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Prasanta Banerji and Pratip Banerji
Prasanta Banerji Homeopathic Research Foundation,
India
1. Introduction
Looking back into the history of mankind, one is often startled to find the emergence of
some outstanding personalities at different intervals of time. Their thoughts and futuristic
viewpoints revolutionized the existing perspective in the fields of science, philosophy and
social order. The embodiment of such a personality in the field of medicine was Samuel
Christian Friedrich Hahnemann, the father of homeopathy. He was born on the 10th April
1755 in the small town of Meissen, near Dresden in Germany. A doctor in the conventional
medicine of his time, by 1790 he was recognized as one of the most distinguished physicians
of his generation and was appointed physician to the king. Soon however, he became
dissatisfied with contemporary medical ideas and the often cruel practices that ensued, as
well as the drugs being prescribed. He realized that many of these medicines owed their
pride of place in the Materia Medica due to their very biologically active nature, which
could easily occasion death or produce new diseases on whomever they were applied.
Disillusioned, Hahnemann renounced his practice of medicine. While engaged in translating
a treatise on herbal medicine, he felt dissatisfied with the explanation given for the cure of
malarial fever by giving cinchona bark. He took the drug himself in order to investigate the
changes induced by it on his healthy system. Peculiarly, the symptoms of malaria made
their appearance in him, one after the other, but without the chilly rigor. This reminded him
of Hippocrates’ aphorism, “Similia similibus curentur,” meaning “Let likes be cured by likes”
(Hobhouse, 2002).
Hahnemann felt convinced that the drug, which was the best agent to cure malarial fever,
produced in him the initial symptoms of that fever. He then investigated the action, on
healthy human beings, of as many as 50 more drugs over a period of six years. He recorded
the symptoms produced, and compared them with the symptoms of diseases against which
they were used successfully.
1.1 What is homeopathy?
In 1776, Hahnemann published the results of his findings in a paper entitled “Essay on the
new principle for ascertaining the curative power of drugs.” In this, he postulated the most
important principle of homeopathy, stating, “Every powerful medicinal substance produces in
the human body a kind of peculiar disease, the more powerful the medicine, the more particularly
124 A Compendium of Essays on Alternative Therapy
marked and violent the disease. We should imitate nature, which sometimes cures a chronic disease,
by superadding another, and employ in the disease (especially chronic) we wish to cure, that medicine
which is able to produce another very similar artificial disease, and the former will be cured similia
similibus.” In 1810, he published The Organon of the Rational Art of Healing, his greatest book,
wherein he elucidated systematically the methods and principles of a system of medical
treatment to which he had given the name of “Homeopathy” (Hahnemann, 1982).
The homeopathic approach is holistic, that is, while treating a patient a homeopath will
consider not only the disease, but the whole constitution of the patient. The patient is treated
as a whole. To know about homeopathy we should know what “individualization” and
“similimum” mean because these two are the basic tenets on which selection of homeopathic
medicines depends, as practised and taught from the time of Hahnemann.
What is “individualization”? Every individual person is different from the other physically,
mentally, constitutionally and in their likes and dislikes. In general, we may find some
persons alike, but all individuals have their own special features. “Similimum” means the
most similar medicine as per symptoms narrated by a patient. After noting down the
symptoms of a patient the physician thinks of a few medicines out of which he finds one
medicine which appears to be the most similar to the symptoms narrated, considering the
mental and constitutional status for that particular individual. In classical homeopathy only
a single medicine is given in a single dose and then the patient is observed for his/her
response.
Classical homeopathy has, therefore, no specific remedy for any disease by name, but it has
specificity for each individual case of disease. A specific drug cannot be used for a specific
disease. In general, when a homeopathic physician examines a patient, only a few medicines
come to his mind. This small group of medicines exhibits similar symptoms when given to
healthy subjects for pharmacological testing (a process called “proving.”.. Finally only one is
selected as a result of practical experience and this procedure requires a long and intense
interrogation of the patient. In an interesting study of homeopathic diagnosis and treatment, it
was shown that a typical classical homeopathic initial consultation took 117 +/- 43 minutes for
each adult patient and 86 +/- 36 minutes for each child patient. Theoretically there should be
only one such medicine considering the entirety of the patient (Becker-Witt, et. al., 2004).
The homeopathic drug is not administered in usual pharmacological doses, but in minute
doses prepared according to certain principles. These medicines are produced using various
plant extracts, salts, animal products, minerals etc. and then diluting the extracted mother
tincture or the crude materials, per pharmacopoeial methods. These solutions are serially
diluted and succussed (agitated) until the desired potency is produced. Greater dilution
leads to greater potency of the medicine. The crude or slightly diluted extract when ingested
by healthy volunteers produces symptom complexes that mimic various diseases. The
symptoms produced and recorded are a result of the dynamic action of drugs on healthy
volunteers or “provers.” The symptoms produced by the drug in provers are exactly what
the potentized medicine is prescribed for in the sick.
1.2 The central problem of classical homeopathy
Although classical homeopaths believe that the above-described method of selecting
medicines is essential to the worth of their medical system, the central problem is, whether a
Homeopathy: Treatment of Cancer with the Banerji Protocols 125
correct similimum can be selected by such a method of individualization. The subjective
symptoms elicited in the typical two-hour initial consultation are often “lost in the
translation.”Thus, should a patient be examined separately by different homeopaths on the
same day, he will be perplexed to find that none of them seem to agree as to the so-called
“similimum.” Then how can individualization be explained logically and used to benefit the
suffering population? Do all the medicines suggested by various homeopaths for a patient
behave as a similimum for that particular case? Obviously not! Then what is the solution to
this central question of how the correct medicine should be determined? The answer is to
rationalize the selection of medicines based on previous experience and experimentation
and to develop routine treatment protocols following a scientific method for selecting
medicines. Another practical problem may be mentioned here. If a homeopath examines six
or eight cases daily, he may have to charge high fees from each individual patient for
maintenance. This will put homeopathy out of reach to the suffering population who really
need it. At the same time, with such a small number of patients, a homeopath hardly gets
enough clinical experience to become a true physician. It is common knowledge that
experience makes a doctor.
Scientific validation of the efficacy of homeopathic medicines, which are nontoxic and
inexpensive - making them ideal as “the People’s Medicine” - has been stalled due to the
inability to conduct clinical trials using standardized treatment protocols with these
medicines. The true healing potential of homeopathy, then, has been repeatedly challenged
and denied by mainstream medicine because of this problem. Thus, this system of medicine
is at risk of being delegated to the archives of history.
1.3 The Banerji Protocols
In the clinics of our research foundation,, we do not practice classical homeopathy. We have
developed a method of treatment in which specific medicines are prescribed for specific
diseases. Diseases are diagnosed using modern state-of-the-art scientific methods. This is
done because modern diagnostic approaches incorporate and help in the selection of
medicines so that specific medicines can be easily prescribed for specific diseases. With the
passage of time and the availability of new diagnostic tools like ultrasonography, magnetic
resonance imaging, cancer biomarkers and other advanced tests, we have been able to
further streamline the treatment protocols. The efficacy of this approach is reflected by the
encouraging results of our new method of treatment, which we call the “Banerji Protocols.”
We often combine two potentized medicines and use the combination in our practice. This
combination of two potentized medicines is made in a meaningful way based on years of
clinical observations by us. Medicines are combined for special advantages in treatment, so
that the aggravation due to the medicines can be checked, side effects of the medicines
abated, and quick and uneventful recovery can be ensured in a much shorter time. We will
discuss the Banerji Protocols in more depth later in this chapter.
2. The global use of homeopathy
Homeopathy currently is used in over 80 countries around the world. In several countries
including India, Mexico, Brazil and the UK homeopathy is integrated into the healthcare
systems. In the United States, homeopathic remedies are regulated as nonprescription
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drugs, which give them a unique status over other natural therapies and supplements.
Homeopathy is very popular in the UK, where the Royal Family has had homeopathic
physicians since the 1830s. In England, as many as 45% of conventional MDs refer patients
to homeopaths and the treatment is part of the National Health Scheme (NHS). In France,
40% of the population use homeopathy. Thirty thousand French doctors use homeopathic
medicines, there are twenty thousand pharmacies providing them, and 32% of French
family physicians use homeopathy. In Italy, homeopathy is the most popular alternative
therapy, used by 86% of the population. In Germany 25% of family physicians use
homeopathy, and non-MD homeopaths are eligible for licensure and until recently were
reimbursed by the National Health System. Nine million people use homeopathy in Brazil.
In 1985, homeopathy was included among the therapeutic options offered at the outpatient
facilities of the Brazilian public health system. Fifteen thousand Brazilian doctors practice
homeopathy (Marino, 2008).
In Asia, the homeopathic medical system is very popular, especially in India, Pakistan and
Sri Lanka. The epoch-making statement of Mahatma Gandhi, "Homeopathy.... cures a larger
percentage of cases than any other method of treatment and is beyond doubt safer and more
economical and most complete medical science,” added another feather to the cap of
homeopathy. In India today there are 162 degree colleges teaching homeopathy and the
largest pool of homeopaths in the world – over 200,000 doctors practice homeopathy. About
100 million people use homeopathy (Ghosh, 2010; Singh, 2005). This is a very conservative
estimate because in the 1950ss and 1960s there were not many conventional doctors
available for the treatment of the masses. In that era, most village school masters and
scholars educated themselves in this economical and easy to administer treatment form.
Thus homeopathy had a much further reach amongst the general population than
conventional medicine. Of India’s 1.16 billion population, approximately 70% live in villages
and rural areas, where access to expensive conventional medical facilities is limited (World
Health Organization, 2006).
3. History of homeopathy in India
Seen through the mist of years, the early history of the advent of homeopathy in India is a
fascinating episode. As early as 1810, some German missionaries landed in Bengal. They
used to distribute homeopathic remedies among the poor people to alleviate their
sufferings. Slowly the elite of society recognized its efficacy and many civil servants and
military personnel became amateur homeopaths. On the other hand, due to the efficacy and
affordability of the medicines, in the rural environment many school teachers also took to
reading the homeopathic materia medicas and prescribing to their village communities. In
1852 John Martin Hoenigberger, who was initiated into homeopathy by Hahnemann himself
in Paris in 1835, published a book which gave a glimpse of the beginning of Indian
homeopathic practice in Lahore, at the court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. In his chronicles, he
gives a vivid account of his successful treatment of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s chronic disease
of partial paralysis (Hoenigberger, 1852).
During the second half of the nineteenth century some homeopathic dispensaries were
opened in Bengal and in the south. The pioneer in this field in Calcutta was Rajendralal
Dutta (1818-1889). He belonged to a scholarly and aristocratic family of Bengal. He engaged
a French doctor, Dr. Tonnere, and placed him in charge of a homeopathic hospital and
Homeopathy: Treatment of Cancer with the Banerji Protocols 127
dispensary in Calcutta in 1852. Unfortunately, this venture failed. Subsequently Rajen Dutta
himself took up the cudgel and started practice in homeopathy. Among his illustrious
patients may be mentioned the great early social reformer Pandit Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar
and Raja Radhakanta Dev Bahadur. Rajen Dutta cured Pandit Vidyasagar of a migraine
which the conventional system had failed to cure. Furthermore the cure of a gangrenous
ulcer of Raja Radhakanta Dev Bahadur created a sensation in Calcutta at the time.
In order to strengthen the roots of homeopathic practice in India, Dutta looked around for a
suitable person of eminence. His efforts were crowned with success when he was able to
persuade Dr. Mahendralal Sircar, medical doctor and skeptic of homeopathy, to test its
scientific efficacy and curative potential. In his experiment, administration of homeopathic
medicines became effective even when Dr. Sircar's conventional medicine failed. Thus Dr.
Sircar became converted to homeopathy and carved a niche for it in the medical history of
India. A number of allopathic doctors started homeopathic practice following Sircar's lead.
The Calcutta Homeopathic Medical College, the first homeopathic medical college, was
established in 1881. This institution took on a major role in popularizing homeopathy in
India (Ghosh, 2010).
Gradually homeopathic dispensaries opened in other cities like Benares and Allahabad, and
by the beginning of the twentieth century homeopathy had spread all over India. In 1973,
the Government of India recognized homeopathy by setting up the Central Council of
Homeopathy (CCH) to regulate its education and practice. Now, only qualified registered
homeopaths can practice homeopathy in India. At present, in India, homeopathy is probably
the most popular system of medicine, due to the fact of its easy administration in the home
setting and its affordability.
4. Cancer and homeopathy
The role and efficacy of homeopathic medicines for treatment of malignant tumors is largely
unknown and unproven so far. Homeopathic therapy is mainly used for supportive cancer
care and some have suggested an integration of this therapy with conventional methods
(Kassab, et al., 2009). However, in numerous studies, it has been found that orthodox
medicine is not meeting the needs of some patients and that Complementary and
Alternative Medicine (CAM) may wholly or partly substitute for conventional medicines.
Most patients indicate that their problems improve with CAM (Ernst, 2005; Frenkel, 2010).
Cancer is a subject of great concern because there is a lack of effective treatment even in the
21st century. Along with a search for conventional solutions, researchers are actively trying
to identify treatment options offered by various systems of complementary and alternative
medicine, including homeopathy. We believe that the Banerji Protocols have an important
role to play in this effort.
A comprehensive worldwide survey of studies of the use of complementary and alternative
medicine by cancer patients concluded that its use is common and widespread. Within this
broad arena of therapies, homeopathy is consistently listed as one of the systems chosen by
patients with cancer (Ernst, 2000). A large descriptive survey of cancer patients in Europe
found that on average 35.9% were using some form of complementary or alternative
therapy. Homeopathy was the most commonly used of these therapies in Belgium and was
in the top five choices in six other countries. In other European countries, it was second only
128 A Compendium of Essays on Alternative Therapy
to herbal medicines. In France, a recent study in an oncology department revealed that 34%
of the patients were using complementary medicine and homeopathy was the most
frequently used of these (Träger-Maury, 2007). Homeopathy is one of the eight most
popular complementary therapies used by cancer patients in the UK (Chang, 2011).
A recently reported European study conducted a prospective one-year observational study
of cancer patients comparing one cohort of 259 patients under homeopathic treatment with a
matched cohort of 380 patients undergoing conventional treatment. Outcomes compared
included quality of life (QOL), fatigue, and anxiety/depression. The researchers found a
significant improvement in quality of life in the homeopathy group after three months and a
continued improvement after twelve months. The conventionally treated group had no
improvement in one QOL scale after three months and a slight improvement in the other
QOL scale; at twelve months there was a slight increase in one indicator and a decrease in
the other. Fatigue and anxiety/depression were not improved in the conventionally treated
group; fatigue but not anxiety/depression improved in the homeopathy group (Rostock, et
al., 2011). A meta-analysis of all clinical studies on cancer treatment outcomes using
homeopathy (Milazzo et al., 2006) found that all studies examined were investigating the
use of homeopathy for adjunctive symptom treatment, not as primary antitumor treatment.
There are a number of in vitro and in vivo studies, however, that have investigated the
antitumor activity of homeopathic medicines. In India, the laboratory of Khuda-Bukhsh has
reported a significant anti-tumor effect of homeopathically prepared Chelidonium and
Lycopodium (Banerji, A., et al., 2010; Pathak, S. et al., 2006). In America, several studies have
reported the in antitumor effect of five homeopathic remedies used for treatment of prostate
cancer. There was a 23% reduction in tumor incidence, and for animals with tumors, there
was a 38% reduction in tumor volume in homeopathy-treated animals versus controls
(Jonas, W.B., 2006). However, in another study there were no direct cellular anticancer
effects demonstrated in these researchers’ in vitro and in vivo studies (Thangapazham, R.L.,
2006). A third study examined in vivo effects on mice treated with homeopathically prepared
Sabal serrulata and clearly demonstrated a biologic response to homeopathic treatment as
manifested by cell proliferation and tumor growth. Two other homeopathic medicines
tested did not show similar anti-tumor effects (MacLaughlin, B.W., 2006). Another study
done in India reported that homeopathic drugs retarded liver tumor growth in mice and
reduced the incidence of chemically-induced sarcomas and also increased the life span of
mice harboring these tumors (Kumar, K.B., 2007). What we see in this review of laboratory
research of homeopathy is consistent reports of its effectiveness in slowing tumor growth in
mice without a clear mechanism of action being demonstrated.
Our own studies done in collaboration with American researchers at the M.D. Anderson
Cancer Center, University of Texas must be mentioned at this point, for they have
demonstrated plausible biological mechanisms for the antitumor effects of the homeopathic
medicines tested. In one report we described 15 patients diagnosed with documented
intracranial tumors who were treated exclusively with the homeopathic remedies Ruta
graveolens 6c and Calcarea phosphorica 3X without additional chemotherapy or radiation. Of
these 15 patients, six of the seven who had glioma showed complete regression of the
tumors. In this study we also reported that these medicines stimulated induction of
survival-signaling pathways in normal lymphocytes and induction of death-signaling
pathways in brain cancer cells. Cancer cell death was initiated by telomere erosion and
Homeopathy: Treatment of Cancer with the Banerji Protocols 129
completed through mitotic catastrophe events (Pathak, S., 2003). More recently we reported
a study of four homeopathic remedies that we use for treating breast cancer against two
human breast adenocarcinoma cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and a cell line derived
from immortalized normal human mammary epithelial cells. The remedies exerted
preferential cytotoxic effects against the two breast cancer cell lines, causing cell cycle
delay/arrest and apoptosis. These effects were accompanied by altered expression of the cell
cycle regulatory proteins, including downregulation of phosphorylated Rb and
upregulation of the CDK inhibitor p27, which were likely responsible for the cell cycle
delay/arrest as well as induction of the apoptotic cascade that manifested in the activation
of caspase 7 and cleavage of PARP in the treated cells (Frenkel, et al., 2010).
5. Evolution of the Banerji Protocols
Research in homeopathy and the introduction of Homeopathic medicinal mixtures in India
are due to the late Dr. Pareshnath Banerji, nephew of illustrious Pandit Ishwarchandra
Vidyasagar, who himself happened to be an ardent follower of homeopathy after his abovedescribed
cure. Dr. Banerji started his charitable clinic in a remote village, Mihijam, situated
in the border of Bihar in 1918 and soon became a legend. He achieved phenomenal success
against all kinds of disease. He could declare with certainty that he would cure both acute
and chronic conditions of innumerable common people, who congregated at his village
clinic seeking relief from all variety of illnesses. Treating his patients gratis, he naturally had
to deal with a vast number of patients every day. If he had followed the classical
homeopathic approach to case assessment, he would have been able to examine at most a
dozen patients a day. He found that about 80% of his patients suffering from common
ailments were curable by specific homeopathic remedies, making his clinical dispensation as
quick as lightning. For the remaining 20%, he gave the greatest importance to symptoms
narrated by the patients themselves. Thus he achieved success through sheer practical
experience. He did not always adhere to Hahnemann’s dictum of “Single simple and
minimum.” He did not mind prescribing mixtures of remedies or frequent repetitions of the
remedies when required.
5.1 The Banerji Protocols: What are they?
Homeopathy as a school of medicine is very young, only 200 years old. Our family has been
associated with it for over 150 years. It can be said that the Banerji Protocols are the fruit of a
cumulative experience and careful analysis of observed trends in patient – medicine interaction and
the translation of the same into a system of prescribing with a view to standardize and make easy the
practice of an extremely complex system of medicine using ultradilute medicines.
The use of specific medicines in specific potencies, in fixed dosage patterns, eliminates the
necessity for any guess work on the part of novice practitioners and is always a tremendous
help for even seasoned doctors. Our approach is more diagnostic than individualistic, i.e.
more objective than subjective. These protocols are easy to learn and since the focus is on the
diagnostic approach the case-taking time is shortened. That is why it is easy to disseminate
to medical students and the general public. In a short time more patients can be treated.
Consequently, it also makes the treatment affordable to the weaker sections of society,
making it “The People’s Medicine.” For any scientific medical system it is a rule that
130 A Compendium of Essays on Alternative Therapy
interventions should be repeated with almost the same result – meaning, a treatment should
have replicability - and the Banerji Protocols fulfill this criterion.
5.2 The Banerji Protocols (BP) in the treatment of cancer
In our clinic in Kolkata, India, an average patient turnout of 1000 to 1200 a day gives us a
clear perspective as to disease and treatment trends in the population we serve. We treat an
average of 10 to 15% of our patient turnout - 120 to 200 cancer cases a day – whose suffering
from this dreaded disease has helped us to formulate set protocols for their treatment. At
present, patients from more than seventy countries follow the Banerji Protocols for
treatment of their cancer through the website www.pbhrfindia.org, seeking online medical
advice and treatment. In our clinics we are privileged to have the opportunity to treat every
type of cancer and every stage of the disease. The majority of our patients opt to take only
our treatment without any conventional treatments and we also have patients who use our
medicines as adjunct therapy along with or after conventional treatments fail. We often also
have patients who come to us to seek relief from the various side-effects of conventional
chemotherapy and radiation. Our protocols for the different types of cancer are mostly
customized according to the location and tissue type, and the specific medicines, in their
specific dilutions and dosage patterns, have been standardized by us.
5.3 The Banerji cancer treatment protocols
The main objective we follow while taking on the treatment of our cancer cases is to provide
them with a better quality of life and, if possible, to provide a permanent cure. The Banerji
Protocols are designed taking into account the diagnosis as well as the various complaints
being suffered by the patients. We give a basic set of medicines to treat each cancer type and
have 1st line, 2nd line and in most scenarios 3rd line medicines already thought out and
designated. This is complemented by preset medicines to give palliative relief to the
suffering of the patients brought on by accompanying symptoms. This is the basis of the
Banerji Protocols, where quality of life is given paramount importance. The medicines that
we use for different types of cancer are listed in detail in Table 1, but require an insight into
cancer care for the practitioner in terms of pathology and the cause and effect of the morbid
situation affecting the individual.
Type of Cancer First line Second line Third line Related
Table 1. Banerji Protocols for treatment of selected cancers. One dose is 2 pills, tablets or
drops unless otherwise specified. In Europe, C is equivalent to CH or CK; X is equivalent to
D or DH.
Homeopathy: Treatment of Cancer with the Banerji Protocols 133
5.4 The data collection project of the PBHRF – A unique platform for the research
community
In our research foundation the main research activity consists of recording in our electronic
data base the treatment and response of all cases of various types of cancer and other lifethreatening
diseases treated at our clinics. To this end, we maintain a recently upgraded,
state-of-the-art computer network with a high-end server and five nodes. Our system also
has two stand-alones for internet access and image processing and storage. At present our
patient database running on customized software on Oracle and MS Visual Basic has more
than 20,000 cases inputted with more than half a million visits recorded. The data consists of
approximately 60 cancer types by site, including two cases of cancer of the heart. This data is
the epicenter of the PBHRF and makes us attractive to researchers from premiere
institutions throughout the world. Clinicians and researchers from many of these
institutions have visited our clinics for an insight into our way of treatment. This is an
ongoing research initiative that has been active since 2002, though due to our access to cases
prior to this date, we have been able to get a wider perspective from even earlier in our
experience.
At present, we are in the process of collaborating with researchers from the National Cancer
Institute of the United States with the desire to mine the data and use the information to
understand better the sphere of efficacy, as well as to fine tune our protocols.
5.5 Cancer treatment outcomes at PBHRF with the Banerji Protocols
In the six months prior to preparation of this manuscript, we saw a total of 1856 cancer cases
at PBHRF. Table 2 shows the types of cancer treated during this period.
TYPE OF CANCER % total cases # of cases
BRAIN 21% 385
LUNG 14% 260
BREAST 7% 129
GALL BLADDER 5% 98
STOMACH 5% 92
CERVIX 4% 71
ESOPHAGUS 4% 66
RECTUM 3% 55
TONGUE 3% 56
PANCREAS 2% 36
LIVER 2% 36
CHEEK 2% 35
PROSTATE 2% 31
OVARIAN 2% 31
NON HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA 2% 31
OSTEOSARCOMA 1% 10
OTHER 21% 434
TOTAL 100% 1856
Table 2. Types of cancer cases treated at PBHRF in 6-month period, 2010-2011
134 A Compendium of Essays on Alternative Therapy
Our overall aggregate retrospective data collected on over 20,000 patients with all varieties
of cancer treated over an 18-year period (Figure 1) reveals that 21% of the cancers
completely regressed, and 23% were improved or stable.
Fig. 1. Results of Treatment of 30,288 Malignant Tumor Cases (1990 – 2008)
Retrospective data collected over a one-year period on patients treated for lung, brain and
esophageal cancer showed that complete regressions ranged from 22 to 32% (Figure 2).
Fig. 2. Results of treatment of 1132 cases of lung, brain and esophageal cancers, August
2006-August 2007
6. Some case studies
We present below three cases, two of which, the lung cancer and the esophageal cancer case,
were submitted to the National Cancer Institute of the United States for validation of the
results, where they passed strict scrutiny and were presented before the Cancer Advisory
Panel.
6.1 Case 1 – Lung cancer
Male, 47 years old, came to the clinic on 30th November 1994. He was suffering from chest pain
with severe cough along with loss of weight for the last three months. On examination
restricted respiratory movement on the left side with few localized crepitations were present in
the upper part of the left chest. Chest X-ray dated the 18th of November 1994 showed “…a
Homeopathy: Treatment of Cancer with the Banerji Protocols 135
well-defined large soft tissue density mediastinal mass in the left upper mediastinum…the
lung fields are well expanded. Area of consolidation is seen in the left upper lobe.” (Figure 3)
Fig. 3. Case 1, Chest X-ray 18.11.1994
C.T. Scan of chest dated 19th November 1994 shows “an 8.0 cm x 6.4 cm well defined soft
tissue mass...in upper mediastinum in left side…with air space consolidation of adjacent left
upper lobe.” (Figure 4)
Fig. 4. Case 1, C.T. of chest 19.11.1994
C.T. Guided FNAC of mediastinal mass dated 24th of November 1994 showed “…malignant
tumor.” (Figure 5)
After undergoing treatment from us with the medicines Kali Carbonicum 200c two drops
thrice a week and Ferrum Phosphoricum 3x two tablets twice daily, patient became
asymptomatic. X-ray dated 31st of January 1995 showed “...considerable shrinkage in the
mediastinal mass...” (Figure 6).
136 A Compendium of Essays on Alternative Therapy
Fig. 5. Case 1, Histopathology 24.12.1994
Fig. 6. Case1, Chest X-ray 31.1.1995
X-ray dated 5th of July 1995 showed “….Gradual and excellent regression of the mediastinal
mass since original X-ray of 18 November 1994.” X-ray dated 9th January 1996 described
only a “...small residual opacity still present.”
At the National Cancer Institute it was described as a diagnosed case of Malignant
Neoplasm. According to TNM classification of the tumor in this case, the growth was T2,
N1, M0 – Stage II; if it was a case of metastasis from an unknown primary, then it would be
staged at Stage IV. Additional chest X-rays were done on several occasions. The last was on
7th of January 1999, which showed complete resolution of the mediastinal tumor (Figure 7).
There were no complications during treatment. We are still reviewing the case off and on
but there has been no recurrence.
6.2 Case 2 – Esophageal cancer
Male, aged 75 years, was suffering for two months with difficulty in swallowing food,
heartburn and belching, when he came to us for his treatment on 16th of December 1996.
Homeopathy: Treatment of Cancer with the Banerji Protocols 137
Clinically the patient presented with dysphagia, heartburn and belching. His initial barium
swallow showed almost complete obstruction of the esophagus, as shown in Figure 8.
Fig. 7. Case 1, Chest X-ray 7.1.1999
Fig. 8. Case 2, Barium swallow 17.10.1996
Endoscopy done on 29th November 1996 showed “…GE junction at 40cm. At 18 cm. is a
growth extending up to 22cm. causing luminal narrowing.” A biopsy dated 6th December
1996 showed “…moderately differentiated Squamous Cell Carcinoma” (Figure 9).
After undergoing treatment from us with the medicine Condurango 30c two drops twice
daily, the patient’s symptoms were resolved within two months. Now the patient is in good
health and does not complain of dysphagia. Post treatment barium swallow X-ray of
esophagus dated 12th July 1997 showed “…considerable improvement in the patency of the
esophagus” (Figure 10). There were no complications during treatment.
138 A Compendium of Essays on Alternative Therapy
Fig. 9. Case 2, biopsy 29.11.1996
Fig. 10. Case 2, Post-treatment barium swallow 12.7.1997
6.3 Case 3 – Osteosarcoma
Male, aged 8 years, was suffering for 5 to 6 months with swelling in left knee and difficulty in
flexing the knee, when he came to us for his treatment on 18th July 2003. On examination the
patient presented with a non tender, firm to hard swelling over the left knee joint. X-ray of left
knee joint dated 5th June 2003 showed “…a well defined eccentric lesion in metaphyses with
sclerosis at edges - ? fibrous cortical defect/aneurismal bone cyst/lymphoma…” (Figure 11).
The child underwent histopathological examination of the swelling and the report dated 12th
June 2003 showed “…Section shows histology of a high grade sarcomatous lesion showing
many mitotic figures…Poorly differentiated sarcomatous lesion…” (Figure 12). At that time
the parents of the child were advised at the Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata,
to allow immediate “…above the lesion amputation…” of the affected leg.
After undergoing treatment from us with the medicines Symphytum 200c two doses a day,
Calcarea Phosphorica 3X two doses a day and Carcinosin 30c one dose every alternate day,
Homeopathy: Treatment of Cancer with the Banerji Protocols 139
the swelling gradually subsided and now the architecture of the knee has completely
returned to normal. X-ray dated 16th December 2003 revealed “…gross healing at osteolytic
area...” (Figure 13).
Fig. 11. Case 3, X-ray 5.6.2003
Fig. 12. Case 3, Histopathology 12.6.2003
Fig. 13. Case 3, X-ray 16.12.2003
140 A Compendium of Essays on Alternative Therapy
Repeat X-ray dated 14th August 2004 showed “…remineralization seen at the lower third of
left femur...” (Figure 14). He then reduced the doses and discontinued our medication after
four months.
Fig. 14. Case 3, X-ray 14.8.2004
7. Worldwide interest in the Banerji Protocols
However, since 1997, there have been winds of change. It was this year when the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) of the United States asked us to produce records of our
successes as part of their Best Case Series programme for evaluating clinical data from
alternative healthcare practitioners. We submitted complete records of cured cases in
1997, and our presentation of cases was accepted after detailed scrutiny by the National
Cancer Institute (NCI) in 1999. Subsequently, we provided a six-hour presentation before
a 17-member Cancer Advisory Panel. This panel included cancer specialists from all the
leading American Comprehensive Cancer Centers, including the Washington Cancer
Institute, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, The Memorial Sloan
Kettering Cancer Center, and The Johns Hopkins Medical Center. The panel accepted our
presentation unanimously, and this was indeed a great victory for homeopathy (Banerji,
2008).
Since then we have had many visitors from the United States including: Dr. Jeffrey White,
MD, Director, Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Cancer
Institute; Dr. Moshe Frenkel, Associate Professor of Integrative Medicine and Medical
Director of the Integrative Medicine Program, Division of Cancer Medicine Department of
Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Texas M D Anderson
Cancer Center; Dr. Elena Ladas, MS, RD, Director, and Dr. Kara M. Kelly, MD, Medical
Director of the Integrative Therapies Program for Children with Cancer, Division of
Pediatric Oncology, and others from Columbia University; and Dr. Barbara Sarter, now at
the University of San Diego, who spent five months in Kolkata to study the Banerji Protocols
and work with us when she held a faculty position in the Department of Family Medicine at
the University of Southern California; she has a long background in conventional medicine,
and also a degree in classical homeopathy.
Homeopathy: Treatment of Cancer with the Banerji Protocols 141
An important aspect of the PBHRF’s activities is research, and under its banner,
Drs. Banerji have been involved in recent years in collaborative research projects with
American institutes of international renown which include the University of Texas M. D.
Anderson Cancer Center, Columbia University, and the University of Kansas Medical
Center. Since 1977, Drs. Banerji have been invited to a large number of prestigious
international conferences, symposia, seminars and meetings to deliver lectures, present
papers, or discuss important aspects of their work. Patients from more than 70 countries at
present follow the Banerji Protocols through the website www.pbhrfindia.org, seeking
online medical advice and treatment.
Spain has assumed great importance for our work in recent years. In 2008, a threemember
cancer support team from Spain undertook a week-long visit to PBHRF to
acquire firsthand knowledge about the Banerji Protocols; two hold senior positions at the
University of Barcelona, while the third runs a Valencia-based web portal for cancer
support, which is visited by nearly 1000 persons daily, not only in Spain, but also in
Spanish-speaking countries elsewhere in the world – with many enquiries on the Banerji
Protocols.
The response of Spanish homeopaths, pharmacists and patients to the Banerji Protocols has
been extremely enthusiastic. In 2008, Drs. Banerji made a presentation at a conference
exclusively for classical homeopaths who enthusiastically welcomed the Banerji Protocols. A
documentary film on Dr. Prasanta Banerji is now being made by two Spanish documentary
film makers who have undertaken visits to Kolkata and Mihijam.
In 2009, Drs. Banerji visited Japan twice, and there are excellent prospects for the
popularization of treatment in this country using the Banerji Protocols. They are scheduled
to visit again by invitation from the Royal Academy of Homeopathy, for more seminars in
October 2011.
8. Conclusion: Winds of change
Compared to conventional medicine, homeopathy has always suffered from a lack of
credibility and recognition the world over, having been acceptable only to those who cannot
afford the high costs of conventional medical treatment. However, since 1977, there have
been winds of change. There has, on the one hand, been a perceptible lack of success of
conventional medicine to cure various ailments and diseases – notably cancer - and, on the
other, the serious – and growing – concern of researchers to identify options for medical
treatment offered by various streams of alternative medicine, including homeopathy. It is
here that the Banerji Protocols of treatment, based on the use of homeopathic medicines,
have had an important role to play. Dr. Prasanta Banerji and Dr. Pratip Banerji, along with
their assistants, together attend 1000 to 1200 patients every day, including 300 to 400
patients at their free clinic, in Kolkata. By so doing, they keep up the tradition of their
revered forefathers, help make the Banerji Protocols a mode of medical treatment for the
masses – the second important objective of the PBHRF — and ensure the collection,
documentation and use in meaningful research in the years to come. The operations of the
PBHRF and the development of the Banerji Protocols have been giving homeopathy a
scientific basis and making it eligible for scientific research.
142 A Compendium of Essays on Alternative Therapy
8.1 Looking at the future
To meaningfully serve medical science and humanity, homeopathy required a rebirth.
Perhaps nothing can provide this better than the Banerji Protocols and the work of the
PBHRF, both aimed at making homeopathy with the use of the Banerji Protocols
scientifically acceptable.
Opposition to the Banerji Protocols and the work of the PBHRF from the scientific
community and followers of classical homeopathy notwithstanding, everything augurs well
for the rebirth of homeopathy. Much is required to make the Banerji Protocols and the role
of the PBHRF known everywhere in the world.
9. Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the contributions of the following: Dr. Barbara Sarter, PhD, RN,
FNP-C, DIHom, Associate Professor, Advanced Practice Programs, Hahn School of
Nursing and Health Science, University of San Diego, for her help in writing the
manuscript as well as editing the same and making it presentable for publication. This
could not have been done without her help. Dr. Aminul Islam, PhD, Department of
Zoology, K. C. College, Hetampur, Birbhum, West Bengal, India, for help in collecting
information on cancer and alternative medicines. Dr. Apurba Dey, MD(Hom), of the
PBHRF, for his diligent editing of the case studies. The assistant doctors of our clinics,
who help us to optimize the care rendered to the suffering masses of patients who visit us,
lightening our burden sufficiently so that we could apply our minds to this chapter. The
patients, the ultimate teachers, who due to the privilege they have accorded us by
allowing us to treat them, have taught us the way to fine tune treatments and arrive at the
Banerji Protocols for every possible disease.
10. References
Banerjee, A., Pathak, S., Biswas, S. J., Roy-Karmakar, S., Boujedaini, N., Belon, P. (2010).
Chelidonium majus 30C and 200C in induced hepato-toxicity in rats. [Research
Support, Non-U.S. Gov't]. Homeopathy: the Journal of the Faculty of Homeopathy, 99(3),
167-176
Banerji, P., Campbell, D. R., Banerji, P., Campbell, D. R., & Banerji, P. (2008). Cancer
patients treated with the Banerji protocols utilising homoeopathic medicine: a
Best Case Series Program of the National Cancer Institute USA. Oncology Reports,
20(1), 69-74
Becker-Witt, C., Lüdtke, R., Weißhuhn, T., & Willich, S. (2004). Diagnoses and Treatment
in Homeopathic Medica Practice. Forsch Komplementärmed Klass Naturheilkd, 11,
98-103
Chang, K. H., Brodie, R., Choong, M. A., & Sweeney, K. J. (2011). Complementary and
alternative medicine use in oncology: A questionnaire survey of patients and health
care professionals. Biomed Central Cancer, 11, 196
Ernst, E. (2000). The role of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Cancer. Lancet
Oncology, 1, 176 – 180
Ernst, E. (2005). Why Alternative medicines are used. Pharmaceutical Journals, 275, 55
Homeopathy: Treatment of Cancer with the Banerji Protocols 143
Frenkel, M. Homeopathy in cancer care. Altern Ther Health Med, 16, 12 – 16
Frenkel, M., Mishra, B. M., Sen, S., Yang, P., Pawlus, A., Vence, L., et al. (2010). Cytotoxic
effects of ultra-diluted remedies on breast cancer cells. International Journal of
Oncology, 36(2), 395-403
Ghosh, A. K. (2010). A short history of the development of homeopathy in India.
Homeopathy, 99(2), 130-136
Hahnemann, S. (1982). Organon of Medicine (J. Kunzli, Trans.). Los Angeles: J. P. Tarcher
Hobhouse, R. (2002). Life of Christian Samuel Hahnemann. New Delhi: B. Jain
Honigberger, J. M. (1852). Thirty-five years in the East: Adventures, discoveries, etc., relating to
the Punjab and Cashmere; in connection with medicine, botany, pharmacy, &c. Vol. 1-2.
Boston: Harvard University.
Kassab S, et. al. (2009). Homeopathic medicines for adverse effects of cancer treatments.
Cochrane Database Systematic Reviews. 2:CD004845
Kumar, K. B., Sunila, E. S., Kuttan, G., Preethi, K. C., Venugopal, C. N., Kuttan, R., et al.
(2007). Inhibition of chemically induced carcinogenesis by drugs used in
homeopathic medicine. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention: Apjcp, 8(1), 98-
102
MacLaughlin, B. W., Gutsmuths, B., Pretner, E., Jonas, W. B., Ives, J., Kulawardane, D. V., et
al. (2006). Effects of homeopathic preparations on human prostate cancer growth in
cellular and animal models. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 5(4), 362-372
Marino, R. (2008). Homeopathy and Collective Health: The Case of Dengue Epidemics.
International Journal of High Dilution Research, 7(25)
Milazzo, S., Russell, N., & Ernst, E. (2006). Efficacy of homeopathic therapy in cancer
treatment. Eur J Cancer, 42, 282 – 289
Pathak, S., Kumar Das, J., Jyoti Biswas, S., Khuda-Bukhsh, A. R., Pathak, S., Kumar Das, J., et
al. (2006). Protective potentials of a potentized homeopathic drug, Lycopodium-30,
in ameliorating azo dye induced hepatocarcinogenesis in mice. Molecular & Cellular
Biochemistry, 285(1-2), 121-131
Pathak, S., M
Homeopathy: Treatment of Cancer
with the Banerji Protocols
Prasanta Banerji and Pratip Banerji
Prasanta Banerji Homeopathic Research Foundation,
India
1. Introduction
Looking back into the history of mankind, one is often startled to find the emergence of
some outstanding personalities at different intervals of time. Their thoughts and futuristic
viewpoints revolutionized the existing perspective in the fields of science, philosophy and
social order. The embodiment of such a personality in the field of medicine was Samuel
Christian Friedrich Hahnemann, the father of homeopathy. He was born on the 10th April
1755 in the small town of Meissen, near Dresden in Germany. A doctor in the conventional
medicine of his time, by 1790 he was recognized as one of the most distinguished physicians
of his generation and was appointed physician to the king. Soon however, he became
dissatisfied with contemporary medical ideas and the often cruel practices that ensued, as
well as the drugs being prescribed. He realized that many of these medicines owed their
pride of place in the Materia Medica due to their very biologically active nature, which
could easily occasion death or produce new diseases on whomever they were applied.
Disillusioned, Hahnemann renounced his practice of medicine. While engaged in translating
a treatise on herbal medicine, he felt dissatisfied with the explanation given for the cure of
malarial fever by giving cinchona bark. He took the drug himself in order to investigate the
changes induced by it on his healthy system. Peculiarly, the symptoms of malaria made
their appearance in him, one after the other, but without the chilly rigor. This reminded him
of Hippocrates’ aphorism, “Similia similibus curentur,” meaning “Let likes be cured by likes”
(Hobhouse, 2002).
Hahnemann felt convinced that the drug, which was the best agent to cure malarial fever,
produced in him the initial symptoms of that fever. He then investigated the action, on
healthy human beings, of as many as 50 more drugs over a period of six years. He recorded
the symptoms produced, and compared them with the symptoms of diseases against which
they were used successfully.
1.1 What is homeopathy?
In 1776, Hahnemann published the results of his findings in a paper entitled “Essay on the
new principle for ascertaining the curative power of drugs.” In this, he postulated the most
important principle of homeopathy, stating, “Every powerful medicinal substance produces in
the human body a kind of peculiar disease, the more powerful the medicine, the more particularly
124 A Compendium of Essays on Alternative Therapy
marked and violent the disease. We should imitate nature, which sometimes cures a chronic disease,
by superadding another, and employ in the disease (especially chronic) we wish to cure, that medicine
which is able to produce another very similar artificial disease, and the former will be cured similia
similibus.” In 1810, he published The Organon of the Rational Art of Healing, his greatest book,
wherein he elucidated systematically the methods and principles of a system of medical
treatment to which he had given the name of “Homeopathy” (Hahnemann, 1982).
The homeopathic approach is holistic, that is, while treating a patient a homeopath will
consider not only the disease, but the whole constitution of the patient. The patient is treated
as a whole. To know about homeopathy we should know what “individualization” and
“similimum” mean because these two are the basic tenets on which selection of homeopathic
medicines depends, as practised and taught from the time of Hahnemann.
What is “individualization”? Every individual person is different from the other physically,
mentally, constitutionally and in their likes and dislikes. In general, we may find some
persons alike, but all individuals have their own special features. “Similimum” means the
most similar medicine as per symptoms narrated by a patient. After noting down the
symptoms of a patient the physician thinks of a few medicines out of which he finds one
medicine which appears to be the most similar to the symptoms narrated, considering the
mental and constitutional status for that particular individual. In classical homeopathy only
a single medicine is given in a single dose and then the patient is observed for his/her
response.
Classical homeopathy has, therefore, no specific remedy for any disease by name, but it has
specificity for each individual case of disease. A specific drug cannot be used for a specific
disease. In general, when a homeopathic physician examines a patient, only a few medicines
come to his mind. This small group of medicines exhibits similar symptoms when given to
healthy subjects for pharmacological testing (a process called “proving.”.. Finally only one is
selected as a result of practical experience and this procedure requires a long and intense
interrogation of the patient. In an interesting study of homeopathic diagnosis and treatment, it
was shown that a typical classical homeopathic initial consultation took 117 +/- 43 minutes for
each adult patient and 86 +/- 36 minutes for each child patient. Theoretically there should be
only one such medicine considering the entirety of the patient (Becker-Witt, et. al., 2004).
The homeopathic drug is not administered in usual pharmacological doses, but in minute
doses prepared according to certain principles. These medicines are produced using various
plant extracts, salts, animal products, minerals etc. and then diluting the extracted mother
tincture or the crude materials, per pharmacopoeial methods. These solutions are serially
diluted and succussed (agitated) until the desired potency is produced. Greater dilution
leads to greater potency of the medicine. The crude or slightly diluted extract when ingested
by healthy volunteers produces symptom complexes that mimic various diseases. The
symptoms produced and recorded are a result of the dynamic action of drugs on healthy
volunteers or “provers.” The symptoms produced by the drug in provers are exactly what
the potentized medicine is prescribed for in the sick.
1.2 The central problem of classical homeopathy
Although classical homeopaths believe that the above-described method of selecting
medicines is essential to the worth of their medical system, the central problem is, whether a
Homeopathy: Treatment of Cancer with the Banerji Protocols 125
correct similimum can be selected by such a method of individualization. The subjective
symptoms elicited in the typical two-hour initial consultation are often “lost in the
translation.”Thus, should a patient be examined separately by different homeopaths on the
same day, he will be perplexed to find that none of them seem to agree as to the so-called
“similimum.” Then how can individualization be explained logically and used to benefit the
suffering population? Do all the medicines suggested by various homeopaths for a patient
behave as a similimum for that particular case? Obviously not! Then what is the solution to
this central question of how the correct medicine should be determined? The answer is to
rationalize the selection of medicines based on previous experience and experimentation
and to develop routine treatment protocols following a scientific method for selecting
medicines. Another practical problem may be mentioned here. If a homeopath examines six
or eight cases daily, he may have to charge high fees from each individual patient for
maintenance. This will put homeopathy out of reach to the suffering population who really
need it. At the same time, with such a small number of patients, a homeopath hardly gets
enough clinical experience to become a true physician. It is common knowledge that
experience makes a doctor.
Scientific validation of the efficacy of homeopathic medicines, which are nontoxic and
inexpensive - making them ideal as “the People’s Medicine” - has been stalled due to the
inability to conduct clinical trials using standardized treatment protocols with these
medicines. The true healing potential of homeopathy, then, has been repeatedly challenged
and denied by mainstream medicine because of this problem. Thus, this system of medicine
is at risk of being delegated to the archives of history.
1.3 The Banerji Protocols
In the clinics of our research foundation,, we do not practice classical homeopathy. We have
developed a method of treatment in which specific medicines are prescribed for specific
diseases. Diseases are diagnosed using modern state-of-the-art scientific methods. This is
done because modern diagnostic approaches incorporate and help in the selection of
medicines so that specific medicines can be easily prescribed for specific diseases. With the
passage of time and the availability of new diagnostic tools like ultrasonography, magnetic
resonance imaging, cancer biomarkers and other advanced tests, we have been able to
further streamline the treatment protocols. The efficacy of this approach is reflected by the
encouraging results of our new method of treatment, which we call the “Banerji Protocols.”
We often combine two potentized medicines and use the combination in our practice. This
combination of two potentized medicines is made in a meaningful way based on years of
clinical observations by us. Medicines are combined for special advantages in treatment, so
that the aggravation due to the medicines can be checked, side effects of the medicines
abated, and quick and uneventful recovery can be ensured in a much shorter time. We will
discuss the Banerji Protocols in more depth later in this chapter.
2. The global use of homeopathy
Homeopathy currently is used in over 80 countries around the world. In several countries
including India, Mexico, Brazil and the UK homeopathy is integrated into the healthcare
systems. In the United States, homeopathic remedies are regulated as nonprescription
126 A Compendium of Essays on Alternative Therapy
drugs, which give them a unique status over other natural therapies and supplements.
Homeopathy is very popular in the UK, where the Royal Family has had homeopathic
physicians since the 1830s. In England, as many as 45% of conventional MDs refer patients
to homeopaths and the treatment is part of the National Health Scheme (NHS). In France,
40% of the population use homeopathy. Thirty thousand French doctors use homeopathic
medicines, there are twenty thousand pharmacies providing them, and 32% of French
family physicians use homeopathy. In Italy, homeopathy is the most popular alternative
therapy, used by 86% of the population. In Germany 25% of family physicians use
homeopathy, and non-MD homeopaths are eligible for licensure and until recently were
reimbursed by the National Health System. Nine million people use homeopathy in Brazil.
In 1985, homeopathy was included among the therapeutic options offered at the outpatient
facilities of the Brazilian public health system. Fifteen thousand Brazilian doctors practice
homeopathy (Marino, 2008).
In Asia, the homeopathic medical system is very popular, especially in India, Pakistan and
Sri Lanka. The epoch-making statement of Mahatma Gandhi, "Homeopathy.... cures a larger
percentage of cases than any other method of treatment and is beyond doubt safer and more
economical and most complete medical science,” added another feather to the cap of
homeopathy. In India today there are 162 degree colleges teaching homeopathy and the
largest pool of homeopaths in the world – over 200,000 doctors practice homeopathy. About
100 million people use homeopathy (Ghosh, 2010; Singh, 2005). This is a very conservative
estimate because in the 1950ss and 1960s there were not many conventional doctors
available for the treatment of the masses. In that era, most village school masters and
scholars educated themselves in this economical and easy to administer treatment form.
Thus homeopathy had a much further reach amongst the general population than
conventional medicine. Of India’s 1.16 billion population, approximately 70% live in villages
and rural areas, where access to expensive conventional medical facilities is limited (World
Health Organization, 2006).
3. History of homeopathy in India
Seen through the mist of years, the early history of the advent of homeopathy in India is a
fascinating episode. As early as 1810, some German missionaries landed in Bengal. They
used to distribute homeopathic remedies among the poor people to alleviate their
sufferings. Slowly the elite of society recognized its efficacy and many civil servants and
military personnel became amateur homeopaths. On the other hand, due to the efficacy and
affordability of the medicines, in the rural environment many school teachers also took to
reading the homeopathic materia medicas and prescribing to their village communities. In
1852 John Martin Hoenigberger, who was initiated into homeopathy by Hahnemann himself
in Paris in 1835, published a book which gave a glimpse of the beginning of Indian
homeopathic practice in Lahore, at the court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. In his chronicles, he
gives a vivid account of his successful treatment of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s chronic disease
of partial paralysis (Hoenigberger, 1852).
During the second half of the nineteenth century some homeopathic dispensaries were
opened in Bengal and in the south. The pioneer in this field in Calcutta was Rajendralal
Dutta (1818-1889). He belonged to a scholarly and aristocratic family of Bengal. He engaged
a French doctor, Dr. Tonnere, and placed him in charge of a homeopathic hospital and
Homeopathy: Treatment of Cancer with the Banerji Protocols 127
dispensary in Calcutta in 1852. Unfortunately, this venture failed. Subsequently Rajen Dutta
himself took up the cudgel and started practice in homeopathy. Among his illustrious
patients may be mentioned the great early social reformer Pandit Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar
and Raja Radhakanta Dev Bahadur. Rajen Dutta cured Pandit Vidyasagar of a migraine
which the conventional system had failed to cure. Furthermore the cure of a gangrenous
ulcer of Raja Radhakanta Dev Bahadur created a sensation in Calcutta at the time.
In order to strengthen the roots of homeopathic practice in India, Dutta looked around for a
suitable person of eminence. His efforts were crowned with success when he was able to
persuade Dr. Mahendralal Sircar, medical doctor and skeptic of homeopathy, to test its
scientific efficacy and curative potential. In his experiment, administration of homeopathic
medicines became effective even when Dr. Sircar's conventional medicine failed. Thus Dr.
Sircar became converted to homeopathy and carved a niche for it in the medical history of
India. A number of allopathic doctors started homeopathic practice following Sircar's lead.
The Calcutta Homeopathic Medical College, the first homeopathic medical college, was
established in 1881. This institution took on a major role in popularizing homeopathy in
India (Ghosh, 2010).
Gradually homeopathic dispensaries opened in other cities like Benares and Allahabad, and
by the beginning of the twentieth century homeopathy had spread all over India. In 1973,
the Government of India recognized homeopathy by setting up the Central Council of
Homeopathy (CCH) to regulate its education and practice. Now, only qualified registered
homeopaths can practice homeopathy in India. At present, in India, homeopathy is probably
the most popular system of medicine, due to the fact of its easy administration in the home
setting and its affordability.
4. Cancer and homeopathy
The role and efficacy of homeopathic medicines for treatment of malignant tumors is largely
unknown and unproven so far. Homeopathic therapy is mainly used for supportive cancer
care and some have suggested an integration of this therapy with conventional methods
(Kassab, et al., 2009). However, in numerous studies, it has been found that orthodox
medicine is not meeting the needs of some patients and that Complementary and
Alternative Medicine (CAM) may wholly or partly substitute for conventional medicines.
Most patients indicate that their problems improve with CAM (Ernst, 2005; Frenkel, 2010).
Cancer is a subject of great concern because there is a lack of effective treatment even in the
21st century. Along with a search for conventional solutions, researchers are actively trying
to identify treatment options offered by various systems of complementary and alternative
medicine, including homeopathy. We believe that the Banerji Protocols have an important
role to play in this effort.
A comprehensive worldwide survey of studies of the use of complementary and alternative
medicine by cancer patients concluded that its use is common and widespread. Within this
broad arena of therapies, homeopathy is consistently listed as one of the systems chosen by
patients with cancer (Ernst, 2000). A large descriptive survey of cancer patients in Europe
found that on average 35.9% were using some form of complementary or alternative
therapy. Homeopathy was the most commonly used of these therapies in Belgium and was
in the top five choices in six other countries. In other European countries, it was second only
128 A Compendium of Essays on Alternative Therapy
to herbal medicines. In France, a recent study in an oncology department revealed that 34%
of the patients were using complementary medicine and homeopathy was the most
frequently used of these (Träger-Maury, 2007). Homeopathy is one of the eight most
popular complementary therapies used by cancer patients in the UK (Chang, 2011).
A recently reported European study conducted a prospective one-year observational study
of cancer patients comparing one cohort of 259 patients under homeopathic treatment with a
matched cohort of 380 patients undergoing conventional treatment. Outcomes compared
included quality of life (QOL), fatigue, and anxiety/depression. The researchers found a
significant improvement in quality of life in the homeopathy group after three months and a
continued improvement after twelve months. The conventionally treated group had no
improvement in one QOL scale after three months and a slight improvement in the other
QOL scale; at twelve months there was a slight increase in one indicator and a decrease in
the other. Fatigue and anxiety/depression were not improved in the conventionally treated
group; fatigue but not anxiety/depression improved in the homeopathy group (Rostock, et
al., 2011). A meta-analysis of all clinical studies on cancer treatment outcomes using
homeopathy (Milazzo et al., 2006) found that all studies examined were investigating the
use of homeopathy for adjunctive symptom treatment, not as primary antitumor treatment.
There are a number of in vitro and in vivo studies, however, that have investigated the
antitumor activity of homeopathic medicines. In India, the laboratory of Khuda-Bukhsh has
reported a significant anti-tumor effect of homeopathically prepared Chelidonium and
Lycopodium (Banerji, A., et al., 2010; Pathak, S. et al., 2006). In America, several studies have
reported the in antitumor effect of five homeopathic remedies used for treatment of prostate
cancer. There was a 23% reduction in tumor incidence, and for animals with tumors, there
was a 38% reduction in tumor volume in homeopathy-treated animals versus controls
(Jonas, W.B., 2006). However, in another study there were no direct cellular anticancer
effects demonstrated in these researchers’ in vitro and in vivo studies (Thangapazham, R.L.,
2006). A third study examined in vivo effects on mice treated with homeopathically prepared
Sabal serrulata and clearly demonstrated a biologic response to homeopathic treatment as
manifested by cell proliferation and tumor growth. Two other homeopathic medicines
tested did not show similar anti-tumor effects (MacLaughlin, B.W., 2006). Another study
done in India reported that homeopathic drugs retarded liver tumor growth in mice and
reduced the incidence of chemically-induced sarcomas and also increased the life span of
mice harboring these tumors (Kumar, K.B., 2007). What we see in this review of laboratory
research of homeopathy is consistent reports of its effectiveness in slowing tumor growth in
mice without a clear mechanism of action being demonstrated.
Our own studies done in collaboration with American researchers at the M.D. Anderson
Cancer Center, University of Texas must be mentioned at this point, for they have
demonstrated plausible biological mechanisms for the antitumor effects of the homeopathic
medicines tested. In one report we described 15 patients diagnosed with documented
intracranial tumors who were treated exclusively with the homeopathic remedies Ruta
graveolens 6c and Calcarea phosphorica 3X without additional chemotherapy or radiation. Of
these 15 patients, six of the seven who had glioma showed complete regression of the
tumors. In this study we also reported that these medicines stimulated induction of
survival-signaling pathways in normal lymphocytes and induction of death-signaling
pathways in brain cancer cells. Cancer cell death was initiated by telomere erosion and
Homeopathy: Treatment of Cancer with the Banerji Protocols 129
completed through mitotic catastrophe events (Pathak, S., 2003). More recently we reported
a study of four homeopathic remedies that we use for treating breast cancer against two
human breast adenocarcinoma cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and a cell line derived
from immortalized normal human mammary epithelial cells. The remedies exerted
preferential cytotoxic effects against the two breast cancer cell lines, causing cell cycle
delay/arrest and apoptosis. These effects were accompanied by altered expression of the cell
cycle regulatory proteins, including downregulation of phosphorylated Rb and
upregulation of the CDK inhibitor p27, which were likely responsible for the cell cycle
delay/arrest as well as induction of the apoptotic cascade that manifested in the activation
of caspase 7 and cleavage of PARP in the treated cells (Frenkel, et al., 2010).
5. Evolution of the Banerji Protocols
Research in homeopathy and the introduction of Homeopathic medicinal mixtures in India
are due to the late Dr. Pareshnath Banerji, nephew of illustrious Pandit Ishwarchandra
Vidyasagar, who himself happened to be an ardent follower of homeopathy after his abovedescribed
cure. Dr. Banerji started his charitable clinic in a remote village, Mihijam, situated
in the border of Bihar in 1918 and soon became a legend. He achieved phenomenal success
against all kinds of disease. He could declare with certainty that he would cure both acute
and chronic conditions of innumerable common people, who congregated at his village
clinic seeking relief from all variety of illnesses. Treating his patients gratis, he naturally had
to deal with a vast number of patients every day. If he had followed the classical
homeopathic approach to case assessment, he would have been able to examine at most a
dozen patients a day. He found that about 80% of his patients suffering from common
ailments were curable by specific homeopathic remedies, making his clinical dispensation as
quick as lightning. For the remaining 20%, he gave the greatest importance to symptoms
narrated by the patients themselves. Thus he achieved success through sheer practical
experience. He did not always adhere to Hahnemann’s dictum of “Single simple and
minimum.” He did not mind prescribing mixtures of remedies or frequent repetitions of the
remedies when required.
5.1 The Banerji Protocols: What are they?
Homeopathy as a school of medicine is very young, only 200 years old. Our family has been
associated with it for over 150 years. It can be said that the Banerji Protocols are the fruit of a
cumulative experience and careful analysis of observed trends in patient – medicine interaction and
the translation of the same into a system of prescribing with a view to standardize and make easy the
practice of an extremely complex system of medicine using ultradilute medicines.
The use of specific medicines in specific potencies, in fixed dosage patterns, eliminates the
necessity for any guess work on the part of novice practitioners and is always a tremendous
help for even seasoned doctors. Our approach is more diagnostic than individualistic, i.e.
more objective than subjective. These protocols are easy to learn and since the focus is on the
diagnostic approach the case-taking time is shortened. That is why it is easy to disseminate
to medical students and the general public. In a short time more patients can be treated.
Consequently, it also makes the treatment affordable to the weaker sections of society,
making it “The People’s Medicine.” For any scientific medical system it is a rule that
130 A Compendium of Essays on Alternative Therapy
interventions should be repeated with almost the same result – meaning, a treatment should
have replicability - and the Banerji Protocols fulfill this criterion.
5.2 The Banerji Protocols (BP) in the treatment of cancer
In our clinic in Kolkata, India, an average patient turnout of 1000 to 1200 a day gives us a
clear perspective as to disease and treatment trends in the population we serve. We treat an
average of 10 to 15% of our patient turnout - 120 to 200 cancer cases a day – whose suffering
from this dreaded disease has helped us to formulate set protocols for their treatment. At
present, patients from more than seventy countries follow the Banerji Protocols for
treatment of their cancer through the website www.pbhrfindia.org, seeking online medical
advice and treatment. In our clinics we are privileged to have the opportunity to treat every
type of cancer and every stage of the disease. The majority of our patients opt to take only
our treatment without any conventional treatments and we also have patients who use our
medicines as adjunct therapy along with or after conventional treatments fail. We often also
have patients who come to us to seek relief from the various side-effects of conventional
chemotherapy and radiation. Our protocols for the different types of cancer are mostly
customized according to the location and tissue type, and the specific medicines, in their
specific dilutions and dosage patterns, have been standardized by us.
5.3 The Banerji cancer treatment protocols
The main objective we follow while taking on the treatment of our cancer cases is to provide
them with a better quality of life and, if possible, to provide a permanent cure. The Banerji
Protocols are designed taking into account the diagnosis as well as the various complaints
being suffered by the patients. We give a basic set of medicines to treat each cancer type and
have 1st line, 2nd line and in most scenarios 3rd line medicines already thought out and
designated. This is complemented by preset medicines to give palliative relief to the
suffering of the patients brought on by accompanying symptoms. This is the basis of the
Banerji Protocols, where quality of life is given paramount importance. The medicines that
we use for different types of cancer are listed in detail in Table 1, but require an insight into
cancer care for the practitioner in terms of pathology and the cause and effect of the morbid
situation affecting the individual.
Type of Cancer First line Second line Third line Related
Symptoms
Symptomatic
treatment
Brain Ruta
graveolens
6C, 2xday
Calcarea phos
3X, 2xday
Seizures,
headache
Arnica montana
3C + Cuprum
metallicum 6C
Confusion Helleborus 30C
liq. 2xday
Cerebral edema Lycopodium liq.
30C 2xday
Hemoptysis Ferrum phos 3X 5
tablets SOS
Pleural effusion Lycopodium 30C
liq. 3xday
Homeopathy: Treatment of Cancer with the Banerji Protocols 131
Type of Cancer First line Second line Third line Related
Symptoms
Symptomatic
treatment
Breast cancer Phytolacca
200C 2xday
Carcinosin
30C, on
alternate
night
Phytolacca
200C 2xday
Carcinosin
30C, on
alternate night
Conium
maculatum 3C,
2xday
Stop the above
medication and
start with a new
protocol
Thuja
occidentalis.
30C, 2xday
In agressive
open ulcer with
offensive
discharge
Psorinum 1000c
on alternate
morning and
Antimonium
crudum 200c
+
Arsenicum
album 200c
4xday
Esophageal
carcinoma
Condurango
30C liq. 4xday
Nitric Acid 3C
liq. 2xday
Carbo animalis
200C liq. 2xday
Staphysagria
30C liq. 6xday
Prostate cancer Thuja occ.
30C 4xday
Carcinosin
30C, on
alternate
night
Medorrhi-num
200C 2xday
Cantharis 200C
2xday
Conium mac.
1000C liq.
1xweek
Sabal serrulata
Q liq. 2xday
Carcinosin
30C,alter-nate
nights
Hematuria Geranium
maculatum Q liq.
3xday
If this fails then
Hamamelis
virginica Q liq.
4xday
Prostate (cont’d) Dysuria Chimaphila
umbellata Q liq.
every 1to 2 hours
Pancreas cancer Carduus mar.
Q liq. &
Conium mac.
3C liq.
every 3 hours
alternately
Chelidonium
majus 6X liq.
3xday
Hydrastis Q
liq. &
Chelidon-ium
6X liq.
every three
hours
alternately
Liver cancer Hydrastis
canadensis Q
liq. &
Chelidon-ium
majus 6X liq.
every 3 hours
alternately
Conium
maculatum
3C, 2xday
Myrica Q liq. &
Hydrastis
canadensis Q
liq.
every 3 hours
alternately
Carduus
marianus Q
liq. 2xday
Rectal cancer Nitric acid 3C
liq. 6xday
Hydrastis 200C
&
Mercurius
solubilis 200C,
every 3 hours
alternately
Thuja occ. 30C
2xday
Involuntary
stool
Veratrum album
200c every 3
hours
132 A Compendium of Essays on Alternative Therapy
Type of Cancer First line Second line Third line Related
Symptoms
Symptomatic
treatment
Stomach cancer
Stomach (cont’d)
Arsenicum
alb. 3C liq. 15
minutes
before food.
plus
Hydrastis Q
liq. 2xday
Conium
maculatum 3C,
2xday
Hydrastis Q
2xday
Uterus,
Cervix,Ovary
and Appendages
cancer
Carbo
animalis
200C, 3xday
Arnica
montana 3C,
3xday
Kreosotum
200C, 4xday
Kreosotum
200C, 4xday
Conium
maculatum 3C,
2xday
Osteosarcoma Symphy-tum
offic. 200C, &
Calcarea phos
3X, every
3 hours
alternately
Carcinosin
30C, on
alternate
nights
Ruta
graveolens
200C,
&
Calcarea
phosphorica
3X, every
3 hours
alternately
Colon cancer Hydrastis Q
liq.
&
Nitric acid 3C
liq.
every 3 hours
alternately
Conium
maculatum 3C
&
Hydrastis 200C
every 3 hours
alternately
Carbo animalis
200C, 4xday
Ferrum phos 3X
+ Calcarea
Fluorica 3X ,
2xday
Bleeding per
rectum
Hamamelis
Virginica Q liq.
SOS after every
bleeding
Palpable lump
in abdomen
Conium
maculatum 3C
liq. 1xweek
Throat cancer –
pyriform fossa
and allied parts
Nitric acid 3C
liq, 4xday
Hepar sulphur
200C
4xday
Also Hydrastis
Canadensis
200c 2xday
Thuja occ. 30C
2xday
Kali muriaticum
3X, 4xday
Acute painful
deglutition
Mercurius
cyanatus 200C,
3xday
Tongue and
Cheek cancer
Nitric acid 3C
liq, 4xday
Nitric acid 3C
liq, 4xday
Cistus
canadensis.
200C liq.
Mercurius
cyanatus 200C
liq. 1xday
Kali muriaticum
3X, 4xday
Table 1. Banerji Protocols for treatment of selected cancers. One dose is 2 pills, tablets or
drops unless otherwise specified. In Europe, C is equivalent to CH or CK; X is equivalent to
D or DH.
Homeopathy: Treatment of Cancer with the Banerji Protocols 133
5.4 The data collection project of the PBHRF – A unique platform for the research
community
In our research foundation the main research activity consists of recording in our electronic
data base the treatment and response of all cases of various types of cancer and other lifethreatening
diseases treated at our clinics. To this end, we maintain a recently upgraded,
state-of-the-art computer network with a high-end server and five nodes. Our system also
has two stand-alones for internet access and image processing and storage. At present our
patient database running on customized software on Oracle and MS Visual Basic has more
than 20,000 cases inputted with more than half a million visits recorded. The data consists of
approximately 60 cancer types by site, including two cases of cancer of the heart. This data is
the epicenter of the PBHRF and makes us attractive to researchers from premiere
institutions throughout the world. Clinicians and researchers from many of these
institutions have visited our clinics for an insight into our way of treatment. This is an
ongoing research initiative that has been active since 2002, though due to our access to cases
prior to this date, we have been able to get a wider perspective from even earlier in our
experience.
At present, we are in the process of collaborating with researchers from the National Cancer
Institute of the United States with the desire to mine the data and use the information to
understand better the sphere of efficacy, as well as to fine tune our protocols.
5.5 Cancer treatment outcomes at PBHRF with the Banerji Protocols
In the six months prior to preparation of this manuscript, we saw a total of 1856 cancer cases
at PBHRF. Table 2 shows the types of cancer treated during this period.
TYPE OF CANCER % total cases # of cases
BRAIN 21% 385
LUNG 14% 260
BREAST 7% 129
GALL BLADDER 5% 98
STOMACH 5% 92
CERVIX 4% 71
ESOPHAGUS 4% 66
RECTUM 3% 55
TONGUE 3% 56
PANCREAS 2% 36
LIVER 2% 36
CHEEK 2% 35
PROSTATE 2% 31
OVARIAN 2% 31
NON HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA 2% 31
OSTEOSARCOMA 1% 10
OTHER 21% 434
TOTAL 100% 1856
Table 2. Types of cancer cases treated at PBHRF in 6-month period, 2010-2011
134 A Compendium of Essays on Alternative Therapy
Our overall aggregate retrospective data collected on over 20,000 patients with all varieties
of cancer treated over an 18-year period (Figure 1) reveals that 21% of the cancers
completely regressed, and 23% were improved or stable.
Fig. 1. Results of Treatment of 30,288 Malignant Tumor Cases (1990 – 2008)
Retrospective data collected over a one-year period on patients treated for lung, brain and
esophageal cancer showed that complete regressions ranged from 22 to 32% (Figure 2).
Fig. 2. Results of treatment of 1132 cases of lung, brain and esophageal cancers, August
2006-August 2007
6. Some case studies
We present below three cases, two of which, the lung cancer and the esophageal cancer case,
were submitted to the National Cancer Institute of the United States for validation of the
results, where they passed strict scrutiny and were presented before the Cancer Advisory
Panel.
6.1 Case 1 – Lung cancer
Male, 47 years old, came to the clinic on 30th November 1994. He was suffering from chest pain
with severe cough along with loss of weight for the last three months. On examination
restricted respiratory movement on the left side with few localized crepitations were present in
the upper part of the left chest. Chest X-ray dated the 18th of November 1994 showed “…a
Homeopathy: Treatment of Cancer with the Banerji Protocols 135
well-defined large soft tissue density mediastinal mass in the left upper mediastinum…the
lung fields are well expanded. Area of consolidation is seen in the left upper lobe.” (Figure 3)
Fig. 3. Case 1, Chest X-ray 18.11.1994
C.T. Scan of chest dated 19th November 1994 shows “an 8.0 cm x 6.4 cm well defined soft
tissue mass...in upper mediastinum in left side…with air space consolidation of adjacent left
upper lobe.” (Figure 4)
Fig. 4. Case 1, C.T. of chest 19.11.1994
C.T. Guided FNAC of mediastinal mass dated 24th of November 1994 showed “…malignant
tumor.” (Figure 5)
After undergoing treatment from us with the medicines Kali Carbonicum 200c two drops
thrice a week and Ferrum Phosphoricum 3x two tablets twice daily, patient became
asymptomatic. X-ray dated 31st of January 1995 showed “...considerable shrinkage in the
mediastinal mass...” (Figure 6).
136 A Compendium of Essays on Alternative Therapy
Fig. 5. Case 1, Histopathology 24.12.1994
Fig. 6. Case1, Chest X-ray 31.1.1995
X-ray dated 5th of July 1995 showed “….Gradual and excellent regression of the mediastinal
mass since original X-ray of 18 November 1994.” X-ray dated 9th January 1996 described
only a “...small residual opacity still present.”
At the National Cancer Institute it was described as a diagnosed case of Malignant
Neoplasm. According to TNM classification of the tumor in this case, the growth was T2,
N1, M0 – Stage II; if it was a case of metastasis from an unknown primary, then it would be
staged at Stage IV. Additional chest X-rays were done on several occasions. The last was on
7th of January 1999, which showed complete resolution of the mediastinal tumor (Figure 7).
There were no complications during treatment. We are still reviewing the case off and on
but there has been no recurrence.
6.2 Case 2 – Esophageal cancer
Male, aged 75 years, was suffering for two months with difficulty in swallowing food,
heartburn and belching, when he came to us for his treatment on 16th of December 1996.
Homeopathy: Treatment of Cancer with the Banerji Protocols 137
Clinically the patient presented with dysphagia, heartburn and belching. His initial barium
swallow showed almost complete obstruction of the esophagus, as shown in Figure 8.
Fig. 7. Case 1, Chest X-ray 7.1.1999
Fig. 8. Case 2, Barium swallow 17.10.1996
Endoscopy done on 29th November 1996 showed “…GE junction at 40cm. At 18 cm. is a
growth extending up to 22cm. causing luminal narrowing.” A biopsy dated 6th December
1996 showed “…moderately differentiated Squamous Cell Carcinoma” (Figure 9).
After undergoing treatment from us with the medicine Condurango 30c two drops twice
daily, the patient’s symptoms were resolved within two months. Now the patient is in good
health and does not complain of dysphagia. Post treatment barium swallow X-ray of
esophagus dated 12th July 1997 showed “…considerable improvement in the patency of the
esophagus” (Figure 10). There were no complications during treatment.
138 A Compendium of Essays on Alternative Therapy
Fig. 9. Case 2, biopsy 29.11.1996
Fig. 10. Case 2, Post-treatment barium swallow 12.7.1997
6.3 Case 3 – Osteosarcoma
Male, aged 8 years, was suffering for 5 to 6 months with swelling in left knee and difficulty in
flexing the knee, when he came to us for his treatment on 18th July 2003. On examination the
patient presented with a non tender, firm to hard swelling over the left knee joint. X-ray of left
knee joint dated 5th June 2003 showed “…a well defined eccentric lesion in metaphyses with
sclerosis at edges - ? fibrous cortical defect/aneurismal bone cyst/lymphoma…” (Figure 11).
The child underwent histopathological examination of the swelling and the report dated 12th
June 2003 showed “…Section shows histology of a high grade sarcomatous lesion showing
many mitotic figures…Poorly differentiated sarcomatous lesion…” (Figure 12). At that time
the parents of the child were advised at the Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata,
to allow immediate “…above the lesion amputation…” of the affected leg.
After undergoing treatment from us with the medicines Symphytum 200c two doses a day,
Calcarea Phosphorica 3X two doses a day and Carcinosin 30c one dose every alternate day,
Homeopathy: Treatment of Cancer with the Banerji Protocols 139
the swelling gradually subsided and now the architecture of the knee has completely
returned to normal. X-ray dated 16th December 2003 revealed “…gross healing at osteolytic
area...” (Figure 13).
Fig. 11. Case 3, X-ray 5.6.2003
Fig. 12. Case 3, Histopathology 12.6.2003
Fig. 13. Case 3, X-ray 16.12.2003
140 A Compendium of Essays on Alternative Therapy
Repeat X-ray dated 14th August 2004 showed “…remineralization seen at the lower third of
left femur...” (Figure 14). He then reduced the doses and discontinued our medication after
four months.
Fig. 14. Case 3, X-ray 14.8.2004
7. Worldwide interest in the Banerji Protocols
However, since 1997, there have been winds of change. It was this year when the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) of the United States asked us to produce records of our
successes as part of their Best Case Series programme for evaluating clinical data from
alternative healthcare practitioners. We submitted complete records of cured cases in
1997, and our presentation of cases was accepted after detailed scrutiny by the National
Cancer Institute (NCI) in 1999. Subsequently, we provided a six-hour presentation before
a 17-member Cancer Advisory Panel. This panel included cancer specialists from all the
leading American Comprehensive Cancer Centers, including the Washington Cancer
Institute, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, The Memorial Sloan
Kettering Cancer Center, and The Johns Hopkins Medical Center. The panel accepted our
presentation unanimously, and this was indeed a great victory for homeopathy (Banerji,
2008).
Since then we have had many visitors from the United States including: Dr. Jeffrey White,
MD, Director, Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Cancer
Institute; Dr. Moshe Frenkel, Associate Professor of Integrative Medicine and Medical
Director of the Integrative Medicine Program, Division of Cancer Medicine Department of
Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Texas M D Anderson
Cancer Center; Dr. Elena Ladas, MS, RD, Director, and Dr. Kara M. Kelly, MD, Medical
Director of the Integrative Therapies Program for Children with Cancer, Division of
Pediatric Oncology, and others from Columbia University; and Dr. Barbara Sarter, now at
the University of San Diego, who spent five months in Kolkata to study the Banerji Protocols
and work with us when she held a faculty position in the Department of Family Medicine at
the University of Southern California; she has a long background in conventional medicine,
and also a degree in classical homeopathy.
Homeopathy: Treatment of Cancer with the Banerji Protocols 141
An important aspect of the PBHRF’s activities is research, and under its banner,
Drs. Banerji have been involved in recent years in collaborative research projects with
American institutes of international renown which include the University of Texas M. D.
Anderson Cancer Center, Columbia University, and the University of Kansas Medical
Center. Since 1977, Drs. Banerji have been invited to a large number of prestigious
international conferences, symposia, seminars and meetings to deliver lectures, present
papers, or discuss important aspects of their work. Patients from more than 70 countries at
present follow the Banerji Protocols through the website www.pbhrfindia.org, seeking
online medical advice and treatment.
Spain has assumed great importance for our work in recent years. In 2008, a threemember
cancer support team from Spain undertook a week-long visit to PBHRF to
acquire firsthand knowledge about the Banerji Protocols; two hold senior positions at the
University of Barcelona, while the third runs a Valencia-based web portal for cancer
support, which is visited by nearly 1000 persons daily, not only in Spain, but also in
Spanish-speaking countries elsewhere in the world – with many enquiries on the Banerji
Protocols.
The response of Spanish homeopaths, pharmacists and patients to the Banerji Protocols has
been extremely enthusiastic. In 2008, Drs. Banerji made a presentation at a conference
exclusively for classical homeopaths who enthusiastically welcomed the Banerji Protocols. A
documentary film on Dr. Prasanta Banerji is now being made by two Spanish documentary
film makers who have undertaken visits to Kolkata and Mihijam.
In 2009, Drs. Banerji visited Japan twice, and there are excellent prospects for the
popularization of treatment in this country using the Banerji Protocols. They are scheduled
to visit again by invitation from the Royal Academy of Homeopathy, for more seminars in
October 2011.
8. Conclusion: Winds of change
Compared to conventional medicine, homeopathy has always suffered from a lack of
credibility and recognition the world over, having been acceptable only to those who cannot
afford the high costs of conventional medical treatment. However, since 1977, there have
been winds of change. There has, on the one hand, been a perceptible lack of success of
conventional medicine to cure various ailments and diseases – notably cancer - and, on the
other, the serious – and growing – concern of researchers to identify options for medical
treatment offered by various streams of alternative medicine, including homeopathy. It is
here that the Banerji Protocols of treatment, based on the use of homeopathic medicines,
have had an important role to play. Dr. Prasanta Banerji and Dr. Pratip Banerji, along with
their assistants, together attend 1000 to 1200 patients every day, including 300 to 400
patients at their free clinic, in Kolkata. By so doing, they keep up the tradition of their
revered forefathers, help make the Banerji Protocols a mode of medical treatment for the
masses – the second important objective of the PBHRF — and ensure the collection,
documentation and use in meaningful research in the years to come. The operations of the
PBHRF and the development of the Banerji Protocols have been giving homeopathy a
scientific basis and making it eligible for scientific research.
142 A Compendium of Essays on Alternative Therapy
8.1 Looking at the future
To meaningfully serve medical science and humanity, homeopathy required a rebirth.
Perhaps nothing can provide this better than the Banerji Protocols and the work of the
PBHRF, both aimed at making homeopathy with the use of the Banerji Protocols
scientifically acceptable.
Opposition to the Banerji Protocols and the work of the PBHRF from the scientific
community and followers of classical homeopathy notwithstanding, everything augurs well
for the rebirth of homeopathy. Much is required to make the Banerji Protocols and the role
of the PBHRF known everywhere in the world.
9. Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the contributions of the following: Dr. Barbara Sarter, PhD, RN,
FNP-C, DIHom, Associate Professor, Advanced Practice Programs, Hahn School of
Nursing and Health Science, University of San Diego, for her help in writing the
manuscript as well as editing the same and making it presentable for publication. This
could not have been done without her help. Dr. Aminul Islam, PhD, Department of
Zoology, K. C. College, Hetampur, Birbhum, West Bengal, India, for help in collecting
information on cancer and alternative medicines. Dr. Apurba Dey, MD(Hom), of the
PBHRF, for his diligent editing of the case studies. The assistant doctors of our clinics,
who help us to optimize the care rendered to the suffering masses of patients who visit us,
lightening our burden sufficiently so that we could apply our minds to this chapter. The
patients, the ultimate teachers, who due to the privilege they have accorded us by
allowing us to treat them, have taught us the way to fine tune treatments and arrive at the
Banerji Protocols for every possible disease.
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