Vth Sarla Sonawala Memorial Seminar
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1999 Jan / Feb VOL VIII NO 1.
Reported by
Dr Aqsa Ansari
Dr Neelofer Shaikh
Dr Sumit Chatterjee

NJH once again proved to be a boon for continuing education and organized sharing of knowledge and clinical experience, through its dynamic 5th Sarla Sonawala Memorial Seminar held on 31st Jan '99 at the Basement hall, Nehru Planetarium. The theme of this year's seminar was "BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS IN CHILDREN".

The Seminar was most systematically planned, covering as many angles as possible, and turned out to be a highly satisfying and educative seminar.

1. Bird's Eye view of the theme: classification, causes, approach, common rubrics and remedies. Case-handling with 12 illustrative cases.
2. One video case of a rare remedy in detail.
3. Role of:
   1. Parental Influence
   2. Social Advancement
4. One common problem: ENURESIS - causes, various approaches and handling the complaint.
5. A talk on 'Art of Communication', since this is one disorder where parent education is the most important, the physician has to be adept at art of communication.

1. DEVELOPMENT Problems like school phobias, poor school performance.
2. DESTRUCTIVE behaviour (attention deficit hyperactive disorder)
3. EMOTIONAL (anorexia/ obesity/ pica)
4. PHYSICAL (encopersis, enuresis, sleep disorders)
5. CHRONIC ILLNESS (typhoid)
6. SEPARATION from loved ones (death, hospitalization, divorce, working parents).

1. Disturbing sexual thoughts and desire in a young girl was handled mainly with patient counseling and Plat 1M.
2. In a shy timid, fearful and TOO GOOD a Japanese boy, chronic cold and constipation was cured with Sil; and his behaviour modified so much so that for his follow up he came with fractured arm! Too good is also not normal!
3. A brilliant and honest child (he asked the teacher to cut 2 marks which was given by mistake!) Vitiligo >2 Carc.
4. A Tomboy who hated being called a girl turned little feminine when she allowed her ears pierced!) with counseling and Nat-mur. These cases briefly discussed by Dr Vishpala brought home the cause and factors leading to BD in children and most importantly the new role which a Homoeopath must play, apart from medication, viz. that of counseling the parents and patients. The slide show was excellent and slide quality was superb indicating how effectively slides prepared with the help of computer software, can enhance the impact of a presentation.

• In olden days rich people drank the brew of this mushroom to get a kick; the poor who could not afford it, drank urine of the rich who had consumed the mushroom, to get the same kick.
• The soldiers took it before going to war as it made them fearless.
• The mushroom is like an umbrella; once uprooted, it cannot balanced, similarly the patient also keeps tumbling and falling. She then compared other restless remedies, the closest being Bell (fear of balloons, talks of war, breaking things, refuses medicine).
• Tarent-hisp cunning, destructive2
• Stram fear3 surprisingly
• Aloe mischievous with laughter
• Apis restless, awkward, averse to doctors.

The Second Session : started after lunch after an exquisite lunch at Bombay Brasserie. Dr C H Asrani spoke on 'PARENTAL INFLUENCES IN BD OF CHILDREN'.
He emphasized that certain deviation of behaviour were normal and should not cause alarm to the parents and to doctors, eg every child after four years will stutter for 1-2 months, after beginning to speak normally. He divided his topic into three categories

1. Mother - child relationship
2. Father - child relationship
3. Father v/s mother

• What to expect?
• Different types of personalities & how they behave
• scolding, beating and constant reprimanding does not work &
• constant supervision is not possible

Today's Common Problems :

1. Father too busy - keenly felt and irreplaceable. Quality time is much bandied: hugging and occasional kissing used like a daily dose of vitamins do not help.
2. Divorced parents: A good, healthy, constant relationship is called for. So advice: Stay married.
3. Parents behaviour in front of the child is not constant. One should not approve what the other disapproves. Settle disputes behind closed doors.

The Seven Commandments for parents

1. Be a parent, not a pal
2. Discipline early
3. Spend time with kids
4. Don't get carried away with self-esteem
5. Control the electronics
6. Know what your child is up to.
   Most important and above all
7. Stay married.

1. Physiology, causation and classification.
2. He demonstrated the use of a device which, when kept under the bed sheet sends a signal as soon as the child urinates.
3. Suggesting a chart format for keeping a tab on the enuresis problem and rewarding the child appropriately for dry nights by stars.
4. Remedies: Plantago, Psorinum and Rhus-tox were useful. Drew particular attention to Quassia (Enuresis in boys) which has given him good success.

Dr Nilesh Baxi: Art of communication: importance for doctors.
Slides were very illustrative.
Communication is verbal and non-verbal. In verbal he stressed lucid language and receptive vocabulary and learning the local language. Tremendously useful to build a rapport with patient.
In Non-Verbal (body language) he stressed smile, open posture, forward leaning, eye contact and nod etc.

Concluding Part Of The Seminar:

• Dr Kasad was called upon to give a brief review of the whole day. He pointed out that all the participants had prepared well and given very comprehensive & relevant talks.
• The NJH staff was heartily thanked by Dr Vishpala for their devoted and untiring service rendered for making the Seminar a success.
• Dr Pai released KEYNOTES No 6 of 1998, which was completed in record time.
• A Lucky Draw for the delegates - lots were drawn by Dr Taji from Amravati.

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