The injection of specific biological medicines into specific therapeutic points
Biopuncture describes any therapeutic measure that uses biotherapeutics for injection into specific points or areas1. The name originated from combining bio-therapy with acu-puncture. Although it has been commonly described as a combination of homeopathic based compounds being injected into acupuncture points, this is not always accurate. Any points may be used for therapeutic injections, examples being acupuncture points, trigger points, pain points, etc).
Biopuncture has been pioneered by German Medical Doctor Jan Kersschot, who has utilised this form of treatment in private practice for over 20 years, treating a range of conditions and diseases.
In biopuncture, there are two key factors in the therapeutic strategy: what to inject and where to inject2. The precise location of the injection is as important as selecting the correct biotherapeutic medicines for the condition being treated. Both are individualised in each patient, and adapted during every session
What can biopuncture treat?
Biopuncture is more often used for functional conditions, such as muscle and body pain, headaches, joint pain, low back pain etc. It is also extensively utilised for all types of orthopaedic problems. It is therefore very useful in sports related injuries2.
Biopuncture can also be used to treat to treat numerous other functional complaints. Examples of these conditions include irritable bowel syndrome, gastritis, chronic fatigue syndromes and fibromyalgia (to name a few) 2.
As biopuncture is based on homotoxicology principles, it is effective as adjunctive treatment in immune dysregulation conditions. These include allergies such as asthma, hay fever and eczema, and autoimmunity. Inflammatory conditions can also be treated, such as bronchitis, cystits and sinusitis2;3.
For a demonstration of the technique, and an explanation of the use of biopuncture in general practice, view this video clip of integrative physician Dr Scott Denny.
How can biopuncture help where conventional approaches fail?
In conventional medicine, the drug you take suppresses your symptoms immediately. That is why you need to take high doses of chemical substances in order to suppress, for example, pain or inflammation. And usually it works immediately. But as soon as the medication stops working, you have to take another pill to “kill the pain” again4.
However, in Biopuncture small doses of products are injected in order to stimulate the natural healing processes. These ultra-low doses “wake up” mechanisms which are available anyway. The healing effect comes from “inside” your body, not from the products themselves. It’s the reaction of your immune system which will produce the proper reactions to regain natural healing. The reaction of your body may be, for example, better local blood circulation, tissue repair, relaxation of muscles or local detoxification. During the reparation of tissue, your body is even more vulnerable and it is a good idea at this stage not to overuse the part which is treated because it is still in the process of repair4.
Injections of such tiny doses are less powerful than, for example, cortisone injections. The dose used is too small to suppress the inflammation immediately. But that’s not the goal of Biopuncture! We consider inflammation to be an important element of true and lasting healing4.
The goal of Biopuncture is to support the natural inflammatory processes in order to achieve a complete and natural healing of the injured tissues. So, we do exactly the opposite of conventional drugs. The pain may even get worse the next day (“reaction phase”). Sometimes the pain may shift to other areas because the body is adapting to the new situation (“adaptation phase”). Biopuncturists regard these phases as positive. As a result, the symptomatic relief may take a while, especially when the problem has been there for months or years. However, when dealing with fresh injuries, these injections can give results very quickly4.
Is this treatment safe?
Yes, because the ampoules do not contain high concentrations of active or dangerous substances. As a result, toxic side effects are very unlikely. The ampoules used in Biopuncture are manufactured by companies that guarantee the production quality of their products. Most of the ampoules used for injection are made in Germany and are held to very strict quality control regulations. Clinical studies on thousands of patients have confirmed the safety of ampoules such as Traumeel4.
Biopuncture is also used in the setting of strict safety standards. Practioners are trained to use correct injecting techniques, and use sterile and disposable equipment (syringes and needles) manufactured to the highest safety standards.
What are biotherapeutic medicines?
Biotherapeutic medicines, or biological products, are typically composed of herbs, vitamins, homotoxicological products and/or low dose homeopathic potencies. These compounds regulate physiological processes (e.g. immune and inflammatory activity) and regulate natural healing. Dilutions beyond Avogardo’s number is rare.
Biotherapeutic medicines are designed and used for the following2:
- Stimulation of natural healing
- Regulation of inflammatory processes
- Stimulation of detoxification mechanisms
How do these medicines work?
Scientists don’t have the final proof yet, but they postulate that these injections are working through the stimulation of the immune system3 (which is in fact your defense system). Let’s compare it with a vaccination. When you receive a tetanus vaccination, only small amounts of a particular product are necessary to stimulate the immune system against lockjaw. In other words, just a few injections can protect your body for years4.
Biopuncture injections are not real vaccinations of course, but the idea of the mechanism of action is similar: small doses of the right product can have an important effect on the defense systems of your body. And that effect can last for months or years. And Biopuncture produces its clinical effects because it stimulates your immune system to restart its innate healing capacities4.
The clinical benefits observed are due to multiple factors. Most importantly is the correct therapeutic product combined with the correct location of the injection. Other factors include the needle effect, myofascial trigger point release, stimulation of peripheral nerve endings, stimulation of the autonomic nervous system and increased local circulation2. Other mechanisms are based on homotoxicology, such as detoxification, immunomodulation and activation of the innate immunde defense system.
Advantages of biotherapeutics:
- Effective and quick to act in acute injuries.
- They work with the bodies repair mechanisms, not against it, thus speed up the healing process, getting you back to training quicker.
- They provide a preventive and/or curative approach to injury and illness.
- No known side effects or contra-indications
- No banned substances (eliminates risk of doping).
- Safe to use in all cases, including babies, pregnant woman and geriatrics.
- Treatment and prevention of illness due to excessive training in athletes.
- Scientific research increasingly demonstrates the effectiveness of homoeopathy & biopuncture in sports medicine.
References:
- Kersschot J, The Complementary Use of Homeopathic Preparations in Primary Care Practice, Biomedical Therapy, 1997, (15) 2, 47-52.
- Kersschot J, Biopuncture in General Practice, Inspiration, 2004
- Porozov S, Cahalon L, Weiser M, et al. 2004. Inhibition of IL-1beta and TNFalpha secretion from resting and activated human immunocytes by the homeopathic medication Traumeel S. Clinical and Developmental Immunology. 2004;11:143-149.
- Common questions and answers of biopuncture by Dr Jan Kersschot [accessed January 2009]