Salicylic-acid in Menieres Syndrome
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1996 May / Jun Vol V No 3.
Robert Romer.
Cases.
` Sal-ac.

Over the last two years, health problems in a number of my patients prompted me to make a closer acquaintance of the symptom picture of Salicylic -acid. These symptoms reminded me of the syndrome described by Prosper Meniere in 1861, now called as Menieres Syndrome, characterised by attacks of vertigo, tinnitus and vomiting.

In Boerickes Repertory we find 24 remedies in the rubric-"Vertigo, labyrinthic origin". Among these Salicylic-acid, along with Chenopodium. Chininum- sulphuricum and Theridion occurs in heavy type. Also in heavy type are the Salicylic -acid compounds, Chininum-salicylicum and Natrum-salicylicum. These drugs have results so clinically similar to Salicylic acid that I have excluded them from my therapeutic deliberations.

In the provings of Salicylic-acid there occurs a tendency to fall sideways, especially to the left. I have used this in differential diagnosis as an indication for this remedy. Let us see how valuable this indication proved to be when the remedy was used in treatment of patients.

CASE 1:

On 10th Sept 1984, I was consulted by a 69- year old woman from a neighbouring town. Two years ago she had been hospitalized for a sudden hearing loss of the left ear. Allopathic treatment achieved no improvement. The hearing loss in the left ear was still almost total, with episodes of poor hearing on the right side too. In addition she had been plagued by a continuous humming in the ears for over 6 years. Her hearing was worse when the weather changed.

About 6 weeks previously she had a bad attack of vertigo lasting several days, which had gradually improved after rubbing her neck with ointment. This had returned with a vengeance 6 days ago. Oddly enough, each time it had started when she turned on to her left side in bed after waking in the morning, continuing with severe nausea, not ameliorated by frequent vomiting and with a pressive sensation extending from the root of the tongue down into the abdomen. As the vertigo commenced she had felt a contracting sensation in the occiput. Since then she had an unremitting sharp hissing in both ears, worse in the left than in the right. Today she had seen several strange circles before her eyes for a few seconds. She was very unsteady on her feet.

Physical Examination-158 cm tall; eyes blue with arcus senilis. BP-165/85 mm of Hg. Moderate pain on pressure above umbilicus. Because of the modality-vertigo worse on turning to left in bed, and the weakness in the legs. I decided to prescribe Conium 30, 5 globules.

25/9/84- The day after taking the remedy she had gone to the Black Forest for 12 days and had felt well there. However, after returning, on both the previous 2 days she had several attacks of severe vertigo, each one following a short contraction in the occiput, and accompanied by bitter vomiting with violent retching. Today her hearing was especially bad. Uncertain whether the initial amelioration was due to the Conium or simply the climatic change. I decided not to prescribe, but to try and help the patient with acupuncture.

30/10/84-Unfortunately no improvement. Vertigo, vomiting and tinnitus only slowly and marginally improved by 10 infusions prescribed by a GP. She still had buzzing in the left half of the skull. When walking, she noticed a certain tendency to fall sideways. Because of the marked Meniere-triad, I now prescribed Salicylic-acid 0/6 LM, to be taken on 2 successive days weekly.

5/12/84. The patient was glad to report that no further attack of vertigo had occurred, that the tinnitus had improved considerably and no longer bothered her at night. Only on the day of the first dose had she briefly felt nausea, then no more. Also on the same day she had experienced the same unpleasant sensation as on the day before her sudden loss of hearing over 2 years before: a strange, paralyzed, numb feeling in the face which had become slightly distorted, and a strange lameness in the feet. This time, however, it had all passed off quickly and without consequences. There was no improvement in the left-sided hearing-loss. Otherwise she felt well. On odd occasions she still felt a tendency to fall sideways while walking, mostly towards the right. No more stabbing in the left side of the skull.

Treatment-Salicylic-acid 0/6 LM once weekly.

8/1/85. Scarcely any tinnitus in the meantime. She had felt well until 3 days ago. For 3 days now her pulse had been consistently fast, mostly up to 120. I took her pulse several times and it was 96-100. Her thyroid gland had enlarged somewhat since the menopause, and she had been prescribed Novothyral for years. As there were no other symptoms. I gave her Thyroidinum 30, 5 globules.

5/2/85. After taking the globules her pulse had immediately become slower and calmer. I measured 68 beats per minute. She felt well. Yesterday she had briefly some tinnitus on the left side. No more vertigo. I told her to take Salicylic-acid once weekly for another 4 weeks o r so and then stop. No further relapses reported.

CASE 2:

On 22/11/84 this 45 year old woman, consulted me on account of violent frontal headaches, extending backwards, which she had been having for 8 weeks. Since that time she had also had episodes of vertigo, staggering while walking, afraid she might fall over. She had tinnitus for some time, especially on the left side. Often nausea in the morning. Her blood pressure was always too low, around 100/70 mm Hg. She had consulted an ENT specialist on account of these problems; he had diagnosed "circulatory problems" in the left ear and prescribed medicine with no effect.

Physical examination: Height 163 cm: slim; tongue discolored-greyish white. Heart, lungs, kidneys, abdominal organs-NAD. Because of the triad: tinnitus, vertigo, nausea, and the left sidedness. I prescribed Salicylic-acid 30, 5 globules.

30/11/84-For 3 days after the remedy, an aggravation-nausea and vertigo much worse than before. After that they had disappeared surprisingly quickly. The tinnitus had remained, but not so bad. Otherwise she felt very well and had no more headaches. No relapse till date.

CASE 3:

A 50 year old housewife was under Homoeopathic treatment for three years for menopausal problems and angina pectoris (constricting pains below the sternum, radiating out towards the thyroid gland, the back, and both arms, with a sensation as if the veins in both arms were too narrow.) These problems were removed with doses of Iberis-amara 200 at 4 to 8 monthly intervals, 2 globules each time.

15/6/85-The patient visited me again. 6 days previously she had a severe migraine, with throbbing pains in the eyes and great nausea. These problems had passed by the next day, except for a feeling of general unwellness, but since then she had been extremely dizzy, with occasional aggravations. When walking, as if pulled to the left, and a feeling that she might fall, so that she had to hold on to something or be led by someone. At the same time as the vertigo, a bothersome chirping as of crickets, had started in her left ear, occasionally extending to the right. Her stools, normally brown, had become light yellow to grey. Blood pressure was 125/90 mm Hg. Treatment-Salicylic-acid 30, 2 globules.

17/7/85-After taking the remedy the chirping had stopped immediately, and the vertigo within 2 days. The stools were brown again, but were now of very small calibre. In the last few days she had pains between the scapula and burning in the gall-bladder region, and was waking frequently at night with palpitations. She was very easily frightened and had difficulty lying on the left side. Treatment-Phosphorus 200, 2 globules.

In December 1985 she reported a quick release from all symptoms after the remedy, and no further recurrences of vertigo or chirping.

CASE 4: U S.

A 52 year-old housewife visited me on 9/8/84 for help with vertigo which was troubling her every day. It would start, strangely enough, in the morning on waking, and was usually triggered by yawning. She also had it when lying down, as soon as she turned on to her left side. During the day she would often feel shaky and insecure while walking. All this had come on about 4 months previously after a period of mental and physical stress in connection with her daughters confinement. Recently, vertigo had also occurred when looking upwards. Her G P had prescribed Hydergot tablets, which disagreed with her, leaving her with a swimming head. Therefore after a while she had stopped taking them. The attacks of vertigo were mostly preceded by a strange inner coldness and shivering, with a sensation as of electric current followed by irregularity of heartbeat. Years before she had received a successful course of calcium injections in hospital for cramps, mainly of the hands and fingers. At that time she had been diagnosed as calcium and magnesium-deficient in the blood. She is unable to look behind her on bus and train journeys without dizziness.

Physical examination: Height 160 cm, somewhat adipose build, dull upper edge of cornea. Heart-beat regular and clear. BP 145/85.

Treatment-Because of the tendency of the vertigo to get worse when turning on to the left side while lying, and because of the initial weakness in the legs, she got Conium 30, 5 globules. In case of a return of the irregular heart-beat, which worried her, I prescribed Spartium-scoparium 4X, 5 drops to be taken very 2-3 minutes.

4/3/85. She had been well, apart from one episode of pressure in the head. Yesterday, after intensive conversation with guests and a lot to do in entertaining them, the vertigo had recommenced especially bad in the morning on sitting up and turning the head quickly. A stiffness in the nape of the neck.

Treatment-Conium 200, 5 globules.

25/6/85. The vertigo quickly disappeared. But she had a sensation as if walking on clouds. Now for the past fortnight the vertigo had been bothering her again, worse than ever, mostly when turning on to her side (usually the left) in bed. When lying, if she wanted to turn to the left, she would have to sit up in order to do so. She was so unsteady all the time that she could neither cycle nor drive a car. When sweeping rooms or washing the floor, she could only ever move the broom or cloth towards her or directly away from her, but not to either side, since the vertigo got worse if her eyes followed these objects. On moving her head, a sensation as if something were flopping to and fro on a rubber band inside it: when walking she would veer to the left.

In view of the good results already obtained with Conium. I could have used this remedy again. However, because of the tendency to fall veer to the left, I decided this time on Salicylic-acid 30, 5 globules.

16/7/85- The day after taking the remedy, vertigo had gone. Since the she could freely lie on the left side. The patient was delighted that she could drive and cycle on her own again. The rubber-band sensation in the head had also gone immediately. She felt very well and continued to do well when she telephoned in November 1985.

CASE 5: H J

A 57- year old secondary-school teacher, living in a neighbouring town, phoned me on 12/3/84 to report that , 2 days previously, his left ear, which for over 30 years had been almost deaf with constant tinnitus, had suddenly "opened", so that he could now hear too loudly. This oversensitivity had gradually decreased that day, but increasing vertigo and nausea had replaced it. This morning he had woken with severe vertigo and tinnitus and several attacks of retching and vomiting, leaving him so weak that he had returned to bed.

He had been my patient since 1958. He came to me then for left-sided tinnitus and Menieres syndrome, worse in Spring,, following his degree-exams 6 years previously. He had received medication and surgery (including tonsillectomy) at the ENT clinic of a nearby university, with no improvement. As the patient complained of an empty sensation in the head during attacks, and tended to muscle-cramps in the extremities. I prescribed Cocculus 30 at that time, with speedy relief of all symptoms. Since then the patient bore the-doubtless exaggerated-conviction that I had saved his life. At long intervals he suffered from left sided migraines, which were mostly overcome by a single high potency dose of Lachesis. Now-his first attack of Menieres for 26 years- he had no empty sensation in the head, so he got Salicylic acid 30 1 dose to take immediately, and another to dissolve in water and a sip to be taken if the first dose was not curative.

14/3/84-After the first dose, vertigo and nausea had disappeared, but reappeared after 5 hours, with copious cold sweating. So he dissolved the second dose in water and took a small sip. A quick improvement occurred, with unusual tiredness, which persisted the next day. he had not got up until today. Only a slight pressure remained in the left ear. Yesterday evening and this morning, slight touches of vertigo and nausea. He had taken no further sips of the second dose. No prescription.

23/3/84-On the last two evenings, vertigo lasting half-an-hour, with nausea, tinnitus, cold sweat and weakness. Vertigo worse on opening the eyes. I waited, thinking of Tabacum as a possible remedy.

June 1985-No further symptoms apart from the old-accustomed but now tolerable tinnitus. Otherwise in good health.

DISCUSSION:

Surveying the above case-histories, we can recognize the Menieres triad, or a similar symptom picture. The vertigo and tendency to fall were completely removed by Salicylic acid, as were the nausea and vomiting, whereas the tinnitus was not completely eliminated, pointing to sclerotic process in the inner ears of the patients concha.

If we take the components of Menieres triad as found in Kents Repertory, we have the following: (Page numbers adjusted to English edition).

KR 96-Vertigo. 260 remedies, not including Salic-ac, Addition.
KR 65-Vertigo sudden-25 remedies. Salic-ac not mentioned. Addition.
KR 105- On turning in bed. Salic-ac missing. Addition.
KR 105-As if turning in a circle. Salic-ac missing. Addition.
KR 105-With vomiting, Salic-ac missing. Addition.
KR 99-Tendency to fall, Salic-ac missing. Addition.
Kr 99-Tendency to fall, left, Salic-ac missing. Addition.
KR 101-With nausea, Salic-ac missing. Addition.
KR 232-HEAD swashing-Salic-ac missing. Addition in a sub rubric-as if on an elastic band."
EAR Noises Page292-300 remedies. Salic-ac in italics.
Left, Salic-ac missing. Addition.
During vertigo, page 294: Only in low type. Change to italic.
Roaring, page 299: Salic-ac in italics.
Roaring, left. Salic-ac missing. Addition.
Chirping, page 295: Salic-ac missing. Addition.
HEARING Impaired. page 322: Salic-ac missing Addition.
Impaired, left Salic-ac missing Addition.
STOMACH Vomiting. Page 531: 170 remedies. Salic-ac only in low type.
During vertigo. Page 535: Salic-ac missing. Addition.

We may ask whether my patients could not perhaps have been helped by repertorisation in Kent. I think they could, even if perhaps not so promptly and thoroughly as with the similimum, Salicylic acid, A "simile", or another suitable anti-psoric could have brought about healing, even if more slowly.

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