Which sports persons uses homeopathy and why?

SPORTS INJURIES

Most of the sports injuries are of traumatic type such as bruise, muscle strain, ligament sprain, fractures, etc. Others include muscle soreness, muscle cramps, stiffness, cuts and abrasions. The effect of these injuries is two-fold. One the cells that made up soft tissues gets damaged and the second is fatigue and weakness. Sometimes fear can also lead to injuries. The body response to traumatic injuries is inflammation. Inflammation is characterised by pain, swelling, heat, redness and loss of function. “The process of inflammation is a necessary response to injury which, through a range of complex processes, allows the renewal and healing of damaged tissue” [1]. A study after the Los Angeles Marathon found that one in seven runners came down with an upper respiratory infection after taking part in the race, compared with just two out of 100 runners who didn’t compete [2]. The most commonly found upper respiratory infections are tonsil, pharyngitis, sinus, otitis media, cold and rhinitis.

WHICH SPORTS PERSONS USES HOMEOPATHY?

1. FOOTBALL

German Soccer stars uses homeopathy [3,4]

24 out of 26 doctors (92.3%) who work for the Bundesliga’s first- and second-division sides prescribed homeopathic cures for 76% of the football clubs.

Peter Billigmann

“The success stories are impressive,” said Peter Billigmann, a sports doctor and the head of the Koblenz Institute for Performance Diagnostics and Sports Medicine that carried out the study, in an interview with the Spiegel news magazine. “Homeopathic substances don’t have any side effects, and we’re on the safe side where doping is concerned.”

Professor Billigmam called traumeel, the diclofenac of homeopathy and recommends its topical use [15].

He obtined impressive results from giving a combination of Echinacea compositum Cosmoplex®,Engystol®,Lymphomyosot® and Gripp-Heel® for one month, three times a year (January,April and October) to athletes [16]

Jean-Marcel Ferret

“I am a doctor that uses homeopathy and not a homeopath. I am open to all techniques. I consider that there is only one medicine comprising various techniques. We doctors have to know how to use the entire arsenal. As a sports doctor, I quickly discovered that except for anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants, I was very limited in the care of athletes. I therefore tried to find something else. I began to use homeopathy, first occasionally, and then more and more.

At first, the athletes were surprised and some of them even wary. So I explained how and why homeopathy acts. The greatest value in sports? Its speed of action. I can use it directly on the soccer field, within seconds of the trauma, and note the results almost immediately. For example, in traumatology with Arnica, and without any adverse reactions on the stomach or liver. I also use homeopathy to treat ORL, stress or dermatology problems.

The players are highly trained. Therefore, they are a population at risk with a slightly defective immune system. We have to protect their health, accompany them in their performance by limiting the risks to a maximum. This involves emphasis on prevention, taking into account the personality of each player. I try to get to know them as well as possible, on all levels. I now know that this approach is that of homeopathy. Abroad, I have often been told that France is ahead in sports medicine. Homeopathy has certainly contributed to this” [11]

“Homeopathy can provide a preventive and curative action, as well as stimulate the body’s natural defences; and speeds up recovery. There is no risk of doping which produces a high level of acceptability among athletes” [20]

-Jean-Marcel Ferret, doctor to the French soccer team from 1993 to 2004, the period which included their World Cup win

David Robert Joseph Beckham

David Beckham used homeopathy for a broken foot just prior to the 2002 World Cup [5].

Serbian Soccer Player

“I support what they do, and I know that homeopathic medicines are used by many celebrities and their entire families. Following homeopathy has helped me immensely and boosted my confidence thereby improving my performance.” [21]

-Marko Pantelic, Serbian Football Player

2. SPRINT

British Olympic Sprinter

“My health is my top priority, from eating a balanced diet to the types of medicine I use.

Training six times a week is incredibly demanding and it’s more important than ever to keep my body in the best possible condition.

Homeopathy offers me a positive and natural way to prevent sporting ailments such as exertion, muscular pain and aching joints, without any residual effects on my performance.

I use remedies such as Ruta grav, which helps treat sprained ligaments, Gelsemium for pre-race jitters, Arnica for bruising and Bellis perennis to treat exertion.

They all offer athletes a natural alternative to traditional and sometimes harmful medicines.” [6]

-James Ellington, British Olympic sprinter and 2nd fastest sprinter in UK

Linford Christie

“I am a fan of arnica and recommend all the Athletes in my Street Athletics programme have it in their kit bag to help with sprains and strains.” [7]

-Linford Christie, 1992 Barcelona Olympic 100m sprint Champion

Jim Rogers

Jim Rogers and Neil Ridsdale holds the record for the fastest time on the Yorkshire Wolds Way, ran the 79 miles from Filey to Hessle in an incredible 13 hours and 23 minutes.

Jim said, “Several trials of homeopathy have considered the effects on sports injuries, such as ankle sprains, muscle strains and muscle soreness after exercise, while others have homed in on the kinds of health problems many athletes are prone to, including upper respiratory tract infections, influenza, hay fever and cramps.” [8].

3. LAWN TENNIS

“I use homeopathy to treat everything from early signs of coughs and colds to sports injuries, for myself and my family.

I embrace homeopathy as a way of life, visit my homeopath every few months and use a whole host of remedies. Homeopathy has worked wonders for me personally and I cannot deny its effectiveness.

As a mother to three teenagers, I have raised my children on homeopathy, using remedies whenever they have been unwell as well as for their general wellbeing.

Taking a leaf out of their mother’s book, my children have even been known to lecture the school doctor on the benefits of homeopathy as opposed to traditional medicines such as antibiotics.” [9]

Annabel used homeopathy for her left ovarian cyst in 2003.

“I’d grown up believing diseases were out there waiting to get us. When I saw Hilery Dorrian (a homeopath), I was astonished to see my ideas of health turned on their head. She explained to me that homeopathy treats the real causes of illness in the body, not just the symptoms – as conventional medicine does. The whole concept made so much sense to me. It was a huge turning point.

“Hilery didn’t perform a physical examination. Instead, she asked me about my background, my personality, my emotions, what made me stressed – even my parents’ health. She constructed a picture of me and gave me a remedy made up exactly to treat my left ovary.”

After taking the prescribed pillules, her cyst gradually became less painful; the throbbing stopped; and she never went back to her GP. She is convinced that the homeopathic remedies she took enhanced and perhaps speeded up the healing process.

“And at home we all rely on homeopathic medicine. When I or one of the children [Amber, Charlie, 13, and Lily, 11] have a cold, we take pulsatilla [a native British flower]. And I always have handy some arnica for bruises, calendula for cuts and grazes, belladonna [not poisonous at this level of dilution] for a throbbing head, and nux vomica [a tree extract that contains traces of strychnine], which I take after the occasional over-indulgence. It gets rid of that ‘uhhh’ feeling in the morning.”
When the family went to Thailand for a wedding, Amber suffered severe food poisoning. “I gave her arsenicum album, which worked very quickly. She went from throwing up all night to dancing at the party.”

Annabel’s husband, Mel Coleman, a 46-year-old former yachtsman and now businessman, is also a convert.

“I’m passionate about homeopathy,” she says. “I sing its praises at dinner parties where I find my audience is one half sceptical and one half increasingly curious.”

And she backs the notion that homeopathy might be useful at Wimbledon. “I’ve used gelsemium in the past to calm my nerves before presenting Wimbledon, but it’s possible it may also work for Andy Murray. However, homeopathic remedies are designed to help with specific symptoms and Andy’s may be different to mine.” [18]

- Annabel Croft

More Tennis Superstars scoring with Homeopathy: Martina Navratilova, Boris Becker (Olympic Player) [5]

4. SKATING

Jayne Torvill

“When I fall on the ice, I treat my bruises with arnica tablets or cream, which seems to help” [10].

More Skating Superstars scoring with Homeopathy: Elvis Stojko (figure skating) [5].

5. RUGBY

Philippe Lageyre

“On the field, with the slightest trauma, I prescribe Arnica. I always have tubes and doses on me.

During the preparation of athletes, homeopathy has a special place in the treatment of stress. Finally, it is complementary to other treatments in the lesions of tendons.

In our practice of sports medicine, we have to be quickly effective. Without being a homeopathic physician, homeopathy is part of my therapeutic arsenal. I know where it can be used and how.” [11]

- Dr. Philippe Lageyre, sports doctor, he accompanies the rugby teams

Will Greenwood

Rugby player Will Greenwood (UK) also uses homeopathy [12]

6. JAVELIN THROW

Two time Javelin Olympic Medallist

- Kate Schmidt (USA), two-time javelin Olympic bronze medalist uses homeopathy [13]

7. CRICKET

Zaheer Khan

Zaheer Khan used arnica for “tightening of quadriceps” [14]

8. GOLF

Jose Maria Olazabal

Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain) used homeopathy for rheumatoid arthritis in multiple joints [5, pp. 91]

More Golf Superstars scoring with Homeopathy: Nancy Lopez [5]

9. EQUESTRIAN

Sonja Johnson

Sonja Johnson, Member of the Australian Equestrian Team, silver medalist at Beijing Olympics 2008, supported the use of homoeopathy.

3 days before she was due in Hong Kong she rang a homoeopath for advice about her horse’s hoof abscess which was not responding to orthodox treatment. After homoeopathic treatment her horse was well enough to compete, and won the silver medal for the Aussie Equestrian team.

She said, “I was first introduced to the advantages of homoeopathy in life and particularly sport and sport horses when based in England in 1997.
We all want to keep ourselves and our equine partners in as good a shape as possible to perform the job at hand.
Non-homoeopathic medicines have their place; however with the drug testing of athletes being so stringent these days, anything that can give you a therapeutic benefit while being within the rules is a huge bonus.
My Witch’s kit (Helios Homoeopathic Kit for Accidents and Emergencies), as we affectionately call it in the family, is always in the float and provides me with great amusement as I watch the sceptics become believers after they benefit from its use.” [19]

9. More Sports Superstars: Scoring with Homeopathy [5]

Paul O’Neill (New York Yankee), Kelly Slater (surfing), Arnie Kander (Strength and Conditioning Coach, NBA Detroit Pistons), David Moncoutié (cyclist), Pat Riley (basketball coach, Miami Heat), , Hermann Maier (skiing), Misty Hyman (swimming), Marie-Hélène Prémont (mountain biking)

WHY SPORTS PERSONS USES HOMEOPATHY?

Homeopathic medicines speed up the healing process and get the sportsperson back to training and performing more quickly. The most commonly used homeopathic medicines are Arnica Montana, Ruta Graveolens, Rhus Tox, Hypericum, Ledum Pal, Calendula, Symphytum, Bellis Perennis, Bryonia and Strontium Carbonicum.

About traumeel, Dr. Peithner AG said, “It is the best documented homeopathic drug whose effect could be demonstrated in comparative studies already” [17]

RESEARCH PAPERS

PAIN

Ruta Graveolens 30C for the treatment of pain in plantar fasciitis (foot) (2000)

Use of Arnica to relieve pain after carpal-tunnel release surgery (2002)

Homeopathic Treatment of chronic low back pain (2009)

Efficacy and safety of a homeopathic gel Spiroflor SRL in the treatment of acute low back pain (2001) FULL TEXT // SRL is equally effective as Cremor Capsici Compositus FNA but has better safety profile

A trial of Traumeel for a range of sports injuries again found it superior to placebo on measures of maximum muscle force, time to resumption of training, pain severity and overall evaluation by patients and doctors Biological Therapy 1992; 10(41):290-300

INFLAMMATION

Arnica 5c reduces pain and inflammation, improves blood circulation and prevents blood clotting (1988) Cahiers de Biotherapie (French) meaning Papers Biotherapy (English) 98.77

FIBROMYALGIA (Pain and Inflammation in muscles) (earlier called as fibrostis)

Arnica, Bryonia & Rhus Tox for Fibromyalgia (1986)

Rhus Tox for treatment of Fibromyalgia (1989)

Homeopathy as an adjunct to usual care for fibromyalgia (2009)

PHARYNGITIS (Inflammation of the mucous membranes of nose & throat)

Homeopathic & antibiotic treatment strategies in recurrent acute rhinopharyngitis (2005) // Inflammation of the mucous membranes of nose & throat

OTITIS MEDIA (inflammation of middle ear)

Homeopathic treatment of otitis media (2001) // significant decrease in symptoms at 24 and 64 hours after treatment in favour of homeopathy (P<0.05)

Homeopathy in acute otitis media (2001) FULL TEXT // Resolution rates were 2.4 times faster than in placebo controls. Compared to conventional treatment the homeopathic approach was 14% cheaper

Homoeopathic treatment of otitis media (1997) FULL TEXT // duration of pain of 2 days in homeopathy-group & 3 days in conventional group. 70.7 % & 56.5% of children receiving homeopathy & conventional respectively did not have another ear infection the next year

BRUISE

Effect of Homeopathic Arnica Montana on Bruising (2006) FULL TEXT

SPRAIN

Traumeel for Sprains (1989) FULL TEXT

FATIGUE

Efficacy of homeopathic treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome (2004)

MUSCLE SORENESS

Effect of Arnica 30X on muscle soreness in marathon runners (2003)

Effects of the Arnica 30X on 1995 Oslo marathon runners (1998) // reduces muscle soreness

MUSCLE CRAMPS

A trial comparing two homeopathic drugs against placebo for muscular cramps found the homeopathic preparations to be therapeutically superior Allgemeine Homeopathische Zeitung 1976; 221: 26-31

ACHILLES TENDINOPATHY

Rhus Tox, Traumeel, etc for treatment of Achilles Tendinopathy (1986) FULL TEXT

TENDON INJURY

Traumeel S ointment for tendon injuries (2005) // traumeel superior to diclofenac gel

MUSCU-SKELETON INJURIES

Traumeel superior to conventional medicine

COLD

Asclepias vincetoxicum & Sulphur for treatment of upper respiratory infections associated with common cold (2006)

RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS

Euphorbium, Pulsitilla & Luffa for viral infection of respiratory tract, Influenza A virus & rhino virus (2001) FULL TEXT

Homeopathy for the prevention of upper respiratory tract infections (2005)

Homeopathic therapy in respiratory tract diseases.Evaluation of a clinical study in 258 patients (1997)

Gripp-Heel (Aconitum 4X, Bryonia 3X, Eupatorium 2X, Lachesis 11X, Phosphorous 4X) for respiratory viral infections (2006) FULL TEXT

Cost-benefit evaluation of homeopathic versus conventional therapy in respiratory diseases (2009) FULL TEXT // treatment by homeopathy costs 50% less

The effectiveness of homeopathy in medical primary care in upper and lower respiratory tract complaints, Asian Journal of Homeopathy, 01 Feb 2008, pp. 3-19

SINUS

Homoeopathic Sinusitis Medication (1995) FULL TEXT

Homeopathic treatment of patients with chronic sinusitis (2009) FULL TEXT

Homeopathy in acute rhino-sinusitis (2007)

Sinfrontal for Acute Maxillary Sinusitis (Sinus + tooth pain) (2007)

Sinfrontal (Cinnabaris 4X, Ferrum Phos 3X, etc) in the treatment of maxillary sinus (sinus + tooth pain) (2009) // ENT & respiratory tract infections

RHINITIS

Homeopathy Vs Placebo in allergic rhinitis (2000) FULL TEXT

Usefulness of 13 homeopathic medicines in the management of acute rhinitis (2010) FULLTEXT // Nux-Vomica, Merc, Belladonna

Treatment of allergic rhinitis with homeopathy (2005)

Comparing Luffa compositum-Heel nasal spray with cromolyn sodium spray in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (1999) FULL TEXT

Homeopathic treatment of allergic rhinitis (2009)

TONSILS

http://www.vasezdravlje.com/izdanje/clanak/1874/ (2006) FULL TEXT

Arnica montana 30C for post-tonsillectomy analgesia (2007) // pain after tonsils removal

RESEARCH REVIEW of 93 RCT

The research evidence base for homeopathy (2003) FULL TEXT // 50 of the 93 studies favours homeopathy in 8 medical conditions including pain, sprains and upper respiratory infections.

CONCLUSIONS

The evidence of benefit of homeopathic medicines as a leading sports medicine all throughout the world is well established in the above 41 research studies published in peer-reviewed international medical journals. Peak performance should be considered in everyone’s lifestyle, not just in sports persons. What are you waiting for?

References

1. Peak Performance, PP 214, page 1
2. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 1990; 30(3):316-28
3. German Soccer Stars uses homeopathic medicine
4. Professionals rely on Natural Medicine
5. Homeopathic Revolution: Why Famous People and Cultural Heroes Choose Homeopathy,p.89-90.
6. Homeopathic healing: The stars who swear by alternative medicine
7. Homeopathy Awareness Week
8. Homeopathy in Sport
9. Homeopathy Works. We should know, we use it
10. Closer magazine, 24-30 January 2009, p73
11. Homeopathy in Medicine
12. Homeopathy Awareness Week
13. Nelson goes for gold in Homeopathy Awareness Week
14. Zaheer Khan takes to homeopathy