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Viruses
There are many examples of viral disease that project a similar clinical picture as the miasms. Based on the premise that viruses are a product of the disease rather than the cause, we can surmise that the miasms manifest as similar disease complexes in different persons, but as each individual carries a different genetic code and a different constitution, the viral diseases that are expressed will reflect that individual miasmatic constitution. Similar viruses may infect several organ systems and cause different diseases because of the miasm’s affinity for certain tissue types, depending on embryological origin of the tissue. For example, the sycotic miasm appears to be more inclined toward tissues of mesodermal origin. The symptoms of the viral disease that is sycotic will thus express through mesodermal tissues or organs. The common premonitory symptoms of acute viral infection are almost identical to those general characteristics of latent sycosis—fatigue, malaise, heaviness, myalgia, arthralgias and urticaria.
Some viruses are thought to remain in a latent state in certain sites in the body for many years after the primary infection, becoming active from time to time, even in the presence of specific antibodies. Whether miasm or virus, these latent parasites can awaken to activity at any time without forewarning. Mental stress or emotional shock, other infections, strong chemical drugging, or physical trauma are some of the factors that may awaken them. Examples of viruses that are capable of remaining in latency are the papillloma virus and the herpes family.
The cardinal feature of sycosis is warts—brown ones, white ones, red ones, flat ones, pedunculated, cauliflower and horny. Where there is a wart we know that sycosis has advanced to the tertiary stage. Much time and effort have been spent on isolating at least sixteen different viruses that are now classified under the category human papillomavirus (HPV as causative agents of warts). Papilloma viruses are believed to remain latent in the skin cells and when activated, warts appear on the skin. From the standpoint of the miasms, we would say that warts are a tertiary expression of sycosis, which expresses mainly through mesodermal tissues. Warts represent the attempt of the vital force or pranic defence mechanism to rid itself of the sycotic affection. In the skin, the dermis is of mesodermal origin; when an overactive apana (cleansing) and vyana (cell division) are working at this level, the functional structures of the dermis will become disturbed, resulting in abnormal growths.
It is significant to the theory of the miasms that warts often progress to squamous cell carcinoma. It is not understood what instigates this change in behavior from a benign to a malignant process, but we say it happens when the sycotic miasm gains the upper hand and causes immunosuppression by severely disturbing those aspects of prana involved in the immune response.
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Dr. Barbara Bova, HOD, Department of Homeopathy