NJH Aurangabad Seminar-30th June 1996
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1996 May / Jun Vol V No 3.
Madhusudan Adoni.
Seminar Reports.
This seminar was like the first rain in Marthawada which had no Homoeopathic seminar for over fifteen years. This was only possible due to the great efforts of Dr. Pradeep Garge, a member of the National Journal of Homoeopathy, Bombay and the lone Marathwada representative. About 250 delegates attended the seminar.
The seminar was inaugurated by garlanding our great master Dr. Samuel Hahnemann in the presence of great stalwarts of the region, the principals of the three colleges of the Marathwada region. Appropriate atmosphere was provided at Hotel Ambassador Ajanta and its sweeping lawns. In true NJH tradition, speeches were dispensed with and clinical sessions immediately started.
The first session was started with great enthusiasm by introducing Dr Vishpala Parthasarathy, Editor-in Chief of the Njh. She began by highlighting the importance of investigations by citing her case of lymphadenopathy which was on the way to cure but once again recurred. Therefore she advised the patient to get a fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and histopathology done. The patient disappeared as they do not take kindly to a Homoeopath ordering investigations. She returned after a month with a report stating Hodgkins Disease. A more aggressive treatment could now be initiated. A second example was of a 4 year old boy who had a large Hepatomegaly yet normal liver function tests and no space occupying lesion on USG. With Homoeopathic treatment the liver size has reduced by 60 percent in a span of two years. No diagnosis has been established. Therefore, though improving she advised biopsy which with this history and normal LFT would most likely reveal a rare genetically transmitted storage disorder, one in a million cases with no known cure. If this case is now cured then such a documented case will earn Homoeopathy its due credit in the modern world. After this stirring introduction, the subject proper of Approach to Case taking was taken in hand.
Case Taking was demonstrated with the help of wonderful slides and instructive elaborations. She highlighted her own style of case taking through the standardized case record (SCR) as practiced by the Dhawale school (ICR). There are the main divisions:
- Chief Complaint and Associated complaints which cover sensation, location, modalities and concomitants.
- Patient as a Person, Personal Information and Life History, Past History, Family history and examination which allow diagnosis of the disease and of the patient.
- Reactions to Factors.
This complete case taking.
The diagnosis of the disease helps in selection of proper potency and repetition. It also helps to determine the course of the disease and prognosis. Now, analysis of the case-1) Cause, 2) Modality, 3) Physical generals 4) Characteristic particulars and 5) Miasmatic cleavage.
From this form the essentially totality (crux of the patient), the repertorial totality and the structure.
This method of Case Taking is the only Indian method which is recognized all over the world.
The above theoretical framework was convincingly demonstrated with the help of 12 cases.
CASE 1: A case of a 57 years old lady who came with warts on the face, more than 100 in number. It was a challenging case as she had taken Homoeopathic treatment before but with no avail. She was a Hot patient, with suppressed emotions, anger, jealousy, mortification, menopause, obese, ecchymosis, craving for sweets and loquacity. A differentiation between Lycopodium and Lachesis was necessary. Lachesis 30 three doses was prescribed after which the wart started bursting and in about 4 months all warts have disappeared.
During the presentation of other cases on addiction and depression many philosophical angles were also discussed like.-.
- The moral issues involved in the treating alcohol addicts without knowledge of the patient.
- Difficulties encountered in drug addiction and Schizophrenia with their propensity to
relapse.
The above two conditions were grouped as "social problem cases" as they shatter the lives of the family and the society, more than their own. This then is the justification of treating these patients without their knowledge. - Harsh counselling in cases of Depression after loss of loved ones is occasionally needed and is effective.
Concluding slides with their apt colorful graphics, I am sure, convinced many practitioners of the importance of this totally systematic and scientific approach to a case. But whether they will convert and follow? We have to wait and see.
The second speaker, Dr Rashmi Nagar, manuscript editor of NJH, presented a case of epilepsy due to Tuberous Sclerosis of the brain. A boy aged 10 years, was on allopathic medication. His milestones were early. Slept on abdomen, was restless and would toss around. Hot (3+) with profuse perspiration. A spoilt child who is abusive and violent. Fearless. Cheats Constantly questions everything. Intelligent but lazy. Plays with his fingers and speaks hurriedly. The repertorial working points to Tarentula-hisp which was given in 200 and then 1M potency. There were no epileptic attack since then. Tuberculinum was later given as an anti-miasmatic drug on the basis of mental picture as well as the disease. The keynote of Tarentula is hurried, Anger, Cunning lively and a mothers agony. (The full case is given in Epilepsy issue of NJH Vol V nos2, page 91).
The last speaker was the great teacher, Dr Kasim Chimthanawala who is an allopath turned Homoeopath and Hon Advisor of NJH and Head of the National Academy of Homoeopathy, Nagpur. He spoke on Nosodes.
He termed nosodes as a multi-polychrest missile. Nosodes are derived from diseased products like discharges. He asserted that modern mans sophistication is the prime cause of new tangled serious disease.
He classified AIDS as a tubercular miasm. In the days of Hahnemann 80 percent disease are sycotic. He lashed out at this era of vaccination. Dr Chimthanawala has classified 30 nosodes into various groups of Basic Nosodes, Exanthema Nosodes, Acute Microbes Nosodes. He explained the term Multi-polychrest missile by quoting Medorrhinum as it has the burning of Sulphur and fidgetiness of Zincum. Selected Nosodes help open up obscure incomplete cases, iatrogenic cases, wind up every constitutional treatment, act as an intercurrent and as a prophylactic in eruptive fevers; when the best remedy fails, as a second prescription and as a tautopathic prescription.
He cited a case by Dr Elizabeth Hubbard of a long standing constipation cured by Syphilinum one dose by observing the patients Hutchinsons teeth which is suggestive of syphilitic miasm. He described at length the two major nosodes Medorrhinum and Tuberculinum in his free jovial, down-to-earth style which brought home the remedy to all in easily digestible doses. A style worth emulating.
In conclusion he invited views by all Homoeopaths to the National Journal of Homoeopathy which is not just a journal but a movement.
