From our archives: Toothache and Homoeopathy
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1997 May / Jun VOL 5 NO 3.
Compiled by
T K Kasiviswanathan
'Cham / Chin / Coff / Plat / Hyos / Pip-m
CASE 1
Some years ago, his wife was seized with a violent toothache of the kind just described. As Dr Boenninghausen was absent from home, another doctor gave her Aconite, at first in consequence of the feverish symptoms. As they were not diminished he gave her Pulsatilla, which did not produce the slightest effect. The third day Bryonia was administered. As it did not have any effect the doctor applied on the fourth day 18 leeches and a mixture which gave relief but only for 15 minutes. The same violent toothache returned and became unsufferable. On the fifth day Dr Boenninghausen returned and finding his wife suffering from severe toothache gave her Chamomilla after taking the case at 4'o clock. In one hour the pain ceased and swelling of the cheek disappeared.
CASE 2
A young girl suffered from violent throbbing in the teeth, which increased chiefly after meals and at night and was slightly relieved by strong pressure and biting of the teeth, while a slight touch rendered the pains insufferable. She also had in the meantime continuous diarrhoea and profuse night sweats. Dr Boenninghausen gave her a dose of China and by the next morning she had no toothache and night sweat and for the first time she had a comfortable night
CASE 3
His friend's wife whose family lived strictly by Homoeopathic diet and never took coffee was at Christmas time suffering from violent toothache. The pain was throbbing. The patient ran crying from one room to another complaining of insufferable pain. Her account was interrupted by crying. She behaved like a person distracted and hasty. As the last symptom was out of line with her character, Dr Boenninghausen gave her a dose of Coffea-cruda and within two minutes her throbbing stopped and the remaining sensibility of the affected part was relieved by Ignatia. She did not have any further attacks.
CASE 4
In another case of throbbing in the teeth Platina was the remedy. The pain was like a pulsation digging through the whole right jaw, and it increased especially towards the evening and by rest which made the patient cry out involuntarily. Pulsatilla seemed indicated but it did not relieve. The accompanying symptoms were then ascertained. The throbbing was followed by numbness which affected the whole suffering part. In the meantime the menses was too early and abundant and she was of the late observed to be proud with conceit and contempt for all, which were never seen earlier. Here every Homoeopath would have given Platina which was given and it cured her in a few hours.
Dr Boenninghausen
CASE 5
A young lady became very ill because she was jilted and forsaken by her lover. She complained of throbbing pain in her teeth especially after midnight; she had fever with great redness of face and long fits of delirium in which she tried to run away. The first dose of Hyocyamus cured her of her delirium and throbbing toothache and the second dose relieved her completely.
CASE 6
A young girl of highly excitable and nervous temperament, who because of her actions harried her parents and demanded constant attention, suffered frequently from severe toothache and earache with sleeplessness. The pain was described as dragging, sometimes tearing and was worse at night in bed or after or when eating. Her mother gave the peculiar symptom "what is so vexing was that she forgets all about the pain if amused with anything and when tired of it, exclaims "Oh! My teeth of ear". She had another characteristic symptom "agonizing pain, with teasing, twisting and writhing; the patient was driven irresistibly to change position which generally gives little or no amelioration." These are the two keynotes of the remedy Piper methesticum and a few spoonful doses of the remedy in mother tincture cured her of the toothache. Dr Skinner who also cited another case where 500th potency was used with good effect.
Dr Skimer
CASE 7
Dr Rushmore writes: "In the spring of 1881, I suffered for several days from a severe pain in the second bicuspid in the left upper jaw. Chamomilla relieved the pain for 24 hours and then had no effect. Several other remedies did no good. The pain was very severe at night, preventing sleep. I noticed that on getting out of the bed at night, the pain became less. Hoping that this would give a clue to my remedy I opened the repertory and found under toothache better from getting out of bed: Oleander, Sabina. Under Oleander proving I read 'constant toothache at night....... in the first Lt molar and at times in the next hollow tooth; this toothache immediately ceased on rising from the bed and reappeared as soon as he returned to the bed with anxiety as if he were to die, with frequent micurition, qualmishness and heart of left cheek'. Anxiety and qualmishness I had not but frequent micturition and heat of the Lt cheek were marked featured in my case. I put a few globules of Oleander 200 on the tongue, went back to bed and slept in a few minutes. On waking up in the morning there was no pain and it has not returned.'
Sources:
1. Toothache - Dr Boenninghausen -The Indian Homoeopathic Journal, Feb 1950
2. Two cases of neuralgic toothache cured by Piper Methysticum
Dr. T. Skinner - The Homoeopathic Heritage May 1986
3. Clinical cases - E. Rushmore M.D. - Homoeopathic Heritage Nov 1986
