- Electrohomoeopathy is a derivative of homeopathy that had its origins in the 19th century with the claims of Count Cesare Mattei. The name is derived from a combination of electro (referring to an electric bio-energy content supposedly extracted from plants and of therapeutic value, rather than electricity in its conventional sense) and homeopathy (referring to an alternative medicinal philosophy developed by Samuel Hahnemann in the 18th century). Electrohomeopathy has been defined as the combination of electrical devices and homeopathy, however some contend that it is the therapeutic use of homeopathic preparations of certain "electric bio-energy" herbs that is intended by the term. It is regarded as distinct from traditional homeopathy, which relies on serially diluted remedies of substances that cause similar symptoms to those as it is attempting to cure as its primary form of treatment, electrohomeopathy, however, does not directly follow the "law of similars".Like traditional homeopathy, modern day applications of electrohomeopathy are generally regarded by the medical and scientific communitiesas pseudoscience or quackery.
History and criticism
The discipline was developed initially by Cesare Mattei (1809–1896) in the latter part of the 19th century. Mattei, a nobleman living in a castle in the vicinity of Bologna, studied natural science, anatomy, physiology, pathology, chemistry and botany. He ultimately focused on the supposed therapeutic power of 'electricity' in botanical extracts. Massei made bold, unsupported, claims for the efficacy of his treatments including the claim that his treatments offered a non-surgical alternative to cancer. His treatment regimens were met with scepticism by medical orthodoxy:
The electrohomeopathic system is an invention of Count Mattei who prates of "red," "blue," and "green" electricity, a theory that, in spite of its utter idiocy, has attracted a considerable following and earned a large fortune for its chief promoter.
Notwithstanding criticisms, including a challenge by the British medical establishment to the claimed success of his cancer treatments, electrohomeopathy (or Matteism, as it was sometimes known at the time) had adherents in Germany, France, the USA and the UK by the beginning of the 20th century; electrohomeopathy had been the subject of approximately 100 publications and there were three journals dedicated to it.
After Mattei's death, his work was built upon by Theodore Krauss (1864–1924) who amplified the number of available treatments, including the introduction of injectable forms of treatment, and modernised production processes.
Philosophy
Remedies are derived from what are said to be the active micro nutrients or mineral salts of certain plants. One contemporary account of the process of producing electrohomeopathic remedies was as follows:
As to the nature of his remedies we learn...that...they are manufactured from certain herbs, and that the directions for the preparation of the necessary dilutions are given in the ordinary jargon of homeopathy. The globules and liquids, however, are " instinct with a potent, vital, electrical force, which enables them to work wonders." This process of "fixing the electrical principle" is carried on in the secret central chamber of a Neo-Moorish castle which Count Mattei has built for himself in the Bolognese Apennines...The "red electricity" and "white electricity" supposed to be "fixed" in these "vegetable compounds" are in their very nomenclature and suggestion poor and miserable fictions.
According to Mattei's own ideas however, every disease originates in the change of blood or of the lymphatic system or both, and remedies can therefore be mainly divided into two broad categories groups to be used in response to the dominant affected system. Mattei wrote that having obtained plant extracts, he was "able to determine in the liquid vegetable electricity". Allied to his theories and therapies were elements of Chinese medicine, of medical humours, of apparent Brownianism, as well as modified versions of Samuel Hahnemann's homeopathic principles. Electrohomeopathy has some associations with Spagyric medicine, a holistic medical philosophy claimed to be the practical application of alchemy in medical treatment, so that the principle of modern electrohomeopathy is that disease is typically multi-organic in cause or effect and therefore requires holistic treatment that is at once both complex and natural. 114 plants are used in the preparation of electrohomeopathic medicines. The medicines are prepared by following the three major steps of spagyrism: purification, separation and "cohobation"(also known as cold fermentation). Electrohomeopathic remedies include:
§ Scrofoloso remedies - act on scrofulous disorders and the metabolism.
§ Linfatico remedies - act on both blood and lymphatic systemss.
§ Angioiticos remedies - act on blood vessels and the circulatory system.
§ Canceroso remedies - act on cellular construction and the chronic degeneration of lymph.
§ Febrifugo remedies - act on fevers and all types of intermittent diseases, as well as disorders of the spleen and liver.
§ Vermifugo remedies - act on the intestines, but also on the other parts of our organism; also for worms.
§ Pettorale remedies - act on the respiratory system and bronchial tubes.
§ Venereo remedies - general constitutional effect and for venereal infections.
As well as the categories of remedy, practitioners recognise five (and sometimes more) "electric fluids" or electricities: red (a stimulant); white (sedative); blue (anti-haemorrhagic); green (analgesic); yellow (intestinal remedy).
Plants of electropathy
1. ACHILLEA MILLIFOLIUM (Herb) Yarrow
2. ACONITE NAPILLUS (Herb)Monkhood
3. ADIANTUM CAPILLUS VENERIS (Herb)Maidenhair Fern4. AESCULUS HIPPOCASTANUM (Tree)Horse Chestnut5. AGARICUS MUSCARIUS (Fungi)ToadStool6. AILANTHUS GLANDULOSA (Tree)Chinese Sumach
7. ALLIUM CEPA (Herb)Red Onion
8. ALLIUM SATIVUM (Herb)Garlic
9. ALOES CAPANCES (Herb)Socotine Aloes
10. ALTHEA OFFICINALIS (Shrub)Marshmallow 1
1. ANTHEMIS NOBILIS (Shrub)Roman Chamomilla
12. ARNICA MONTANA (Herb)Leopard’s Bane
13. ARTEMISIA ABROTANUM (Shrub)
Southern Wood
14. ARTEMISIA CINA (Shrub)Worm Seed
15. ATROPA BELLADONNA (Herb)Deadly Nightshade16. AVENA SATIVA (Herb)Oat
17. BERBERIS VULGARIS (Shrub)Barberry or fawn lily
18. BETULA ALBA (Tree)Birch tree
19. CANNABIS SATIVA (Shrub)Hemp
20. CAPSELLA BURSA PASTORIS (Herb)Shepherd’s Purse
21. CARDUS BENEDICTUS (Herb)Blessed Thistle
22. CAULOPHYLLUM THALICTROIDES (Herb)Cohosh, Blue
23. CETRARIA ISLANDICA (lichen)Iceland moss
24. CHELIDONIUM MAJUS (Herb)Celandine25. CHENOPODIUM ANTHELMINTHIC (Herb)Jerusalem Oak
26. CIMICIFUGA RECIMOSA (Herb)Black Cohosh
27. CINCHONA CALISIYA (Tree)Yellow Peruvian bark,
28. CINCHONA SUCCIRUBRA (Tree)Red Peruvian bark
29. CLEMATIS ERECTA (Shrub)Virgin’s Bower
30. COCHLEARIA OFFICINALIS (Herb)Common Scurvy grass
31. CONIUM MACULATUM (Shrub)Poison hemlocks
32. DAPHNE MEZEREUM (Shrub)Spurge Olive
33. DICTAMNUS ALBUS (Herb)Gasplant Burning bush
34. DROSERA ROTUNDIFOLIA (Herb)Sun Dew35. ECHINACEA ANGUSTIFOLIA (Herb)Purple coneflower36. EQUISTICUM ERVENS (Shrub)Scouring Rush
37. ERVUM LENS (Herb)Lentil
38. ERYTHRAEA CENTURIUMCentury
39. EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS (Tree)Blue Gum Tree40. EUONYMUS EUROPEUS (Tree)Spindle Tree
41. EUPHORBIUM OFFICINALIS (Herb)Spurge Olive
42. EUPHRASIA OFFICINALIS (Herb)Eyebright.43. FUCUS VESICULOSIS (Thallus)Sea Kelp or Blistered Sea Weed
44. GALEOPSIS OCHROLEUCA (Herb)Hollot Tooth45. GENISTA SCOPARIA (HERB)Dyer’s Green Weed or Brooms46. GENTIANA LEUTIA (Shrub)Yellow gentian
2. ACONITE NAPILLUS (Herb)Monkhood
3. ADIANTUM CAPILLUS VENERIS (Herb)Maidenhair Fern4. AESCULUS HIPPOCASTANUM (Tree)Horse Chestnut5. AGARICUS MUSCARIUS (Fungi)ToadStool6. AILANTHUS GLANDULOSA (Tree)Chinese Sumach
7. ALLIUM CEPA (Herb)Red Onion
8. ALLIUM SATIVUM (Herb)Garlic
9. ALOES CAPANCES (Herb)Socotine Aloes
10. ALTHEA OFFICINALIS (Shrub)Marshmallow 1
1. ANTHEMIS NOBILIS (Shrub)Roman Chamomilla
12. ARNICA MONTANA (Herb)Leopard’s Bane
13. ARTEMISIA ABROTANUM (Shrub)
Southern Wood
14. ARTEMISIA CINA (Shrub)Worm Seed
15. ATROPA BELLADONNA (Herb)Deadly Nightshade16. AVENA SATIVA (Herb)Oat
17. BERBERIS VULGARIS (Shrub)Barberry or fawn lily
18. BETULA ALBA (Tree)Birch tree
19. CANNABIS SATIVA (Shrub)Hemp
20. CAPSELLA BURSA PASTORIS (Herb)Shepherd’s Purse
21. CARDUS BENEDICTUS (Herb)Blessed Thistle
22. CAULOPHYLLUM THALICTROIDES (Herb)Cohosh, Blue
23. CETRARIA ISLANDICA (lichen)Iceland moss
24. CHELIDONIUM MAJUS (Herb)Celandine25. CHENOPODIUM ANTHELMINTHIC (Herb)Jerusalem Oak
26. CIMICIFUGA RECIMOSA (Herb)Black Cohosh
27. CINCHONA CALISIYA (Tree)Yellow Peruvian bark,
28. CINCHONA SUCCIRUBRA (Tree)Red Peruvian bark
29. CLEMATIS ERECTA (Shrub)Virgin’s Bower
30. COCHLEARIA OFFICINALIS (Herb)Common Scurvy grass
31. CONIUM MACULATUM (Shrub)Poison hemlocks
32. DAPHNE MEZEREUM (Shrub)Spurge Olive
33. DICTAMNUS ALBUS (Herb)Gasplant Burning bush
34. DROSERA ROTUNDIFOLIA (Herb)Sun Dew35. ECHINACEA ANGUSTIFOLIA (Herb)Purple coneflower36. EQUISTICUM ERVENS (Shrub)Scouring Rush
37. ERVUM LENS (Herb)Lentil
38. ERYTHRAEA CENTURIUMCentury
39. EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS (Tree)Blue Gum Tree40. EUONYMUS EUROPEUS (Tree)Spindle Tree
41. EUPHORBIUM OFFICINALIS (Herb)Spurge Olive
42. EUPHRASIA OFFICINALIS (Herb)Eyebright.43. FUCUS VESICULOSIS (Thallus)Sea Kelp or Blistered Sea Weed
44. GALEOPSIS OCHROLEUCA (Herb)Hollot Tooth45. GENISTA SCOPARIA (HERB)Dyer’s Green Weed or Brooms46. GENTIANA LEUTIA (Shrub)Yellow gentian
47. GLECHOMA HEDERACEA (Herb)
Ground Ivy
48. GUAIACUM OFFICINALIS (Tree)Lignum
Vitae
49. HAMAMELIS VIRGINICA (Shrub)Witch Hazel
50. HUMULUS LUPULUS (Herb)Hops
51. HYDRASTIS CANADENSIS (Herb)Goldenseal
52. HYOSCYAMUS NIGRA (Shrub)Henbane.
53. IMPERATORIA OSTHURTIUM (Herb)Master wort
54. LEDUM PALSTURE (Shrub)Marsh Tea,
55. LEONTODON TARAXACUM Dandelion,
56. LOBELIA INFLATA (Herb)Indian Tobacco
57. LYCOPODIUM CALVATUM (Herb)Club Moss
58. MALVA SYLVESTERIS (Herb)Mallow
59. MARASDENIA CONDURANGOEagle vine
60. MATRICARIA CHAMOMILLA (Herb)German Chamomilla
61. MELISSA OFFICINALIS (Herb)Balm.
62. MENYANTHUS TRIFOLIATA (Herb)Buck Bean
63. MYRTUS COMMUNIS (Shrub)Myrtle-tree
64. NASTURTIUM OFFICINALIS (Herb)Water – cresses,
65. OXALIS ACETOCELLA (Herb)Wood Sorrel
66. PETROSELINUM SATIVUM (Herb)Parsley
67. PHELLANDRIUM AQUATICUM (Herb)Water Star Wort
68. PHYTOLACCA DECANDRA (Herb)Pokeroot,
6 9. PIMPINELLA SAXIFRAGE (Herb)Bibernell
70. PINUS MARITIMA (Tree)Cluster or Sugar Pine
71. PINUS NIGRA (Tree)Scotch Pine
72. PODOPHYLLUM PALTATUM (Herb)Duck’s foot,
73. POLYGALA AMARA (Herb)Bitter Milk Wort74. POPULUS ALBUS (CANDICANS) (TREE)Balm of Gilead, 75. POPULUS TREMULOIDUS ((Tree)American Aspen
76. PULMONARIA OFFICINALIS (Herb)Lung Wort
77. PULSATILLA VULGARIS (Herb)Wind Flower78. RHEUM PALMATUM (Herb)Rhubarb
7 9. RHODODENDRON FERUGENIA (Shrub)Snow Rose
80. RHUS AROMATICUS (TREE)Fragrant Sumach
81. RHUS TOXICODENDRON (HERB)Poison Ivy,
82. ROSA CANINA (SHRUB)Dog Rose
83. ROSEMARINUS OFFICINALIS (SHRUB)
Rose Mary
84. RUTA GRAVEOLANCE (HERB)Rue, or Herb of Grace
85. SALIX ALBA (TREE)Silver Willow
86. SALVIA OFFICINALIS (HERB)Sage
87. SALVIA SCLERA (HERB)Clary
88. SAMBUCUS NIGRA (TREE)Elder
89. SANGUINARIA CANADENSIS (HERB)Blood Root
90. SANGUISORBA OFFICINALIS (HERB)Great Burnet
91. SCOLOPENDRIUM VULGARIS (SHRUB)Centipede, Hart’s Tongue
92. SCROPHULARIA NODOSA (SHRUB)Figwort
93. SIMAROUBA AMARA (TREE)Mountain Damson
94. SARSAPARILLA (HERB)Smilex Media
95. SOLANUM DULCAMARA (SHRUB)Bitter Sweet
96. SOLIDAGO VIRGUARIA (HERB)Golden root97. SPIGELIA ANTHELMIA (HERB)
Pink Root,
98. STEFFENSIA ELONGATA (SHRUB)Matico99. STRYCHNOS NUX VOMICA (TREE)Vomiting Nut100. SYMPHYTUM OFFICINALIS (HERB)Comfrey
101. TANACETUM VULGARIS (HERB)Tansy
102. TAXUS BACCATA (TREE)Yew tree
103. TEUCRIUM SCORODONIA (HERB)Wood Sage
104. THUJA OCCIDENTALIS (TREE)Arbor Vitae
105. THYMUS SERPHILLUM (HERB)Wild Thyme
106. TILIA EUROPEA (TREE)Linden Tree
107. TUSSILAGO FARFRA (HERB)Colt's-foot
108. URAGAGO IPECACUANHA (HERB)Emetic Root109. VERONICA OFFICINALIS (HERB)Speed Well
110. VIBURNUM OPULUS (SHRUB)European Cranberry bush
111. ASCLEPIAS VINCITOXICUM OFFICINALIS
Swallow Wort.
112. VISCUM ALBUM (SHRUB)Mistel Toe113. VINCA MINORA (HERB)Lesser periwinkle.
114. VITIS VINIFERA Manured Vine
49. HAMAMELIS VIRGINICA (Shrub)Witch Hazel
50. HUMULUS LUPULUS (Herb)Hops
51. HYDRASTIS CANADENSIS (Herb)Goldenseal
52. HYOSCYAMUS NIGRA (Shrub)Henbane.
53. IMPERATORIA OSTHURTIUM (Herb)Master wort
54. LEDUM PALSTURE (Shrub)Marsh Tea,
55. LEONTODON TARAXACUM Dandelion,
56. LOBELIA INFLATA (Herb)Indian Tobacco
57. LYCOPODIUM CALVATUM (Herb)Club Moss
58. MALVA SYLVESTERIS (Herb)Mallow
59. MARASDENIA CONDURANGOEagle vine
60. MATRICARIA CHAMOMILLA (Herb)German Chamomilla
61. MELISSA OFFICINALIS (Herb)Balm.
62. MENYANTHUS TRIFOLIATA (Herb)Buck Bean
63. MYRTUS COMMUNIS (Shrub)Myrtle-tree
64. NASTURTIUM OFFICINALIS (Herb)Water – cresses,
65. OXALIS ACETOCELLA (Herb)Wood Sorrel
66. PETROSELINUM SATIVUM (Herb)Parsley
67. PHELLANDRIUM AQUATICUM (Herb)Water Star Wort
68. PHYTOLACCA DECANDRA (Herb)Pokeroot,
6 9. PIMPINELLA SAXIFRAGE (Herb)Bibernell
70. PINUS MARITIMA (Tree)Cluster or Sugar Pine
71. PINUS NIGRA (Tree)Scotch Pine
72. PODOPHYLLUM PALTATUM (Herb)Duck’s foot,
73. POLYGALA AMARA (Herb)Bitter Milk Wort74. POPULUS ALBUS (CANDICANS) (TREE)Balm of Gilead, 75. POPULUS TREMULOIDUS ((Tree)American Aspen
76. PULMONARIA OFFICINALIS (Herb)Lung Wort
77. PULSATILLA VULGARIS (Herb)Wind Flower78. RHEUM PALMATUM (Herb)Rhubarb
7 9. RHODODENDRON FERUGENIA (Shrub)Snow Rose
80. RHUS AROMATICUS (TREE)Fragrant Sumach
81. RHUS TOXICODENDRON (HERB)Poison Ivy,
82. ROSA CANINA (SHRUB)Dog Rose
83. ROSEMARINUS OFFICINALIS (SHRUB)
Rose Mary
84. RUTA GRAVEOLANCE (HERB)Rue, or Herb of Grace
85. SALIX ALBA (TREE)Silver Willow
86. SALVIA OFFICINALIS (HERB)Sage
87. SALVIA SCLERA (HERB)Clary
88. SAMBUCUS NIGRA (TREE)Elder
89. SANGUINARIA CANADENSIS (HERB)Blood Root
90. SANGUISORBA OFFICINALIS (HERB)Great Burnet
91. SCOLOPENDRIUM VULGARIS (SHRUB)Centipede, Hart’s Tongue
92. SCROPHULARIA NODOSA (SHRUB)Figwort
93. SIMAROUBA AMARA (TREE)Mountain Damson
94. SARSAPARILLA (HERB)Smilex Media
95. SOLANUM DULCAMARA (SHRUB)Bitter Sweet
96. SOLIDAGO VIRGUARIA (HERB)Golden root97. SPIGELIA ANTHELMIA (HERB)
Pink Root,
98. STEFFENSIA ELONGATA (SHRUB)Matico99. STRYCHNOS NUX VOMICA (TREE)Vomiting Nut100. SYMPHYTUM OFFICINALIS (HERB)Comfrey
101. TANACETUM VULGARIS (HERB)Tansy
102. TAXUS BACCATA (TREE)Yew tree
103. TEUCRIUM SCORODONIA (HERB)Wood Sage
104. THUJA OCCIDENTALIS (TREE)Arbor Vitae
105. THYMUS SERPHILLUM (HERB)Wild Thyme
106. TILIA EUROPEA (TREE)Linden Tree
107. TUSSILAGO FARFRA (HERB)Colt's-foot
108. URAGAGO IPECACUANHA (HERB)Emetic Root109. VERONICA OFFICINALIS (HERB)Speed Well
110. VIBURNUM OPULUS (SHRUB)European Cranberry bush
111. ASCLEPIAS VINCITOXICUM OFFICINALIS
Swallow Wort.
112. VISCUM ALBUM (SHRUB)Mistel Toe113. VINCA MINORA (HERB)Lesser periwinkle.
114. VITIS VINIFERA Manured Vine
