Homoeopathica November 2001

by Maliekal P Thobias

A short series of experiments with Kali muriaticum of crude substance to 1M potencies was performed on Swiss albino mice bearing induced ascites to find out how far this medicine is beneficial to victims of cancer and the results showed that the life span of the experimental animals can be increased by the administration of this medicine.

Eminent homoeopaths like Allen and Hering have mentioned Kali mur as a cancer remedy in their respective materia medica. They found this medicine effective in epithelioma and ulceration of the oral cavity and face.

Eli Jones, in his book Cancer, its causes, symptoms, and treatment, says he learned from his clinical experience that Kali mur is fruitful in patients with recently developed tumours of the breast with white coating on the tongue. Other writers have claimed that a high sodium diet is one of the major causes of neoplastic growths, and that nutrients rich in potassium may prevent cancer. My experiments are a search for evidence in support of the views of these authors.

Swiss albino mice, 6 to 8 weeks old, served as the animal models. Medicines used in the experiments were the preparations of Similia Homoeo Laboratory, Alwaye, and of Hapco, Calcutta. Ehrlich and Dalton’s Lymphoma Ascites (ELA & DLA) tumour cells were used to induce ascites, the former in the first and second experiments and the latter in the third respectively.

Fresh clean viable tumour cells were introduced, 1 million per mouse, into the peritoneal cavity of the animals employing a sterilised syringe and needle.

After transplantation of the tumour cells the mice were put in eight animal cages kept under the same environment. They had mouse chow and water ad libitum. Experimental animals receivedKali mur regularly through their drinking water right from the day of transplantation of tumour cells.

The increase of life span (ILS) was worked out according to the formula T-C/C x 100, where T stands for the average of the days the treated mice lived after the introduction of tumour cells into them and C stands for that of the controls.

A clear picture of the results of the three experiments can be had from the table. In the first experiment the drug was found to be useful to the treated animals in all its states, unpotentised and various potencies, with a peak in the 6c potency. A sudden increase in life span was produced by the mother tincture in the second experiment and the potencies that produced longer life were relatively high. It can be noted that potencies 3, 6 and 30c have failed to yield good result.

Just as in the first experiment Kali mur was found effective in the third one, also irrespective of its potency. It is evident from the average of the results of the three experiments that Kali mur is capable of giving the experimental animals a longer life than that of the controls.

Effect of Kali muriaticum on induced ascites

I have not succeeded in finding similar works, if any, in homoeopathic literature to have a discussion of the present experimental results in the light of the observations made by others.

In earlier experiments I have shown that Aloes and Arsenicum album can increase the life span of mice bearing induced ascites but they cannot bring about a cure.

Recent studies have revealed that Zincum metallicum is a better anti-neoplastic medicine thanHydrastis canadensis in increasing the life span and it can sometimes perform a cure of ascites.Kali mur, from these experiments, shows it can only increase the life span of the experimental animals.

Chemical analysis has brought to light that healthy cells contain about 60% water, with a high potassium and low sodium content. Conversely cancer cells contain as much as 90% water and have greatly elevated sodium levels and reduced potassium levels. This finding of modern chemistry is in conformity with the view expressed by some homœopaths years ago. Potassium and sodium are expected to be present in normal cells at a ratio of 25:1 and Kali mur is believed to play a significant role in maintaining this ratio as evidenced by prolonging the life of cancerous animals.

Dr Thobias is connected with the Homœopathic Unit of the Amala Cancer Research Centre, located in a valley in the scenic Velangan Hills, 8km from Thrissur, Kerala, India. The centre, founded in 1982, is attached to the general hospital, cancer hospital, and ayurvedic and homœopathic hospitals. The Research Centre has done many animal experiments to see the effects of herbal (especially ayurvedic) preparations and homœopathic remedies on diabetes and cancer. It is linked to two universities and recognised by Indian Central Government bodies; being a PhD candidate there is many a graduate’s ambition. This report is reproduced from The Homœopathic Heritage, February 1998.