Faith in Homoeopathy?
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1998 Sep / Oct VOL VII NO 5.
Dr S K Mamgain

Editor: At the first look, I rejected such an article. But reading it made me aware of its relevance. So I have included it in the philosophy section.

In the present era, getting fed up with the untoward effects and reactions of the so called modern medicine, people are converging to Homoeopathy in the hope that Homoeopathic medicines are safer and cause no side effects whatsoever. Numerous false notions are still in vogue about Homoeopathy in general public:

1. Homoeo medicines act slowly. & treatment takes longer
2. Homoeo medicines do not act on smokers or people of sedentary habits
3. In acute cases it is better to take allopathic treatment first and after there is some relief then Homoeopathic treatment may be started; so on and so forth.

As I wondered who is responsible for creating such false notions, I came to the conclusion that the Homoeopathic physicians himself is solely responsible.

Let us ask ourselves a few questions seriously:

1. Do we ourselves have full faith in Homoeopathy?
2. Do we study and try to understand ORGANON in its real sense?
3. Do we understand the personality of the patients with respect to their healthy state, change in personality under the influence of individual disease or individual drug?
4. Do we try to choose proper remedy according to its adaptability to the disease personality?
5. Do we use proper dose?
6. Can we decide accurately when to repeat the dose?
7. Can we be sure about proper time for the second prescription?
8. Do we keep proper record of each patient, so that we may keep track of the progress and changes taking place?
9. Do we understand how to manage the case, with respect to the mode of diet, mode of living and the precautions to be observed to enhance recovery?

These are some important questions (there are many others) which require great attention if one is:

1. To increase one's proficiency in the Homoeopathic science and
2. If one is to create faith for Hom in the hearts of the suffering people and the general public so that this science of healing may TRULY become the sure, safer and the most popular system of CURE in the future.

Now, again the question arises, 'Do we make acquaintance with our remedies so well? During past 35 years of my practice I did get confirmation of Dr Kents above quoted citation a number of times not only in general practice, but even in emergencies. Many times I was called in the middle of night to see a patient in distress, and often could render prompt relief with Hom remedies.

I may, here, be allowed to quote a case to show how Homoeopathy may earn a bad name. Mr N aged 75 years, had Herpes-Zoster in [R] arm about a year ago, which extended up to his shoulder. He had been under the care of a Hom physician for a month. But instead of getting better, the condition became miserable. The herpetic ulcers became like the wounds of third degree burns and the whole arm emaciated greatly. All the joints stiffened so much that he was unable to move or lift the arm up even an inch. The pain was pure agony, continuing all through the day. Due to this continuous distress, the patient became very much emaciated and his complexion dark. The patient had great faith in Homoeopathy, but it was being sorely tried.

Then he came to me. He is quite well off and his son is a bank manager. But due to neglect of his son, he had no money to eat or pay for treatment. I promised him all the help free of cost and without any obligation.

Under my care with the Homoeo remedies, the patient started improving in a short time, though slowly but steadily and now after about a year, he himself admits of 95 percent improvement in his overall health and the herpetic neuralgia as well. Now he can move his arm almost normally.

[Editor: It would have been better had the author indicated the line of treatment he had given and how was it different from that of the other Homoeopath. I want to add my own recent experience. 0n 29-10-98, I got the worst case of Herpez-zoster,of my practice. It has spread rapidly, just as described above, and it has taken me 5 days and 3 changes of medicine, before finally getting some relief today, i.e. 4-11-98. Fortunately it was my own cousin, whose faith was also getting shaky because of the pure agony she was going through. But I kept steady and kept trying to get modalities. I got side-tracked, because initially she said better cold, and finally on 3rd day she said better warm- it was a very fine distinction, because she was not better hot nor better cold. So finally on 3-11-98 I moved to Ars-alb 200 qds which began affording relief by the third dose.]

Many other examples may be quoted. I do not claim 100% success. I may also fail, but at least I try to proceed systematically, analyze my own work and rectify my failures.

The aim of writing this article is to try to emphasize this need of the hour, so that the Hom physicians may do some soul searching. Our proper work will lead this science to the helms of popularity and faith. And will fulfill the expectations of the suffering people, and earn us a lot of 'Punya'.

I feel that, when I prescribe for a patient, I am actually tampering with his life. Therefore it becomes my prime duty, to be very cautious to ensure that the patient not be harmed due to my act. And secondly, that he should get rid of the malady gently, rapidly and permanently. Moreover, I must have an answer for how and why about my prescription.

The medical profession is the noblest one; therefore, we must be honest to it; our honesty will create faith in the hearts of masses and then Homoeopathy will thrive.

Editor: I must say I am very touched by this article, which has a ring of truth and seems to come straight from the heart. Of course, it goes without saying that I agree with it in to. Being Journalist, we get access to all kinds of prescriptions. Some leave me gasping for air!!

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