Report on H.E.R.I Seminar
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1997 Jan / Feb VOL VI NO 1.
Dr Chanda Shah
On 22nd and 23rd February 1997 H.E.R.I organised a seminar wherein the theme was "travel in the world of Materia Medica." Fourteen eminent speakers presented a plethora a plethora of cases, few of which are discussed below.
Dr N L Tiwari presented three cases where he built the image of Kali-bich.
1. Self Centred
2. Ambitious with tenacity
3. Strong will
4. Perfectionist, in addition to usual features of anxiety and family attachments.
Dr Anwar Ansari presented a case of leucoplakia. The pathetic described himself as being intensely sympathetic. When he saw a child whose bags were stolen, patient went home crying and asked his mother for money to help that child. Another time he saw a man spitting blood at a bus stop, he got him admitted to a hospital. Daily he used to visit him, taking fruits, soaps etc.
[Rubric: Benevolence] He was very much interested in creative field, painting, handicraft etc. He would keep himself busy in new and different business strategies. [Rubric: Activity, creative and plan, making many] he also said that his conscience was very clear. Once he had a dealing in a fraud case. When he got the money, he regretted his action and gave back all the money. even thought his family was in financial crisis at that time.
[Rubric; Anxiety of conscience, remorse] Based on the above rubrics Coffea was prescribed with success.
In his address Dr Kasad said that in one sided diseases like cancer there were very few mental symptoms. So one should use Boger Boeninghausen's repertory.
Dr Manjusha Vad went on to state that Kreosote and Natrum-mur are concordant remedies as far as the state of mind is concerned.
Dr Anil Bhatia presented a beautiful case of Mag-carb after probing into the life space and then co-relating it with the physical generals.
Dr Parinaz Humranwala portrayed a clear cut picture of Carcinosin-via two case ie
- Fastidious and orderly
- Anxiety of anticipation
- Sensitive to reprimands
- Demanding strict parents
- Sympathy for animals
- Sleeping in knee chest position
- Plays with skin around nails
- Passion to read
- Likes to travel
- Desire for sweets and chocolates
- Blue sclera, café au lait spots, mole. According to Dr Foubister patient gets fever in 10-15 days after taking Carcinosin so one must not repeat or give any other remedy.
One case of Platina was solved by interpreting mother's feelings during pregnancy and co-relating it with child's behaviour ie. mother wanted to drop the pregnancy [Rubric desire to kill] She felt her problems would last a lifetime [delusions enlarged] and that her mother-in-law was given more importance [egoistic]. Rubrics taken for the child were - anger, striking and affectionate. Owing to her attention seeking behaviour Platina was selected from a group of drugs comprising of Carbo-veg, Ignatia, Phos and Veratrum.
One case was of a police inspector suffering from hypertension, cold and right sided joint pains. Patient liked winter but was averse to thunderstorm. He had very vivid dreams mostly he saw dirt, faeces, gutter and snakes in his dreams. Later he would write a poem about this. Once after seeing "Born free" he dreamt that he loves the lioness who loves him and caresses him in return, but then she attacks him and he starts running. Patient had got small pox in childhood, which made ugly and left a complex in him, so he became a loner. Two or three girls refused to marry him so he decided to marry a widow which he was unable to. Later he was unhappy with his wife as she was illiterate. Patient appeared to be very sensitive, sentimental, amorous and dissatisfied. Main theme was patient missed having a friend throughout his life. So rubric selected was delusion he is friendless - Mag-mur and Sarsaparilla. Sars was selected, as patient did not have forsaken feeling like Mag-mur. Plus Sars was confirmed on basis of right-sided complaints and dreams.
One case was of a 30 yrs old male with chronic cough, cold and headache. The case did not ring any bells initially but after Dr Daptardar's explanation, everything fell into place. The patient said that new and creative things made him anxious. He could not remember his dreams and felt that may be he did not dream. Plus he could not recollect any hobbies!! He was unable to explain about his tension. He felt the fish in Mumbai smelt more than the fish in 'Goa'. So he gave up his habit of eating fish. He seemed to be totally confused and not aware of himself. Patient followed everything in a rut, just like clay. Slowness in his intellect, desires and actions clinched the choice for Alumina.
Dr Aruna Chheda's case of Alumina also had features of "confusion of identify" The child was quiet, non-responsive when called by name, or when asked to pick up pen offered or when asked to point out mother. The child was brought for recurrent URTI, pica, delayed milestones, dry skin and constipation.
Dr Zenobia Colabawala presented a case of recurrent malaria. In such cases she explained that usually there were two ways of tacking it; either you prescribe on acute totality or you give constitutional remedy. Due to time constraints she prescribed Arsenic taking into account acute totality. On follow up, patient improved remarkably. even his disturbing dreams stopped. After taking the full case, Dr Zenobia realised that Arsenic was the constitutional remedy as well. She quoted from Vithoulkas saying that the central theme of Arsenic is insecurity. So he is dependant on others for assurance and support.
Dr Jawahar Shah presented a case of Gratiola where he said it is the female Nux-Vomica. It has ailments from pride of others, mortification, chagrin and humiliation.
Dr Vijaykar pointed out the need for keen observation and careful history taking. He stressed the need for learning embryology so that we know that the case is improving according to Hering's law of cure.
The seminar helped us in removing fixed images of drugs from our minds. Our two days were well spent.
