Cases

Case of gastritis related to menses in a k/c/o hiatus hernia and gastric ulcer.

A 25yr old female, k/c/o hiatus hernia with severe acidity and gastric ulcers (confirmed endoscopically) came for recurrent episodes of vomiting just before menses. She would start having pain in epigastrium 2 days prior to menses with vomiting that would have blood streaks in it. She could not eat anything and had severe nausea till the period started.

She was hot and thirstless.

She was given ipecac 200 TDS/ 3 days, starting 3 days prior to her menses.  On taking ipecac, the nausea and vomiting reduced markedly. She had only one vomit with no blood and could eat well next day without gastritis.

The next period she was well without any gastric trouble.

Where no antacids helped her in such severe pathology (which she was taking past few years), she was helped by few doses of IPECAC.

(Dd- amelioration on appearance of menses- LACHESIS, ZINC etc. Lachesis came very close in this case; even Knerr Repertory mentions attack of cardialgia before menses; however, the severe nausea allowed the selection of IPECAC with wonderful results.)

Aude Sapere

Shivangi Jain
BHMS, MD, PGDMLE, PGDHHM
drshivangijain79@gmail.com
https://drshivangihomoeopathy.com/

A male patient of 35 yrs came with severe burning in right thigh lasting few months. He had been to a neurologist and also orthopaedician suspecting some neurological abnormality, had undergone MRI of lumbar spine without any significant finding and had taken Vit B12 supplementations without any relief.

He attributed this pain starting after slightly more exertion at home consequent to birth of his baby. The pain was severe after standing, was burning in character and interfered with his daily life.

A detailed case history was taken and various remedies for overexertion were given to him without iota of relief. It seemed that his last hope was failing him.

The failure lied with homeopath and not homeopathy.

After couple of unsuccessful prescriptions, the patient was again spoken with, in details. It was found that he worked long hours with his laptop on his lap, while his baby played next to him. The burning sensation was then attributed to probably the heat (infrared radiation) from the laptop along with, low dose electromagnetic and radio frequencies coming in close contact with skin for prolonged period.

He was given RADIUM BROM 200/ 1 dose.

The next follow up revealed his burning down by 90%, with only occasional feel of sensation. He was then also advised to not work with laptop on lap and given SL to continue. The 2^nd month follow up was a complete resolution of his complaint.

Note: It is to be noted that the skin around the area was completely normal with no rash or eruption. Probably the patient was more susceptible to radiation from the laptop which triggered his problem.

This case also teaches us to look deep into circumstances of patients, accept our failure and sometimes the fact that patient may not reveal a fact for long because he/she may think it is irrelevant. It is then the duty of the physician to delve deep into circumstances to find the culprit.

Also see detailed MM on RADIUM BROM

https://drshivangihomoeopathy.com/?s=radium

Aude Sapere

Shivangi Jain
BHMS, MD, PGDMLE, PGDHHM
drshivangijain79@gmail.com
https://drshivangihomoeopathy.com/

BACKGROUND

• Vocal cord polyp are benign lesions with a variety of causes such as voice overuse (teachers, coaches, recurrent shouting, salesperson etc), acute episode of excessive shouting, gastroesophageal reflux, allergies, smoking (and inhaling other such irritants and chemicals), thyroid problems.

CASE

• PRESENTATION- A teacher came with irritation on throat and chronic hoarseness of voice. She had to constantly hawk and clear and would not be able to even speak at the end of the day. She had been to an ENT specialist and who found a vocal cord nodule on laryngoscopy. She was advised complete rest to voice and a vocal cord surgery to remove the nodule. She did not want to undergo surgery due to feared complication of paralysis of cords. She had no comorbidity and other complaint.
• TREATMENT- She was started on PICRIC ACID 200 once in 5 days, 6 such doses for a month as she could not stop the work (i.e. constant talking, as she was a teacher). A follow up after a month revealed much improvement in her hoarseness but remnants remaining. The dosage was reduced to once in 10 days, so she took another 3 doses the following month.
• OUTCOME- Starting of the 3^rd month she underwent laryngoscopy at her own accord as she felt completely normal and came with the result. It showed complete resolution of the polyp. The medicine was stopped. A 2 year follow up did not show any relapse of the complaint.
• BASIS of PRESCRIPTION- PICRIC ACID was chosen on basis of overuse of the vocal cords, and the exhaustion that she felt after speaking much.
• D/D of MEDICINES- other medicines that came close to the case were STANN MET, ARGENTUM MET and ARUM TRYPHYLLUM.
• MM PICRIC ACID- https://drshivangihomoeopathy.com/?s=picric+acid

DISCUSSION

• Traditionally patients are asked to maintain speech hygiene and the underlying cause is identified and treated. When conservative treatment does not help a surgical removal is advised as was in the case above.
• The presented case clearly showed complete removal of her subjective complaints symptomatically with objective laryngoscopic evidence of resolution, highlighting the efficacy of individualised homeopathic prescriptions in treatment.

Aude Sapere

Shivangi Jain
BHMS, MD, PGDMLE, PGDHHM
drshivangijain79@gmail.com
https://drshivangihomoeopathy.com/

This is a case of 65 yr old female who had severe knee pains for the last 4 yrs. Her pains would exacerbate at the change of weather and after exertion. She also suffered from chronic allergic cough, which would be constant throughout the day, at intervals, not abating with anything, for the last 2 yrs. She was also very chilly. The author treated this case with complete failure for 2 yrs. The pains and cough alternated, and the treatment given was at most palliative. The remedies which seemed indicated did not help, whether deep acting or acute. While studying a medicine the writer came across a symptom, which encouraged her to give STICTA PULMONALE 1M/ 1 dose to this patient. The result was astonishing. Within a week, her chronic cough of 2 yrs vanished, and her knee pains reduced to a large extent, though her treatment had to be continued (striking the underlying miasm).

Explanation

The symptom that prompted the prescription was ‘rheumatic pains precede catarrhal symptoms’ (Boericke Materia Medica). After STICTA, the allergic cough vanished, which was last to appear (Hering law/direction of cure) and the knee pains reduced to a large extent. This case highlights the importance of concomitant symptoms, anamnesis and last but not least, a constant need for a homoeopath to read, search and find the right remedies for their patients because it is only through the right remedy that a cure is possible.

Aude Sapere

Shivangi Jain
BHMS, MD, PGDMLE, PGDHHM
drshivangijain79@gmail.com
https://drshivangihomoeopathy.com/

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A child of 4 years of age came with a complaint of severely cracked and bleeding heels, since 2 years. He would wear socks even in summers, which relieved him to a certain extent. He was a thin and tall child for his age and complained of frequent leg pains. His father would massage his legs at night to give relief, without which he would not sleep. The diagnosis was not made but the differential included planter keratoderma or plantar psoriasis; more in favour of plantar keratoderma. Based on his symptoms and presentation he was given CAL PHOS 1m in one dose. The mother was also asked to apply coconut oil or olive oil regularly (plain but not medicated). He was also given calendula ointment to apply on cracks which were very deep and bleeding and was advised to stop applying the ointment once the bleeding stopped. A month after follow up the lesions were much better and the child was more comfortable. Even the pain in the legs was reduced. He was given Saccharum lactis for another month.

Explanation

The prescription was based not on the main symptoms but on the other accessory symptoms. The child had growing pains (CAL PHOS, PHOS, PHOS AC, GUIACUM etc are remedies for growing pains). He was slender and tall for his age. Warmth > his cracking to a certain extent. CAL PHOS relieved him of his trouble. He did not follow up ever after the second month, which left the author wondering whether the relief was permanent or temporary.

Aude Sapere

Shivangi Jain
BHMS, MD, PGDMLE, PGDHHM
drshivangijain79@gmail.com
https://drshivangihomoeopathy.com/

Download a copy of the case below.

A 37 yr old male had a bout of viral fever. His fever subsided in 3 days, but a constant cough with pain in the chest was left. He also developed joint pains more marked in the lower extremities. A chest x-ray was advised which revealed a minimal pleural effusion on both sides. He was given ABROTANUM 6/ 3 doses/ once in 10 days. A month later, his cough vanished and he no more complaint of joint pains.

Explanation

Abrotanum is an excellent remedy for sequele of influenza or influenza-like illness (Phatak Repertory). This patient developed a cough with pleural effusion (Boericke Materia Medica), pain in the lower extremities more than upper which pointed towards the abrotanum.

Aude Sapere

Shivangi Jain
BHMS, MD, PGDMLE, PGDHHM
drshivangijain79@gmail.com
https://drshivangihomoeopathy.com/

Download a copy of the case below.

 A 65 yr old male presented with DOE (dysponea on exertion). He had difficulty performing daily activities of life. He was compelled to take inhalers a few times a day to carry on with any kind of activity. He was from a coastal town and noted that whenever he went to his hometown, his asthma would aggravate. Sometimes he would eat to get relief from the attack of asthma. He also had a slight salty expectoration in the morning. These modalities led to a prescription of SEPIA 10M, one dose. He was also given ARS ALB 30 as SOS. He felt much better for some time but the symptoms started returning. 3 months after the first dose, he was given SEPIA 50M in one dose. This time the improvement progressed beautifully till he was completely off inhalers and was able to carry out his activities without any difficulty in a follow up 6 months later. He had stopped taking ARS ALB also as SOS medicine.

Explanation

The strong modalities which were elicited in this case led to the prescription of sepia (generality; air; seashore agg. Generality; eating >. Kent Repertory). There was a salty taste of expectoration which supported the choice of remedy. The potency 10m helped initially but failed to carry forward the improvement, hence it was decided to go to a higher potency instead of repeating the same.

Aude Sapere

Shivangi Jain
BHMS, MD, PGDMLE, PGDHHM
drshivangijain79@gmail.com
https://drshivangihomoeopathy.com/

Download a copy of the case below.

This is a case of a mother and daughter who came with severe itching all over the body. They had lesions predominantly on the hands and legs. There was severe burning following scratching with bleeding from here and there. The complaint started after they visited someplace. Scabies was suspected and was confirmed by dermatologic consult.

The child was given SULPH 200/ 2 doses, the second to be repeated only if the first fail to show improvement within 3 days. The child took the second dose as well and felt much better. 15 days after 1st prescription another 2 doses were given with similar instructions. This time only 1 dose was needed and eruptions subsided completely at the end of 1^st month. (3 doses- 1^st day, 4^th day, 16^th day).

The mother was given SULPH 30/ 3 doses every 5 days as she had more severe lesions with instruction to repeat only if improvement stops. She took all the 3 doses and felt much better at the end of 15 days. She was given just one dose of SULPH 30 on the second follow up. At the end of 1st month, only occasional itching was left and all lesions had disappeared. She was given SULPH 200 to complete the case.

Both of them were also given AZADIRACHTA INDICA Q 5 drops / to be put in a bucket of water and bath with it.

They were also advised to wash their clothes separately, after being soaked in hot soapy water for some time.

The husband was given SULPH 200 prophylactically to prevent infection and was also asked to sleep separately from the affected family members.

Explanation

Scabies is highly contagious to close contacts. The fact that both mother and daughter showed symptoms indicated a contagious diagnosis. It, therefore, is of paramount importance that not only is the patient treated but care also be taken, so that it does not spread to other members. Thus, the knowledge and importance of diagnosis help a homoeopath take pre-emptive steps not only in treatment but also in prevention.   

They did not show any constitutional symptoms. The itching of the body with burning that follows is pathognomic of SULPH, hence sulphur was prescribed. Azadirachta was given (in very high dilution of bathing) to locally cleanse the lesion and prevent any secondary infection.

Aude Sapere

Shivangi Jain
BHMS, MD, PGDMLE, PGDHHM
drshivangijain79@gmail.com
https://drshivangihomoeopathy.com/

Download a copy of the case below.

A mother aged 26 yrs came with a pregnancy of 31 weeks. She had recently undergone a routine ultrasound for her foetus where it was found that the foetus has a space-occupying fluid-filled lesion in the brain. She was told that the outcome of this lesion could not be predicted and that the foetus could be severely neurologically impaired. However, given the advancement of pregnancy nothing could be done except wait and watch. It was under these circumstances that the parents hoped that homoeopathy could help them. The history of the mother was unremarkable. So was the pregnancy. She had not fallen, had not taken any medicines or suffered from any illness. She was given CAL PHOS 200/ 2 doses to be taken and consecutive days followed by ARNICA 30/bd/ 10days. A scan was asked to be repeated every 5 days to see progress if any.

After the second scan (i.e., 10 days) the lesion resolved completely.

Explanation

There was no indication of any medicine in this case. The mother was thin tall dark-complexioned. Keeping this physical makeup of the mother in mind with a fluid-filled lesion in the foetus (which was not a hydrocephalous but a localized collection of fluid), tubercular miasm was thought to be lurking in the background, which led to the prescription of CAL PHOS. ARNICA was followed assuming that mother might have slipped/ had a jerk, something which she must have forgotten, hence was not able to report. This was done to cover any common factor that could have caused it (this is a not advisable way of prescription, nevertheless was done, given the lack of information and the direness of the situation).

Aude Sapere

Shivangi Jain
BHMS, MD, PGDMLE, PGDHHM
drshivangijain79@gmail.com
https://drshivangihomoeopathy.com

Download a copy of the case below.

A 57 yr old female came for the treatment of GERD (gastric oesophageal reflux disease). She complained of severe acidity and heartburn throughout the day. It would get aggravated further when she did not eat. She had a cough at night which prevented sleep (pharyngeal irritation from acid reflux producing cough). On enquiring about her history, it was found that she was extremely stressed. Her husband did not participate in any of the day-to-day affairs of running the family from the day she got married. Mother to a girl 27yr old, she had to look after an extended family, make decisions, look after everyone but no one to ask her about herself. The daughter reported her being highly irritable and snapping easily. She was thin, tall had freckles over her face. She was given SEPIA 10M and 6 months later SEPIA 50M. After that, she was kept on a placebo for almost 1 and a half yr. Regular follow up showed improvement in her condition steadily. Then, an interesting thing happened almost after 2 yr of treatment. She reported that she had a big swelling almost 3 inches in size in her popliteal fossa, for almost 10 yr now, which she was intending to get operated on but somehow was not able to. After this treatment, she noticed that it has started reducing in size. Now, this was something that the patient never revealed to the physician until now. She was kept on a placebo for another year. After 3 yrs and 2 doses of medicine (sepia 10m and sepia 50m), one dose each) not only did her reflux settle, but her popliteal synovial cyst also disappeared completely.

Explanation

This case shows that when the medicine chosen is the specific remedy for the patient and is correct, then not only does it take care of what the patient complains of but also what the patient fails to reveal. The medicine administered not only helped her GERD (it did not go away completely though till the last follow up, which was attributed to her circumstances being the maintaining cause of her disease) but also helped her baker’s cyst (complete resolution), as it was given for the patient (individual) and not for the disease.

Aude Sapere

Shivangi Jain
BHMS, MD, PGDMLE, PGDHHM
drshivangijain79@gmail.com
https://drshivangihomoeopathy.com/

Download a copy of the case below.