Keys open the Pandora's Box
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1998 Nov / Dec VOL VII NO 6.
Dr Rashmi Nagar
'Calad
What does one write about Keynote prescriptions? Well, as Dr Vishpala suggested, write the thought process that led you to prescribe the medicine on the Keynote symptom. Keynotes can divulge a whole lot of secrets and one can get the access to the whole case.
Case:
A 7 year-old child, occasionally taking treatment, was brought in one day with a new problem. His mother said "he looks dull and tired and his whole attention is on his genitals".
Initially I dismissed her as an over-anxious, orthodox mother, and advised her not to pay too much attention and not to make the child conscious, as all children go through this phase of learning about their genitals and she must ignore the whole thing.
But she insisted "No doctor, what he does is not normal; the moment he is free his mind is there. "Poore din masalte rehta hai. He does it in his sleep too. It is very embarrassing."
Now this had to be taken seriously. One does not come across such a complaint in very small children. On examination, there was no local sign of inflammation, itching etc. Many medicines came to mind, but a case published in NJH came as an instant recall. There is no better way to learn Materia Medica and treat patients, than to read well-presented cases in reputed journals.
Readers of NJH must be familiar with the case 'Roadside Romeo' by Dr Meena Malkani, where she vividly described the sex obsessed personality of Caladium.
This led me to consider, explore and then prescribe Caladium 200 4 pills QDS and stop when the complaint reduced.
Next week the boy came with a severe itchy rash on his left leg. His main problem had vastly improved. Mother was told to keep the skin clean and apply nothing and yet she took a pediatric opinion. Luckily no suppressive treatment was given. That week SL given. 15 days later he had no rash, no penile obsession.
I have used Caladium for a number of cases of pruritus vulvae but it was later, from Allen's Keynotes that I learnt 'INDUCES ONANISM' is a keynote of that remedy.
To quote Burnett with regard to this case. 'The mental and moral balance in children when disturbed is so disturbed mentally and physically and if we keep that well before our minds, we can restore such disturbed balance just as readily as we can cure any other disease.AND
'I am strongly of the opinion that evil habits in the young are of physical origin and nature and that they can be cured by medicine, if physicians take the trouble.' Whenever NJH is instrumental for treating a case successfully for anyone of us, being a part of NJH becomes a satisfying and fruitful experience.
[Starr Report and spiritual adviser apart, if only Bill Clinton had a personal Homoeopath, would Caladium have averted the whole embarrassing situation? It also reduces craving for Cigars!]
