Tauto-Mod. Homeopathy for Addictions

Transcription

1 Homeopathy for Addictions Tauto-Mod Methods and outcomes of the Tauto-Mod prescribing system and an analysis of the addictions homeopathic medication pilot project in Based on a newly developed prescribing system, created by Homeopathy for Addictions for the treatment of substance misuse. Homeopathy for Addictions Ltd Director Tracy Woodward Gagetta

2 Homeopathy is a system of medicine developed by German physician Dr. Samuel Hahnemann ( ) which involves treating the individual with highly diluted substances, given mainly in tablet form, with the aim of triggering the body s natural system of healing. Based on their specific symptoms, a Homeopath will match the most appropriate medicine to each patient. Homeopathy is based on the principle that you can treat like with like, that is, a substance which causes symptoms when taken in large doses, can be used in small amounts to treat those same symptoms. For example, drinking too much coffee can cause sleeplessness and agitation, so according to this principle, when made into a homeopathic medicine, it could be used to treat people with these symptoms. This concept is sometimes used in conventional medicine, for example, the stimulant Ritalin is used to treat patients with ADHD, or small doses of allergens such as pollen are sometimes used to de-sensitise allergic patients. However, one major difference with homeopathic medicines is that substances are used in ultra high dilutions, which makes them non-toxic. There are currently four Homeopathic Hospitals within the National Health Service (NHS) and is monitored by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Evidence from the Faculty of Homeopathy (NHS) has provided the following results; Up to the end of 2010, 156 RCTs had been published: 64 positive; 11 negative; 81 not statistically conclusive. Integration of homeopathy with conventional treatment is associated with better clinical outcomes for similar or lower costs. 70.7% of 6,544 follow-up patients, treated at Bristol Homeopathic Hospital for a wide range of chronic medical complaints, reported positive health changes. Many patients attending the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital were able to reduce or stop conventional medication following homeopathic treatment. i Homeopathy for Addictions is new drug service like no other, not only because it uses homeopathic medications to treatment addictions, but also because the main prescribing system Tauto-Mod is the first homeopathic titration system for substance misuse and has been trademarked for exclusivity by the provider Tracy Woodward Gagetta. Tracy originally developed a single prescribing titration system using heroin (illicit) for a graduating research dissertation, based around an RCT for her BSc in Homeopathy and Licentiate (LCHE) with the Centre for Homeopathic Education and Middlesex University, however, due to heroin in dilution being illegal to prescribe in the UK, the method was adapted to the pharmaceutical version of the drug and from this a full prescribing system to for crack/cocaine, cannabis, alcohol, diazepam and numerous other misused substances widely seen in drug services throughout the UK was developed. The system is also based on tautopathy the diluted substance that has caused illness/addiction. In short, for heroin addiction, the patient is prescribed Morphine in dilution; Coca for crack and cocaine; and Cannabis Indica for cannabis/skunk. The theory behind the RCT tautopathy dissertation was that providing the addicted toxin/drug in dilution would eventually reduce cravings, withdrawal symptoms and toxicity and allow the patient to achieve overall health and wellbeing. This theory was then put to the test with a prescribing pilot project based on the titration charts, as well as assessing the patient holistically, to ensure all symptoms are considered with other medications complementing the original tautopathic prescription. Homeopathy for Addictions Ltd 2013 Page 2

3 Proportion of symptoms classified The addictions pilot project was small scale consisting of 12 individuals prescribing for drug, alcohol, poly drug use and dual diagnosis cases for alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, and crack and heroin addiction. It commenced mid-summer 2012 and was funded by the Homeopathy Action Trust and Helios Homeopathy. This pilot project ran at the Perry Clayman Project and Slough Homeless Our Concern day shelter. Patients received treatment from 6 to 10 weeks; this depended on time in residential facility or attendance of homeless shelter. During the initial consultation, a full comprehensive assessment takes place. The patient would then be assessed using the Tauto-Mod titration system and prescribed for depending on severity of symptoms. Every week the patient would attend a follow-up appointment lasting from 30 minutes to 1-hour, in which time the tautopathy system would be re-assessed, recorded and prescribed for (if applicable). Depending on other health issues, particularly mental health, the patient would also be prescribed other medications. The prescribing method for the titration system was used to measure withdrawal symptoms and side effects of the drug/s abused, for example, in heroin addiction abdominal cramps is prevalent and would be recorded as follows; nil=0, mild=1, medium=2, and severe=3. All symptoms and side effects would be recorded and tallied to provide the prescription for that week. If the patient scored 10 points, then a prescription of Morphine 30c would be administered. Each week, the prescriber would hope to see a reduction of symptoms, thus allowing the practitioner to increase the dilution to such a level, that all symptoms seize to affect the patient and all cravings, withdrawal symptoms and indications of toxicity would disappear. The following outcomes have been recorded through the pilot project as follows; Morphine in dilution prescribed for heroin group Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 9 Week of all symptoms eradicated. There is a decline in the severe proportion of symptoms (with an increase in alleviated symptoms) up until week- 9. There is an increase in the proportion of symptoms no longer presenting with time. By weeks 9 and 10 both patients no longer display any symptoms. Both clients have completed treatment successfully. Homeopathy for Addictions Ltd 2013 Page 3

4 Proportion of symptoms classified Proportion of symptoms classified Ethanol in dilution prescribed for alcohol group Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 6 We can see the following results; for severe symptoms; 11% moderate; 22% mild and 35% nil. There is a decline in the sever proportion of symptoms (with an increase in alleviated symptoms); however both moderate and mild symptoms remain up to week 6. A longer prescribing period is needed to observe whether there will be a continued reduction in symptoms. Cocaine in dilution prescribed for crack and cocaine group Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 The following results show severe; 11% moderate; 28% mild and 11% nil. The following results show an increase in symptoms during a week break from prescribing. Following reinitiating of therapy, the proportion of moderate and mild symptoms decreases. This proves that with a break in medication early on in treatment, the patient begins to develop symptoms quickly. Homeopathy for Addictions Ltd 2013 Page 4

5 Proportion of symptoms classified Cannabis Indica in dilution prescribed for cannabis/skunk group Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 We can see 10 of all symptoms eradicated. There is a decline in the sever proportion of symptoms (with an increase in reduction of symptoms) up until week 4. There is a break in therapy at week 5, and subsequently the proportion of symptoms classified as severe and moderate increase. Following reinitiating of therapy the proportion of severe, moderate and mild symptoms decreases. Cannabis displays the quickest success rate of reduction of symptoms. Patients were also assessed on their trigger points for using drugs/alcohol, short and long-term effects of the drug on their body and mind, as well as past trauma s or life events that may have caused the patient to begin using the drug in the first place. All symptoms and lifestyle choices are considered when prescribing a support medication to take in conjunction with the tautopathic medication. Patient s feedback s on the system as well as prescribing for mental and physical health issues has been very positive. All patients disclosed they were very positive that the treatment was working to reduce cravings and overall well being. A number of patients being treated for long-term mental health disorders displayed a reduction in symptoms of depression, anxiety and paranoia. Patients with long-term health effects from misuse of heroin and methadone (constipation, stomach cramps), disclosed a significant change in symptoms with two patients having a total reduction of any symptomology. This system can be used at all stages of conventional treatment. The system can be used it two way; 1. As a full 30 minute to 1-hour long consultation, where the practitioner assesses and analyses all symptoms to provide the titrated medication as well as a supporting medication for long-term mental and physical health conditions. This includes a talking therapy which part of the comprehensive assessment. 2. A 15-minute consultation just using the Tauto-Mod system. This method can be used as a prescribing clinic only, with numerous patients being seen on a particular clinic. Homeopathy for Addictions Ltd 2013 Page 5

6 Both methods can be used in any drug service and can be used in conjunction with any drug replacement and alcohol detox medications. Other drugs such as the ever increasing misuse of legal highs can also be used following this method. The system can also work at different levels of treatment which include initial assessment at the beginning of a drug replacement therapy, long-term patients on high levels of methadone and diazepam to reduce and detox as well as after care for relapse prevention. It can be used as a complement to conventional medical treatment and can be seen to be useful for drugs that cannot be pharmaceutically treated such as cannabis, cocaine, and crack. There is a therapeutic element to the patient discussing their ailments, current treatment, and general lifestyle. All medications are acquired through approved homeopathic pharmacies in the UK which include Helios Homeopathy, Ainsworths Homeopathic Pharmacy and Nelsons. The NTA s Models of Care provides an abstract of the following in regards to complementary therapies; Surveys and censuses of drug treatment services indicate that complementary or alternative therapies are increasingly being used in drug treatment settings. For example, in 1997, 4 of residential services were providing complementary therapies (Standing Conference on Drug Abuse 1997c). Community-based and residential drug services (primarily, though not exclusively, in the non-statutory sector) report providing a range of complementary therapies including: auricular acupuncture, homeopathic medicines and teas, visualisation, shiatsu and reflexology. The evidence base on the use of complementary therapies for drug misusers generally remains inconclusive or contradictory. The Effectiveness Review (Task Force to Review Services for Drug Misusers 1996) concluded that: Most of the reports [on the use of complementary therapies in drug treatment] are fairly positive but there are almost no data to support claims of treatment effectiveness. It is difficult to subtract out the general effect of care and attention to isolate the impact of the specific intervention. These therapies do apparently attract some drug misusers, e.g. cocaine misusers, into treatment services. Although there is little evidence available in regards to drug and alcohol treatment in the UK using homeopathic medications, there is a need for more therapies such as this in drug services with the rise in alcohol and other drugs presenting in services throughout the UK over the past 2-years. Homeopathy for Addictions will not only provide a full prescribing and talking therapies treatment system, but also record and analyse all results for research purposes. Tracy Woodward Gagetta, BA, BSc, LCHE, Rhom, the developer of the system is a qualified licensed and registered homeopathic practitioner with medical malpractice insurance through the Alliance of Registered Homeopaths and is an experienced mental health practitioner. She also provides expertise and experience as an addictions practitioner in pilot project development, open access, detox, residential rehabilitation, DIP, Structured Day Programme, private clinics and is currently working as a Performance Commissioning Manager in substance misuse in the London area. i Homeopathy for Addictions Ltd 2013 Page 6