The 2nd Dr Sarla Sonawala Memorial Seminar
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1995 Nov / Dec VOL VI NO 6.
NJH team.

Seminar Reports. 

1. And the twain met. "I never thought that I would ever see a Homoeopath and an allopath sharing a platform and to exchange views in a healthy discussion. It was like dream fulfilled". These were the feelings of all those who attended the Seminar. The NJH has definitely proved to be a trendsetter !
   
   The 2nd Dr. Sarla Sonawala Memorial Seminar was held on Sunday, 14-1-95 at Hotel Guest-line days in Bombay. Dr. Anil Bhatia honoured the seminar by his presence for the book-release of SULPHUR-CALCAREA-LYCO authored by late Dr. Sarla Sonawala and Dr. Vishpala Parthasarathy. Dr. Jugal Kishore too, kindly consented to give us a few minutes from his busy schedule and release the Acids issue of NJH.
   
   The highlight of this enlightening seminar was a combination of the clinical approach to a paediatric case by well-known paediatrician Dr. Ambedkar and the Homoeopath Dr. Prabha Patwardhan.
   
   Dr. Ambedkar enthralled the audience by sharing his vast clinical experiences in a distinct style - simple yet informative presentation of various symptoms like crying, refusal of feeds, behavioral changes, vomiting, fever and their interpretation, for identifying an emergency situation in a paediatric case.
   
   - (Dr. Anuradha Chalke)
   
   
2. Dr. Prabha Patwardhan presented a wide repertory of interesting cases including those like hydrocephalus or behavioral problems where allopathy had not been able to help. A few cases I am giving below -
   1. Asthmatic bronchitis happy-go-lucky child. Ticks things, carried averse to being, easy comprehension, desire to bite and pinch people. Was given Coffea.
   2. Mag-carb for a 5 month old baby with chronic diarrhoea; happy, contented, but sense of being abandoned by mother when as a 1 month-old, the mother went abroad and left her with her grand mother. Her occiput was flat.
   3. Aethusa for diarrhoea after cows milk followed by Calc-carb which did not act earlier, though it was the constitutional.
   4. Theridion was given for spasmodic cough on symptoms of desire for bananas, characteristic posture of bending double, and attacks of vomiting on going to sleep. (On closing eyes).
   5. Aralia-racemosa helped a case of cough which started after 1st sleep.
   6. Coccus-cacti relieved a case of cough with gagging, stringy mucus and desire to wash face with cold water.
      
      - (Dr. Nina Doshi)
      
      
3. The post-lunch session on Leprosy by Dr. Dilip Dixit was highly informative but his presentation lacked liveliness. Dr. Dixit has to his credit nine hundred treated cases of leprosy that were resistant to standard allopathic drugs. He explained the rules adopted in selecting the miasmatic, intercurrent and constitutional remedies and their repetition in these cases. Prominent miasmatic medicine was Merc-i-f which was given in low potency repeatedly till the constitutional picture emerged. Calotropis and Hura were the medicines, found out of desperation. Herings law was a guide of progress. Total period of treatment was two years. Dr. Dixit emphasized on having a strong philosophical base and grasp of Homoeopathic principles. This approach is a basis that can be applied to any disease that is drug resistant, chronic or difficult to cure. He had been successful even in cases with complications of foot-drop.
   
   - (Dr. Rashmi Nagar)
   
   
4. The last session was on Neurosis by Dr. Vishpala Parthasarathy. First the general aspects of neurosis were dealt with.
   
   What is Neurosis? A basic inability to deal with anxieties and stresses of life. How are we Homoeopaths to deal with these patients? Here she put forth a different approach to case-taking than is generally assumed: is Silence the best policy while receiving history? Silence according to her can be very oppressive specially for the neurotics who need a sympathetic, interactive, non-judgmental approach. Proper advice in such cases is more important to set the patient on the path of acceptance of the situation along with the well-selected similimum. This she illustrated with the help of neurosis cases and beautiful and impressive slides.
   
   A few cases are given here along with rubrics and reasons for selection. Structures are not included due to space constraints.

Case 1: The Boys & Bees: A well built bubbly girl of 18 came for allergy from artificial jewellery and evening migraine. Over friendly, she accepted invitations from many boys, even friends made at bus-stop! She needed to be told to exercise caution - this approach of hers could lead to disaster!

This and Pulsatilla 200, 1 dose put her right. The rubrics considered were a) Attention seeking, b) Leaning, c) Naive, d) Innocent, e) Loquacious.

Case 2: And He Loves Me Not: A 19 year old boy ran away from home at Garwal as his father, an army man, did not love him. He came for keloid on left hand. He feels guilty, broods and blames others easily.

Ignatia 1M given on the following indications - a) Broods, b) Looks sad, c) Feels betrayed. Amazingly the Keloid peeled off in 2 weeks time and he never came back. We had to request his relative to ask him to show us his hand.

Case 3: I hold up the World: A 46 years old mother was caught between an otherwise intelligent but manic-depressive girl, 23 years of age and her insensitive father. She came for fatigue, backache and early periods.

Platina 200 was prescribed based on - a) Feeling of superiority, b) Support requires (only I can handle this situation), c) Leaving, d) Anxiety, e) Sleeplessness, f) Exalted idea of self, g) Haughty.

Case 4: The Merry Widow:

And what will you say to a hysterical, neurotic, jealous, insecure, restless woman of 46 (came in 1990) who has a sadistic high-flying executive for a husband, and yet kept her on a shoestring budget or told her to manage on her Rs. 2,000 salary. He even demanded sex just to relieve him. She was truly ill-treated. One son turned schizophrenic and the daughter hated her. But she was always impatient and in a hurry. Her boss at work was also a sadist. Where could she turn? The Church and a particular priest.

What will you tell her... that it is wrong and sinful? Is it really? To snatch a few hours of happiness? I told her that God never meant man and woman to be unhappy all ones life.

After some years, the priest was transferred, but her sweet memories remained.

Then the husband died. Was this the solution? No. She was embroiled more than ever in some legal battles. So, unless there is change within and without cure cannot come about. In this patient, I have run through my Materia Medica - the case is an abject failure. But I am still hopeful as the Tarentula selection 2-1-96 seems to be helping her.

Case 5: Retirement Vacuum:

And what about the men? Do they not get neuroses?

In general, men seems to be able to shut off their problems, yet today, our clinic is full of neurotic men.

The 60 year old retired businessman who has suddenly moved from

1. Full family responsibility -> Retirement
2. Income 3+++ -> no income
3. Moderate expense -> wasteful expense by son, complained of severe acidity, with flatulence and eczema.

Advice - play Lego and trains with grandchildren, plus Lyco 30 - 1 dose.

Result - acidity gone, so too the flatulence. And skin is 25 percent better.

Conclusion:

Summing up, she said that for the neurotic the world looks empty and he sees few colours. It is upto the Homoeopath to change this and make him see all the colours of the rainbow of life. In treating neurotic cases a holistic approach is necessary. While Homoeopathic drugs will eradicate the depression, anxieties, fears and delusions of the patient, the patient has to develop a positive attitude and confidence to face the stress of life.

It does not mean that every case with psychological problems can be labeled as neurotic; before labeling so, certain criteria should be satisfied.

Ultimately treatment especially in Neurosis, lies mainly in changing ones attitude and expectations. The Homoeopath should take greater cognizance of this.

All in all, the whole seminar was a memorable experience that we would like to be repeated every year! All of us at NJH learnt and enjoyed simultaneously. We grew closer and bonds became stronger!

- (Dr. Manjusha Vad).

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