana.

Dr Rajnikant Srivastava, a scientist at ICMR (the apex body on Covid management in India), says his organisation cannot vouch for the effectiveness of traditional medicine in treating Covid patients. “We can’t say if they work or not… This is the domain of the Ayush Ministry,” Srivastava says.