Pitfalls of Keynotes
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1998 Nov / Dec VOL VII NO 6.
Dr Velamkunnel Jinson
'Lyco / Calc-c
Case 2: A Case of Warts
Editor: Now, due to the keynote failure in the previous case, he was not inclined to prescribe the specific remedy in the next case. He took the full history and gave the constitutional drug but to no effect. What worked in this case was the specific Thuja. Why did it work? Because it fitted the case fully. These 2 cases very aptly satisfy all the philosophical basis of keynotes.
Mr M.S 28 years, office assistant in a private firm, came with the c/o warts around his neck since 9 months.
[L] Lateral side of the neck; 16 in number. 2 were big, 3 cm in diameter.
Smooth papules with flat top.
Other 14 were small papules about the size of a pinhead. Distributed very irregularly.
His appetite is good. Wants to eat every now and then; very irregular food habit. Follows no proper time for the meal.
Desires - coffee+ sweets+, Fried things+ salty things+++
Aversion - Nothing specific
Urine - normal
Thirst - moderate.
Perspiration - Offensive foot sweat. Can not wear socks for more than a day. Even he himself cant tolerate its smell. Bowels - regular
Sleep - normal.
Dreams - occasionally he gets a dream, as if he is climbing some mountain. With great difficulty he reaches its top and quickly he falls from there. That wakes him up from the sleep with a sudden start. He is a chilly patient. He cant tolerate winter. He gets acute attacks of cold and coryza with tonsillitis on exposure to cold air. He needs at least 2 coverings in the winter.
Life Situation: Patient is the youngest of four children. His father was a postmaster, now retired. He has 2 elder sisters and one elder brother. As a child he was over - cared for. He never used to do any work in the house. Both of his sisters are staying away from his town after marriage. His elder bother is a company manager and is shouldering the responsibility of all the expenses for the family. His brother is married and has two children. Patient too wants to marry soon. Because of the cosmetic problem he has come for the treatment. He is not taking interest in his job, as he feels it is a very boring. Even though he is a postgraduate, he is not trying for a better job.
He cant do much work in the office as he tires easily after doing some work. Then falls into a kind of day dreaming. Officers always scold him for not doing the job in right time. He hates his manager.
Physically he is well built, muscular. But he cant tolerate exertion. He sweats a lot after a walk of ¼ km. He wants to exercise regularly but tires easily. He loves music and watching TV.
Mind and Emotional State He has no special interest in anything. He has very few friends. He thinks that he is unfit for the society. He fears that he will not be able to manage the house when all responsibility comes upon him. He is frightened easily. Even in schooldays, his friends used to make fun of him and frighten him by telling horror stories.
Past History
All vaccinations were given. During the third visit, he told me that he had some eruption and fever after vaccination in the childhood. This he had confirmed from his mother. There were recurrent attacks of cold and coryza on exposure to cold atmosphere.
Family History Mother: warts. One elder sister: mitral stenosis. Maternal Uncle: Osteo-arthritis
Analysis and Treatment
After going through the case I felt that there is a kind of lack of stamina, the sluggishness, in this patient, both at mental and physical level. He tires very easily both after mental and physical work. He is not capable of any hard work. He has fearsome disposition. On the physical level he sweats profusely, more on the foot which is very offensive. He is a chilly patient.
The remedy was very clear at this stage. Calc-carb came very strongly. His tendency to catch cold easily and tiny small papular warts also confirmed the remedy.
On 28/07/97 Calc-carb 1M/4 doses at every 10 min intervals, followed by Sac lac for 15 days. (Editor: A lot of Homoeopaths have this style of giving in what is called divided doses every 10 mins or half-hour- 2,3,or 4 doses. I remember in the earlier days, Dr Rajan also did this? But now he gives single dose. If the remedy is correct- one dose itself works. Try it)
Follow-Up:
| Date | Symptoms | Treatment |
| 14/9/97 | Two small warts disappeared Sleep-good, Dream-same, Appetite good | Sac lac tds/15days |
| 29/9/97 | Not much change, Warts same, Sleep-good Dream-same, Sweat-same but less offensive | Calc-carb 1M/1 d Sac lac tds/15 days |
| 11/10/97 | Two more warts disappeared out of one was big. C/o sneezing with nasal discharge, for last 3 days. Sweat> Dreams-Frequency reduced |
Sac lac 6/bd/15d |
| 24/10/97 | Three more warts disappeared, including 1 big, Appetite good C/o Coryza>>, Sweat->, Dreams->. | Sac-lac 6/bd/15d |
| 6/11/97 | Not much change in the warts, I thought of giving an
intercurrent. Based on his family H/o Mitral stenosis and Osteoarthritis and warts, either Medo or Thuja were considered. Dream of falling from high places; bad effect of vaccination in childhood, chilly patient, calls for Thuja. |
Thuja 1 M Sac-lac /10d |
| 16/11/97 | Four warts disappeared within 10days, Dreams->>, Sleep-good, Sweat- >> No h/o coryza, Appetite good. | Sac-lac -6/bd/7 |
| 28/11/97 | Not much change in last week Warts-same, Dreams-once only. Sweat-offensiveness >> App good Sleep-good. | Calc-carb 1M/1 dose Sac-lac-6/bd/15 d |
| 14/12/97 | Three warts were gone, incl. one big. Only one wart remained. Mentally feels energetic. Said soon he will find a new job. No attack of cold and cough even though winter has started. Foot sweat-better. | Sac-lac 6/bd/20d |
| After this he did not turn up for two months. | ||
| 22/02/98 | He came with an invitation for his marriage, which was on 03/03/98. All warts had gone. He also got a new job with a better salary and job satisfaction. He was more optimistic than ever. | |
Discussion:
This case started with a constitutional remedy, which showed excellent response at the beginning. But afterwards, even though Calc-carb is a deep acting remedy with sycotic miasm coming within its domain, it did not help him further. Here the right anti-miasmatic remedy-based on his family history, past history and constitutional taint, helped him to get cured. He improved not only physically but also at mental level. His tendency for recurrent attacks of cold and coryza, tonsillitis and foot sweat was also cured during the course of the treatment. This case shows the importance of correct anti-miasmatic drug at the right time for fast recovery of the patient.
