HIV/AIDS: My 18 years of Experience
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 2001 Sep / Oct VOL III NO 5.
Dr Dilip Dixit
'Lach / Tub / Ars / Hep-s / Phos / Merc-i-f / Podo / Thuj / Syph / Croton-t / Antim-tart / Sil / Hep-s / Sil / Hep-s / Ars-a / Puls / Hepar-sulph / Ars-alb / Lyc / Calc / Sulp / Bac
The first case of HIV was treated way back in 1984. This male patient, 24yr, had presented with multiple and tender enlarged lymphglands. Hot pt. Homosexual. He was given Lachesis as constitutional. Lachesis got confirmed, when, after taking the case, pt was asked to wait outside. While we discussed the case, he put his ear to door, demonstrating graphically his suspiciousness. Lach 30 and Tub 1M 1/month. Lach was gradually increased to weekly then 4 hourly over a period of time.
There was a dramatic decrease in size of glands, tenderness and generals, followed by slight aggr when glands which became more tender. The remedy was stopped till the patient settled. It was then resumed with vigour. With every repetition, the glands enlarged and then went down more.
Follow Up: 6-8m later- Much better. He was free of all the symptoms and had gained weight. He was already diagnosed as HIV and was under reporting to the Medical Association too. After all the Subjective and objective symptoms had disappeared, he reported back at the Medical Association. They just dismissed him saying that there was an error in Diagnosis in the first place!! But the glands did not lie! This was our first success. Later we had several types of cases of various dimensions and stages of disease, as well as diverse presentations of symptom totalities. Acute Infections respond beautifully to Homoeopathic remedies. Patients Susceptibility generally responds very well to Dynamic Homoeopathic remedies, but chronic disease remained untouched. Acute cold-cough fever even Kocht's cases responded well in the preliminary stages.
We thought that we were making some error in our approach. If the patient with Acute can be so improved, why not chronic? Now in most cases, by the time the chronic stage set in, the patients had no outward symptoms and were asymptomatic.
Appreciation was possibility of Tubercular miasm and therefore the confusing Totality. So we decided to try a similar Therapeutic Strategy, as we had done successfully in Homoeopathic treatment of Leprosy.
The peculiar nature of AIDS disease and its capacity to undermine the host's immune system, presents various permutations and combinations of Miasmatic interpretation of the totality and need for intercurrents like Tuberculinum, Thuja and Syphillinum.
The Acutes: Ars, Hep-s, Phos, Merc-i-f, Podophyllum, Croton-t, Antim-tart came up for consideration. Most cases required 4 hourly repetitions. When there was debilitating diarrhoea = Arsenic came up frequently. With cold and cough- Hep-s. These are the main 2 Remedies in the acute phase, I decided to pursue with and that too 4 hrly.
So far general health is better with normal functioning and the acutes get controlled well, there is sense of well being, but serologically patient remains positive. This has been the case so far except in that first case, which was an exception rather than the rule. I have not been able to repeat the result. 150 cases currently treated at last count.
It is also observed that cases where the infection was contracted during transfusion or surgery are the most difficult to treat. In advanced cases sometimes even the acutes don’t respond. In fact in some cases there is hardly any response to Homoeopathic remedies. In some of the cases there is no impact, not even of palliation.
So at the moment we are using the technique of trying to stimulate the susceptibility by repeated doses of acute remedies till aggravation. During the aggravation, possibly the aroused susceptibility may be able to deal with the Virus.
Tub repeated: 1/w or 1/2w
Constitutional: 1/w
Where constitutional is clear it is given 1/w and gradually to HS then TDS
In one set of patients only weekly schedule is followed.
We have started keeping selected Patients in the ICR Palghar Hospital for monitoring of susceptibility response. Silica appeared to be a frequently encountered constitutional.
Timid, fearful (yet adventurous?) or does it have an inherent weakness in its constitution to get HIV? This has to be explored.
Life Space: In most cases, family reactions have not been as negative, as we would have expected with this stigma. Family had tried to give lot of emotional support in majority of cases, even spouses quite understood except in terminal stage, which is difficult to handle. They seem to take a mature view and the attitude is that they have to try to do whatever possible.
We had received cases from all strata of society -- rich-poor, educated non-educated, with diverse ethnical background.
Case 1: Female 24, forced into prostitution at 16. She managed to get away from the Brothel. Got married to an Elderly Man, a divorcee. She was living happily, but had kept her son with the parents. Once she went to the local GP for some acute complaint, who diagnosed HIV and commented that she may not survive long. She was devastated. Husband found her weeping and talking of suicide. Husband took a practical stand with firm belief in God. If there is illness, then there must be a cure also. He talked to Doctors. Friends attempted to find about the disease. There was no cure in Allopathy. He decided to explore alternative systems and was referred to the author. He took this sensible stand but on other hand hassled her: saying my life is ruined. His family did not like this marriage because of the child. Now pushing him for second marriage. Friends also tease him. He is a caring father, had put the child in convent school. But he wants to have his own child, so threatens divorce. At that, the patient gets cross and says will stop eating and stop treatment or check weight.
Typical Sil, Tub and Hep-s In beginning, she lost weight- about 9 kgs in 2 months during the episode of fever, and then later she gained wt. No other illness except pyorrhea, and fungus in mouth which is better by Hep-sulph. Rx Diagnosed HIV since 3-4 years Western blot +ve. She had presented with high fever not responding to Allopathic treatment. She is under Homoeopathic treatment for last 3 yrs. Still very much healthy. Husband not affected though he had unsafe relations with her for sometime. But has been advised to have no more children. He has to face the society for not producing a child. People look at him as if the fault is with him? Pt spoils her health + adamant nature- stops eating. Fight with his parents. If he goes to parents, she will page him, calling him back under any pretext. She feels Mother will instigate him to leave her. He feels he is a laughing stock.
In village she was known to be timid. She is Adamant, resentful, won't eat. Does not mix, Husband feels bad- I am responsible. Blames wife for not being bothered whether child ate or not. Though Husband says, I have nothing to do with the child, yet he is involved.
Constitutional: Reasons for selecting Silica:
Adamant
Cross
Timid
Chilly patient.
Acute Totality corresponded to Hepar-sulph Under this combined action, she has kept well.
Case 2
A girl from higher middle class Brahmin family. A Graduate, parents arranged the marriage to a promising but unemployed youth. Husband started his own business with her parents help and is successful. But Husband is lazy, arrogant, selfish and very promiscuous, even with maidservant! Continues extra marital relations.
Child HIV-ve but patient has full blown AIDS. Husband died of HIV in a pathetic condition with Tuberculosis. He had erratic treatments. She presented with Herpes Zoster which was treated successfully with Ars-alb and then Hepar-sulph. She recovered in very short time. Then she was asked to write history. She wrote the history in a crude language, descriptive, graphic on legal size paper. Whenever she complained of husband's behaviour, he would say he was forced to marry her - as her father lured him with financial assistance for business. He wanted to marry a beautiful girl.
Constitutional Silecea
Acutes: Ars-a 200, Hep-sulph 200
Intercurrent: Tuberculinum 1M weekly.
A very quiet and enduring person; she did not want to be a burden to her parents. She was falling frequently ill with fevers, diarrhoea and constant fatigue. She had lost about 10 kgs in 4 months and still continues to loose wt. Since under Homoeopathic treatment, she has no more acute complaints and has gained 12 kgs. There is sense of well-being and positive outlook towards life. After the initial shock of husband's death, she has started own business. She is now financially independent, occupied and feel competent to take care of the child.
Therapeutic Strategies followed:
Intercurrent: Tub-b 1M weekly
Constitutional Silecea 30 weekly
Acutes: Hep-sulph 200 4 hourly.
Tub 1M weekly
Silecea 30 HS - BD- TDS
Silecea 200 HS - BD- TDS
Acute sos.
Reasons for Silecea
Proud
Non-complaining
Anxious
Timid but Determined.
Chilly. + Hepar Sulph as acute.
