When I first get up I feel really drowsy, but after 15 minutes of dancing I feel wonderfully exhilarated All my energy is flowing. I used to dance around with no clothes on, but I discovered the neighbours could see me and they must have wondered what on earth this naked bloke leaping up and down was doing After that I started wearing underpants. but to entirely reject orthodox medicine is perhaps taking an unnecessary risk.”. “I dance to light rock music before I get dressed in the morning as a form of exercise It has to be old Sixties stuff – Fleetwood Mac. Indeed, people shunning orthodox anti-malaria treatment could be putting their lives at risk.”Moreover, Enid Seagall of the British Homeopathic Association concurs.”Those who are using homeopathy regularly have probably got quite strong immune systems anyway …

“As far as I am aware, there is no other way of protection without using the immune system. Dr Ron Behrens is a consultant at the Hospital of Tropical Diseases in London. Fifth, when the person refuses a conventional injection.Still, even Mr Lessell would not recommend the total elimination of conventional techniques. Second, when travel plans are made at the last minute.Third, when there is no traditional technique available (such as in remote places). Fourth, where there are strong medical reasons against orthodox immunisation, such as pregnancy, or in the case of travellers with damaged or weak immune systems. In his book, The World Traveller’s Manual of Homeopathy, Colin Lessell “strongly recommends” homeopathic techniques in five circumstances.First, where the conventional technique has been proved to have little effect, such as the cholera vaccine. The exact mechanism of how this works is unclear, although practitioners claim it”actively stimulates the immune system in some way”.

Dr Clarke is doubtful: “It’s very difficult to see how a very small dose of broken-down bacteria, which I can only presume is how this is working, can gain access through the gut wall – a very tough barrier – to produce antibodies.”There are those within the practice who argue that homeopathy has an important role for travellers. The second, ingested orally, requires taking a small dose of the live organism, so that the body then produces antibodies.Homeopathic immunisation usually requires the oral ingestion of a highly diluted form of the virus or bacterium. The first, administered by injection, introduces an impotent form of the disease organism directly into the body so that antibodies are created which will fight any potentially harmful future infection. There is always good anecdotal evidence of people who have travelled all over and never had a bit of trouble, but until I see something published in a respected medical journal, I will remain doubtful.”So what do both systems offer? Traditional immunisation works by one of two methods. Still, Mr Pinkus admits: “This is not an area in which there has been any research. The evidence seems to be more experiential.”Dr Paul Clarke is medical director of the Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad “There is no statistical evidence.

“It is applying homeopathic principles in a very crude manner. Prevention is simply following the logic of the basic principles of homeopathy – that like can cure like, and so like can prevent like.”That is the theory. For pounds 5.85, Mr Pinkus can provide a personally tailored pill containing a minute dose of medicine from the original vaccine greatly diluted, which covers, say, tetanus, polio, typhoid and hepatitis, the four major diseases that those travelling out of Europe should be protected against. He cautions that the effect can be short-lived and remedies need to be taken regularly during the protection period.Homeopathic “vaccinations” are very different from alternative remedies for illness, but Mr Pinkus says homeopathic immunisation is the logical extension of curing like with like.”Homeopathy does view traditional vaccination and immunisation as something of a blunderbuss approach,” he says. “I was very worried about the effects of inoculations on the baby – particularly the typhoid jab – so I went to a homeopath. I took a remedy which covered me for everything I needed on my trip. I was fine, but I spent a lot of time talking to my homeopath and my doctor before I left, so maybe it was just luck.”Mr Pinkus says the desire to avoid the needle is one of the main attractions of alternative inoculations, but price is another.