A wonderful acute case which can showcase the miracles one can perform with Homeopathy.

18-09-2013.Miss P.H aged 4 yrs was brought into my OPD with a huge cervical (neck) swelling extending from near her left ear to her clavicle. The swelling was intensely painful and had appeared in just two days. She also had fever since three days. The neck region was angry red and the spasm of the Sternocleido mastoid muscle had caused her head to turn to the left. The fever was more at night but continuous. High fever at night with muttering delirium. The child was refusing food and water since 3 days.
Hb 9.9gm%; WBC TC 33950/cu.mm Polymorphs 95% and  Lymphocytes 5%.

Not many symptoms to go by but Belladonna was clearly indicated and given in high potency every 2 hours for two days.

21-09-2013. On follow-up the fever and swelling persisted with intense pain. I gave her 10 doses of Merc-i-r 200 at 2 hourly intervals followed by Belladonna again at 2 hourly intervals. My decision to continue my treatment with a little change was based on the blood counts.
WBC TC 15640/cu.mm Polymorphs 76% Lymphocytes 20% Monocytes 1% Eosinophils 3%.

24-09-2013. Child was brought - no fever since 2 days. Pain and swelling subsided almost to normal. The child permitted me to examine her for the first time without discomfort.

Many inferences can be drawn in this case and some very popular myths on Posology proved  wrong!!! I would like my students to give me their inferences on this case.

ACUTE PANCREATITIS 

As it often happens, some cases you treat simply retreat from memory until the patient comes back with some complaint or another patient many years later. Mr.S.G. aged 19 years had come to me on the night of 9th Sept. 2011 with severe upper right abdominal (Hypochondrium) pain. The boy was studying in Dharwad an education-city some 110kms from my town. The boy was diagnosed as a case of Renal colic but the treatment had no effect. Since he had come to me at 9:30pm, no investigations were possible and I gave him Berberis Vulg 30, asking him to see me the next day.

10-09-2011. 11:00 am: The boy was writhing in pain in my waiting room, clutching his abdomen. The pain was burning, intense and accompanied by cold sweat, restlessness and intense thirst. The water tasted bitter and he had vomited 3-4 times since last night. There was extreme tenderness and guarding of the abdomen.  I realized I was up against something far more serious. Pulse rate: 110/min; BP 150/90mm Hg.  His investigations were:
Hb 13.2  WBC count 13500/cu.mm; P84% Ly 16%. Serum Amylase: 3341 IU/Lt; Serum GPT 31 IU/Lt. S.Urea 33mg%; S. Creatinine 1.0mg%. USG: Bulky pancreas with altered echoes- Pancreatitis.

Given the few symptoms I had, it was obvious that the remedy was Arsenic alb. The same was given in very high potency at 2 hourly intervals - 8 times followed by placebo.

11-09-2011. 10:00 am: Patient felt subjectively better, tenderness and guarding less. PR 100/min. BP 124/80mm Hg. The patient was able to retain water. No vomiting since the last 8 hours. Tenderness +++; Guarding +. Placebo continued.

12-09-2011. 11:00 am. Patient quite comfortable. Tenderness +. No guarding.
Hb 13.2gm% TC 9340/cu.mm P50% Ly 43% M2% E 5%. GPT 42 IU/Lt; Amylase 1142 IU/Lt 
Total bilirubin 2.5mg% Direct bilirubin 1.0mg%.
 Clinical progress was continuous and rapid, the patient was monitored every day. Rx: Placebo

15-09-2013. 2:00pm. Patient comfortable and eating well. No Tenderness/guarding of abdomen. No complaints.
Hb 12.5gm% WBC 7560/cu.mm P55% Ly 41% M 4%. Amylase 700 IU/Lt. Total Bil 1.0mg% Direct Bil 0.13mg%.
 Rx  Ars. Alb 2 doses repeated

11-10-2011. Patient completely symptomless. Amylase 120 IU/Lt  Placebo continued for 10 days after which treatment was stopped, the patient had returned to Dharwad for his studies on 17th Sept..

I stress that in Acute cases a thorough and meticulous physical examination with appropriate investigations goes a long way in maintaining my confidence to treat such critical cases. A rigorous, regular and judicious follow-up can work wonders. A slip up at the preliminary stage itself may prove costly to both patient and doctor alike. Philosophical explanations are not entertained in courts of law.
CAUTION: Arsenic alb is not a specific medicine for Pancreatitis or any disease or symptom.
This article is not meant to suggest any such idea. 

IS HOMEOPATHY A PLACEBO SCIENCE?

HOMEOPATHY IS PLACEBO - this is the favorite chant of our antagonists who take great pains to denounce our magnificent therapeutic science. They want proof' that it works! Millions of patients all over the world who take only homeopathic medicines for all their ailments are not proof enough. The thousands of allopathic doctors who take homeo medicines for themselves and family not withstanding (almost 80% of the doctors in my town)!

Two days ago I had an experience I would like to narrate. I was leaving my home for the clinic when I tripped over my pet dog and my right thumb got crushed in the door as I was shutting it. The distal phalanx started swelling almost immediately and a hematoma started to form under the nail. I rushed back into the house and applied an ice pack for ten minutes. Satisfied that this was the best I could do I left for my clinic. By the time I reached the thumb had swollen to twice its size. The entire nail bed had turned a dark red due to the extravasated blood. I took 3 doses of Arnica Montana 30 and got on with my work. By afternoon the entire nail had turned a menacing black. It was throbbing unbearably and I switched over to Sulphuric acid 30. every 2 hours - 3 doses. In the evening the thumb was so sensitive that I could not hold a pen or zip my pants!! I had to do something fast. I was tempted to take an allopathic anti-inflammatory when I remembered Boericke's or was it Kent's advice. I soaked a cotton swab in Arnica Q (mother tincture), applied it over the entire distal phalanx covering the tip of my finger, wrapped it in a thin plastic `finger stall' and taped it in place. To my surprise next morning the swelling was almost gone and the echymoses was atleast 50% less! I replaced the swab with a new one and taped it in place again. 24 hours later VOILA!! no trace of the black and blue swelling of the nail bed. Only a slight sensitiveness of the thumb tip remained!!
PLACEBO?????? 

MIRACLES WITH HOMEOPATHY

CAN HOMEOPATHY WORK MIRACLES?

ACUTE G.I. BLEEDING  
Many patients who come to me seem to expect the impossible - well almost!. By God's grace or by Dr.Hahnemann's grace, often homeopathy delivers. This is a case which I saw on 24th June at 2:00pm. 

S.P. A frail young man of 32 yrs walked into my clinic supported by his wife. As he was helped into the chair by his wife, his condition was obvious - alcohol induced hepatitis with possibility of cirrhosis and pancreatitis.  His history was short and unremarkable. Hooked onto alcohol since the age of 16 yrs, he required 5 quarters (almost a liter) of Rum (or any other cheap liquor) a day. He has been passing malaena  (digested black blood) since 2 days and now frank blood instead of stools since 18 hours. He suffered from intense burning pains in stomach < night with intense thirst for small quantities of cold water. He could not tolerate food and vomited anything including water which was blood tinged. O/E Pulse 110/min; BP 100/60. Tenderness over the epigastrium. Tremors in hands and feet. Sclera yellow. Puffy face. Redness of MM of mouth. Skin waxy yellow..
INVESTIGATIONS: Hb 9.9gm%, WBC count 21330/cu.mm; Polymorphs-88% Lymphocytes 12%. HIV - nonreactive; HBsAg - nonreactive; Bilirubin (T)-5.0 mg% Direct-3.2mg%, GOT 121 IU/Lt; GPT 148 IU/Lt, Alkaline Phosphatase: 405 IU/Lt, Proteins 7.4gm/dl; Albumin 3.6gm/dl; A/G ratio 0.9. SERUM AMYLASE: 118 IU/Lt.  Bleeding time: 4mins 30secs; Clotting time: 5mins 40secs; Prothrombin time: 17 seconds; INR 1.4.  USG showed 1. Early pancreatitis; 2. Hepatosplenomegaly 3. Small gallstones.

The prescription was Arsenic Alb in high potency and Angelica Q 10 drops to be repeated every 30 mins four times, later every 2 hrs till 9:00pm. The patient to report for follow-up next day at 12 noon. Advised liquid diet, Rice water and Coconut water. Iced milk in small quantity infrequently. Angelica Q is a drug which is reputed to cause aversion to alcohol, hence was included in the prescription. My hunch was proved right as the patient admitted on the third day!

25th June 1:00pm: Patient walked into my room briskly and sat before me with a wide smile. He proclaimed he was 75% better - no vomiting, no malena or blood in stools. The weakness was much relieved and he could walk up the 14 stairs to my clinic without help from his wife.
Pulse- 98/min; BP 110/60
The medicines were continued for another 24 hrs.

26th June 12:00 am: Patient comfortable and taking normal food  Despite his precarious condition he confessed that last night he had gone out to meet his close friend who was drinking in a near-by `bar'- their regular meeting place. Hearteningly the smell of alcohol made him nauseous and he returned home!! Dosage reduced to 4 hourly repetition.

4th July 6:00 pm.  Patient decided to take a second opinion from an allopathic physician, later came to show me the blood report he was advised.  Bilirubin (T): 4.1mg%; Direct 1.9mg%
Alkaline phosphatase 306 IU/Lt. Patient says he has no major complaints except mild discomfort in the epigastrium.

The patient is out of the woods so to speak and whether he remains healthy and alcohol-free only time will tell. I present this as an acute case of G.I. tract bleeding - the same I will follow for a  year before I can claim a complete cure.

Homeopathy in common recurrent infections

I have already put up several cases of severe and intractable Lower Respiratory Tract Infections cured with Homeopathy. I will now illustrate how Urinary tract infections can be treated with our system.

11-06-2013. Case 1. Miss B.L. aged 12 years weighing just 38kg at 4 feet 11 inches height, has been suffering from recurring urinary tract infections since 3 years. Repeated hospitalization for investigations and higher antibiotics finally drove them to homeopathy. Her complaints - Fever since 8 days- chill followed by heat< night. Shaking chills in the evening followed by burning heat- even breath feels hot. Thirstless heat during. Severe generalized headache during fever. The tongue is white with red tip. Patient complains of extreme exhaustion and is unable to stand or sit. She had been hospitalized for 6 days, treatment was given as per the results of the Urine Culture report  with no improvement. Temp 101*F

Investigations: Hb 11.1gm%; WBC count: 8780/cu.mm. Polymorphs 69%, Lymphocytes 26%, Monocytes 3%, Eosinophils 2%. Widal test- S.Typhi reactive in 1:120 diln. Urine: albumin- traces, Sugar- nil. Microscopy- Pus cells 60-80/hpf, Bacteria ++

Repertorisation threw up an unusual remedy for this condition - Arsenic Alb. The remedy was given in 1M potency repeatedly for 3 days along with placebo

17-06-2013: Patient is afebrile. Urine continues to burn.

18-06-2013. No fever since 36 hrs. Patient is asymptomatic. Urine microscopy shows only occasional pus cells.
Placebo was continued for 7 days and repeat examination showed clear urine.

I mention this case because the patient had been hospitalized several times during the last three years besides being treated as an out-patient for the same complaint, pointing to a drug resistant infection. I ignored the positive Widal test since Typhoid is endemic in this area, hence it shows an old infection with persisting S typhi `O' titre.


01-06-2013 Case no 2. Mrs N.K.aged  48yrs- widow.
Severe recurrent urinary infection now chronic since two months.  She complained of severe cramping pains in the lower abdomen, sometimes shifting to other parts. The cramping in the urinary bladder and tenesmus-like pains persisted after urination. The urine was thick, purulent and offensive, passed in small quantities with scalding during passage. Sensation as if some urine was left behind after urination. The patient was referred to a Urologist but a relative who knew about me brought her to my clinic.

USG shows swelling at the neck of the bladder with residual post evacuation urine - 50ml.
Urine: albumin 1 plus, Sugar: nil. Pus cells 100-120/hpf, Bacteria ++, Mucus threads +

 Merc Viv 1M 2 doses followed by Cannabis Sativa 30 4 doses a day for 3 days.

03-06-2013 Patient called to say she is much better. Pain and scalding of urine much less. No cramping pains in abdomen.

13-06-2013. Patient is more or less asymptomatic. But today a mild cramp in the left side of the abdomen. Urine examination is clear. Cannabis Sat 30 thrice daily for 4days.

14-06-2013. Patient called to say she is perfectly OK. The sensation of urine remaining after voiding is no longer there. I will repeat USG after another 5 days.

02-07-2013. Patient reported at the clinic. No complaints. USG normal, Urine NAD. 

I have not had much opportunity to use this medicine very frequently except in a couple of cases of aphonia - one a case of a radio artist (singer) and the other a Professor of chemistry. The medicine seems to chiefly exhibit its symptoms in the mind and respiratory sphere, where the effects are unique. The above chemistry professor indeed had ulceration of the vocal chords probably due to exposure to chalk dust which he inhaled - an unavoidable occupational risk.

 

ARGENTUM METALLICUM       MINERAL SOURCE     MIASM: Syphilitic, sycosis.                     PROVER:
CAUSE	Onanism, sunstroke, anger, fright
MIND	Restless. Must walk fast. Delirious rage-mania. Excessive mirth or cries over trifles. Anxiety health. Epilepsy foll by violence. Easy mirth. Cries on trifles
HEAD	Business headaches , gradual↑ Sudden↓. Emptiness
EYES	Inflammation< angles
EARS	Shooting pain=>base of brain
NOSE	Itching, then epistaxis on blowing
FACE	Violent pains zygoma (L) then (R). Alternate redness, pallor-earthy.
THROAT	Hoarseness, soreness, inflammation.Singers,speakers.. Pain<Yawning. Grayish exp.
STOMACH	Hungry after meal. Averse food, easy satiety, Pyrosis. Hiccups< tobacco
ABDOMEN	Violent pressure=>pubes< eating,breathing. >rising up Borborygmi. Distention. Muscles contracted.
URINARY	Frequency-diabetes.
HEART	Twitching, heart stands still. Palpitation <pregnancy.
RESPIRATORY	Larynx inflamed,thick,ulcerated,hoarse. Cough expect grey,tenacious.. Aphonia of singers,speakers. Sore, stinging trachea=cough. Stitching R.chest<stooping
EXTREMITIES	Cartilages, jts affected.Cramping pains in jts.Sacrum, Knee, hip,toes,feet. Numbness heel. Diabetic dropsy.
PECULIAR SYMPTOMS	Must walk fast. Delirious rage. Epilepsy foll by violence Nose itches then Epistaxis. Hunger after meal. Aphonia singers,speakers. Palpitation<pregnancy.
THREAD	Deep Ulcers, inflammations, Destruction of jt cartilage. Polydypsia, polyphagia, polyuria. Respiratory complts

YET ANOTHER CASE OF DENGUE.


 D.K. a girl aged 11 years, suffering from fever and bodyache for 4 days was admitted with a local pediatrician. After observation for 3 days she was investigated for the cause of fever. Her platelet count was precariously low at 42000/ul. The fever continued onto the fourth day when the pediatrician made a presumptive diagnosis of Dengue and referred the case to a referral hospital in Belgaum. The parents were too poor to afford allopathic treatment, that too in a referral hospital. They met a patient of mine who redirected them to me.

18/04/2013   11:45am
Child gives history of high grade fever  with headache, bodyache since 4 days. Chills- heatdry < midnight. Vomiting on attempting to eat even a little.  Intense thirst for small quantities often. Tongue- red edges and tip. Child unusually weak and exhausted, unable to sit beside me to be examined. They did not have money to test for Dengue. Temp: 102*F
I gave her Arsenic Alb in 1M potency every hour and asked them to report next morning.

19/04/2013     1:00pm
 Child was much better and able to sit by my side as I examined her. Temp 100*F. Had consumed rice water and coconut water since last night. She had a smile on her face which told me I had hit the nail on the head. Platelet count: 61000/ul. Dengue test: IgM positive. Arsenic reduced to 4 hourly.

20/04/2013   12 noon.
Child much better, taking light food, no vomiting or fever. Came into the clinic, talking  and smiling.

21/04/2013     11:30am
No complaints. Platelet count: 1,80,000/ul
Child put on placebo for 24 hrs.

As of today child is perfectly OK and all treatment has been stopped. Cost of 5 days treatment and consultation- Rs 1500/-. approximately 27 US dollars!!!

Knowledge of materia medica and appropriate posology is a must to obtain repeated success in such critical cases. 

 Admission to a referral hospital would have entailed a weeks admission and treatment probably with platelet transfusions if the count had dipped any lower. A huge bill would have followed, pushing the already impoverished family into penury and a loan burden. The WHO has already identified the high cost of allopathic care and treatment as a major cause of poverty in India. Why do we not promote Homeopathy?