The ICR Bombay: Symposium
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1997 Jul / Aug VOL 5 NO 4.
Dr N L Tiwari
1] ICR Symposium on Mental Diseases:
25-27 July 1997
2] ICR Founder's Day on 27th July 1997
Council conducted its Monsoon Symposium in Mumbai from 25th to 27th July 1997 on Mental Diseases: Homoeopathic Management. About 120 Physicians attended the symposium from Bangalore, Baroda, Gandhinagar, Surat, Nadiad, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Valsad, Nasik, Pune and Mahad.
As is the practice at ICR Symposia, the presentation were through cases which were distributed well in advance so the participants could come prepared for a meaningful discussion.
The Cases Presented
The cases presented covered a variety of psychiatric conditions, cases that a Homoeopath commonly encounters in his practice. The basis of treatment was on integration of Homoeopathic theory [s given by Hahnemann I-$ 210-230 of Organon] and advances in modern Clinical Psychiatry.
Case 1: Dr Sunil Bhalinge presented the case of a child of 7-8 year who had reacted to stress in the family and the school by developing Obsessive-Compulsive Neurosis. Rx Medh 1M.
Case 2: Dr Sunil and Kumar M Dhawale presented another case of a boy of 18, who was under considerable pressure for academic achievements from his parents, and was gradually going into Paranoid Schizophrenia.
Case 3: Dr Kumar Dhawale presented yet another case of young girl of 22 years, a medical student, who was in a fairly miserable state, developing Obsessive Compulsive Neurosis and Depression with a number of sever somatic complaints. He was treated with Anac 1M-1 dose.
In all these three case the physicians took great pains to comprehend the mind of the patient, and used counselling as an important part of therapy.
Dr Dilip B Dikshit presented two cases of Paranoid Schizophrenia, both in the age group of 22-25, one male and one female, from the lower middle class. In treating these cases.
Dr N L Tiwari presented a case of Paranoid Schizophrenia in a man of about 35. He had been under his treatment since long, on and off, and thus had a good rapport with him. Through this case the group got a real insight in the mind of Schizophrenia and the world they inhabit. The case also brought out very well the suppressive effects of routing therapies requiring many remedies. First Nux-vom to antidote, then Kali-br 1M, Arg-nit for Exam anticipation, Staph 200 for constip, Kali-c 30 and eventually his constitutional remedy emerged as Mag-c with intercurrent Thuja 1M.
Dr Praful M Barvalia with Dr Neelam Pathare presented yet another compliated case of a patient in his early fifties, suffering from Thyroid disorder for long and taking hormonal treatment. He had gradually developed Endogenous Depression. The case was further complicated through drug effects, and the Consultant had to very gradually and patiently reach the heart of the problem before the patient could be relieved by Caust 30.
The cases thus presented almost a full evolutionary cycle of man in the various phases of life. The rich clinical experiences shared by the other group members of handing psychiatric patients and their various health case and rehabilitation problems, added further dimensions to the learning process.
The Learning Outcome [Concepts Evolved]
1] Child grows interactively with his surroundings, primarily the family life in the healthy growth of a child cannot be overstressed. Any serious problem in parental relationships can severely disturb the child.
2] At the same time, there is an undoubted genetic load esp. in psychotic disorders. The siblings of the patients presented were functioning normally.
3] Dr D B Dikshit hypothesysed from the above that Schizophrenia is a structural disorder, and structural disorders respond well to low potencies. In both his cases, where Nat-m 1M had failed Nat-m 30 single dose gave dramatic results.
4] Counselling plays an important complementary role in helping a patient. Dr Sunil Bhalinge's cases brought out the importance of counselling the family unit as a whole.
5] Who can effectively offer counselling? Who can heal? Hahnemann says, "Physician, heal thyself' Dr K M Dhawale's case brought out the primary importance of Physician's self-awareness leading of self-acceptance.
In a mental case we are exploring the mind and the belief - structure of a person who is not happy in his life. In the process of exploration, it is very likely that we come face to face with ourselves - and mistake that 'self' for the patient's! We need to accept ourselves with our defense mechanisms, so that we reduce the risk of projecting it all onto the patient.
6] This is very necessary as, we can make sense of the Schizophrenic person's world only by entering it. But we need to keep our moorings and learn to come out of it so that we can help the patient. Dr Tiwari's case brought this out well.
7] Dr Barvalia's case revealed the tricky process of being the Consultant on a case mismanaged by some other, very sincere, physician. As was the case, hormonal suppression plays its additional havoc, and you have to be very careful in releasing the consecutive layers so that the inner kernel can be acted upon.
The methodology was of group discussion.
The Methodology Practiced:
Free Group Discussion Method was followed. Group members were encouraged to share their experiences which they did freely, without any restraints, which made the session lively and creative, and resulted in active learning.
Evaluation :
Group members have written their evaluation reports at the end of each session. These were read by senior evaluators who functioned as teams and delivered their collective evaluation in the summing up Session. They did the job well and it helped the group members to integrate their experience. Dr Anand Kapse functioned as the Master evaluator.
At the end of the symposium the group felt a sense of fulfillment, calmness and completeness, after a long journey in self esquire. Quite a few contributed it to the prayer in the beginning and Shanti Path at the end.
THE ICR FOUNDER'S DAY :
ICR Bombay celebrated the ICR Founder's Day on Sunday, the 27th July, as part of their Symposium programme.
Dr M P Arya, Principal of D S Homoeopathic Medical College, Pune, gave a very informative exposition of Hering's Analytical Reporting of the Mind, a little - known but very useful work. Its concept and its application point: that of perceiving the repertory as an unprejudiced observer, a tool which bridges Homoeopathic philosophy and Homoeopathic Materia Medica. He gave a beautiful though brief sketch of Hering - his background, circumstances and the life he lived. He also elaborated on the structure of the repertory and its application.
