In West Bengal (India) and Bangladesh 100 million people are exposed to arsenic contaminated groundwater. Arsenic enters people’s bodies by way of drinking contaminated water and eating food that has been grown with the use of contaminated groundwater. The arsenic blood levels can become so high that toxic symptoms develop.

Arsenic leads to problems with the lungs, kidney, and liver. Symptoms include muscle and joint pains, depression, general weakness, and stomach problems. Inorganic arsenic is more toxic than organic arsenic.

The present study was done to try to find an inexpensive, effective treatment for arsenic toxicity to relieve these people of their sickness. Arsenicum Album-30 is a homeopathic treatment believed to be effective in removing arsenic from the human body. The authors treated a number of patients with this remedy and checked urine and blood to determine arsenic levels at intervals.

The following enzyme levels were checked in the blood of the patients as markers of toxicity: aspartate amino transferase (AST,) alanine amino transferase (ALT,) acid phosphatase (AcP,) and alkaline phosphatase (AlkP.) Tests were done of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and reduced glutathione (GSH.) After treatment, increase in urinary lead was interpreted as being the result of removal of lead from the body. Reduction of LPO and increase of GSH was seen as being an improvement in the patient’s health.

Some patients received placebo treatment to compare with the treated group, which received Arsenicum Album. Patients were given the homeopathic remedy twice daily for ten days. The patients were told to drink Arsenic-free water (less than 10 ppb.)

The results of the studies showed that patients who took the Arsenicum Album homeopathic remedy always showed higher levels of arsenic in the urine than patients who took placebo since they were eliminating arsenic from the body in this way. During the course of the study the enzyme levels declined as a sign of reduced toxicity as arsenic was being eliminated from the body.

There were enzyme signs of reduced lipid oxidation and increased glutathione levels as an indication of improved ability of the body to deal with toxicity. At the same time, patients showed improved appetites, improved physical strength, more cheerfulness, and a feeling of improved health.

CONCLUSION: The authors concluded that the results of the treatment of arsenic toxicity with Arsenicum Album-30 were “highly encouraging.” The patients who took Arsenicum Album showed increased elimination of arsenic in the urine, improved enzyme levels with signs of reduced toxicity, and improved health.

PMID: 16322812.

Summary #108.