CCRH Workshop: Diabetes Mellitus and its Homoeopathic Treatment, Aug 98, Delhi
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1999 Jan / Feb VOL VIII NO 1.
Reported by
Dr Subhash Arora
Day 2: Dr Parinaz Humranwala from Mumbai, explained that Homoeopathic cases needed proper documentation along with proper investigations to support the effects in a more scientific manner. She cited a case of renal failure, hypothyroidism and congestive heart failure that improved with Thyroidinum, The patient was simultaneously monitored by an allopathic colleague and all relevant investigations for proper follow-up were done. Throughout the treatment, there was no need for dialysis. She gave an easy, comprehensive and practical demonstration of skills of case taking and differentiating features of several drugs by citing cases during case taking process. She was against the use of standard case taking proforma in clinics.
Case illustrations helped differentiating similar looking drugs. "Observe The Patient" like a panther. Most often the first sentence of the patient gave the hint to the remedy and the last sentence confirmed it. Thuja patients were very observing and Morphinum, Opium and Veratrum-album were excellent liars. Among these Veratrum-album talks a lot about religious subjects & a big boaster. Extremely spendthrift, he lives with a feeling of being unlucky and unfortunate. She pointed out that in contrast to feeling of brittleness of Thuja patients, Belladonna infants even of few days had lots of strength, they looked like Calcarea and had lot of vigour, tendency to kick or do other violent acts. They talk of battles and wars and are averse to hair cut. Arsenic-album, Pulsatilla, Psorinum patients like wrapping and Sulphur, Medorrhinum hate to be wrapped. Coffea does not like to be carried, Pulsatilla likes to be carried but with a gentle stroke on the head, Belladonna likes to be carried but with no stroking on the head and has liking for light, torch etc., Cina does not like to be stroked on the head. Borax infants do not like to be carried down the stairs, and have problems of airsickness only during descent. Belladonna was also good for airsickness, Calcarea-carb for slow persons having carsickness where rapid movement of vehicle causes vomiting. She told that the best mode of giving medicines to infants is by dissolving it in breast milk. She further gave an example of a child having wart on the palmer aspect, extremely arrogant and rude, insolent, right sided, bedwetting, does not like to be bossed by anybody: was relieved by Lycopodium. Lycopodiun teenagers have love of power, are flatterers - tell the doctor that they are in good hand! Extremely arrogant and tyrant at home but coward outside with new people. Good performers. Like games like monopoly, involving money and domination. They analyze the doctor and environment and put the doctor a question as to how many cases of complaints like his own has he treated?
The Manner of Handshake: The state of moistness, warmth and feel or grip can give a clue. Calcarea patients are slow to respond and Lycopodium gives a solid handshake.
Toys Liked by the Child Children showing cruelty towards animals, fear of dogs, get bored easily, defiant, obstinate, threatening respond to Tuberculinum well. Timidity is characteristic of Ambra-grisea.
Other Aspects of Case Taking "words spoken" "sitting posture" and "facial expressions" are very good guide to finding the remedy and gave several examples of these.
Life Style of the Patient: Ask him to compare it with any other close relative; how mental tension, if any, is manifested; daily activities from morning to night. Ignatia and Thuja are very secretive. Suicidal tendency but lacks courage is Nux-vomica and China. China also has delusions that he is persecuted, his work is hindered, forsaken feeling, very weary of life, disgust of life and despair. Ailments from demanding parents is Carcinocin with fastidious about time and desire for chocolates.
At the end of the case taking she always asks about the happiest and saddest day of the patient's life and also what would he ask the God Almighty if he was born again, and that the answers gives clue to the remedy.
Day 3: Dr Kasim Chimthanawala of Nagpur briefly outlined the causation and classification of diabetes. It is a multi-varied syndrome of mental and physical symptoms of which known signs and symptoms are just a few modes of presentation. It is not always necessary to bring down the blood sugar, as long as general condition of the patient is improving. He explained this by citing an example of his own brother being treated with Phosphorous for 18 years having blood sugar level between 260-280 mg% with no complication of diabetes. He further told that certain allopathic antihypertensives and steroids also cause hyperglycaemia. He suggested his own technique of classifying cases on the basis of clinical presentation, such as diabetic diathesis, pure natural cases, where no anti-diabetic medicines have been taken, i.e. there is no suppression, iatrogenic cases, settled cases which are already on anti-diabetic drugs with controlled blood sugar; diabetes mellitus with complications and emergencies.He presented seven different cases:
- First case which responded to Acid-nitricum 1M, selected on basis of AF grief, prostration of mind, apathy to everything, loathing for life, anxiety, sadness before menses, hypochondriac, anus burning, urine offensive and DM.
- Second case had palliation with Crotalus-ascavella, which later on responded to Lachesis.
- Third case relieved with Medorrhinum on the basis of FH of cancer and recurrent urinary tract infections.
- Fourth case responded to Belladonna and Stramonium on the basis of "speaks in foreign language".
- Fifth case responded to Acid-phos on symptoms of difficult comprehension, ailments from grief, depression of spirits, indifferent, impotency and desire for fruit juices. This case later on needed Rhus-v for itching groins. Coca was given after failure of different potencies of Lycopodium for impotency.
- Sixth case was a known case of Herpes Zoster with hyperacidity and diabetes. Iris-versicolor was prescribed on the basis of vesicular eruptions and hyperacidity. After taking Iris the patient went into hypoglycaemic shock. Urine sugar was nil with intake of antidiabetic drugs. Thereafter he was given parental glucose along with Carbo-veg. He said probably Iris-versicolor had hypoglycaemic effect, which should be verified.
- Seventh case was of Juvenile diabetes, after a severe attack of measles, in a 13-year-old girl on insulin. She responded to Kreosote and Syzgium-jambolanum Q, on the basis of tendency to hemorrhages, aversion to fats, AF measles, urine offensive, urgency, burning, sediment sugar, diarrhoea AMEL hot weather, bleeding gums, genitalia itching after urination. The urine sugar has come to nil but the case is still under follow up with insulin injections.
In the afternoon session Dr B D Patel from Bangalore, presented cases of DM. The transparencies of all the cases were initially shown to the participants who were asked to comment on them.
- First case was an insulin resistant case. The patient had tried all systems of treatment including Homoeopathy with no change in his condition. He was highly irritable, fastidious, wanted company of close friends, not attached to his family members, alcoholic along with grade I nephropathy and cholelithiasis, past history of typhoid twice. Responded to Opium, selected on basis of lack of reaction to Homoeopathic as well as allopathic medicines. Opium is also listed in grade I in Kent's repertory under urine sugar. Later on he needed Sulphur 10 M due to lack of symptoms and slight burning of palms and soles.
- Case of a labour officer - chronic persistent sinusitis & DM. Sneezing all the night with thin watery discharge, nose sore and red, headache as if head would blow off. On inspection he had deviated nasal septum to Lt side with nasal obstruction. Occasional asthmatic attacks at night, severe acidity, flatulence, passing loud flatus at night, sweat in palms and soles, short tempered, fastidious and chilly. Strong family history of DM. Had extreme thirst and GTT strongly positive. He responded to Syphilinum CM prescribed on the basis of night aggravation. Within few days his sneezing got reduced, with feeling of more energy and no exhaustion inspite of long hours spent in meetings.
- Case of a female 68 years of age. Although she had two sons and a daughter yet her son-in-law took care of her. She responded to Natrum-mur 10 M on the basis of history of grief due to husband's death and living with son-in-law.
