Importance of Diagnostic Tools in Homoeopathic Treatment
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1998 Jan / Feb VOL VII NO 1.
Dr Annapurna Waghray
Homoeopathy is founded on symptomatic approach for diagnosis and treatment. Whereas in the modern changing scenario with the increasing number of diseases with complications and furtherance of knowledge in general, advancement in medical field and awareness amongst the people about the implications and complications of a disease or ailment, it is rather essential that we not only have to diagnose the ailment of patient but also have to satisfy the patient's knowledgeable queries and also have to confirm our own diagnosis. This I feel can be done by taking recourse to diagnostic investigations.
It is a fact that in modern medicine also in the earlier times, the diagnosis was purely on subjective symptoms and observations, but today it is seen that in most of the cases the diagnosis is based on the findings of various diagnostic investigations.
This does not mean that every patient who comes to us should be subjected to screening and diagnostic investigations. It should be advised whenever we feel essential. It will help us in a proper and early diagnosis and selection of a proper drug for treatment.
For a Homoeopath many a diagnostic report will help in minimizing the sphere of selection of a drug, achieved by elimination of common symptoms of that particular disease and concentrating more on peculiar guiding symptoms. By this process we are able to provide an earlier and faster relief. My suggestion on this approach emanates from my experience with a patient suffering from typhoid, which was confirmed diagnostically. This patient had one peculiar and striking symptom of longing for food which is unusual in a typhoid patient. This helped me in selecting a single remedy Ant-crud by eliminating the other possible drugs, which had symptoms common to typhoid and this had brought down the temperature and the patient started improving.
It is noticed that on many occasions you select a remedy on the basis of symptoms but the patient does not respond positively which shows there is something more to be seen and observed which will help in selecting the similimum. Once a patient came to me with tuberculosis picture and I gave some drugs to which the patient did not respond properly. Thereafter I advised a X ray of chest which showed a patch in left middle lobe of the lung. This one point helped me in selecting the drug Acid-flour, and the patient started responding immediately. This again goes to support the view of importance of diagnostic tools in Homoeopathic prescribing.
In my day to day practice I come across many cases of DUB'S and chronic vaginal discharges. In such cases, I normally first advise them to go for D&C and Histopathological analysis when required to rule out malignancy. If it is non-malignant and not for surgery.I give curative or palliative treatment. If it is initial the surgery is advised to stop the further progress of the disease ; thus diagnostic tools help in signaling before hand. I had another case who came to me with the report of CT scan of brain, which was diagnosed as malignant brain tumor for which radium was already given and the fluid was being tapped regularly. After seeing the reports I was able to tell the attendant that I can give only palliative treatment to reduce the suffering and curative treatment does not seem to be possible with the condition of the patient. The Neurosurgeon attending on her has advised against going for regular tapping. I was consulted at this stage and I was able to reduce the collection of fluid and intra-cranial tension up to the extent possible. My concentration was only on this aspect of treatment because I was armed with the knowledge of gross pathological changes in the patient's brain as found in the scan. The patient responded well and was able to walk into my chamber, recognize and talk coherently for some time but subsequently I came to know that the patient expired because of respiratory complications.
I have come across quite a few cases where patients who were Asymptomatic but on routine medical and pathological examinations have brought forth that the patient is showing HbS Ag +ve. In the same way, sometimes diabetics also will be detected on routine checkup. In another case on routine checkup, a Granuloma in the [L] lung was found. On further evaluation and because of its malignant nature lobectomy was advised by the doctor to whom I referred.
I have come across many cases where the patients were basically asymptomatic forcardiac problem and looked to be gastric but on subjecting them to ECG they showed ischeamic changes and one of them was sent for by-pass surgery and rest were treated medically. This goes to strengthen my point of view of importance of diagnostic investigations before treatment.
A case of cervical spondylitis and another case of lumbar spondylitis were not responding to treatment. On seeing severity of pain I referred them to specialist where MRI was done and surgery became inevitable as there was severe cord compression.
It is common phenomena which most of my learned colleagues would have come across in their practice that cases of Gallstones and Renal calculus are mostly diagnosed on the basis of X-ray and Ultra sound. Their size and position will give a clue for the treatment.
It is also a fact that to know the correct prognosis of the case we should send them for periodical investigations. Here with I would like to present the reports of two cases which were advised investigations periodically and the reports are enclosed in the sheet.
1. A case of hypoplastic uterus: A lady aged 24 years didn't get her periods came to me. A scan was advised which showed a small hypoplastic uterus and small but normal ovaries on 16/11/92.
Second scan on 30/3/93 after treatment showed small sized uterus with slit like endometrium and normal ovaries.
Third scan on 29/8/94 showed normal findings but she still didn't get periods. Thinking that there would be some hormonal imbalance I consulted a gynecologist who believes in Homoeopathy. She gave a course of treatment which induced her cycle and got it regularly as long as the medicine was continued but later again did not come on its own. Again she was put on Homoeopathic treatment and the periods were normal. I feel as and when required we must not hesitate to take an expert advice.
2. A patient of Renal parenchymal disease , who was advised to go for dialysis, has come to me on 11/11/94 and his blood urea was 68 against the normal range of 15-40.
Serum Creatinine - 250mg.against the normal range of 0.5-1.2.
After treatment the second report was done on 24/4/95-blood urea was 36.
Third report on 3/8/95-blood urea was 26 mg. and the patient has improved considerably and still visits me frequently.
I wish to conclude with summation that diagnostic tools viz Pathological examination, USG, MRI, X ray, ECG, Echo, Treadmill test. Angiograms, endoscopy etc are an integral part of any system of medical treatment, which also includes Homoeopathy. As discussed by me earlier. I personally feel we Homoeopaths should also try to improve our approach to therapeutics by making use of this additional information provided by such investigations.
