Book Review
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1999 May / Jun VOL VIII NO 3.
Reviewed By
T K Kasiviswanathan
Title: ICR - Pediatrics in Homoeopathy
Edition: 1st May 1999.
Published & Complied By: ICR
Pages: 87
Price: Rs 60/-
The establishment of a Homoeopathic Paediatric unit at Dr Ram's Children's Hospital at Mulund was a landmark in the history of ICR. It provided an opportunity to implement an integrated approach to Homoeopathic treatment as advocated by the founder (late) Dr M L Dhawale. Physicians working in the unit had to invent newer strategies by correct interpretations of Homoeo principles, especially of susceptibility and sensitivity, fundamental and dominant miasm and posology. Weekly clinical sessions were held to review and plan the management of the IPD cases. They proved to be of very high educational value. The hospital stay for many clinical conditions got reduced considerably as compared to Allopathic treatment. Pneumonias usually clinically resolved completely within 24 hours. It was possible to diagnose typhoid on the 3rd or 4th day and the patient would be free of symptoms in 2-3 days. The tremendous advantage of Homoeopathy in acute gastroenteritis became obvious soon and patients could be discharged in1-2 days as compared to 3-5 days earlier.
After working for two years, the symposium offered ICR an opportunity to consolidate its experiences and publish this booklet outlining the protocols or approaches to paediatric practice for common problems like diarrhoea, fevers, lower respiratory tract infections, hypersensitive airway disease, pertussoid cough, atopic skin disorders etc.
As a sample, the approach and protocol evolved by ICR for treating Pneumonia is briefly summarized for the benefit of the NJH readers.
In infants and young children with infection of lower respiratory tract, signs and symptoms are few. Hence X-ray evidence of pneumonia is found in infants who clinically appear to have URTI or tachypnoea or only fever.
Clinical inquiry covers the history of the evolution of the complaint with pace and direction, frequency of cough, dyspnoea, discharges, fever, etc. AF change of weather and F/H URTI. Concomitants such as irritability, dullness, drowsiness, restlessness, weakness, thirst, appetite, sleep pattern, reason for disturbance of sleep etc are looked into and recorded. H/O febrile convulsion and history of any other significant past illnesses is ascertained. Family history is also enquired into. The indications for diagnosing - determining pneumococcal or staphylococcal infection are discussed in detail.
The management of the case will revolve around whether the child has to be hospitalized or treated at home. The indications for hospitalization:
- High fever spikes.
- RR above 60/min with respiratory distress.
- Fast pace of evolution of disease &
- Anxiety of parents.
Susceptibility
Availability of characteristics: this denotes moderate to high susceptibility.
Febrile response: Alertness with fever denotes good susceptibility, while toxic and lethargic state means low susceptibility.
Pace: It depends on the virulence of the organism and state of susceptibility.
Viral - moderate.
Staphylococcal - rapid.
Sensitivity: Irritability, restlessness denotes moderate to high sensitivity while dull drowsy state denotes low sensitivity.
Strategies For Management Of Pneumonia
- Where the disease shows the characteristic form, acute totality is constructed and acute/sector remedy is given in moderate (200) potency 4 hourly, to give momentum to the susceptibility. Once the crisis is over & resolution is taking place, the momentum is to be maintained by deep acting forces ie constitutional and intercurrent remedy.
- When there is lower susceptibility with fewer characteristics we have to give higher potencies (1M/10M) of acute remedy, frequently till the point of response. Its action is to be complemented by constitutional or intercurrent remedy given at bedtime.
- For moderate susceptibility with no acute form only constitutional force is resorted to.
- If the acute has partially registered and a strong tubercular load is present, intercurrent remedy is introduced followed by constitutional on the next day.
The remedies found useful clinically are Antim-tart, Arsenic-alb, Bryonia, Phos, Coccus-cacti, Puls, Hepar-sulph and Antim-ars. The indications for each are given. Clinical experience shows that though Dr Borland states that Antim-tart picture evolves at the end yet it is found that this remedy comes up even in the initial stages and helps to abort the case.
Parameters For Follow-Up:
- Generals-weakness/ dullness/ drowsiness / sleep/ fever/ appetite/ thirst
- Observations - look/ expression/ activity/ posture of the patient
- Particulars - cold, cough, breathlessness
- Any other associated symptoms
- Examination findings - respiratory rate / temp/ throat/ tongue /chest/ liver/spleen
Editor Adds: This book is an absolute must for all of us. All general information has been given in a simplified manner. The schedules to be followed in all the common disease has been given. So much packed in this small book costing only Rs 60/-.
After the [pediatric seminar of Feb 99, I resolved to update myself. To that end, as of April 99, I have started attending Ram's Hospital on a weekly schedule, to learn the intricacies of Paediatric treatment and the working of the ORGANON WORK STATION. I am very impressed with the handling and with the results. Even pneumonia's are discharged in 24 hrs. From time to time I will present some cases in NJH.
