Cases

A male, 55 years of age, a known diabetic with uncontrolled blood sugars, came for consultation with swelling and pain in the right little toe of three days’ duration.

The patient was in acute pain, with a swollen toe and oedema of the surrounding foot. The part looked dark red, almost bluish in appearance. On touch, however, the toe was not as warm as one would expect in such an inflammation. It was deduced that if the infection was not controlled soon, the toe would become gangrenous.

On this basis, SECALE COR 200 was given in three doses, one to be taken immediately, the other at night, and the next in the morning. The patient was asked to report the next day. It was expected that it would take at least 3–4 days for the condition to start improving, given the situation of the foot.

The next morning, the patient was already waiting to see the author for consultation. A terrible thought crossed the author’s mind that the inflammation might have spread.

The patient, however, looked cheerful and happy.

On starting the consultation, the patient showed the affected part, which showed absolutely no signs of inflammation in the little toe. The swelling had subsided and the part had regained its normal colour.

Note: This case highlights two important factors:

1. A well-chosen remedy, covering both the characteristic symptoms and the pathology, can produce dramatic results.
2. If the medicine chosen is the right one, then, especially in acute cases, the results may be seen even faster than with conventional medicine.

Aude Sapere

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

A 45-year-old female patient, a known case of Asthma and Urticaria for the past 5 years, presented to the clinic for treatment. She had been using inhalers daily and required antihistamines at least on alternate days. She was given various medicines over a period of 2–3 months, during which she showed improvement; however, the problem kept recurring.

Her case was retaken and reviewed in detail, and it was found that within a single day she would experience either an episode of urticaria or an asthma episode, but never both together. This pattern was not initially revealed by the patient and was elicited only after detailed questioning and probing during case-taking.

On the basis of this observation, CALADIUM 200 was prescribed in three doses once daily (considering the alternation of asthma and urticaria). The Complete Repertory mentions only six medicines under this rubric. A strong family history of diabetes mellitus further pointed in favour of Caladium through anamnesis. Aralia racemosa Q was prescribed as SOS for any asthmatic episode, if it occurred. The patient was advised to reduce inhaler use to alternate days instead of daily, and to take antihistamines only if an episode of urticaria occurred.

At the next consultation, there was marked improvement. The patient reported no acute asthma episodes (while on alternate-day inhaler use) and required antihistamines only twice.

Subsequently, the inhaler was further reduced to once every three days, and placebo was prescribed. There was no need for SOS medication, and the patient did not experience any urticarial episodes. It is noteworthy that other allergic symptoms, such as nasal allergy, resolved completely, although these had not been mentioned by the patient earlier.

The case is still under follow-up, and the author is awaiting complete cessation of inhaler use.

The purpose of presenting this case is twofold:

• Patients may not always provide complete or accurate symptom details, especially in cases involving alternating symptoms, suppressions, extensions, or symptoms occurring over long periodicities (e.g., every 6 months or yearly). It is the physician’s responsibility to analyse the case thoroughly to elicit such details. Proper symptom recording by the patient over the course of treatment can help reveal these hidden patterns.

• At times, a small but characteristic symptom can individualize the case and lead to the indicated remedy.

For details on Caladium visit: https://drshivangihomoeopathy.com/?s=calad

Aude Sapere

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

How backache affects

Backache (from any cause) can be extremely distressing as it interferes with many basic daily activities such as sitting, standing, walking, and sleeping. Even simple movements may become painful, causing constant discomfort and limiting a person’s ability to work or care for family responsibilities. Persistent back pain often leads to fatigue, irritability, and disturbed sleep, which further aggravate the individual’s physical and emotional well-being. In many cases, the continuous discomfort can also create feelings of anxiety, helplessness, and frustration, making backache not only a physical burden but also a significant mental and emotional strain.

How backache is treated

In Homeopathy, the treatment of backache is based on the principle of individualization, where the remedy is selected according to the patient’s unique physical symptoms, mental state, causative factors, and overall constitution, rather than the diagnosis alone. Two patients suffering from the same condition, such as Low Back Pain or Intervertebral Disc Prolapse, may receive completely different remedies depending on their symptom patterns, modalities (factors that aggravate or relieve the pain), and emotional state.

In homeopathic practice, the physician carefully evaluates aspects such as the nature and location of the pain, factors that worsen or improve it (movement, rest, heat, cold), associated symptoms, and the patient’s mental and emotional condition. Particular importance is also given to exciting causes, such as physical strain, injury, grief, anger, or emotional distress. Based on this holistic assessment, a remedy is selected that closely matches the totality of the patient’s symptoms, aiming to stimulate the body’s natural healing response. This individualized approach forms the cornerstone of homeopathic management of backache

The following cases illustrate how individualized treatment can bring about a rapid relief in patients with backaches.

CASE 1– Backache following sprain treated with homoeopathy- a case of Valeriana

A 40-year-old male presented with complaints of a sudden catching pain in the back that had persisted for one week following exercise. The pain was severe and restricting his movements. He had taken painkillers, but they did not provide relief.

Initially, based on the history of overexertion and the characteristic feature of pain improving with movement, Rhus toxicodendron was prescribed for three days, also considering the possibility of a sprain or strain resulting from exertion followed by catching cold while sweating. However, there was no significant improvement. Subsequently, Ruta graveolens was prescribed, but this also failed to relieve the pain.

Since the patient did not respond to the initially selected remedies, Polarity Analysis was employed to repertorize the case based on the patient’s characteristic modalities and symptoms, in order to identify a more accurately individualized remedy.

Following symptoms were taken into consideration:

• Agg rising from bed
• Agg sitting
• Agg turning over in bed
• Amel movement
• Cramps in general

Polarity analysis, threw a surprise with Valeriana as the forerunner.

Since Valeriana was nowhere near under consideration, materia medica from BBCR was referred for confirmation of the remedy

BBCR- Valeriana: Rheumatic tearing in limbs, less in joints, during rest, particularly after previous exercise, > by motion however. Twitching, jerk-like, suddenly-appearing.

Following this description in MM Valeriana 200 one dose was given. Patient came back after 2 hours, reported that the pain completely left him few minutes back with a feeling as if somebody sucked the pain out of him and left him pain free.

For details of medicine visit:

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

CASE 2– Acute Back Pain Following Emotional Distress – A Case Treated with Ignatia

A 35-year-old female presented with severe back pain of one day’s duration. She had a past history of intervertebral disc prolapse, which had occurred several years earlier following an injury.

On detailed inquiry regarding the onset of her present complaint, the patient revealed that the pain began after a quarrel with her daughter. She reported feeling deeply hurt, lonely, and emotionally aggrieved, as she felt unappreciated despite doing so much for her children. Because of this emotional disturbance, she became restless and was unable to sleep during the night and woke up with sciatica.

Considering the clear aetiology (most probable exciting cause) of emotional grief and disappointment and outcome of effect on nerves (effect), a single dose of Ignatia Amara 1M was prescribed.

The patient was advised to report the next day. At follow-up, she reported complete relief from the back pain and had experienced a good, restful night’s sleep.

This case illustrates the effectiveness of Ignatia amara in acute conditions where physical symptoms arise following emotional shock, grief, or disappointment.

These cases highlight the importance of individualized remedy selection in Homeopathy in the management of backache. Rather than relying solely on pathological diagnosis, careful attention to the patient’s characteristic symptoms, modalities, and causative factors allows the physician to identify the most appropriate remedy.

Keypoints:

• Individualization is central to the homeopathic approach; patients with similar diagnoses such as Low Back Pain may require entirely different remedies.
• Modalities and causative factors play a crucial role in remedy selection in acute musculoskeletal complaints.
• When commonly indicated remedies fail, repertorization methods such as polarity analysis can help reveal a more accurate prescription. The physican should be ready to explore various methods to approach the case in event of failure of one. Repertorization is one such tool in the hands of physician.
• Less frequently considered remedies like Valeriana officinalis prove highly effective when the symptom totality corresponds closely. The physician should have knowledge of lesser known remedies to use the potential of remedies to the fullest.
• Careful case-taking and confirmation with materia medica remain essential steps before finalizing the prescription.
• Homeopathy works faster than conventional medicine when right remedy is chosen, treating various causes of backache, effectively, quickly and most gentle ways.

Aude Sapere

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

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/

Download a copy of the case below.

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/

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 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.